Rock y Mtn Hunter Newsletter

Volume 17, Issue 1
Rocky Mtn Hunter
Newsletter
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HUNTER
January 2014
Cover Story “Kevin’s
Colorado Muley”
Kevin Beigel’s 2013, Colorado Muley (185 Gross B& C)
Wyoming & Arizona
Wyoming Elk applications are due by
January 31, 2014.
Arizona Elk and Deer applications are due
by February 11, 2014.
Applications are only available on the
internet this year!
Inside this issue:
Editors Notes
2
Kevin’s Big Buck Story
3
Special points of interest:
 Arizona
Draw Information
Draw Deadlines
4-5
 Wyoming
Arizona
6-9
 Year
Wyoming
Next Months Issue
12-17
18
Draw Information
Draw Dates
Lindsay Parker, Editor
Windows of Opportunity
I have been a hunter all my life and directly involved
in the hunting industry, in one way or another for the
last twenty years. I’m 56 years old now and I can
feel the hands of father time clawing at me. I will
hunt until they lay me in the grave. Now having said
that I realize that I have to do two important things:
One, hunt smarter and Two, work in the off season
to make the hunting season more enjoyable.
The Rocky Mountain Hunter Newsletter will help
you in these two areas. Most people don’t have the
time to read all the proclamation from every state,
they don’t have the time to pour over all the thousands of pages of statics and research necessary to
pick the best units to hunt. Last year’s best may not
be this years best. So we do all that for you at The
Rocky Mountain Hunter Newsletter. So we will
definitely help you hunt smarter. Preparation in the
off-season is what we are all about. By reading our
analysis of each state, each species, and each unit
you can get the most out of your hard earn money
and preference points.
Windows of opportunity come and they go, so you
need to make the most of every good hunt! Let me
give you a couple of examples. Idaho’s Unit 45 for
deer, Bennett mountain, is one of best muley deer
units in the west. Most people don’t know that it
used to be split in two. We called them upper Bennett and lower Bennett. Lower Bennett was originally an OTC (Over-the-counter) tag for muzzleloader (Non Resident). Then it went to a draw but
the draw was unlimited. So if you put in you got the
tag. Finally they did away with the lower portion
and made it all one big area, dang! Now your draw
odds are 3 in 100 and with no preference point system you’ll probably never draw the tag in your lifetime. It was an awesome hunt that few non-residents
knew about. That window of opportunity only lasted
a few years!
We had an exotic ranch in southern Texas that we
use to hunt. It was unbelieveable, big animals reasonable price The owner died and his kids raped and
pillaged the ranch until there was nothing left of it.
Page 2
“Windows of opportunity come and go, so you need
to make the most of every good hunt!”
They didn’t repair the fences, the sold all the animals they could get their hands on. It was all over
in two years.
Many things can happen to change that honey hole.
The regulation changes, the property changes ownership, the list goes on and on.
If you know of a great place to hunt, do everything
in your power to take advantage of it, right now!
There may be no tomorrow!
Let us at The Rocky Mountain Hunter Newsletter
help you hunt smarter and prepare in the offseason. Maybe you’ll find one of those windows
of opportunity that will help you take the trophy of
a lifetime!
Never give up!
Lindsay
Lindsay’s 2013 Idaho Muley, 193 B&C
R O C KY M T N H U N T E R N E W S L E T T E R
My 2013 Colorado Muley
My 2013 Colorado mule deer
hunt was actually hatched in my brain at
the end of the previous hunting season.
The three month long Montana season
was coming to a close, and it felt like
something was missing. Even after a successful archery elk hunt, and rifle whitetail and pronghorn hunts, it just felt like
one more hunt was needed. I found out
the Colorado deer season took place right
after my local season was ending, so it
was time to cash in my preference points
and book a hunt.
I have always had the convenience of living close to my hunting
grounds the last 35 years, so it was going
to be refreshing to see some new country.
Having never gone on a guided deer hunt,
and usually hunting alone, I was definitely getting out of my comfort zone. I
arrived at the ranch house the evening
before my hunt was to begin, and was
immediately introduced to a couple of
other hunters and guides. It was a little
unnerving for an introvert such as myself,
but getting to know these guys turned out
to be a very fun part of the hunt.
On the opening morning we left
the pickup at day break to hunt an area
where the deer would transition from
corn fields to bedding areas. It was great
mule deer habitat with lots of coulees and
plenty of yucca plants for cover. My
guide and I just kept moving slowly from
ridge to ridge glassing. We spotted a
couple of does, and then, after a closer
look, spotted 2 bucks. One was a smaller
3 or 4 point and a larger buck that probably would have been shooter, but one side
of his antlers was badly broken off. The
sight of that buck definitely warmed me
up on that cool morning. After they disappeared from sight over the next ridge
we followed to spot in the next drainage.
Then I spotted something shining in the morning sunlight. Just like you
read in the magazines it turned out to be
antlers glowing above a yucca plant. The
rack disappeared as the buck walked
down to the bottom of the coulee and up
the other side. The first good view of the
buck was impressive! He was tall and an
estimated 30 inches wide. He had decent
mass and decent forks, other than one
rear fork was average. The width really
V O L U M E 1 7, I S S U E 1
had my attention because where I hunt
mule deer in Montana the deer will grow
antlers high with decent mass, but 24 or
25 inches is as wide as they get. After a
stalk to get a closer look, I had a steady
rest at 250 yards but decided to pass on
him so early on in the hunt. My guide
thought he would go in the low 180’s so I
hoped I would not regret my decision!
Over the next 3 ½ days of hunting we saw a few deer early and late, but
no shooters. It was very enjoyable however, good company and I never get tired
of glassing. After dark on the fourth day
we talked about going back to the area
that we saw the wide buck. Thoughts of
shooting that buck started to creep into
my thoughts. This is the dilemma that has
always haunted me, and probably most
hunters. Shoot a buck you know you
would be happy with or hold out for a
bigger one and risk being skunked.
“The anguish did not last long, however,
as we found the buck piled up!
The next morning we drove to a
good vantage point on the opposite side
of where we started hunting that first
morning. Right at first light my guide
could see two deer way off to our left,
and I spotted five does and a 24 inch 3 by
3 about 400 yards to our right. Moments
later I spotted eight deer straight out
ahead of us as we glassed from the truck.
They were about a mile away, and
through the windshield it was tough to
glass in the very dim light. My guide
looked with his spotting scope mounted
on the door window and did not see
horns. Bummer! But it was still too dark
to see if either of the two deer to our left
were bucks.
We glassed another 10 minutes
or so seeing nothing new. I noticed
through my binos that the eight deer were
starting to move off the ridge. The lighting was better and something did not look
right with the deer taking up the rear. I
opened my door and put my spotting
scope on the window and immediately
recognized the wide buck from opening
morning. I still liked the looks of him so
by Kevin Biegel
the hunt was on!
After they walked out of sight,
we hoofed it across two ridges and drainages to get to where we saw the deer go
out of sight. The wind was perfect.
Slowly topping the ridge we could see
nothing at first. After a minute or two of,
“ what the heck happened”, we spotted
some deer down the drainage about a half
a mile away. If they would stay put we
could go around and come up the ridge
right on top of them.
As we topped the ridge I immediately saw the buck and got the bipod set
up on my 300WSM. The range was 285
yards, and with a steady rest, I squeezed
the trigger. The gun barked. The deer
didn’t flinch and he ran out of sight. I was
in shock, we both thought it was a miss.
I was angry with myself and embarrassed
as we walked over the ridge. The anguish did not last long, however, as we
found the buck piled up. The shot ended
up being a good one, right behind the
shoulder.
I was very happy with the 29
inch 4 by 4 and very happy with the overall experience. My guide was a pleasure
to hunt with, and it was great to hunt new
country. It was a fun drive home to Montana with this awesome animal to remind
me of a great hunt, and of course, planning in my mind next year’s hunting season.
Kevin’s is the Montana Rep for the
Rocky Mountain Hunter Newsletter
Page 3
Application Deadlines for 2014 (Tentative) - by State
State
Newsletter Month
Bonus/ Pref. Points
Deadline Month/Day
Draw Month
Arizona
January
Bonus Pts
Elk, Antelope—February
April
Deer, Sheep—June
August
Bison—October
November
June
California
May
Modified Preference Pts
June
June
Colorado
March
Preference/Bonus
April
Sheep, Goat—May
Everything Else—June
Idaho
March
None
May
Montana
February
Bonus/Preference
April
Sheep, Goat, Moose—April
June
Elk, Deer, Antelope—June
July
Deer, Elk—March
April
Sheep, Moose, Goat—May
June
Antelope—June
July
Nevada
April
Bonus
April
June
New Mexico
February
None
March
May
Oregon
February
Preference
May
June
Utah
February
Bonus/ Preference
March
May
Washington
May
Bonus
May
June
Wyoming
January
Preference
Elk—January
February
Moose, Sheep, Goat-February
May
Deer, Antelope—March
June
July
Points Only—June
Alaska
December
None
All Species
February
Each newsletter will show this table but the current hunts in that magazine will show in red.
We focus on the western states listed above. The December issue goes through those states not listed
above. Remember we have Reps for each state so if plan on going to a particular state and need more information, email our rep for that state. See back page.
Page 4
R O C KY M T N H U N T E R N E W S L E T T E R
Application Deadline for 2014 (Tentative) - by Date
Deadline Month/Day State
Species
Draw Month
Check box
January
Wyoming
Elk
February
□
February
Arizona
Elk, Antelope
April
□
Wyoming
Sheep, Goat, Moose
May
□
Montana
Deer, Elk
April
□
New Mexico
All Species
May
□
Utah
All Species
May
□
Wyoming
Deer, Antelope
June
□
Colorado
All Speices
May—Sheep, Goat
□
June—Everything Else
□
March
April
Idaho
Sheep, Goat, Moose
June
□
Nevada
All Species
June
□
Montana
Sheep, Goat, Moose
June
□
Oregon
All Species
June
□
Washington
All Species
June
□
Arizona
Deer, Sheep
August
□
California
All Species
June
□
Idaho
Deer, Elk, Antelope
July
□
Montana
Antelope
July
□
July
Wyoming
Points Only
August
None
NA
NA
NA
September
None
NA
NA
NA
October
Arizona
Buffalo
November
□
November
None
NA
NA
NA
December
Alaska
All Species
February
□
May
June
□
We recommend you print a copy of this page and hang it by your calendar. The when you have applied for that state, check the box on
the right. This way you’ll know that all your states are done and on time.
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Page 5
Arizona
www.azgfd.gov
602-942-3000
Elk & Antelope
Key Information
Application Deadline: February 11, 2014 @ 7pm MST
Postmarked or Received: Received in office
Cost: Combination Hunting & Fishing License = $160
Application Fee = $15 per species (If applying on line)
Tag Fee = Antelope = $550, Elk = $650 (Paper App)
How to Play the Game
1. Arizona is a blackmail state. You have to purchase a hunting license to be able to put in for the different big game hunts. This fee just keeps getting higher. New for 2014, you buy a combination hunting
& fishing license for $160. Luckily they do have a Bonus Points system.
2. Non-residents have a quota of 10% of any of the hunts.
3. The hunters with the highest number of bonus points get the first 20% of the Elk and Antelope tags. So
if you don’t have the max points you may not even be in the draw. This happens a lot in the most applied for tags.
4. Arizona has two extra bonus points: Arizona Hunter Education Point & Loyalty Point. You have to
attend an Arizona only hunter education class for the first one (this is a one time permanent point) and
have put in for five consecutive years for the second one.
What does this mean in Laman’s terms?
1. You must be willing to cough up $160 plus $15 per species, each year to apply. If you like to fish, and
hunt for quail, javalina, coues deer, etc. in Arizona. It’s probably worth it.
2. If you are putting in for the top units, like the Arizona Strip Deer tags, if you don’t have max points you
probably won’t ever draw a tag. So it’s an application process of attrition. Do you have enough years
left in your life to make it into the Max points. If you are going to go this route you need to get the two
additional bonus points mentioned above: Hunter Education & Loyalty.
3. If you are putting in for less desireable units it’s probably worth your time and money.
4. If you are a resident of Arizona put in for all the good ones because you are not limited to the quota!
Page 6
R O C KY M T N H U N T E R N E W S L E T T E R
About Arizona
Arizona is probably the best managed state in the west. Therefore, they have great trophies in all species,
BUT your odds of drawing a tag are terrible so you have to play the bonus point game and pay blackmail
fees! The quality of Elk and Antelope are second to none BUT if it takes you 20 years to get a tag is it worth
$4000 - $5000 of blackmail dollars to get the tag? You have to buy the license, and now it’s a combination
license that will cost you $160 (New for 2014). So my recommendation is that you find something else to
hunt or fish in Arizona. The trout fishing at Lee’s Ferry below the dam of Lake Powell is great! There are
coues deer in southern Arizona that usually have left-over tags. Javalina tags aren’t too hard to draw. My
brother hunts quail down around Thatcher every year. So if find a yearly use for that blackmail license, it is
an easier pill to swallow. If you are willing to do that one day you may take the animal of your dreams! They
have some of the best deer units in the world! The Arizona strip is probably second only to the Henry
Mountains in Utah. Their elk are incredible, you can take a Boone & Crocket bull if all the stars align!
Their Desert Bighorn Sheep are the best in the west! Their antelope along with New Mexico are the best in
the world! So if you have $160 a year to burn for the next 10 -20 years have at it!
Other Information:
Sheep and Deer application information will be out in the June newsletter.
If you apply online you don’t have to pay the tag fee upfront, if you use a paper ap you do.
Arizona doesn’t permit you to return your tag and get your points back so if you don’t want to hunt in a
year, make sure you do points only.
Leftover tags with become available 21 April 2014 at 8am MST. Often they will send you a list of those
tags, but to make sure go to their website and look for “first come permits,” under Big Game Draw.
Hunter Education: You have to prove you to took a Hunter’s Education class if you are under 14 years of
age. You must be 10 years old to hunt in Arizona. Must be accompanied by an adult
Hunter Orange: Arizona doesn’t require you to wear hunter orange.
Youth Hunts: Arizona has youth hunts available for non-residents.
Muzzleloaders: There are no restrictions on inline muzzloaders. You can hunt with any power scope.
Saboted bullet are okay.
Archery: 30 pounds is the minimum pull on a bow.
Harvest Reports: are not required in Arizona
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Page 7
Arizona Elk
Sleepers – If you are a stud with a lot of time the Top Units listed above, have late
season hunts. If you do your homework and prescout you have the chance to take
one of these monster bull with 5 or 6 bonus points instead of 10 – 16. One problem is that they may have broken horns!
Like I said before Arizona Elk is second to none in quality, but the draw odds
make it tough. Know that even getting the tag doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a
gimme hunt. Unit 9, which is one of the best units in the state is flat and full of
pine trees. You can’t glass, so it’s still hunting, waiting at water holes, or going to
the bugle. Some units are a lot rougher terrain that others. Unit 19 is desert terrain
with lower density of elk. Unit 27 is remote and rugged. So there is something for Unit 9 - Archery Bull
everyone.
Ron Kirk
Unit 10 - Archery Bull
Jeremy Houston
Page 8
R O C KY M T N H U N T E R N E W S L E T T E R
Arizona Top 10 Elk Hunts
Unit
2012 Draw Odds
#1
Unit 10
Early Rifle
Sept 26 – Oct 2
1.2%
#2
Unit 9
Early Rifle
Sept 26 – Oct 2
N/A
#3
Unit 10
Archery
Sept 12 – 25th
7.5%
#4
Unit 9
Archery
Sept 12 – 25th
2.5%
#5
Unit 27
Early Rifle
Sept 26 – Oct 2
N/A
#6
Unit 1
Early Muzzleloader
Sept 26 – Oct 2
N/A
#7
Unit 1
Archery
Sept 12 – 25th
7.0%
#8
Unit 27
Archery
Sept 12 – 25th
9.4%
#9
Unit 23
Early Rifle
Sept 26 – Oct 2
0.9%
Archery
Sept 12 – 25th
4.5%
#10 Unit 23S
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Page 9
Arizona Antelope
Sleepers – If you are a stud with a lot of time the Top Units listed above, have late season hunts. If you do
your homework and prescout you have the chance to take one of these monster bull with 5 or 6 bonus points
instead of 10 – 16. One problem is that they may have broken horns!
Like I said before Arizona Elk is second to none in quality, but the draw odds make it tough. Know that even
getting the tag doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a gimme hunt. Unit 9, which is one of the best units in the state
is flat and full of pine trees. You can’t glass, so it’s still hunting, waiting at water holes, or going to the bugle. Some units are a lot rougher terrain that others. Unit 19 is desert terrain with lower density of elk. Unit
27 is remote and rugged. So there is something for everyone.
Look at the appendix T to see more information on each top unit.
World Record Antelope
Arizona
Page 10
R O C KY M T N H U N T E R N E W S L E T T E R
Arizona Top 10 Antelope Units
Units
2012 Draw Odds
#1 Unit 19B
Rifle
Sept 12 – 18
.7%
#2 Unit 5B
Rifle
Sept 5 – 14
.6%
#3 Unit 10
Rifle
Sept 5 – 14
1.0%
#4 Unit 9
Rifle
Sept 5 – 14
.8%
#5 Unit 7
Rifle
Sept 5 – 14
1.0%
#6 Unit 19A
Archery
Aug 8 – 21
4.8%
#7 Unit 5B
Archery
Aug 22 – Sept 4
3.2%
#8 Unit 10
Archery
Aug 22 – Sept 4
7.9%
#9 Unit 9
Archery
Aug 22 – Sept 4
3.5%
#10 Unit 7
Archery
Aug 22 – Sept 4
2.8%
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Page 11
Wyoming
Dave Woodhouse—WY
Goliath—200 incher
Page 12
R O C KY M T N H U N T E R N E W S L E T T E R
About—Wyoming
Cody Parker 16” Wyoming Antelope
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Page 13
Wyoming—Deer
Kimball Parker
180 Class Wyoming Muley
Page 14
R O C KY M T N H U N T E R N E W S L E T T E R
Wyoming—Elk
Kimball Parker
Monster Wyoming Bull
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Page 15
Wyoming—Antelope
Lindsay Parker
Beautiful Wyoming Antelope
Page 16
R O C KY M T N H U N T E R N E W S L E T T E R
Wyoming—Sheep, Goat, and Moose
Lindsay Parker
36” Wyoming Moose
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Page 17
Rocky Mountain Hunter Newsletter
The Rocky Mountain Hunter Newsletter was founded in 1996. The mission of this newsletter is to help the average hunter realize their hunting
R O C K Y MT N H U N T E R N E W S L E T T E R
dreams. We wade through the mountains of information and distill it down
to the most critical information to help hunters take the best game in the
2689 East Wild Mare Way
Heber City, UT 84032
world. We have reps from every state that you can call and ask questions
regarding their neck of the woods. We have reps for every species of big
Phone: 555-555-5555
Fax: 555-555-5555
E-mail: [email protected]
game—they are experts in these species. We specialize in the west but will
be growing to cover the U.S. and eventually the world! Join the Rocky
Mountain Hunter Newsletter today!
We help make your big game
hunting dreams come true!
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Go to our website below and sign up today. Or call us at the number listed
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Next Months Issue— Utah, New Mexico & Oregon
Next months cover story is
Gordon Bateman’s 200
class muzzleloader muley
taken in Utah! This may be
the best muzzleloader buck
taken in 2013!
Learn how to hunt Columbia
Blacktail in Oregon OTC
(Over-the-counter)
Utah—Deer, Elk, & Antelope
Utah—Once-in-a-lifetime
Species
Gordon is or state rep for
California!
Don’t miss another issue subscribe today!
Learn where the best Deer,
Elk, and Antelope Units are
in New Mexico
Gordon Bateman 200 class
Utah Muzzleloader Muley