az4life

I agree with Amanda. and others. If you know what the specific gun and lods will do, you WILL shoot better than rushing your aquaintance with a new gun and or load. That said, 300 Win Mag is what I shoot cause it is the flattest trajectory available. Many choices in ammo is made, but NOT real common at every sporting goods store. 7mm Mag is close to the same trajectory, and I have found much wider variety of off the shelf ammo available at sporting goods stores. Another .02 in the till. Good luck

Title this reply... JEALOUS IN PEORIA. Congratulations to all involved in the hunt. It sound like the first hunt for these guys will be hard to top in the future! It definitely is memorable and fun to drop 2 within a short time of each other.Great story and love the pictures. Cannot make out some of them but we got the idea on others.

Hunting in 24b over the past few years, lots of bigger bucks have been taken in the 2500-3000 levels. Anyway I never used to consider those areas since we never saw deer there as we drove or hiked to our normal areas. Seems I was missing some good ones! Again, there were some good posts in that original thread. So as far as hunting the fringe goes, Try it you might like it!

Indeed A Small world it is! Hope you had a good chat! Amanda arguably knows more about these deer than almost anyone and she shares her knowledge. She even set up a website for it. OOPs I guess that is what you call a full circle!

Here is a link to agood story about CWD Chronic Wasting Disease that I posted about 6 weeks ago in a forum here. The article gives summary of where CWD is, and where it started, plus info on precautions to take in the field. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5463499/ No cases in AZ to date.

I recall 3 years ago, abuddy of mine shot a 320 6x6 elk in 6a at dusk. It took off and by the time I got to my buddy, it was dark. We only had 2 small flashlites (2 lights with 2 AA batts with us, so off we went. Extra batteries in our pockets. About 45 minutes and only 150 yards away, in the dark, we found the big bull. We spend the next several hours trading who would hold the lights, and dressing and dragging that elk back to the truck which was on the FS road. I left the truck running for hours so we could find the road by using the headlights as a guide. We were only 300-400 yards off the road, downhill over 2 fencelines but the forest was thick and we had to leave our flashlites on a long time. We went through 28 of the AA batteries that night and finally got the elk into the trailer and back to camp around 11:30pm. Last year I still found some of the Dead batteries in my backpack or coat pockets. My point is the LED lights with hands free feature would have been VERY helpful, and I won't go huntng without one again. Probably would have used 4 batteries for the same time with LEDs.

Quite interesting and I bet your friend had an Eerie feeling knowing how close they were! It is funny, the things we thought we knew... then we are set straight. Trust me, I would suggest you never come between a hungry lion and it's next meal.

I have had one of the camping lights that uses a headand style strap on it for about a year. SUPER items as it has LED and Halogen depending on what you need at the time. LONG life on LED gives decent light and keeps you hands free!

Lark So uch of what you wrote about lions and them seing you before you see them, is like a personal echo from 3 years ago for me. After I nearly got munched by a Lion up in 6a near Camp Verde, My conversation with the AZGFD officer was quite enlightening. It Scared me $#!*(@$$ when the lion saw me and stalked me within about 10 feet before I coaxed him away with a broken root from a dead juniper. If I only had a gun... I know now, I was a fool for going on a hike without one, but back then, it was just a bother to take a gun for a 30 minute recon hike. I lerned from it, and I always take a gun and a tag if I am hiking in lion country now! The thing to remember is if you have hunted in AZ for vey long, you can be sure THERE HAS BEEN a lion watching you. The whole story is too long to recap here, but I have it published on Jesses Hunting Page. Link When the Hunter Becomes the Hunted LATER!

Josh, That was a lot of "What if's..." Interesting, because I thought I filled mine out too. I tried to email you from the link on your user info page and it did not get through. I have an observation on your post though... In the 21st century PC's aree so common that, instead of "Talking to yourself, you type to yourself".

Hey now, All you guys with those hunches and "Good Feelings" about this year are really upsetting me. Okay Okay, Yes I am Jealoous! I did not get drawn and don't have a clue how to shoot a bow! Or is that an arrow you shoot out of a bow? Okay, times like these I wish I knew a quick way to become a bowhunter. Good Luck and safety to everyone and save some of them nice bucks for next year!

I used to hunt for Mulies in 4A & 4B. Saw lots of Coues and later was told of a canyon not far from where I hunted but I cannot recall the name, where there are always some big Coues. Anyway, I saw a nice 116-120" up on a Tranny shop's wall that was taken from this canyon. Good Luck

Brett GREAT PHOTO! Thanks for sharing it! Where, When and How? would be nice. That is one hunt I want to do sometime. I just want a chance to settle the Score between me and ol' Tom.

Well with this assinine ruling, at least they did not grant the whales and dolphins the right to vote. The 9th CIRCUS COURT has lived up to their nickname once again !

Halfway decent article in the AZ Repugnant (Arizona Republic) today including a jaguar picture taken from one of the game cameras. Anyway, we got lots of info here that they did not mention. FYI

Hey Lark, I never considered anyone in particular. I know others have been critical, and if you think you fit in there, well c'mon over. I have some fairly pointed posts myself that are very critical of AZGFD, so I was more thinking of myself. (I wouldn't mind the $50.00 either) Sort of like the last season when I had to climb up the mountain to get my deer after helping bring all the gear, and my buddies deer down the hill an hour earlier. I said to him "You know, I would rather have a million dollars than do that hike again. " He looked at me sort of funny and shrugged his shoulders. A few minutes later he started laughing and I knew why. It's one of them time delay jokes...

Welcome to the forum. I also appreciate a "newbie" that does thier legwork viewing the old posts before jumping in. It sort of gets you aquainted with the group members and the Tone of the board before you jump in. Definitely a good group here, and wish you good luck on your 24a hunt By the way, 6a for coues... HMMM seems like I've seen a bunch of them in and around the west clear creek wilderness area. N and S of the highway. See YA

Josh I picked that up off of another group that had a CHD of their own. Guy was dogging the site and someone put that out there for all to see. I was the same as you, Laughed so hard I teared up. I Kept Chuckling about it all evening. My wife wondered what was so funny and I showed her. She yelled GROSS, and compared him to my brother in law who we call Jabba. (if you like star wars you know who we mean). (NOT the same brother in law I PM'd you about) I was really Just trying to keep a smile on everyone's face instead of worrying about CHD. That photo seemed to fit the impression me made. By the way, did you get the PM question I sent?

I think if AZGFD monitors this board they know of a few folks that they would pay $50.00 to NOT share our opinions. Interesting prospect however... If you are looking for things to share with them, just ask and I am sure we will be able to give you some "talking points" if you want any. These meetings are usually focus groups. They get a bunch of people in a room and ask questions about what do you think about "X" and what if the AZGFD did "Y". Rate your opinion of "Z" Agree totally, Agree somewhat, No opinion, Dsiagree somewhat, Disagree completely. While this is going on, they have analysts watching your body language, and often they videotape you and analyze the group reactions and interaction when they bring up various topics. The goal for them is to stack the panel the way they want it to point, and then they can cite the Focus group for blame or credit (yeah Right) when the S#^* hits the fan after new policy is put in place. Been in a few with various companies on both sides of the 1 way mirror. Some fun can be had on either side, so just be prepared and have your ideas lined up mentally. Be forceful, and act like you know what you are talking about. .

I was watching the news last night ans sow the game camera photos. Singles and at least 1 picture had a pair in it. I recall about 2 years ago the AZGFD publishing a story about having a research study on Jaguars in the extreme southern part of the state. That story said they were suspected to be migrating from northern mexico as many of us are guessing. Anyway, the phots were cool and the story is too!

You guys all got some good stories. If you spend enough time in the wilderness, you will see a lot I guess. Collectively we have a pretty god group of Close c\encounters of the wild game kind. My close ones were with a Coatimundi, a few rattlers, and one that I thought I was going to die from, a mtn lion. The Lion story is the best, but the Coati was interesting too. I never heard of a Coati until I ran into one heading up a tree about 2 yards from me. Those things are mean and look like God had some fun mixing up a group of crittters to see what he could come up with. This little dude was charging at me from up the tree! Snarling and barking, just challenging me to come a little closer. I didn't know what it was, and backed off without popping him. I went about 1/4 mile up the ridge to where a friend was sitting and told him about this strange looking animal that was snarling and barking at me up this tree. I said it looks like a badger, raccoon, monkey mixed. Big long tail with a loop on the end. He asked If I mixed up the water and the Liquor from the camp in my canteen. He Told me I was full of it, or nuts or something like it, and we continued glassing the hillside for deer. I've been known to pull afew pranks so I guess I see why he would doubt me... About 20 minutes go by and he calls to me, "hey, I don't know about that thing you say you saw, but I think you got it pretty mad" I am thinking he did not believe me a few minutes earlier and now he must be going to have a wise crack or something... Anyway he continued" Whatever it was, you must have made it mad, because he went and got a lot of his friends and they are heading this way!" Looking across this canyon, there were about 50 of these dark critters with tall "cane shaped" tails scurrying around on the hill across from us. moving our way. Strange critter for sure, Anyway we were Deer hunting and got 2 nice ones in the next couple days. Learned what a Coati was after some discussions with AZGFD officer. He said they wer not usually in that area and was I sure about what I saw. Hey, I did not know what they were before I saw them so I could not have made them up! Later

Predator You could see about anything in 21 during December. I have seen upper 80's and 20's for lows. Really Depends on where in the unit you go to. Since it goes from just outside of the valley to camp verde, you really have a big unit. Elevation Ranges from around 1300 to 5500 or so at the highest I would guess. Snow possible but not too common at least in large amount. Usually any snow melts off in a day or so on all but the nort sides of hills and bottoms of ravines. I generally layer up as I could get an 80 degree day and a 20-30 degree early morning. In the Coues areas, I would say to expect 20-30 mph wind with an average high of 60-65 and Rain is more common in Dec than other months so bring some extra rain gear just in case. Lots of generlities but the layer plan works well for whatever weather the sate throws at ya. Hunter orange is not required, but some amount is adviseable to keep those nearsighted trigger happy newbies from cutting your season short. Where are you coming from? Self Hunt, or Guided? Good Luck!

News Flash... Tomorrow in the Wash Times ------------------- WASH TIMES: U.S. security officials are investigating a recent intelligence report that a group of 25 Chechen terrorists illegally entered the United States from Mexico over summer... Members of the group, said to be wearing backpacks, secretly traveled to northern Mexico and crossed into a mountainous part of Arizona, Gertz to report in Page One Splash, newsroom sources tell DRUDGE...

Amanda, Ditto on the Birthday wishes to you from Ernesto. Thanks for all you do in providing this site and all the information you have shared with us! I will spare you the traditional singing, so just imagine Kenny Rogers is singing happy b'day, and your ears will be much happier. Hope your Day goes Great!

C'mon, Post them secrets! Josh won't mind! I know, It's lots of time, hiking and several worn out pairs of boots per year ! Great job Josh, Just Keep showing us it is possible to find some great sheds if you put in the effort.