Elk Hunting in the West

By: Chris Denham

2005 may well go down as the greatest year in the history of modern elk hunting. It is certainly the best we have seen to date, with more monster bulls being taken than in any previous year. In the last ten years of guiding and hunting elk in Arizona and New Mexico, I have seen four bulls that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt would have broken the 400” mark. One outfitter friend of mine, whose ability to field judge elks is among the best, recently told me that he has seen more than ten 400”+ bulls this year alone! The 2005 edition of the Pope and Young record book list four typical and eleven non-typical bulls that breeched this mark, it my guess that these numbers will double by the end of the next two year recording period with new world records in each category. We are living in the “good ol’ days” of elk hunting and there is no obvious end in sight. Any hunter with the desire to do some research, save some money, stay in shape and hunt hard can experience the high of pursuing big bulls in the West.

Each Western state offers tremendous public land opportunities as well as some challenges. The foremost obstacle is acquiring a permit for a quality area via the random draw process that most states employ. Sorting through the myriad of state regulations, hunting units, seasons and weapon choices can be exhausting. This is the main reason we started Western Hunter Application Service, to smooth out the speed bumps that slow down the serious hunter in his pursuit of a quality hunt. Because most states utilize a bonus/preference point system, persistence is critical. You must decided that a quality elk hunt is your goal and continue to apply in multiple states each year knowing that it may take 10 years to draw a tag. Sportsmen often comment “what if I draw too many tags in one year?” Believe me, the odds are against that happening and the thousands of folks that did not draw any tags would gladly carry your burden if it were legal!

For the purpose of clarification I would like to define the terms “bonus points” and “preference points” so that we can be consistent in our use and understanding. With a bonus point system, the computer assigns a random number to each applicant, if there are 50 tags available for a particular unit then lowest 50 random numbers are issued a tag. A bonus point is issued to every unsuccessful applicant. If an applicant has one bonus point then the computer would issue him two random numbers thus doubling that persons chance to draw a low enough number to be in the lowest 50. As you can see a bonus point system does reward a person for applying each year but does not guarantee a tag. In a preference point system all of the tags are issued to the applicants with the most points, so if you do not have all of the preference points necessary to draw a unit then you have no chance at all.

Now I need to throw in some of my personal advice: If you want to experience the thrill of hunting bull elk in the rut, you should consider learning to shoot a bow, and in some cases a muzzleloader. Sure, there are many rifle hunts with season dates that coincide with the rut, but there are many more primitive weapons seasons available. In many cases the odds of drawing one of these tags is much greater due to the fact that there are fewer applicants. In states that offer general elk tags the majority of hunters will choose to hunt with a rifle meaning a lot fewer hunters in the field. With the modern equipment available in both archery and muzzleloaders, just about anybody can learn to shoot well, it just requires commitment and practice. If you cannot allocate enough time to get properly equipped by a pro shop and practice consistently, rely on the “thunder stick” until you are able.

Private land elk hunting varies dramatically from state to state. I could fill this entire issue with details of how each state works, but instead I will offer a brief overview to get you on your way. First, I would advise you to call each states game department. I have found them to be very helpful and their agents can walk you through the intricacies. The greatest advantage to private land elk hunting is controlled harvest and reduced competition from other hunters. Elk have enormous home ranges and don’t have a problem expanding those boundaries if they receive too much pressure. With light hunting pressure on a piece of private land and a large volume of hunters on neighboring public land, elk will gladly take up residence within the confines of the “no trespassing” signs. As private land elk hunting is generally not a “meat hunt”, hunters will usually hold out for an older age class bull, thus allowing the younger bulls to grow up and allow their antlers to reach their genetic potential, yielding a larger volume of trophy class animals. Cows and young bulls do not necessarily have the same consideration on public land, contributing to the imbalance of private vs. public land trophy potential. As with any business venture, do your homework when buying a private land hunt. Make your expectations very clear and check references to be sure that they are in line with the past performance of the land and the outfitter.

Let’s take a look at what each state has to offer.

Arizona

Arizona is still the king of all public land trophy elk hunting opportunities (though Utah is making a run at the throne). With mid winters, great genetics and good management the potential of harvesting a big bull is real. While the growth of most states elk herds is limited by harsh winters, Arizona is limited by the constant threat of drought. This past year was likely the best ever for antler development and bull density. Most of the 2004-hunting season was drenched in heavy rain and snow, which seriously impaired a hunter’s ability to get around by vehicle. Most hunters shot the first bull they saw or did not even hunt due the weather. This lead to a strong carry over of bulls and when you combine this with good winter/spring rains the result was a tremendous number of monster bulls available to the lucky hunters. The late rifle elk hunts have not even taken place yet but there have been innumerable trophy bulls taken.

Arizona is a draw state with a bonus point system. Each year you must apply for specific units and weapon choices. This past winter the U.S. Congress and President Bush passed a bill that allows states to limit the percentage of non-residents that can draw big game tags. After two years of no limit on non-residents, Arizona has gone back to the historical 10% cap. The archery seasons occur in the last two weeks of September. Muzzleloader and rifle seasons are split between early October right at the tail end of the rut and mid November. Obviously the rut hunt has the greatest demand with draw odds usually running less than 2% and the late hunts less than 10%. The late hunts are often overlooked by many non-residents. Of course the odds of killing a monster bull are higher on the early hunts but with a qualified guide the late hunts can be a sleeper!

When I think of private land elk hunting my home state of Arizona did not jump out as an obvious choice. With the vast sections of public land available a private land hunt did not seem to offer any real advantages on magnum bulls. I could not have been more wrong. In 2005 Vaquero Outfitters in Chino Valley, Arizona helped their clients put some magnum bulls on the ground. Look at some of these photos and while you catch your breath, keep in mind that all of these bulls were taken this year!

I have hunted elk on public land for many years,. And though I have had some memorable times and treasure the challenge, I must admit that I am getting tired of the competition. Every water hole has a road leading to it and during the archery season each will have at least one ground blind or tree stand, and sometimes more than one of each. Because bull elk tags can be 15 years apart, the average Arizona hunter does not show up alone; it is not uncommon to see a camp of 10 hunters with only two possessing a current tag. With this invasion of humanity, the otherwise quiet two track roads become qualifying tracks for the next Baja 500, with hunters and helpers hustling to their morning destination.

If this does not sound like your kind of hunt then you need to call Chad and Shawn Smith, owners of Vaquero Outfitters. They have helped book countless trophy hunters. Their knowledge of elk and the trophy potential in Arizona along with their dedication to client success is what separates them from others. Keep in mind that Arizona does not offer landowner tags or guaranteed outfitter tags. In order to hunt private land you must draw a tag though the public draw process and then book your hunt with the outfitter. It may take some time to draw the tag, but I believe you will agree that it is worth the wait.