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We couldn't make it out on opening day due to school and sports. After practice on Friday we loaded up the jumping jack and headed out into the rain for the weekend. We got about 3/4 inch of rain on Friday so the drive in to camp was sloppy and a whole ball of fun for the tacoma. Saturday we covered a lot of country with no luck in the prime glassing time. The morning had no sun and the rain was coming and going. The temperature was warm and that kept the javelina in the flats. We changed strategy and went where we can glass a large flat area. We quickly found a herd feeding but no way to landmark the spot. I tried a new trick, I marked where I was on ONx maps and then I marked a mountain that was 5 miles away, the herd was somewhere along that line I marked on the app. We parked and started walking in, only took bout 30 minutes til we found their digs. The wind was wrong and the herd was 60 yards away, couldn't get a shot and they boogied out. That afternoon my son said he enjoyed tracking javelina in the mud and it was more exciting than glassing. I went to another spot in the flats and we followed fresh tracks for several hours but couldn't catch up to the herd. Sunday morning was clear and sunny and we had high hopes. I started glassing early before the sun rise to see what coues bucks were rutting in the area. It took less than 1 minute of glassing and a herd was spotted on the move. We made the mile stalk to where they were, took our time and picked out the largest looking male and Colby made a great shot. All in all we got 1.5 inches of rain during the hunt which was great to see.

Hadn’t seen much rut activity this Jan until a week ago. After a few days of rain I found 14 bucks all w does. Too many deer on the Mnt to even get in there and hunt one of them. Came back a week later and saw a buck stand up at 8Am w 3 does. Range was 1500 yards. Got the spotter out to check the details. 3x3=go time. Made a plan to get half way and try to relocate. From that spot I couldn’t see into the cut he was working down. I glassed one of his does and decided to close the distance to see if I would be able to see into that cut and maybe make a play. Got to the skyline of that cut with perfect wind and some cover I was able to see the buck behind an ocotillo. Range was 82 yards. I knocked an arrow and dialed the slider to 82. If he steps out I will get a chance. 1 well placed arrow and he ran for 2 seconds. Made a trip to the truck to drop all my gear and hiked back to process him and pack out. I could not be happier. I’ve been trying to do a solo spot and stalk Coues for 10 years now.

Shot on November 5, 2025 in rifle season on public land. First mule deer for me.

I'd rather be unproductive all day and check my account every 5 minutes.

I have a nice pair I bought my boy around that age and are like new. You are welcome to come get them. I even have a small bino harness for them. All yours if you’d like.

strike mission was a success. Rolled down Saturday morning, came back Sunday night. Pretty good size corvinas. I did ok but my buddies were hammering them on Japanese baits. Gonna make a huge vat of ceviche

San Carlos Yesterday. Brought a few home . I hate keeping bass. But my Daughter begged me to bring some home. Looks like fish tacos and coleslaw with corn fritters and fries. Mmmm Biggest fish there was 7.14 next two where just over 6. Next one was just under 6,and the last 3 bass where between 3.5 and 4.5. and a 2.3 Crappie. All caught on a Berkley square billed red crank bait. Caught 3 crappie and 13 bass. Smallest bass was 2.7.

Can we get back to the classified adds please....?

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My biggest buck an Az archery otc

The draw process - waiting on charges or not then finding out what unit - is a big component of hunting - then scouting...looking at maps is a lot of fun. I think the prep for me is almost as fun as the hunt

I, Nostradamus, predict the draw will be held upon2/18....

Killin yotes is more productive!

Shitt I thought you were selling weed or something.. 😁

Rest in peace brother! Gonna watch Lonesome Dove tonight!

After 22 years without an elk tag I’ll probably stroke out Wednesday morning if I get a card hit!!

This is my year. I'm horribly out of shape and haven't shot my bow in two years.

But can you tuna fish? (Sorry..... lol)

That’s where we got this one 2024. He was pretty sick buck.

Now wait a minute boys, let’s not jump to conclusions. Rumor has it he invested $10,000 5 years ago with world renowned investment genius, Ilhan Omar.

Man what a blessed week! To have the opportunity to go to desert. Have you guys seen the desert lately? So beautiful! Beautiful weather! And to have the ability to harvest a beautiful buck, man I'm...I have no words, I'm just so thankful! Then I go to one of the metro units and took a javalina with my bow! Wow! Happy Birthday to me I guess! Thank you Lord for the opportunity and the ability!

Careful...If you have or share pictures of an unlawfully taken buck, can you be charged?

wont crash, data centers will take it to the moon. I give my grand kids a Oz everytime there on the honor roll. There kicking butt for 6&8 year olds

Everybody has a Rzr, Can-Am or other utv now days and the desert is covered with people. We used to have the area we hunt pretty much to ourselves and the hunting was great. This last rifle hunt, there was a camp with 15 or 16 tags and they were like cockroaches out there. Just running all over the place. Not one of them saw a deer but we found one area that looked like the Baja ran through there and found deer tracks bouncing where they had clearly jumped some bucks and didn’t see them. I know people hunting the 45 units that are notorious for avoiding people and the road hunters are out in full force this archery season. I wish we could go back to times before Covid where all these people used to be indoors 🤣

Not that simple. I think this case was wrongly decided, partially due to some poorly written law, and partially due to Nick Debaca being ratted out by the hunter. The hunter was the one who squeezed the trigger, and should have manned up and done the right thing. By the way, Marsha Petrie Sue voted against the revocation, so it was not unanimous. That should tell us something. 1. I agree, the terrain along some of the roads in 34a is such that it would be very difficult to shoot off the edge of the road unless you had practiced with shooting sticks; 2. On this hunt, Mr. Adams was apparently the guide of record, although the signed contract was probably with the company, so any of the licensed guides could have been the "official" guide; 3. There were 4 citations issued, 1- to Mr. Adams (possession of meat), 1- to Mr. Olieto (possession of meat), 1- to the hunter (shooting from a road) and 1- to Mr. Debaca (possession of scalp and antlers of unlawfully taken deer). The charges against the first two guides were dropped because the officer who issued the citation was away on military duty and therefore unable to testify. The charge against the raffle tag winner Mr. Best, was dropped or reduced as he pled guilty, but through the practice known as "diversion" implicated one of the guides, Mr. Debaca, as being partially responsible for his taking the shot from the location he did. As Mr. Debaca stated, he was not anywhere near the hunter Mr. Best, as he set up for the shot, rather he was glassing the deer from another location in anticipation of the shot. And finally, Mr. Debaca who was not the guide of record, and was primarily along to watch how the hunt would play out with an opportunity for a rifle harvest of a quality Coues buck, was issued a citation for possession. Due to "strict liability" the citation for possession had to go to someone. Additionally, Mr. Debaca got some bad advice with respect to the 180 day timeframe with respect to affirmation that AZGFD was going notify whether or not they would assume jurisdiction. He never heard one way or the other and therefor assumed there would be no revocation hearing and he would just have the misdemeanor conviction, and could continue guiding after the "1 year penalty period" which as stated by the investigator Mr. Foley, was actually a 5 year window for a prior conviction. We all know sometimes life does crappy things to us. This whole thing looks to me like a perfect storm of being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people, and in the gray area of the law. I have hunted with Nick Debaca. He is an excellent guide and a good man. It is shameful that got caught up and railroaded which is exactly what happened, and will result in him being unfairly penalized in numerous ways. If any of the folks involved walk away with a clear conscience, maybe they are fooling themselves. That little nagging voice might be there for a long time. Hopefully Nick Debaca can bounce back and continue with his guiding business at some point in the future, but in the meantime, let this be a word to the wise for all of us.