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Lark with the antelope he shot in Colorado.

 Editor's note:  I have known Lark for years, although I am sorry to say I haven't spent anytime in the field with him.  Lark is a favorite in the forum because he has a depth of knowledge, a straightforward way of speaking and isn't afraid to share his opinion.  He writes with his own very different style which I call "Lark speak".  Most people find it amusing, some find it annoying, but either way he usually has something interesting to say.  Thanks for your excellent contributions to the forum over the years Lark!

CouesWhitetail.com Member Spotlight  - Lark Hubbard

1. What is your name?  How about your user name in the forum and how did you choose it?  

 Lark Hubbard.  user name is .270.  been shooting one for decades and my favorite rifle is an old model 70 that I’ve had for about 35 years.  bought it in the old army surplus store in safford.  it is older than I am.  My dad has used a .270 for about 60 years and it always worked for him.  They are also quite easy to load for and get good accuracy.  And you can neck down an ’06 to make brass real easy.  For America, they are as good as anything. 

2. What is your favorite part of CouesWhitetail.com (the forum, photogallery, recipes, hunt strategies section, biology section, etc.)?

      the guys are my favorite part.  For the most part they’re a buncha ignernt idjuts but at least most of the guys get me and will put up with a little jokin’ and maybe listen to some sage advice.  There’s nothing wrong with being ignernt.  Doesn’t mean you’re stupid, just means ya don’t know anything, yet.  I figger a few more years o’ listening to me they’ll finally wise up and realize how smart I truly am.  There will be a big run on .270’s at the gun store then.  This sight is made up of folks with a common interest who are quite dedicated to hunting hard and have a good sense of what is right.  I like the forum a lot.   Fun to see what folks are up to and hear about their experiences.  The photos are cool too.   

3. How did you first hear about CouesWhitetail.com?  How long have you been a member?

          I was coming down the Coronado trail with a horse trailer, a horse and a mule, all our gear and a 7x7 bull.  Loaded heavy and was really having to use the brakes.  Hit a little straight stretch that wasn’t too steep about where the bear pen trail takes off and was letting the truck breath a little.  There was a blue dodge pickup on the side of the road with a big COUSEWHITETAIL.COM sticker in the back window.  I looked at it wondering what it was about and the jerk idiot pulled right out in front of me and I had to swerve to miss him and almost wrecked.  My horse fell down in the trailer and I had to stop and get him up, while the guy in the truck just drove away like nothing happened.  I remembered the name and went to the sight to see if I could find who the moron was that almost killed us.  That was 5 or 6 years ago I think.  Hell, I can’t remember. 

4. How often do you visit the site?  How much time do you spent each visit and what do you do on the site?

         Whenever I’m around.  if I’m around the house I look at it most days.  But I go weeks at a time in weird places that don’t even have cell phone coverage, much less a computer.   If I never saw a computer again it wouldn’t bother me too much.  It’d just mean I was in the hills.  When I do cruise the sight I see what’s new and see if I can offer my superior intellect to the situation.  Or see if I can screw things up completely.  Whatever.  My main goal is to have a little fun and maybe try to help guys see what is real and what ain’t.  

5. Have you met any other members of the site?  Who are they and have you become friends with them and perhaps gone hunting with them?   Have you introduced some of your friends to CouesWhitetail.com?  Have you attended any of the CouesWhitetail.com Get-togethers?

            I met Amanda for a few minutes at the hunting expo at the cowpie (cardinal’s stadium).  Till some long winded guy got in the way and wouldn’t move.  Met Allen Taylor at the “I HATE USO AND WISH THEY WERE DEAD” meeting at the game and fish building by the coliseum.  Met a couple guys in a canyon by diamond point in elk season a couple years ago, but I can’t remember their names.  Seems like I  met some other guys too, but it mighta just been a bad dream after a head cheese samwich too.    

6. How long have you been hunting Coues deer?  Describe your favorite Coues Deer hunting memory.

        First time I went whitetail hunting I was 7.  My dad took me and my little brother, he was 3, archery deer hunting in unit 31 near taylor canyon. I suspect he couldn’t get outta baby sitting and took us along because it was his only option that included hunting that day.  We walked a fair piece up a canyon, my ol’ man carrying my little brother.  He spotted a buck and told me to take my brother and head for a little saddle above us and wait.  I remember I saw a snake and got scared so I picked up my brother and ran to the saddle.  After we go there I could see pop sneaking around in the brush and stuff.  he climbed up on a pile of rocks and I saw him draw his old bear grizzly recurve and shoot directly below him and a buck came running out of the brush with fletches and part of the arrow sticking out of its back.  That is burned into my mind.  Took awhile, but we tracked down the buck and he gutted it out, tied the front legs to the back and put  it on his shoulders and we headed to the truck.   It was a forkhorn.  We were walking down a wash near the truck and up jumped a big bobcat.  Instead of running off it stood on a rock a little ways away.  I was carrying the bow and I handed it to my dad and he knocked an arrow and stuck the cat to a mesquite.  Killed it graveyard dead.  I thought my dad was the greatest hunter ever.  Screw Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett.  Them guys ain’t got nothin’ on Rex Hubbard. 

7. Do you archery hunt Coues or rifle hunt or both?  Tell us about the equipment you use.

Coues deer is about the only thing I’ve never killed with a bow.  chased em all over the place, but never got one.  all of them I’ve killed have been with a rifle.  Killed several with a .270.  biggest one I ever shot was with a .264 winchester.  Shot one other one with a .250/3000 savage.  

         I use what works.  Don’t care much for fads.  So much of it is pure BS.  Scent eliminator clothing, scent eliminator sprays, doe in heat juice, terrain specific camo, etc, is just made to sell.  Keeping the wind in your favor and wearing dark or dull clothes and keeping the shadows is what works.  The other stuff makes folks think they’re invisible, and they ain’t.  another thing I hate is gore tex.  It’s great when it’s wet, but this is Arizona.  When was the last time you had a problem with your feet getting wet?  I have a pair of insulated goretex boots I wear when I need them and paks for when I’m in the snow.  But try to go to town and get a good pair o’ boots without goretex.  The stuff cooks my feet.  

        I usually hunt with a .270.  my favorite one is an old pre-64 model 70 winchester, made in 1947.  Has a 3.5x10 varix III leupold on it with the old weaver rings,  I’ve shot the same handload for about 25 years.  140 gr hornady btsp interlocks, all the Hogdon H-4350 I can get in it and cci magnum primers.  I’ve shot this particular rifle thousands of times and It’s getting a little tired, but it will still shoot under an inch at 100.  A lot of emphasis is put on premium bullets.   Only thing I can see where they’re better is that they cost more and make the retailer more money.  I use these interlocks in everything expect varmint rifles and have never had one perform less that excellent.  Usually always find them wadded up under the skin on the offside.  Flat as a pancake.  All the energy goes into the animal that way.  I hate all copper bullets.  Seems like every time I hunt with somebody that used them it turns into a tracking job.  And after a good shot too.  if I was going to hunt brown bears, I might use something a little different.  But I truly hope I never shoot another bear of any kind, so I guess I won’t ever need them.  Any good jacketed bullet works well.  Don’t care a lot for plastic bullets, but they do have use and I use them in certain situations.  But not for big animals. 

      I use a .264 mag a lot.  The one I shoot a lot is a model 70 with a 6x16 weaver scope.  Shoots 100 grain hornadys.  In Farkiller, my .300, I use 165 grain interlocks.  It has a leupold 6.5x20x44 varix III with a custom reticle and turret that is calibrated to 1000 yards.  Put a new schnieder barrel on it too.  really fun to shoot.  And I shoot .223’s, .22/250’s, .243’s, ‘06’s, etc, etc, etc.  I like all guns.  Except 7mm/08’s.  they are a communist plot and the only gun approved by tree huggers, because they won’t kill nothin’. 

    As far as optics, I carried some of the original leupold 9x35’s for over 20 years.  loved them.  Finally knocked the prisms lose banging them around on the saddle and my kids bought me some meopta 10x40’s a couple years ago.   Really like them.  I have an old 30x60 leupold spotting scope that is mounted on and old rifle stock.  I call it big eye.  Really handy to use that way.  Also have a leica range finder. 

     I’m a very competent marksman.  My dad was damn good when he was younger.  In the army he was a sharpshooter of some note, winning a lot of competitions.  He was really good on the pop up range with targets of an unknow distance, using an M-1.  He  passed a lot of his knowledge and tricks on to me and I’ve tried to expand on it.  Taught me a lot of good stuff about reloading and how make a gun accurate.  Also taught me lot about hitting running game.  Pretty much a lost art now.  I shot a coyote on the run at around 350 the other day.  My buddy Willy commented that I could still shoot.  Made me feel good.       

As far as boots and stuff, whatever I can find with no stinkin’ goretex that are tough and as light as possible.  I try to get lace up boots that are saddle friendly, will hold a spur, and you can walk good in.   I like levi’s, wranglers and long john under wear when it’s cold.  Goose down coats when it’s really cold.  Carharts for everything else.      

In my hunting career one of the most important pieces of equipment is a good horse with a good saddle.  I got hurt real bad in car wreck a couple years ago and it has really hampered my riding.  But I still keep a good horse or mule around and use them quite a bit.         

8.      What other species do you enjoy hunting and where do you hunt them?

      I’ll hunt anything with anything.  If they had a season where you had to use a busted wine bottle, I’d go.  I’ve taken about everything Arizona has with rifles, muzzleloaders, bows and pistols.  Only thing I’ve never killed in Arizona are bighorns and bison. Everything but pronghorn and coues with a bow.  called in bears and lions and killed em.  Shot em up a tree too.  I really like to hunt muleys in the desert.  Like to find a track and follow it until they still have hooves in em and then shoot em on the run.  I’m a good elk hunter and have shot and helped other shoot many, many bulls.  But saying you’re a good elk hunter, at least in Arizona, doesn’t mean much.  They aren’t near us tough to hunt as deer.  The really big bulls tend to get in really rough steep country where few folks get and that presents a problem, but once you get where they are, they aren’t particularly hard to find and shoot.  Plus they are really a blast to hunt in the rut.  Last bull I killed with a bow was so close he was blowing snot on my glasses when he bugled before I stuck him.  My youngest son killed a 375 inch 7x7 with his bow that past fall.  That was a great time in the woods.  I love to call coyotes.  Don’t even know how many I’ve shot.  I’d guess well over 500, but maybe less than a thousand.  Shot a buncha bobcats.  Shot 4 together once.  Foxes, coati mundi, badgers.  Hell, I’m a regular plague on animals.  I even ran a badger down and killed it with a rock once.  But that was when I could still run and throw a rock.  I don’t even know how many deer I’ve shot.  Getting close to 50 just in Arizona.  Couple dozen bull elk or more.      

     My dad is really old and beat up and I spend a lot of time trying to get him a shot every year in deer season.  He punked my lame butt around when I was kid so now I’m trying repay him.  He gets a buck most years.  with his old .270.    

     One of my favorite folks to hunt with is my aunt.  My mom’s little sister.  She’s well past 70 now and can still really go.  She got a pronghorn and a bull elk tag in Az. this year and is really looking forward to this fall.  

     For many years I had a pack of hounds and gave the lions hell.  Ran a bear on a occasion, but I really liked to hunt lions.  Especially on dry ground.  Takes some good dogs to trail a lion with no snow.   

     I really like to hunt javelina, but seldom shoot one.  just getting out of town with my boys and our friends the Naegles is a great time.   

     Turkeys are another critter that I truly love to hunt.  Just got back from a trip with 2 of my boys and some good friends, big John and Willy.  Had a great time.  shot several gobblers and caught a buncha trout.  Dusted a coyote too.   

      Pronghorn are an incredible animal.  I’ve only had one Arizona tag and shot a good one.  Have shot them in other states also.  Me and 2 of my boys went to Colorado last year and had a superb time.  I would love to hunt them every year.   

      I love to hunt quail too, when the population is up.  That’s another great time with my boys and our friends.  Quail, sourdough biscuits and gravy.  Toss in some pals and you’ve got a helluva meal. 

      I’ve hunted and fished from mexico to Alaska.  Most of it in the 4 corners.  I can have fun just watching critters too.  someday I hope can get an Arizona sheep tag. 

9. Now tell us some more about yourself.   Where do you live?  What type of work do you do (feel free to mention your business so other members can help support it)?   Tell us about your family.

         I’m a 5^th generation Arizonan.  My ancestors wandered into the territory shortly before the civil war.  Used to be a little community on the north side of the Gila called Hubbard.  I was raised in a little town called Pima.  my wife and I moved our little family, at the time, to springerville, in late 70’s and lived there over 20 years.  Carol and I have been married for over 35 years.  we have 5 kids.  Gunner, Lark, Holly, Matt and Bridger.  Lark died in a car wreck 15 years ago.  The rest of them all live near us in the east valley.  We live in Creen Queek, where we’ve been for the last 11 years.  Gunner and Holly are married to Shawna and Bernie, respectively.  I retired from SRP after 31 years last July and just bum around.  when I ain’t hunting, fishing, shooting, camping, reloading, pounding on leather or building something.  I got me a little jack russel named Bullitt awhile back and spend a lot of time teaching bad habits too. 

We raised our kids in the outdoors.  Hunting, fishing and camping.  Hiking, nature watching, picnicking.  Tried to teach them a true appreciation for what God made for us.  My boys are hunters with few peers.  Especially when it comes to being willing and able to get into and out of bad country with big animals on a pack frame.     

I’m a master leathersmith.  I have built saddles and stuff, but prefer to make hunting gear, like scabbards, holsters, saddlebags, tack, optics cases, and slings.  Stuff like that.  Also make a lot of custom purses and belts and stuff.  I’m artsy as hell.  Even surprise myself sometimes, I’m so crafty.  

I’m also a real good welder and metal fabricator.  Made my living for many years as a high pressure pipe welder.  Now I just make stuff I need.  Just finished a cool rocking chair made outta nothing but old horse and mule shoes.  It’s pretty neat.  Just took 114 shoes, couple dozen sticks of 6011 and the best kinda lubrication.  Elbow grease.   

Me and my boys hunt a lot.  My best years were awhile back so I spend most of time watching my boys surprise me at how tough and strong they are and remembering how strong and tough I used to be.  I have a granddaughter now (who is named Lark) and a grandson (Orion will be his name) on the way.  So I have a whole new crop o’ younguns to ruin.   

We eat everything we kill.  We process all the meat ourselves.  Cut it, grind it, make sausage, brats, jerky, etc and wrap it up and freeze it.  Deer, elk, pronghorn, turkey, fish, even javelinas.  If you won’t eat something, don’t shoot it.  Or find someone who will.  Also like fish, quail, geese, it doesn’t matter.  Even an occasional bear or lion.  My daughter won’t kill anything, but she loves game meat.  And has no problem with getting right in there with a skinning or butcher knife.   Her and her husband are really into staying in shape and iron man stuff and eating healthy.  There ain’t nothin’ healthier than deer, elk, pronghorn, fish, turkey, quail, etc.    

Been a cowboy my whole life.  Not in the arena either.  I don’t recall I a time in my life I didn’t have at least one horse.  My granddad was a cowboy and I spent every minute I could get away from the farm with him.  Since then I never turn down a chance to punch cows.  Ridin’, ropin’, brandin’, all that stuff.  not much with a rope since I had my right shoulder replaced a year ago.  But I still try.  My cousin, who is also a real good friend, owns a large ranch on eagle creek and I spend as much time as I can there.  It’s a great place.  

Personally, I see some troubling times for outdoorsy folks.  Especially in the west.  We get hammered by everyone and then we all fight with each other too.  I see a lot of folks do some truly great things too.  but it seems to me that there are some really selfish folks out there that only care about their success and their opportunity to brag about it.   True wildlife conservation needs to be paramount in the mind of anyone who likes to hunt.  How can we reach out to others to show them that what we do is ok when we fight with each other?  I see the endangered species act as nothing but a political tool to use to pry folks off the land.   I truly believe that the “endangered” species are not even secondary to their goals.  The Mexican wolf program is a joke.  It never had a chance.  Mainly because there aren’t any.  But also because it’s a stupid program ran by even stupider people.  True joint use should be what we strive for.  Hunters, anglers, loggers, ranchers, farmers, hikers, bird watchers, campers.  There is room for all and all should be interested in what the others do, not just in what they like best.  The outdoors is a big place and it is one neat place too.  folks shouldn’t want to hog it all.  We all need to work toward getting others interested in the outdoors and all it offers.  I see troubling traits in wildlife and forest management.  Too many agendas other than true conservation.  Too many folks with hidden motives.  This jaguar deal has the markings of a fiasco too.  just have to wait and see.  I’ll get off the box now.                

10.  Is there something we forgot to ask?  What’s your favorite hunting quote?  Favorite hunting book?  Other outdoor activities you enjoy?

I like to be outside.  Love to see new country.   Hunting or fishing or just critter watching.  As long I’m with family or friends, it’s a good time.  My favorite hunting books are anything by Pat Mcmanus.  Books about “hunting” are too serious and they always act like there is only way to do things.  I can barely stand hunting shows.  30 minute long commercials filled phony garbage that don’t do anything to take the stupid redneck image away from hunters.  I do kinda like jim shockey, but mainly because of hal and len. 

TR once said, “it should be the goal of every young man to learn to ride hard, shoot straight and tell the truth”.  I can ride as hard and shoot as straight as anybody, but dangit, I like to fish.  

He also said “the greatest prize life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing”.  That is how I live my life.  I work hard at whatever I do.  I abhor lazy or stupid people.  Won’t abide by it period.  Go someplace else.  I won’t put up with ya.   I like to be around happy folks who enjoy life and have a sense of family, friends, religion and country.   Folks like the CW bunch.    

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