5A Early Rifle Elk predictions

foundation · Jan 25, 2023

The new this year early rifle hunts for 5A, and 5B elk hunts have caught my attention. Huntinfool describes the units as having the possibility of up to 340 type bulls during the early rifle hunts. So far the research I'm finding is making me doubt the claims of 340 type bulls, unless that's the very top end for the unit. Any predictions on what size upper end bulls will be harvested? If I'm reading huntinfool correctly there will be 24 tags in A and 24 in B. Will there be 1 non resident tag in the bonus pass? I have 23 non resident points and wondering if I'm dreaming to have a chance or wasting points since we don't know how many points it could possibly take. Would love to hear from hunters that have experience in 5 for elk. Thanks

HikeHunt61 · Jan 25, 2023

I can't imagine 5A/5B not having 340 type bulls. I haven't been there in a couple years, but 340 cannot be a stretch at all. It's better than the unit this bull was in last year- and I'm pretty sure he's in that class.

JDECK · Jan 25, 2023

There will be a nonresident tag in the bonus pass. All the similar early rifle hunts took at least 25 points last year.

CouesFanatic · Jan 25, 2023

A lot of 280-310 bulls, finding one past 310 will be a chore. Bull quality has decreased lately. If you have a lot of points stick to 9, 10, 3a/3c , 23 or 1.

HikeHunt61 · Jan 25, 2023

CouesFanatic said:
A lot of 280-310 bulls, finding one past 310 will be a chore. Bull quality has decreased lately. If you have a lot of points stick to 9, 10, 3a/3c , 23 or 1.

Can't argue those units...

I used to spend tons of time in 6A, 5BN/S, and they had some seriously nice bulls. Maybe the last 5 years have changed a bunch...

CouesFanatic · Jan 25, 2023

The big bulls are still there, just much less common than they used to be. Too many tags IMO

saddlesorerider · Jan 25, 2023

I owned property in 5BS and have hunted both units. Most of the bulls are 280-310. I'm sure there is a few 340's out there but they are rare. A lot of young bulls get killed in those units and never get a chance to grow big.

AZGuy · Jan 26, 2023

Foundation,
B is the better unit. 340 is 100% realistic, also as someone else said 300-320 is what is common, don’t disagree, but there will be 360-380 bulls killed on that hunt. That hunt would be a freaking blast.

Jayman · Jan 26, 2023

They are there get away from the lakes and roads go as remote as you can. I met up with a bull over 360 last year during archery and he came home with me.

msolocam · Jan 26, 2023

The bull we killed on the last 5b early rifle tag. There’s some good bulls around.

yotebuster17 · Jan 26, 2023

There isn’t a unit in AZ where a 340 isn’t a chance on a September rifle hunt. If I had that tag I wouldn’t take the safety off for anything under 360. The genetics are there, age maybe not so much but AZ can turn out 350 bulls at 6-7yr old easily with good moisture which they have. Unless you’ve got an absolute pile of points and have your pick of the entire state it would be an unbeatable hunt. I think too often people look at the HF and epic numbers as gospel. I’ve seen a 340 bull in every unit I’ve been in in AZ and that includes the worst of the worst units.

270Whatelse · Jan 26, 2023

Anything under 350 would be a letdown in these units if you know what your doing

DVLFAN · Jan 26, 2023

On last years youth elk hunt we came across a heard of about 40 and the herd bull was all of 360! There were two other 6x6s that you could really tell the size difference between the three bulls. Get away from people and you will find them.

muleylover · Jan 26, 2023

How are these units for the Late hunts? looking more at 5B

CouesFanatic · Jan 26, 2023

675 tags on the late hunt in 5B, 339 for 5A. Both crowded late hunts. You could dig up a big bull somewhere but odds are more towards a 260-300 bull. Big ones are there, but you will work for it. I've had both of these archery hunts in the past few years and those are crowded as well. Been disappointed since they added 25 more archery tags in 5BN a few years back. 5A we run into people everywhere. Theres more areas to get off the roads in 5BS or 5BN. 5A is a tall narrow unit, roads everywhere.

foundation · Jan 26, 2023

Thanks everyone. Very good information for me to consider. Not ready to make a decision yet, but this will help me decide

yotebuster17 · Jan 26, 2023

foundation said:
Thanks everyone. Very good information for me to consider. Not ready to make a decision yet, but this will help me decide

How many points you sittin on?!?

foundation · Jan 26, 2023

yotebuster17 said:
How many points you sittin on?!?

23 non resident elk points. I have similar points in Colorado and may do Colorado and put Arizona on the back burner for a couple of years until I can have a better chance at a top tier. Just exploring all my options.

yotebuster17 · Jan 27, 2023

foundation said:
23 non resident elk points. I have similar points in Colorado and may do Colorado and put Arizona on the back burner for a couple of years until I can have a better chance at a top tier. Just exploring all my options.

If you’re dead set on an early rifle tag I would try for 4b early rifle. You probably still won’t catch it but you’d be close. I don’t think you’ll be in the same zip code on any earlynrifle tags in the 5’s. It all depends on what you’re after. There’s a pretty good pile of people ahead of you so I’d say you’re 12-20 years out on “top tier” early rifle units. Essentially some folks have to get cold feet and burn points or die.
So I guess to answer your question, if you were to pull either early rifle tag in the 5’s you would by no means be wasting points. If you’re looking for true top end bulls, I’d draw late rifle in 23 and hire an outfitter. I did that this year and killed a 373” bull and had a great hunt. It would be a tough hunt to just show up and try to kill a big one especially from out of state but they’re there.

muleylover · Jan 30, 2023

CouesFanatic said:
675 tags on the late hunt in 5B, 339 for 5A. Both crowded late hunts. You could dig up a big bull somewhere but odds are more towards a 260-300 bull. Big ones are there, but you will work for it. I've had both of these archery hunts in the past few years and those are crowded as well. Been disappointed since they added 25 more archery tags in 5BN a few years back. 5A we run into people everywhere. Theres more areas to get off the roads in 5BS or 5BN. 5A is a tall narrow unit, roads everywhere.

Thanks for the info!

Tinyturtle · Feb 6, 2023

Sent you a pm

Joe2Kool · Mar 18, 2023

foundation said:
Thanks everyone. Very good information for me to consider. Not ready to make a decision yet, but this will help me decide

What did you decide? Regardless if you applied for AZ or CO, hope you kill a big 'un!

foundation · Mar 29, 2023

Joe2Kool said:
What did you decide? Regardless if you applied for AZ or CO, hope you kill a big 'un!

Decided to try for Colorado, and didnt draw my shoot for the moon choices in Arizona. Want to say I put in for 9 or 10 rifle. Decided I built so many points up, I'm holding out for a top tier unit.

yotebuster17 · Mar 29, 2023

foundation said:
Decided to try for Colorado, and didnt draw my shoot for the moon choices in Arizona. Want to say I put in for 9 or 10 rifle. Decided I built so many points up, I'm holding out for a top tier unit.

I hope you’re under 40!!!