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So this hunt honestly was hard. On scouting we climbed a big hill on a windy evening and didn't see anything, but my Spidey sense told me it was a good spot. Well, don't always trust your Spidey sense I guess. Day one we climb the hill that looked ever so promising and not a single deer to be glassed up under good conditions. So for the afternoon we go to another area to sit water. Bumped a bunch of deer in a nice shady area. No chance the rest of the day. Day 2 we head further in and bump deer again at the same spot. I made pins of all the water sources. Day 2 we head further in bit again bump a doe and fawn at the same spot. But head further to where I had a good feeling. I knew we had a good plan. I leave Kiki with the rifle and decide to go out the bottom and see if I can glass something. I hear a shot and me and Bucky rush back. He took a shot I would have told him not too but glad he missed. I hop out and decide to try a one man deer drive. Nada, We decided to move back to the deer bumping spot. I have him head before me with another deer drive idea. I'm in place and sure enough he bumps deer at the spot. I come in on my drive and nada. All deer already left town. Now me and Bucky put in 9 miles that day and by the time we were sitting again my jeans have tears on both knees. It's hot and we decide let's pull out. So I decided to go full village people mode and turn my jeans into boy shorts. Cuz when you are hunting wearing short jean shorts is how you attract studs. We head out and Bucky ain't doing well on the hike back. He won't leave my side when hunting so he went with on the deer drives, that little guy did 9 human miles and he was overheating on the way to the truck. Kiki says "Dad, if you carry the rifle I'll carry Bucky the rest of the way." Seemed fair. Kiki took that night off and I took Enoch out for the evening , nada. Third morning, I decided to sleep in and needed a rest day. Day 4 we decide to hunt the deer bumping spot. And of course we bump a doe an fawn as we get there. Leaves are thick and impossible to navigate quiet but we decide this is the spot. I'm running out of time and this was my last morning so anything with horns is on the menu. I decide to glass a nice area while I leave kiki with the rifle set up on deer bedding central. I'm glassing a promising spot when I hear a shot. I haul butt and round up gear. I find Kiki checking out his second buck. Good times. I'm relieved because I couldn't do any more mornings. He was relieved because he's been putting in miles and as it turned out for a spike! But that's life and that's hunting! Bucky got his fill of fresh meat and we hiked back to the truck packs full and heavy. What a great experience. And we also got a nice shed too

This is Clay Goldman at Mogollon Taxidermy. I normally don't post but I feel the need to present the facts about the post from wildwoody, Dennis Wood, from above. Dennis and another individual brought a sheep cape and horns to me to have mounted. The cape was tanned and did not appear to be a fresh tan from my experience. I explained to the hunter that the cape might have what is called acid rot and that it might fall apart when we soaked it up to work on it. I didn't feel I could uphold my high standards with the lack of information on the tan so I declined the job and they took their sheep cape and horns with them. I did not "promise" to destroy your son's cape. You have mistaken arrogance with honesty and being straight forward with you about the sheep skin. I am glad your son found someone willing to take on his sheep mount and that it came out good for him. Please don't bash me on a public forum like this again without giving all of the facts.

IMG_2287.mov Tough finding bucks in all the usual places but we ended up finding one for my son yesterday, he shot at 300 yds.

Hope all the vets know how much this country owes them. Thanks to all that have served. This pic is of the pilots that flew around the blasts of atomic explosions at Bikini Islands measuring the radiation to see how far it would reach. They would wear the detection badges and return when they indicated maximum exposure. My dad said they would return, turn in their badges and get a new one and go back out. He is the front row on the far left. Lt. Col. David L Althoff USMC (ret) (He wasn't a Lt. Col. in this pic.)

Got my 2024 coues. I am very pleased with it.

Happy Vets Day to all my fellow Vets!

Unlike my sons tag 2 weeks ago which was in the 100’s, I was so looking forward to this weeks much cooler temps. Even though he filled his tag first thing Friday morning I knew there were some bucks in the area from past scouting trips and I knew it was going to be a great hunt. I get out there just before sun up and by god it was really cold….I start glassing thinking these bucks are just gonna be out and about sunning themselves. Not the case, I find 1 doe at 7:30 and two more around 8ish. My eyes are bleeding glassing these hills and canyons and nothing is turning up. Around 10:00 I start to nod off, I crawl to the top of the hill I’m glassing from and look at the back of my eyelids….. nice little cat nap. I wake up around 11 totally refreshed and ready to glass the again. From 11-12:15, temperature is absolutely beautiful can’t believe nothing is moving. As I’m slowly scanning an opening underneath a mesquite tree I see something that catches my eye. The antlers move…game on. I focus on them and range the opening at 463 yds. For the next 1/2 hr I hem and haw because all I see is a portion of the antlers which is a 2x. I know there are bigger ones in here, but thinking why not…meat buck, but it’s 463 yds away and the terrain is absolutely awful for a drag out. Well I convince myself this is the one, get set up and squeeze one off. I don’t see the buck, so I get behind my 15’s and see movement further inside the mesquite tree. The buck is still standing. I can’t tell if it’s hit so I get on the gun again and get ready for a second shot. I can see the antlers moving a bit so I get an outline of the body and squeeze another round off. I get behind the 15’s and I see a buck laying on the ground. I let out a heck yeah. Due to the distance and terrain, I leave my rifle and pack and bring a deer drag, tag and knife. As pull the deer from out of the mesquite opening I notice a portion of the antler and it’s right ear has some blood on it. I guess the 1st shot actually hit it just high, not enough to spook him though. Got it back to my other gear and started the long haul out, 2.1 miles to the truck, this deer kicked my butt, but well worth it. Dropped it off at WGP!!!

I have a Defiance Stryker Ridge action I purchased from Brownells I am looking to sell. This is a defiance rebel action that Brownells sold 8 yrs ago. It has 200 rounds through it and it has a lapua bolt face. You could build a 338 lapua on it or a 300 Norma which is what I have on it right now. Asking $900 for the action.

There is a reason that the majority of sheep at the banquet are mounted by Clay Goldman with Mogollon Taxidermy in Payson. I wouldn't even consider anyone else and would make the drive up.

Had a great hunt with my buddy! Hunt was a grind but we struck gold on day 2 and day 4 of the hunt! Hope you enjoy the pics! Any ideas how to measure the double main beam buck?

Selling my spotting scope asking $2100 in good condition has box and paper work warranty card still open but I will call and double check it wasn't registered under me when I sent it in for cleaning. Located in safford will be making trips to tucson and phx this month

Congrats!!

Great write up. Congrats! You guys are filling the freezer this season! Enjoy creating these memories with your kids. Thanks for Not posting your daisy duke pics!

Hard to beat Trijicon for under $1,000. Look at the Credo or Ten Mile models.

Crazy video! Congrats to your boy!

Unless someone wants to pay for the barreled action.

Sold

I use nothing but Nightforce but you're getting a heavy scope and a high priced scope. For a budget scope, I like the Leupold Mark 3 HD, 8X24X50mm. At $700 it's a really great scope. Not too keen on the Tactical milling reticle but for the price and performance I'll put up with it. It's always out for stock for good reason, so good luck finding one.

Leupold VX-6HD 4-24x52 CDS-TZL3

Congrats! What did the first hit do?

5bs is loaded with elk and dispersed throughout . Use that flatline map and locate water sources near canyons. Get on vantage points looking south into top 1/3 of canyons with good pinyon or pine cover. Use that map to identify topo lines with benches with wider line spacing. Elk will be there. A lot of tags so elk will be moving around the unit a lot. Be patient and an opportunity will present itself. Good luck! 👊

Scout

You can mount binos and spotter on the same setup or spotter and range finder or any combo you can think of. Or strap a bag for shooting off of anything like that.

Any pics?