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I hope you were able to see the aurora earlier this week. This is what my camera caught here in Flagstaff just before 10pm.

Was able to connect on a decent little 3x3 175 yards with my CVA Optima this year. Of course after the shot a much larger buck ran out from behind cover, still happy with this guy.

Ya I will say that, the water was crazy. I have for sure never seen as much water as we did this year. Every single tank was loaded. A couple of springs that were dry 2 years in a row were flowing again. Tons of logging going on across the state as well so hopefully they are doing it right and not going too far. Some of the cuts we ran across seemed a little excessive. We got hooked up by one crew, helped them out with a floor jack and they filled my truck with juniper and oak.

I don’t think you can make an educated guess on the buck population in central and southern AZ after a couple general season hunts. Especially when you consider it rained 2” 2 weeks before the hunts. Had a super moon on one of the hunts. 2 drought years and tons of tags every year, they probably didn’t increase this year. there’s hardly a quail out there. If you got a lot of quail where you’re at this year, you’re the anomaly.

Sold I'm hr SE of Tucson.

We decided to give it a go in a true desert unit this fall. Never had hunted it before but a couple buddies have seen a fair amount of deer in January during OTC. We arrived Thursday evening with only two days to hunt and as we picked a camp spot the landscape blew me away…how do these things survive and thrive out here. Looked like the surface of the moon with the surface mostly volcanic rock, scattered creosote bushes, and the occasional palo verde washes sprinkled around. 4 of my buddies generously offered to help on Friday and as we all picked high spots to glass from the reports started coming in of bucks. Multiple bucks and some good ones were located in various locations. Max and I spent most of the day on stalk after stalk trying to close the gap to under 600 yards with not much available to hide our approach. We had a few opportunities on small bucks we passed on and a couple close calls on bigger ones but nothing just right. We totaled 19 bucks seen that day. Saturday morning we were down to Max and I and 2 buddies so we all went to the spot that the most deer were seen Friday. Almost immediately we found a group of 3 bucks at 1000 yards. We had some topography to work with this time and we closed the gap to 340 yards and Max anchored the biggest one. It was a fun hunt that I think with a few extra days could produce something pretty special! This was his best desert buck to date and another awesome father son hunt in the books! Now time to get packed for Colorado 4th season Deer 🤙🏻

No tag for me this year but I’ve spent a ton of time helping on the last 2 wt hunts and the last 2 mornings on the muzzleloader hunt in 33. I’m not sure about deer numbers overall but from the poking around I’ve done in different canyons I believe that late rain scattered the critters around. We’ve found several wet spots in otherwise normally dry canyons this time of year. The big thing I’ve noticed in my home unit are the lions getting out of hand again. I think most hunters don’t do any off season predator hunting and it doesn’t help that a lot of lion hunters with dogs catch and release younger cats and not kill them because they’re not some monster tom, educating the heck out of them. A rancher friend of mine set trail cams at several drinkers trying to locate cows and he shared pics with me. One drinker had a pic of 3 younger lions at one time and the next night another older female. We killed one young lion in there last fall which was prior to him setting the cameras up so that was 5 that were living in that particular canyon prior.

Good looking pups. I used to use Springers in the Midwest, and they worked well for anything that flew.

Tribal hunts on San Carlos were about normal for mule deer harvests while coues hunting was really tough and very few mature bucks seen/taken (there's always a beauty or two in the hundreds of tags but not a single one this year). Also same story on the quail as most other places in the state and the mention of old springs coming back to life has certainly been observed out here as well. Fall turkey hunts probably the worst ever too. DAN

Cool then thats what ill do for my stag and fallow deer. Thanks for everything like always

Beautiful buck, congratulations. I know someone IFGAF that got a giant whitetail with his muzzleloader. Love when we actually show our successes here on the forum..

A few more finished and ready to go home.

Nice Poke!

Nope. But that is a cool picture. I lived in Maine on the border of New Brunswick for many years in the 70's and you wouldn't believe how incredible it was to see. Just lights from farm houses for 100 miles in every direction.

It's very very common because 95% of hunters will never have a mount done. And 95% of them have no clue so things will never change. Nice of you to bring it up. You might want to post a few of your favorite Youtube videos. But hunters will continue to bring in capes and expect miracles.

Since Trphy called me out last night. Elk sirloin, with diced jalapeños and onions, sautéed in a little butter and bacon grease. Back to that single life game, so hitting the cut in a caloric deficit.

Always do your best to keep it cool. If you are gonna remain in camp for a few days, please skin it. I charge an additional cost for rancid skulls. Don't hesitate to call if you ever have any questions.

Yes, absolutely. I can reattach them onto an Artifical skull. It would look great!

Hello all, Been looking at this site for along time. I'm 73 years old and had a great Sunday morning with my son. I shot this cow and it was the first one in 7 years for me. Just thought I'd share. I also had this cinnamon bear at 50 yards not a bear hunter, but I'd have shot this one in season. Hope pics show up...have to try again with bear pic..lol