AZcoues_addict

I would assume some portion of salaries are considered Program Administration. In a nutshell, that is what the department mostly does and why they were created in the first place...to administer wildlife restoration. Either way, salaries aside, he was specifically talking about gas cost, and 50k trucks. I would think those do qualify under the definition. Those are 100% "on the ground"...

The WY prices increases do seem steep IMO! Maybe AZGFD doesn't get general AZ tax money, but Pittman Robertson is general federal funding IMO, along with federal grants some years, they do have multiple sources of income...it may not be enough, but I'm just saying...

Manadartory reporting for bear/lion had already been around for quite a while. And we already had OTC bear hunts. The difference is they did away with the more limited/coveted archery bear tags in spring/summer. So less options, less opportunity in my opinion. Big BOOOO here as well...

Then you agree there is definintely a first-come first-served "line" for 20% of the tags. That was my point for Geoff, which he may not understand correclty from earlier comments I read. We are all in this "line" currently, it just changes based on how we apply each year. Not sure why others said it's lottery and no line? It's both. We are also in a random lottery (no line) for the 80% pass every year also (when we are too far back in the line for the first 20%). Personally, I'm more a fan of AZ and NV systems. Everyone has a chance, however small. NV doesn't have the game to support the demand, so preference systems won't work (similar to Az), but squaring bonus points like NV does might be a nice add to AZ system in my opinion. Instead of an linear increasing chance in the 80% pass, it would be squared. With decreasing habitat, game, drought, and more people living in the state every year - I think squaring bonus points might be good option to think about going forward.

I thought tags are guaranteed in the bonus pass once you have enough bonus points? And the only draw in the 20% bonus pass is between people "tied" at the lower bonus point levels? The only reason the stats don't show as 100% - is because the people with enough points drew their other choice (1st OR 2nd choice) in that pass - eliminating them from one of their choices. But the stats include them in both hunt numbers. So the stats are not 100% correct and somewhat misleading? At least that's how I think of it.

The difference with elk is they are all draw tags, so easier to manage. Deer has OTC combined with draw tags. My guess is they want to try and keep the deer rifle tags #'s relatively flat with only small changes in tag numbers each year (easier for budget and objective planning), while still selling as many OTC tags as possible (to optiminze budget), all while not killing too many archery deer that will drastically affect next years rifle tag numbers or buck:doe ratio negativley. And they think 20% works. Just simple management. So the OTC archery tags are cut first, since the rifle tags are more difficult to manage and plan for. In other words the OTC tags take a back-seat. They assume you will hunt another unit that is open, or not hunt at all. I don't like this idea, it's just what I've come up with, after many years of sitting glassing for archery deer, while wondering the same thing as you.

Lost PSE bow near Sunflower, at FS road 22 parking lot (posting for little brother). Was left at trailhead (trail going into Bushnell tanks). Left bow by car accidently, came back later and it was gone. Please let me know if you have any information. Thanks.

Crazy rule in my opinion, thanks for bringing this to our attention. They "should" likely refund you the difference if they really want to promote youth hunting. It doesn't make much sense to penalize a youth tag interms of $$, just because they want to also apply for adult tags at the same time? Some of those youth tags have worse odds than some adult tags...that is another reason why this rule doesn't make any sense to me. Back when tags were paid for upfront, this rule maybe was intended to charge you for the more expensive tag upfront (like the check/money order old days). But again they should have reimburse you if you drew the lesser tag. My opinion. Somewhat similar to UT and NM who have premium or high demand hunts, you pay the higher price, but get refunded if you draw the lesser tag cost.

This old buck had a roman nose

Beautiful desert buck! Congratulations, and thanks for sharing!

I estimate 84-85.

Nice buck, thanks for posting! If you don't mind me asking, what year was that buck harvested? I'm trying to figure out when he's going to call me to pick mine up.

Great buck, and congrats on a beautiful archery coues Jim! The story and pictures are fantastic, thanks for sharing! I too hope to get that "holy grail" one day on a P&Y buck, good luck!

Holy smokes what a ram! Tell Darrel I sat with him at his table during the bighorn banquet and we talked hunting quite a bit. He couldn't have been more right when he said he had hired the right guides for the unit. Congrats on a magnificent ram!

I was fortunate to draw two archery antelope tags this year, in two different states, and killed both bucks within 8 days of hunting, 10 days apart! Both bucks were taken by spot and stalk, and this now makes my third spot and stalk archery antelope buck, all in 3 different states. I feel fortunate to get to hunt these beautiful animals, and even more fortunate to be able to harvest on both hunts! First buck was taken in NM, after an extremely eventful and exciting hunt. My strategy was to belly crawl as close as I could get, and then wait. As luck would have it, the buck finally came to me. One shot, quatering through the front shoulder and out the paunch as he faced me nearly head on. He ran 50 yards and dropped. This is my best archery antelope! Second buck was taken in UT the following week. It was a short hunt, the big one got away, but this buck had a good look to him and was very nice compared to the quality of bucks I was seeing in the unit. One shot, quatering away, through the last rib and up into the opposite front shoulder as he fed unaware of my presence. He ran 60 yards and fell for good! Here is the full story for the first buck NM Buck Here is the full story for the second buck UT Buck