azelkhunter2

Just FYI...For those of you that believe that by putting in with paper apps you are safe from the draw issues that plague online applicants......THINK AGAIN !!!!!....After last yrs elk draw it was discovered that SEVERAL HUNDRED !!!! ....paper apps never made it into the draw. All the info on the paper app has to be manually transferred by G&F personal into the system....paper apps are no safer then online apps.....

Sir give me a call. Dave 602-228-1719

Good morning gentlemen. Just to clarify a few things......I am not pissed at anyone, I like many grow tired and frustrated with are G&F dept. If any of you knew the half of what takes place behind closed doors you would run screaming for the hills !!!. Where my frustration grows is with the individuals who regardless of what changes the dept makes/ tries to make they find fault. If half of them spent a small portion of the time they spend complaining on the Internet .( Which by the way does not change anything ) spent the time working with ANYONE of the local wildlife org's or the G&F on any of the hundreds of projects. / youth camps they might find that they / YOU can make a difference, It probably won't change your opinion of the department but it just might give a kid a lifelong memory or help save a animal or two. Bottom line is haters are gonna hate, some people can't live without drama, and theirs always someone who thinks they are owed something. Me I enjoy my time spent with my wife / kids and friends and try and make a difference one camp / project at a time.....Now I'm gonna go try and put my family in for the draw....Wish me luck !!!!!

Str8Shot.......If you truly want the dates / times of the meetings and the minutes from them and a explanation of the surrender program please contact either. Amber Munig or Scott Lavin with the AZGFD. 602-942-3000.... One or both were at not only the general meetings but at the meetings with the local wildlife org's. And both were instrumental in the development and implementation of the program. In addition any questions or concerns about the lack of notifications or public input should be directed to Scott Lavin.

If the surrender system was in place this is a prime example of when it would benefit the applicant. Just FYI we are working with the dept to try and get a system in place to make corrections on an app within 14 days of the deadline.

BC....As of 2015 there are 41 states that have some type of tag surrender program in place. Some better then others. We are way behind the times when it comes to the services offered to the outdoor community. Every state has a system that can be worked in one way or another, Are current system can be worked in many different way's. I know you have a great dislike / hatred for the dept. I don't always agree with what/why/how they do things but I / we as hunters don't have any other choice so I and many others work are butt off to try and steer the department in the right direction and help them on their decision making. I do agree this is for the most part a money grab....But I also know the dept needs the funds....If the money's are spent in the right place I'm ok with the program....But only time will tell....

BC.....Like I said EVERYONE of the ways to game the system was brought up time and time again....In the end the dept felt the only way to put the system in place and not punish the guy who legitimately needs to turn in a tag was to put this version in place....We ALL know how to game the system....And to your statement that the attendees at the meetings were dumb as a box of rocks....Their were several very respected members of this site that attended several of the meetings and voiced their concerns VERY loudly....You obviously we're not one of them, A great deal of time and energy by a lot of people on this site and the hunting community went into trying to make sure that safeguards were put in place, in the end it did not happen but it was not for lack of effort....

A little more info....There was NO secret agenda by anyone....If my notes are complete there where 9 different meetings held all over the state, If you receive the Game & fish news letter by e- mail you did then receive notification on several different occasions, In addition the old G&F web page had it posted for several months and it was discussed at several commissioners meetings if you are a member of any of the local wildlife org's it was discussed at great length at their meetings as G&F personal we at the meetings just to talk about it. As far as the many many ways to game the system EVERYONE of them were discussed at every meeting till you wanted to slam your head in the door!!!!. The Dept decided after a GREAT DEAL of input that there was no one way that was fair to every applicant in all scenarios so we ended up with this option. You can sit and complain that it's not fair and what if it till the cows come home it won't change a thing.....

Guys....The parameters have been decided long ago....The meetings took place over the last two yrs. The dept went with this and there is no going back. You can either beat a dead horse again and again or work within the system in place. Only a small handful of people even bothered to show at any of the meetings and voice their concerns.....

Depending on the tag and how long it is turned in before the hunt the dept will call the next person in line to see if they want the tag...

I will give a very quick breakdown of the system. PLEASE PLEASE know this is only a small portion of the whole system. It was supposed to be in place for this draw. When the online draw went live there was supposed to be a box you checked if you wanted to have the option of tag surrender. The cost was 5.00 dollars... If you did not want to have the option you were not charged the 5.00 fee. Apx 3 weeks ago G&F came to the conclusion that they could not track who wanted the option. They hope to have it in place it time for the deer draw. ......Now you can use the surrender program ONE TIME per species before you have to use your tag. For example.....My wife and son put in for bull elk they draw the tag, my son keeps the tag my wife turns hers in, my wife keeps her points AND gets the point for 2016, the G&F dept keeps her 135.00 tag fee....Now next yr my wife and son put in for elk, they draw the tag, she wants to turn her tag in again.....She can turn her tag in BUT SHE CANT KEEP HER POINTS !!!!. It does not matter if she uses her tag or turns it in she looses her points. Once you use your points the system starts over. If anyone has any other questions please call me. Dave 602-228-1719

Not likely to use but Will use it over and over....

My take.....I would like to think at almost 50 yrs old I have learned a few things over the yrs...I like most was living paycheck to paycheck in my younger yrs and bought what I could afford at the time. ( yellow front ) binos ect....As I made more money I started buying better quality products. Apx 20 yrs ago I started guiding for well know outfitter a few times a yr. Now I spend about 200 days a yr in the field and I can tell you without a doubt there is NO substitute for quality. If you factor in your time / gas / food ect and all the other things that go into a hunt...Time away from family/ holidays the list goes on and on why take a chance on the animal of your dreams with lesser quality gear. I have seen time and time again hunts go sideways because of a rifle scope / bino / gear failure. And it's not just optics it's all your gear... Only one time in over 20 yrs have I had a bino fail. I have clients every yr you suffer a problem with gear that has a no fault policy.....Bottom line....saving money is great till it does not work when it counts the most

I have two unopened boxs of 168 gr. $ 45.00 each ( 100 ) count boxs I have one unopened box of 175 gr. $45.00 ( 100 ) count box Dave 602 -228-1719

This months raffle is for a $ 5000.00 dollar credit at either ( Hill country rifles ) or ( Defensive edge custom rifles )..... The winner can build the rifle of their dreams or choose from a large inventory of in stock custom rifles. ....TICKETS ARE ONLY $ 10.00 EACH.....We are only selling 850 tickets !!!!! GET YOURS by going to ( azdeer.org ) and follow the link.... WINNER IS,,,,,, Glen DIckson of Anthem ,Az

Winner is......Glen Dickson......of Anthem Az

Sold out!!!!!! I will post a winner within 24 hrs......Thank you to all those that bought tickets !!!!!

Az has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the country. Better to protect yourself now then pay out of pocket later

ONLY 160 tickets left !!!!! Let's bring this home and draw a winner !!!!!

622 sold as of 0800....

FYI....They are last yrs model....New model has same glass but is a little slimmer and has different end caps....

577 tickets sold as of 2100 hrs

I will post updates on ticket sales each night

We are at 541 tickets sold as of 1420 hrs......If you guys get a chance go to YouTube and find some of the defensive edge long range videos.....Great stuff. Shows just what their builds can do !!!!!

Half way there !!!!!