Leaderboard

The whole only means of supporting my family excuse is a joke. He can go get a regular job like everyone else. And so can his wife.

I am the opposite, as I think that nice wood even with scratches and dings still looks better than a new piece of plastic with no soul. The scratches also speak of good memories of past hunts. If one is worried about inclimate weather, the wood stock's barrel channel, inletting, checkering and under the recoil pad can be sealed.

I was going through some old articles yesterday and found a couple that you folks might enjoy. THE LAST SHOT was the monthly column I did for AZ HUNTER & ANGLER for several years. This one is from waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back, and I bet some of you can add to it. THE LAST SHOT COPYRIGHT BY TONY MANDILE MURPHY WAS AN OUTDOORSMAN Three decades of roaming the great outdoors in search of fish and game has taught me a lot. I have become familiar with many of Arizona's good hunting and fishing spots. By learning from my mistakes, I have honed my techniques so my successes have occurred regularly. On the other hand, some of my experiences have convinced me Murphy's "anything that can possibly go wrong will go wrong" neatly applies to hunting and fishing. In fact, I have no doubt Murphy was, indeed, an outdoorsman! So, with an air of lightness and humor, I'll relate some of the "Murphyisms" I have gathered over the past 30 years. Some have been my actual experiences, but I refuse to say which ones. (SMILE) First, let's take a look at what I lovingly refer to as the "famous last words list." Most of these were uttered by my hunting and fishing partners, of course. "We won't need that much food. We'll eat some of the fish we catch." "I don't need a compass. I've never been lost in my life." "In 4-wheel drive, my truck can go anywhere." "Don't worry about climbing over it. That barbed-wire fence might look a little shaky, but the staples will hold." "My rifle still should be sighted in from last year." "Yea, I've eaten that kind of wild mushroom before. They're harmless." "We'll take my truck. I just had everything checked out on it." "I'll lend you one of my air mattresses that doesn't leak." "Nah, leave your raingear in camp. The weatherman said it won't rain this weekend." "We'll cook the roast in a pit while we're hunting. When we get back to camp, dinner will be ready." "I never forget the salt and pepper (substitute toilet paper, lantern fuel, forks or any other necessary item)." "Hey, I've had a trainer work with that dog for months. He'll stand rock-solid until you bust out the birds." "Oh yea, it's the gentlest horse in the string. We usually let the kids ride it." "We can leave the food out. I've never seen bears around here." "Heck yes, it's easy; we catch a limit of trout every time." "I sure can't understand how anyone can miss an elk." "Yes, I'm positive I put the plug in the boat." "No, these boots won't leak. They have a lifetime guarantee." Now, here are some probable "Murphyisms" you might encounter if you spend enough time in the outdoors. Wading to a good fishing spot often results in the water being at least an inch higher than your boots or waders. The one time in 15 years a game warden stops at your camp and asks to see your license, you discover it's in your wallet. Unfortunately, the wallet is still on your dresser at home. The rod-tip you step on and break will be attached to your newest, high-priced graphite rod, which you bought on a close-out sale at half-price. If a fish throws a lure as you are getting ready to net it, it never will be a small one. After you've hunted for four days without seeing a buck, a trophy will run across the road just as you leave camp and head for home. Naturally, the sun had set an hour earlier. You travel to a place where the fishing has been outstanding. While you are there, a new Guiness record will be set for the longest period without anyone on the lake getting a bite. While you're out hunting, a heavy rain moves in and you soon discover on your return to camp that the tent leaked. Invariably the one little leak soaked your sleeping bag. The only time anyone ever asks whether you got your deer is when you haven't. If you take your wife fishing, she always will outfish you, regardless of how skilled she is. You bring a new bird-dog pup home and quickly find he likes chewing things. His first chew toy was a new pair of $250 Tony Lama boots. A covey of quail will rise anytime you have your shotgun unloaded to cross a fence line. When you start catching fish on a specific lure, you will snag and lose it. Worst yet, it was the only one in your tackle box. The dealer who sold you the outboard motor stocks over 8,000 parts for it. The one you need, however, is currently out of stock and will take 6 weeks for delivery. This only happens when you're leaving for the lake the next day. The shortcut you take to get back to camp always ends at a steep cliff or impenetrable maze of catclaw. You finally get to camp and discover that your buddies, thinking you would spend the night afield, ate your share of dinner. A good hatch will occur as soon as you climb out of your waders, break down your flyrod and head for the car. If you can't drink your coffee without sugar, you can bet the guy responsible for getting the groceries forgot it. You will drop your tackle box only when you haven't latched the lid tightly. When you take pictures of the biggest fish or the best buck you have ever taken, the photo processor will lose the film. You buy a new baitcasting reel and practice with it for weeks. Then your first cast in front of your guide results in a hopeless bird's nest. As the guide cuts it out with his knife, you notice he isn't smiling. Teach a beginner how to tie a fool-proof knot, and the next fish you hook will untie yours. The novice, no doubt pretending he didn't see it happen, will turn his back. Whoever is cooking breakfast will turn out perfect eggs until it's your turn to eat. Although you ordered sunny-side-up, you will eat scrambled eggs or nothing; all of the eggs are gone. Your outboard motor runs great for the entire 20 miles to the far end of Roosevelt Lake. This is not the case on the return trip, however. You never fall on your rifle scope and knock it out of whack five minutes AFTER you have an opportunity at a good trophy. If you are walking back to camp along a road and someone stops to offer a ride, the vehicle will break down. By the time you get back to camp, you are tired, hungry and look like a backyard mechanic. Without fail, no one remembered to bring soap. You're probably nodding your head and saying, "Boy I remember the time....." Well, here's a little story that might have some significance if you fly commercial airlines in your pursuit of game and fish. A hunter walked up to the airline check-in counter, placed his three bags on the scale and handed his ticket to the pretty blond behind the counter. The reservation clerk smiled. "Good morning, Mr. Jones. I see you are going to Anchorage today. Is this all of your luggage?" "Yes, mam, that's it. Oh, before I forget; I would like these two sent to Anchorage and the gun case shipped to Detroit." Looking somewhat puzzled by the strange request, the comely girl's expression went serious. "I'm sorry, sir, but we can't do that. Your luggage must go to the final destination on your ticket." "What do you mean you can't do it! You did it the last time I flew on your airline." ----- 30 -----

He just finally got caught.

"I'm a successful, well known guide, but I didn't know I was on the rez." Yeah.... bullshit.

Find a buddy that reloads and go help them reload. You will learn a ton from someone that has done it for years. It isn't hard but can be a bit intimidating to learn it the first time. Reloading isn't cheaper either. It costs more money to reload than to buy ammo. The more you go down the rabbit hole the more expensive it is to shoot. To me spending the money for the better performance is worth it but not everyone feels the same way. A quick "other option" is to buy a quality brass ( I buy Nosler) and just prime the case, add powder and a bullet. Then go shoot. Depending on how much you are going to shoot it might be a good option too. Then at some point you will have a ton of brass to either work your brass or sell it and get more new brass. The work is really in the brass prep. Once I find "a load" that works out of my gun I will typically buy all the needed components for the expected life of the barrel. Let's say that I found a bullet and powder that work great out of a gun and the barrel will last 1000 rounds. I will go buy enough powder to fill the cases 1000 times and get 1000 bullets and 1000 primers. Then I have the components to reload for the gun for the life of the barrel. Components can change and then your load will change. Sometimes you can't buy the components.........So buy a ton once you find your load.

Clifhunter was able to get a buck this morning. He killed the last known alive buck in the unit!!!!

I don't know Jed. If he poached he should be punished. BUT, there is a HUGE difference between the case of Jed and the douche brothers from heber. If you spend any amount of time in court or legal proceedings, you will see that intent, cooperation and ATTITUDE go a LONG way in influence outcomes and decisions. Is it "fair"? I have no idea. But judges and law enforcement officers are people too. Treat them like crap and they will do everything they can to throw the book at you. Be nice and you MIGHT get off easy. Yes, justice is SUPPOSED to be blind. NOWHERE does it say that justice is deaf, dumb and stupid though. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. And there is a LOT of stupidity in that family from heber. In NO way am I defending what Jed did or saying he got what he "deserved". I am simply giving a possible reason as to WHY he has not been demonized the same way dumb and dumber were. I also have not seen anybody form Jeds family making a fool of themselves insulting the entire world and taunting law enforcement. Again, behavior has consequences. Just my 4 cents.

Teachers union does not care about kids.

You make it sound like turned himself in or something lol. He’s no better than Blake IMO. He’s probably done this plenty

bc777 helped me kill a buck. Should I not care about what he did?

I think what I like about this thread is how frustrated you are that you have to actually look for antelope. Good job on the pose Cliff but you need to snuggle into that critter a little tighter. Like a jr high dance, push up tight.

My best friend came out to Arizona for his first ever coues hunt this last January. We had a great time and were able to get both our harvests on film. We're amateurs when it comes to running a camera, but we learned a lot for the next time we have tags to fill. His wife put together this short video and with the August archery season around the corner, I thought y'all might like to see it.

Red Rabbit that cooper is mouth watering.

I really miss that guy. He was talented for sure

PM Sent.

Don't know what that has to do with a wood stocked rifle but ok.

I alluded to a Western classic in a previous post. Here's a nice Cooper Western Classic in 25-06 for sale. https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/15122938/cooper-52-western-classic-25-06-w-upgrades#Post15122938

Found a pretty good buck. Just off water.

FYI - The Kiabab has a youth only doe deer hunt

Uhhh... what state? Not AZ I hope 🤣

I’d say E2 but then again from that angle looks like a shot from a tree stand and as dangerous as it sounds, something about those things make me drowsy. So unless he woke me up by crunching acorns he’d probably live to grow one year bigger. What’s your age guess....3-1/2?

E3 is the liver and both lungs. Perfect shot from that angle and elevation

What he meant was sheep season is 12 months a year for the owen’s.

You don't need a password for where he sent the discussion......that is the......political, political dungeon that you need a password for!!!!