Lazy-H98

Only for the willing, midday glassing the north facing slopes catching bucks getting up to stretch, turn around or move to the next tree over.

I look for vantage points to glass, early and late. It's hard to get away from people now days but I try. Always have a plan A, B, C and D.

I can't speak from personal experience, but I have 2 buddies close to me that where in your predicament. Since 2012 they have been chasing a toad of a buck. Plenty of visuals and footage while in velvet. They pursued him during archery, archery, rifle, and archery. They never found any of his sheds in their efforts either. Every once and a while they would begin to have their doughts, but I would remind them to stick with it, stick with him. Even thought they had rifle tags in their pockets for later this year, they arrowed him on a Thursday morning back in August. I'm proud of them for the diligence and efforts, which paid off 10 fold. Good luck and don't forget to let us know how its going.

That's awesome. Thanks for sharing.

Got it.

You guys are killing me. I apologize in advance for using the term kill. Not sure if we can still say that.......

I'm hearing the same report from a coworker. They are heading back on Saturday. It's looking like the trophy rifle tag is the one to have this year.

I helped family in there last December. If it was me, I'd hunt hard the week between the 25th-31st. Plan on being mobile, we saw hot spots where the pre rut and rut would be on, yet in other areas we had Does but it was cold. You will see horns, it's just a matter of how picky you want to be.

Oh yea. If I see someone's camera out there, I'll always throw up the peace sign.

I've had my camera turned off before. I've also had it rotated up pointing to the sky. Very thankful they didn't break or take it. I just don't understand the reasoning. I have my cell number on the side and another hunter called me to let me know. He even rotated it back into position for me until I could get back out there. He was from the pinal county search and rescue.

What Heat said.

Once I get it back to camp and hung in a tree, I'll walk over to the ice chest and crack open a beer. The first drink will be a nice one and then I'll walk over to the table and top off the can with some Crown Royal. I'll sit back and enjoy my camp boilermaker. Once finished I'll get to work removing the hide and boning out the meat. I'll table the meat (in the shade) after it has been washed and air dried then begin placing it into double gallon freezer bags. From here it then goes into my 5 day igloo. As long as I have ice, I'm good until I get home. Once home, I'll wash it once more on a table, in the driveway with the garden hose. From here the meat gets bagged and into the freezer. I'll end up making jerky out of the entire buck, this is how the wife and kids prefer it.

Nice work. Diggin the old ford.

Can't remember. Where you in a stand or blind? Just curious. Awesome buck. Will look great on the wall.

So if you where driving the train it would have made a difference?

Congratulations. As a father myself, I can totally relate to the hectic schedule. I wish my days ended like that. My reward is usually just a glass of Merlot.

Hay caramba. Dandy. Just dandy.

Until their velvet hardens, their antlers are very sensitive this time I've year. They try to avoid bumping them if they can help it unless someone or something pushes them. Find him, put him to bed then shift into stealth mode to get into range. Play the wind. Good luck.

Congrats! Love the mass. What unit did he come out of?

Whoa that dudes a toad.

I concur with JP0212. The old timers used to tell me all the time, "its good to have a lot of hunters out there, it moves the deer around". Nothing wrong with that. I must admit I've even filled a tag that way back in the day. Looking forward to getting out away from the roads and the quads and the noise as well. It really bums me out when I've hiked in somewhere thinking I'm alone and minutes later a RZR rolls up on me. Lately I've experienced more enjoyment hitting it hard during the week days when things typically slow down until Friday when the toyhaulers begin rolling in again. Good luck all, shoot straight, be safe >>>---------------->

Definitely a first day shooter. Good luck, hope he is in range with a tag in you back pocket.

I've been up there once on opening day. Spent the late morning sitting on my tailgate drinking beer instead.

Sorry about your stolen camera. This is always my fear too. I only run two cameras but I make sure I have them in lock boxes and cabled up to something secure. Anything I can do to slow a thief down really only makes me feel better. I also stick to the < $100 cameras. Why anyone would want to tempt bad karma just amazes me.

LOL..That's my back up plan. I can sleep in and just show up to the Arivaca Mercantile when it opens, set up on the chip isle, and glass the photos on the wall of fame. Cool, just not the same. Thanks guys for the responses. After hunting in 36B for the past 7 years, its back to where it all began, 36A. I've been looking at all my old maps, but now it seems, there are a lot more roads then back then according to fly-overs on Google Earth. Time to fuel up the Tahoe and see just how much it has changed. As far as glassing, I like to begin at the foothills, south and east facing slopes in the morning. However I'm always drawn to the high stuff, call it my achilles heel. Probably due to years of glassing in 27. I'm planning on making some changes this year. Seeking out the thoughts of you veterans has been very helpful. Keep'um coming.