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Decided I'm gonna go out of state on a pipeline job and I wanna get in as a welders helper. One of my pest control customers is gonna get me in worst case scenario as a roustabout or laborer but I wanna get into the actual welding side of things. So if anyone is gonna be heading out on one of these big projects I'd love to get my foot in the door with someone whom is already gonna be on one of these jobs. A couple of big ones coming up.. As far as me, I own a pest control company right now and have been a licensed contractor for the last 18 years and unlicesend another 8 years or so before that. I know how to run a grinder obviously and I also possess that not so common, common sense. Lots of references if needed.

By the time Thanksgiving rolled around we had put in around 12 days of scouting trying to locate mature rams. During November our friends had ramped up their efforts too. We invested several days in the northern part of the unit looking in areas that we’d seen sheep before without much luck.It was weird, places we knew sheep should be just didn’t have them. We turned up quite a few coues deer, and even got some of them to know by name and habits. Coming into the week leading up to the hunt we had shifted further south and started looking in some of the rougher country. One day my oldest son Hunter and I slipped into a spot where we saw some rams years ago to see if we could turn anything up. We found two rams, and one of them looked pretty good from 1.5 miles away. They were remote and in the steepest stuff, but at least we’d found a decent ram. And he was with ewes. So we had hope he might stay put for a while. The day before Thanksgiving Nash had morning practice and then we went out looking at box canyon. It didn’t take long for us to find a ram that Sheldon had found a week earlier. The big chip ram was definitely the most mature we had seen. He was fun to watch, and pretty easy to find. We found another ram high on the mountain that day, and just before dark, one single full curl ram all alone on top of a distant cliff. We had heard reports that a big ram had been seen in that country and we were hoping this was him. We were able to relocate him the next day with the other sheep. He was a beautiful full curl with perfect horns, but probably only 6 years old. We liked him, but were hoping we could turn up something on that next level. Nash and I stayed the night on Wednesday and put in a half day of scouting some of the roughest country I’ve ever seen before Thanksgiving dinner Thursday. Moving around in those mountains is miserable. Roads take huge winding loops and everything is rocky and nasty. We don’t turn up another sheep that day and went back to whip together some turkey and potatoes so Momma didn’t give us heck. On Friday I decided to go check some country we hadn’t been into yet where we used to see sheep. Lots of miles, on foot and in the side by side didn’t produce anything except a forky mule deer and a lot of sheep cactus (barrel cactus that were eaten down to their core, we had actually watched sheep circle around cactus and eat and eat until cactus were just a stub off the ground). On the way home I got a text from a guy who had been helping us out and he let me know that a rancher in the unit had seen 5 rams dogging a ewe back near where we had seen the chip ram. Unfortunately, our current #1 and #2 rams were on the move, the good news was we at least knew what direction they headed. Saturday morning, the day before the hunt started, the crew started rolling in. Gary (Wish2hunt), my buddy Mike, myself all headed out in the AM to find a target for December 1. Mike headed back where we had seen the ram with ewes weeks before. Gary started up Box canyon and I went down to look where the rancher had seen the 5 rams. It wasn’t long before I was calling Gary on the radio to let him know I’d found the rams and could use his help sizing them up. Soon, my neighbor showed up with some of his army buddies and they had another ram located, way up high. Mid-morning the radio crackled and Mike let me know he had a big ram on the other side of the river. He climbed a big peak to get signal and sent a pic of a ram we started calling candy cane. He was a young, thin horned ram with his lamb tips that had to be close to 40” long on one side. It looked like a giant dall sheep. Mike kept an eye on him for the rest of the day while Gary, Jake and the army boys kept track of the other rams. I spent a total of 9.5 hrs watching the group of rams and evaluating each of them. There were two rams that were definitely better than the others. But I have to say that sheep are one of the hardest animals to judge you can imagine. I did my best to figure out what was what and knew that intimately Nash was going to have to make the call. Nash had practice Saturday afternoon so I wasn’t able to pick him up until after dark the night before his season opened. He joined up with Mike, Gary and the army boys in camp and everyone was eager to start comparing rams. Soon Trphyhntr rolled into camp and we had to get some ear muffs for Nash 😆. (Not really, everyone was super cool and treated Nash like a rockstar). We all shared our pictures and talked it over with Nash. By the time we were done we had it narrowed down from 7 rams down to 2 or 3. Opening morning we had more eyes and moral support rolling in. Brandon (Denogean) and his family met up with us and one of our neighbors ditched church to come get in on the action. With 12 sets of glass and expectations maxed out we came up with a plan for the morning. Rich and Gary did a quick run up the canyon to check for any new rams that may have shown up, while the rest of the crew posted up on a couple of ridges where we could get eyes on the high ram and the group of 5 (which was down to 4 at this point). As the sun broke the radios crackled and the callouts started. The group hadn’t moved an inch all night but the high ram was down off the peak into a cliff band. If those sheep worked down through those cliffs they would become very accessible and we would probably need a better look. Meanwhile the other rams were happily munching cactus and lounging in the sun. The world was our oyster. Soon Rich and Gary were back with nothing to report but a couple of ewes. The high ram was moving back up out of the cliffs toward the peak again, which left us with the group from the day before. We were able to identify one of the group as the chip ram that Sheldon had located a few weeks before. He was definitely the biggest body and was starting to get our attention. A plan was put in place to close within 300 yards and put this ram down within sight of our full viewing audience. Mike joined Nash and I while we worked to close the distance. However as we moved in, we heard on the radio that the rams were once again on the move. They started moving to the south and the sitters could only get occasional glimpses of them. We climbed the hill above them and worked down the ridge line glassing the base of the hill below. A mind blowing game of cat and mouse ensued, the spotters were pulling their hair out, telling us the tan was RIGHT below us, within archery distance, but we couldn’t find them. Three different times Nash set up on the edge of the bluffs while we tried to look directly below us, without any luck. We caught a glimpse of sheep moving out from the hill 200 yds down the ridge. One ram dropped into a wash and another moved out into the open. Nash got lined up while Mike and I looked him over. It was a 4 yr old ram, definitely not the chip ram we wanted to shoot. We whisper yell at Nash not to shoot and kept working down the ridge. At this point Trphyhntr has had enough. He grabs his tripod and runs a solid mile around the base of the hill to relocate the rams and help us out. On my way! to find out. The two big rams turned and and had headed back up the hill and were now just 70 yards from us. In an instant, it all came apart. I saw the ram, he saw me and it was off to the races. There was no chance to get Nash set up before the rams were barreling down hill and across the canyon. I felt like throwing up. I was disgusted that we had blown it. Nash just stared. Mike was tracking the sheep in his binos and as they started up the other side says they are 475. The reality of his statement snaps me back into the moment and I get started helping Nash set up. We try the tripod, it’s not working out, so Nash throws out the legs on his bipod and lays down. He has a perfect shelf and I am amazed as he calmly tracks the rams in his scope. There are three of them together and they have slowed to a walk now. I get a range, it’s 542, and dial the scope while smash stays locked in. The first shot connects, but they run and now we are trying to make sure we are on the right ram as the three all change position and move across the hillside. They move about forty yards and I click the scope an extra 1/4” MOA to compensate and tell Nash to send it. It’s just over his back. Bad adjustment, they hadn’t moved as far as I thought. I range again, correct my error and Nash calmly tracks in the scope. The rams stop and he confirms, “the one on the right”, Mike affirms and I calmly say “kill him”. The sound of the bullet connecting with muscle is unmistakable but we can’t see the hit. The chip ram goes 40 yds and falls, struggles to stand and finds his final resting place under a Palo verde tree on a beautiful bench overlooking his domain. It’s not how we planned it, none of our helpers heard it (suppressed rifle) let alone saw it. And it was over before we could even tell them what was happening. But soon, they start showing up on the hill. Each taking his own personal time with the old sheep, and the young boy. We tell the story, laugh, hug and when no one is looking I cry a little as I appreciate the magnitude of the moment. All these good men, here in this place, helping show a boy how to be a man. We hike out together. It’s long enough to make us appreciate it, but we are at camp by dark. We celebrate and meet up with the others. They join us for root beer. Nash calls his mom and his grandpa, and we went home.

I had a great time chasing Javelina and quail over the new year. The trip was very successful, my group filled all 6 of our javelina tags, and we all had fun shooting quail. I'm a fairly new javelina hunter, and most everything I read about them stated that they like to feed on south-facing prickly pear hillsides during sunny, calm days. However, every group of Javelina we spotted were found first thing in the morning and late in the evening. They weren't necessarily on south facing hillsides in prickly pear either. Often times, we would watch a group walk into a thick canyon right after the sun hit them. One group marched quickly up a mtn, and into a new canyon, presumably to bed. We watched another group come out of the thick brushy bottom right at last light to feed out in the open. We all started to question if 65-75 degrees was too warm. Is there a temperature range that javelina are more willing to be out all day? I assumed the new moon would help our hunt, but it didn't seem to affect how long the javelina were willing to feed during the day. Does moon phase matter at all?

Sure you're not thinking of Cape Buffalo? Either would be a rush.

Looks life like and fantastic. Well done. I have maybe 5-ish years before I'm too old to hunt Africa, but this is at the top of my list if I make it there. Eddie

I've been using a 243 for the last 10 or so years since I sold my 22-250.

I’m not sure how many my group has killed but a 100g rem core lock from a 243 . I have not seen one take more that one step

1955 mod 70 243, 85 gr BTHP. Think ive killed 3 or 4 with it, all 1 shot kills.

dont think id hunt rifle, but if i did I would probably take my Marlin 1894 .357 carbine

Thank you for the offer but not looking for trades at this time other than Nightforce NX8’s or ATACR’s.

Good luck bud...I did the pipeline thing for a few years and hated the traveling part. Sorry, I wish I still had contacts in that field. I might .... I will check with one person that might be able to get me some info for you or still might have a connect.

Very cool! Hold your phone horizontally for pics and they usually come out correctly on here but it seems when you hold your phone vertical for pics they always want to go sideways when you upload them

I am and nobody ever accused me of being the bright bulb in the batch. 🤣 When I looked at that orgianlly, in my apparently two brains cells, it did not exactly "regisyer" like a dugga boy, but I wanted to see one, so I did. Thanks for keeping me on my toes @PRDATR It's a big job. Eddie

Goodluck Kev..

Aero Precision M5 in 308. 18inch barrel with Dead air flash hider. Aero internals, geissele SSA-E trigger. Aero BCG and charging handle. Scope is not included but I will entertain offers for scope inclusion. Magpul bipod included . Asking 1500 for rifle and 1900 for rifle plus scope. Open to offers, PM me for any details or questions. Located in Mesa.

Browning Golds are nice guns. I have had the pleasure of shooting a couple, and really like them. GLWS

Ryan, nice to meet you. iflyskyhigh is a legit seller , he was on time, and items as described. . Buy with confidence, he seems to have quite a bit of stuff up.

Great Coues deer rifle! 700 BDL in 25-06, 1977 manufacture date. Nikon Monarch 4-12x40 scope. Good overall condition, includes two boxes of ammo, $750. Will consider trades for equal/quality firearms. Casa Grande area, able to meet in Chandler or Marana. Text or call Steve, 520-709-6513. Thanks!

How much for the skate board?

Also got mine today. It's a very well made case. Thanks for offering these for sale.

Free bump. Got mine today and it's awesome. Thank you.

Have a few more

I wouldn’t sell it! It’s a piece of you! Find another way. If you can’t, I’ll buy it and sell it back to you for cost. But even then I wouldn’t sell it! Also, no idea retail value? Personal value is priceless. Unless a business, no one really wants someone’s trophy, unless they’re doing a favor.

Well my uncle and I drew muzzy tags and neither of us had high expectations, but I was able to kill on the last morning of the hunt. We drew in a unit we know pretty well, so we were optimistic that at least one of us would bring home some tamale meat. Overall was a fun hunt but a few challenges and wrenches came up up of course. We’d find bucks way out there and try to come up with a plan, just in time to watch them decide to move out into the unknown. We hunted bucks we knew we’re in an area just to bust em out. Had a family emergency that pulled me off the mountain for a day plus. Last day everything worked out and I got a shot at this guy and now we have our tamales! A much better buck than I was expecting or hoping for. I hope the pics turn out with this post and not sideways.

Well, it nearly took an army but we got it done. I don’t have the time or the energy to write it all up now, I will have to do that later. But suffice it to say that @1denogean, @bonecollector, @wish2hunt, @trphyhntr and a group of others all pitched in big time to make this happen and they will forever be part of our sheep army. @lancetkenyon thanks for the range time making sure the gun and charts were ready when the time came. This was our longest shot ever, 542 yds. We killed a good ram and it was amazing for my kid to experience. But more importantly my kid got to see men being men. He got to experience what it means to be part of something and to have others support you in accomplishing a goal without taking any credit for themselves. Here are some pics, I will write up the story later.