Elk in AZ are a lottery draw, weighted with “bonus points” and you have to select hunt unit and antlered or antlerless when you apply (notice it’s not determined my actual sex here in AZ).
There’s nothing like harvesting a giant bull during the rut, when they’re bugling, fighting, and f….reproducing. But that’s their only focus, and don’t eat, sleep, or take care of themselves-doesn’t lead to the best meat in my opinion. Plus it is a very desirable hunt, so much so that a hunter can put in for years in a good unit (prime units in AZ usually take acquiring many “bonus points” by putting in and not getting drawn for about 8-10yrs) without getting drawn.
Out of rutting season the tags are a bit easier to draw, but the bulls gang up in bachelor herds and recover in the deepest canyons and roughest terrain.
Drawing an antlerless tag is an easier draw, and many feel better meat.
I’ve yet to harvest an elk (just picked up hunting big game a number of years ago when I quit shooting competitively), and I’d love to get a bull on a solo archery hunt, but the freezer’s empty and a cow will do.
loaded in my Chacom Prestige Billiard with a saddle stem.
