Hunter Griffin Hall and his Borderland Trophy
Arizona and New Mexico offer opportunities to hunt many different big game species. And judging by the sheer number of elk, antelope, and deer entered in the Boone and Crocket, and Pope and Young record books, The Southwest is one of the best states for a chance to kill a trophy animal.
Arizona’s big game species include:
- Desert mule deer
- Rocky Mountain mule deer
- Coues whitetail deer
- Rocky Mountain elk
- Pronghorn antelope
- Desert bighorn sheep
- Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep
- Buffalo
- Black bear
- Mountain lion
- Javelina
- Merriams turkey
- Goulds turkey
The privilege of hunting most big game species in Arizona is obtained through a lottery draw system. Applicants are issued random numbers based on the number of bonus points they have acquired through unsuccessful draws in the past. The draw system is somewhat complicated, but allows for statistical strategies to improve your odds of successfully drawing a tag. We recommend you contact us prior to the draw application deadline for a consultation regarding your draw opportunity. Because of the bonus point and draw procedures, it is not enough to simply look at the draw odds for a particular hunt. A careful analysis of the entire draw process, including the bonus passes and historic bonus point selections can improve your odds. Let us analyze your situation, consider your goals, and make recommendations to improve your draw odds.
The good news is that not all hunting opportunities in Arizona require a successful draw. Both mule deer and Coues deer can be hunted with bow and arrow by purchasing an over the counter archery tag. Additionally, there are general “non-permit” tags available for bears, mountain lions, and turkey. Some of Arizona’s species, such as javelina, have hunts with 100% draw rates.
In New Mexico we hunt:
- Elk
- Antelope
- Desert Mule Deer
- Rocky Mountain Mule Deer
- Coues Deer
- Bear
- Merriam’s Turkey
- Persian Ibex
- Barbary Sheep (Aoudad)
Many New Mexico Big Game tags are allocated through the state lottery system. We provide consultation and application services to all of our hunters, to ensure you receive the tag you want.
We also have LandOwner tags on public and private land. Trophy Elk, Monster Mule Deer, Book Antelope, and 30″ Barbary Sheep can all be hunted without drawing a tag. Call us, and we will find you the right tag! We have access to just over 300,000 acres of private land in New Mexico, allowing us to tailor a hunt to your needs.
