I as an avid Elk Hunter since early 1990, have seen the diminishing quality of both the Hunt and Quality of Bull elk throughout Arizona. I have been on both early and late hunts since 1990 and can't explain the amount of people in the field and traveling the roads during these hunts. Diminishing both the experience of the hunt, and the true potential of harvesting a Bull Elk. We need to address several issues confronting the amount of people and tags allowed during these hunts. I understand the Arizona game and fish needs to generate income from tags and licenses. I recommend we go back to the permits allowed during the 1990's which is more than half currently being issued. I also recommend we increase the permit cost to allow the same income generated as current. The following example would raise our potential price to $364.31 per tag. The following scenario is current tags allowed with income generated in a general Elk unit in Northern Arizona.

 Late Season rifle Elk Tag/Permits- 500  

Archery Rut Elk hunt Tags/Permits-250

Archery Late Elk Hunt Tags/Permits -50 

Total Income Generated with Hunting License and Permit cost= $148,000

New Proposed scenario 

 Late Season rifle Elk Tag/Permits- 200 

Archery Rut Elk hunt Tags/Permits- 100

Archery Late Elk Hunt Tags/Permits- 25 

Hunting License fees would remain the same, Permit Tag cost for Bull Elk would increase to $364.31 We would generate the same amount of income with less tags and give a Father and Son a true Arizona Elk hunting experience and rebuild Arizonas known Trophy genetics and quality.