Capt. Don Martin

Recently I purchased a Rock River Arms Fred Eichler AR. It comes with a 1-8 twist rifle and I was curious about the accuracy of this rifle out of the box. So I started accumulating various factory ammo ranging from 53 grain, 55 grain, 69 grain and 77 grain bullets, both standard and match. After putting on a Burris 223 scope on it, I sighted it in at 100 yards using 55 grain bullets. It shot OK, but the groups were nothing to write home about. I started thinking that maybe there was some ammo out there that might really tighten up the groups. So I decided to let my faithful intern, Laura Borden, who has proven she is a rock steady bench rest rifle shooter, try out the rifle utilizing different brands and weight of bullets. Starting off with 55 grain ammo, she got the best results using PMC Bronze, in 55 grain FMJ. She got a solid 3/4 inch group with that ammo! All the other 55 grain ammo, which included brand names like Hornady, Remington, Winchester and even Federal, shot disappointing groups. When we moved into the 69 grain ammo, I had two boxes of factory ammo that we tested. The first one was Federal Match using Sierra 69 grain HPBT bullets. The group with that ammo was amazing! Then she shot the Winchester Match ammo that again utilized the 69 grain Sierra HPBT. These are the two groups! The top one is with the Federal ammo and the bottom is the Winchester. She did shoot some 77 grain ammo. One was Fiocchi and the other was Winchester. Both were match ammo. The group with the Fiocchi was great, but the Winchester ammo was disappointing. The Fiocchi group is the one marked with a circle, while the other two shots are part of the Winchester group. Anyway I was wondering if anyone else who owns one these guns has had any luck using any other brand and/or weight of bullets? The sole purpose of this project is to take a javelina at 300 yards this February in Unit 18B. Don't ask me why, I can't tell you, it's just on my bucket list to do. Over the years I've taken many javelina with just about every firearm I own; including handguns, both semi-auto and wheel variety, (38 Spl, 38 Super, 44 Special, 44 Magnum) and shotguns shooting slugs, muzzleloaders, and even a Savage Striker in 22-250 caliber. Many pigs have been taken with various center fire and even rim fire 22 magnum rifle and a 5mm rimfire rifles. Picture below. Again, I can't tell you why I have this goal, but that is why this I got this rifle/scope combination. At this point it looks like I'll be shooting the 69 grain ammo at the little porkers this spring. However, if you've got some other ideas, I'd like to hear them! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Kingman, AZ

A few years ago I had a Remington Model 7 in 260 caliber built for my sweetie to use for everything from pigs to elk. Put a 3x9 Leupold compact on it, a camo fiberglass stock, cut down to fit her, and even a muzzle break installed to reduce recoil. I know this is the RRA AR, but Remington is in the background. And no she's not not the one I had the 260 built for. Her name is Laura. Laura did shoot it and the first shot was under the bull seye, but the next two were almost touching.. Laura shoots awesome off the bench! Remington shoots darts with 140 grain Remington factory ammo. Haven't reloaded for it yet, anyone got a good recipe to try? I like the 140 grain bullets, but would try others if they shoot good and have good results on game. Don Martin

Thanks guys for the replies.. I do reload, but haven't done it yet for the 223. I'll give that recipe a try. Ever try any other brands of primers. I ask cause I got several thousand Federal.. Don Martin

Recently Ryan and Laura Borden of Golden Valley, AZ had the opportunity to go and actually assist on a desert bighorn sheep hunt in Unit 15B West. Mr. Jonathan Lang was our hunter and had no problem with allowing these two great and enthusiastic young people to come on his hunt. As it turned out the two arrived in camp at the right time. They got to experience glassing and stalking, and all of the things that encompass a sheep hunt. These two rams were seen one foggy morning! They got to experience the ups and downs, and of the physical effort required to finish off one of these hunts. We got lots of fog on this hunt when a storm came in. Fog stayed around for three straight days! Jonathan and Ryan Borden had a fog bank move in behind them while they were glassing one afternoon. This was the group that started out on the fateful hike on 12-6-2014 Laura looks for rams towards Lake Mead! The group stops for a break before making the final stalk 12-6-2014 Looking down at Lake Mead Laura was amazed how steep the canyons were in this unit. In the end, after Jonathan had taken his ram, Laura and Mike were immediately present and both helped with the filed dressing chores, which included skinning out the ram for a life size mount. Laura actually carried part of the ram off the mountain while carrying my back pack! A tired, but happy Laura looks at Jonathan's ram Jonathan and Laura look at his ram. Laura, Mike Samer and Jonathan admire his old ram. Laura also cooked up the meals while she was in camp, and Ryan was a huge help with all the chores that are part of a remote sheep camp. Laura and Jonathan say goodbye after breaking camp. Region III Game Specialist Erin Butler scores Jonathan's ram. Ram was aged at 7.5 years old and scored (gross) 154 7/8. Net score was 154 2/8. In the end, these young people, like all of us, were tired but also were very happy that they had been part of a sheep hunt. Needless to say, they have the "bug" and you can look forward to seeing these two in future Arizona Wildlife Outfitters hunts.

A southern Arizona brute???

Tomgobbler, can you p.m. me with some info? I got a Gould's tag for 2015! Thanks, Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters info@arizonawildlifeoutfitters.com

For those non-residents who are looking to get a permanent bonus point to help your odds in drawing any Arizona big game tag, the Kingman Hunter Ed team will be holding the one-day class on Saturday, January 3, 2015 here in Kingman, AZ. (100 miles south of Las Vegas in northwest Arizona). Only requirement is that you must have taken hunter ed in your home state (or any state) since 1980 and you provide a copy of your card to Dave Williams at AZ G&F. Any one 10 years or older can take this class! Williams can reached to sign up for the class at 623-236-7434. FAX your cards to him at 623-236-7903. Class will start at 7 a.m. (Arizona time) and will end about 6 p.m. We will do a "working lunch" to try and get folks out early. Take this class and graduate--and almost all do--and you'll walk out with a permanent bonus point that WILL be added to your accumulated points for the 2015 elk and antelope draws! We will talk about how the AZ draw works in detail and explain to you the "new" way that NR's will see bonus points applied starting in 2016. If you need a good, clean and reasonably priced motel to stay at while attending this class-either Friday or Saturday night, call the Silver Queen Motel at 928-757-4315 and tell them you are there for the AZ Hunter Ed class. You'll get a small discount off the regular room prices if you do. They are right next to the freeway and have a Denny's within 200 yards. If you have any questions, call me at 928-303-9481 and/or send me an email at info@arizonawildlifeoutfitters.com or call Dave Williams. Don Martin Chief Instructor AZ Hunter Education Region 3

For those non-residents who are looking to get a permanent bonus point to help your odds in drawing any Arizona big game tag, the Kingman Hunter Ed team will be holding the one-day class on Saturday, January 3, 2015 here in Kingman, AZ. (100 miles south of Las Vegas in northwest Arizona). Only requirement is that you must have taken hunter ed in your home state (or any state) since 1980 and you provide a copy of your card to Dave Williams at AZ G&F. Any one 10 years or older can take this class! Williams can reached to sign up for the class at 623-236-7434. FAX your cards to him at 623-236-7903. Class will start at 7 a.m. (Arizona time) and will end about 6 p.m. We will do a "working lunch" to try and get folks out early. Take this class and graduate--and almost all do--and you'll walk out with a permanent bonus point that WILL be added to your accumulated points for the 2015 elk and antelope draws! We will talk about how the AZ draw works in detail and explain to you the "new" way that NR's will see bonus points applied starting in 2016. If you need a good, clean and reasonably priced motel to stay at while attending this class-either Friday or Saturday night, call the Silver Queen Motel at 928-757-4315 and tell them you are there for the AZ Hunter Ed class. You'll get a small discount off the regular room prices if you do. They are right next to the freeway and have a Denny's within 200 yards. If you have any questions, call me at 928-303-9481 and/or send me an email at info@arizonawildlifeoutfitters.com or call Dave Williams. Don Martin Chief Instructor AZ Hunter Education Region 3

For those non-residents who are looking to get a permanent bonus point to help your odds in drawing any Arizona big game tag, the Kingman Hunter Ed team will be holding the one-day class on Saturday, January 3, 2015 here in Kingman, AZ. (100 miles south of Las Vegas in northwest Arizona). Only requirement is that you must have taken hunter ed in your home state (or any state) since 1980 and you provide a copy of your card to Dave Williams at AZ G&F. Any one 10 years or older can take this class! Williams can reached to sign up for the class at 623-236-7434. FAX your cards to him at 623-236-7903. Class will start at 7 a.m. (Arizona time) and will end about 6 p.m. We will do a "working lunch" to try and get folks out early. Take this class and graduate--and almost all do--and you'll walk out with a permanent bonus point that WILL be added to your accumulated points for the 2015 elk and antelope draws! We will talk about how the AZ draw works in detail and explain to you the "new" way that NR's will see bonus points applied starting in 2016. If you need a good, clean and reasonably priced motel to stay at while attending this class-either Friday or Saturday night, call the Silver Queen Motel at 928-757-4315 and tell them you are there for the AZ Hunter Ed class. You'll get a small discount off the regular room prices if you do. They are right next to the freeway and have a Denny's within 200 yards. If you have any questions, call me at 928-303-9481 and/or send me an email at info@arizonawildlifeoutfitters.com or call Dave Williams. Don Martin Chief Instructor AZ Hunter Education Region 3

For those non-residents who are looking to get a permanent bonus point to help your odds in drawing any Arizona big game tag, the Kingman Hunter Ed team will be holding the one-day class on Saturday, January 3, 2015 here in Kingman, AZ. (100 miles south of Las Vegas in northwest Arizona). Only requirement is that you must have taken hunter ed in your home state (or any state) since 1980 and you provide a copy of your card to Dave Williams at AZ G&F. Any one 10 years or older can take this class! Williams can reached to sign up for the class at 623-236-7434. FAX your cards to him at 623-236-7903. Class will start at 7 a.m. (Arizona time) and will end about 6 p.m. We will do a "working lunch" to try and get folks out early. Take this class and graduate--and almost all do--and you'll walk out with a permanent bonus point that WILL be added to your accumulated points for the 2015 elk and antelope draws! We will talk about how the AZ draw works in detail and explain to you the "new" way that NR's will see bonus points applied starting in 2016. If you need a good, clean and reasonably priced motel to stay at while attending this class-either Friday or Saturday night, call the Silver Queen Motel at 928-757-4315 and tell them you are there for the AZ Hunter Ed class. You'll get a small discount off the regular room prices if you do. They are right next to the freeway and have a Denny's within 200 yards. If you have any questions, call me at 928-303-9481 and/or send me an email at info@arizonawildlifeoutfitters.com or call Dave Williams. Don Martin Chief Instructor AZ Hunter Education Region 3

For those non-residents who are looking to get a permanent bonus point to help your odds in drawing any Arizona big game tag, the Kingman Hunter Ed team will be holding the one-day class on Saturday, January 3, 2015 here in Kingman, AZ. (100 miles south of Las Vegas in northwest Arizona). Only requirement is that you must have taken hunter ed in your home state (or any state) since 1980 and you provide a copy of your card to Dave Williams at AZ G&F. Any one 10 years or older can take this class! Williams can reached to sign up for the class at 623-236-7434. FAX your cards to him at 623-236-7903. Class will start at 7 a.m. (Arizona time) and will end about 6 p.m. We will do a "working lunch" to try and get folks out early. Take this class and graduate--and almost all do--and you'll walk out with a permanent bonus point that WILL be added to your accumulated points for the 2015 elk and antelope draws! We will talk about how the AZ draw works in detail and explain to you the "new" way that NR's will see bonus points applied starting in 2016. If you need a good, clean and reasonably priced motel to stay at while attending this class-either Friday or Saturday night, call the Silver Queen Motel at 928-757-4315 and tell them you are there for the AZ Hunter Ed class. You'll get a small discount off the regular room prices if you do. They are right next to the freeway and have a Denny's within 200 yards. If you have any questions, call me at 928-303-9481 and/or send me an email at info@arizonawildlifeoutfitters.com or call Dave Williams. Don Martin Chief Instructor AZ Hunter Education Region 3

For those young hunters ages 10+ who have fall big game tags and need an online Hunter Ed field day, I know that the Kingman Team is doing one on Sept. 27. Chief Instructor Jim Rich will be in charge of this class. Call him at 928-444-3397 or by email at richhome@citlink.net to see about the availability of a spot for your young hunter! Don Martin Chief Instructor Region III AZ Hunter Education

This can be a great hunt, but sure not bucks under every tree! Thus the 34% hunt success in 2013. That means two out of three kids will take a tag home unfilled! Here is a 8 X 7 buck that Allison Kilroy from Maryland who we assisted last year, got on her first day in the field. I think we ruined her though and I told her dad that too.. This is her first deer, so what is going to happen in the future when she sees a nice 20 inch 4 X 4? She will want to pass and she shouldn't. She also had a javelina tag and got a big boar too! (her third with AWO) My advice is to glass, glass, and then glass some more. And listen, if this is your kid's first deer hunt, let them shoot at the first buck they see! It is about the experience after all. Good luck out there! If you don't know the unit and want some help, give us a call! We really enjoy juniors' hunts and they are the cheapest hunts we offer. Don Martin Owner Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

I assume it works, right? Why are you selling it?

Is this a 2 stroke or 4 stroke engine?

I have a brand new Browning front loader tackle system with six model 370 plastic tackle boxes inside. Dimensions are 20" X 12" X 15. I think Cabelas/Bass Pro list this set up for $109-$125.. I'll take $80 and will deliver it in Phoenix or mail it to you if you don't live there. Great Father's Day present for that angler who needs to organize his equipment. Awesome rig, and of course very high quality. Don Martin

Were the kids able to get some birds with your help? Neat that you volunteer to help them out. They are the future and we all need to donate a little time and effort to keep the dream alive! Turkey hunting in the spring has a generally low hunt success--lower than any other Arizona big game I think. The only thing that sounds better than a big gobbler is a big bull elk! Don Martin AWO

Brian the reason he looks so much like a Merriams is that the birds sent to Arizona from Utah are in fact hybrids! The Utah folks laugh at us in AZ cause they knew they slipped us a fast one. Still a turkey hunt up there is awesome and I'm glad that AZ G&F decided to take the birds even knowing they were hybrids and could exhibit features including coloration of either species. Good job, glad you got a good one! Last year while up there on a hunt I got a picture of 19 turkeys that walked right past our truck. Most were older poults with hens so it is good news that the birds are doing well on the Strip. Maybe someday it will be as famous for the turkeys as it is the monster deer! Don Martin AWO

There is nothing wrong with a jake for your first turkey. I know guys who have been hunting more than 10 years who have never taken a bird and would really enjoy having your luck! Keep after it and be glad it happened like it did. Doesn't always work that way--at least it hasn't for me! Don Martin AWO

Hey that was really great that you called in this bird! I agree, he has probably never been hunted! Don Martin

It is SOLD pending transfer of funds! Thanks guys! Don Martin

I recently won at a Friends of the NRA banquet a brand new, in the box, Colt M4 model LE 6900 AR rifle in 223/5.56 caliber. It is called a Law Enforcement light carbine. It is a flat top model and has no sights. The rifle has been out of the box once time, and has never been fired! It came with one 30 round magazine. Price is $1,100 and that includes shipping to your FFL dealer. In God we trust, but the rest pay with cash or a certified check. I can send pictures if you'd like. Don Martin

Son said he ordered some 6MM through Academy Sports. Thanks guys! Don Martin

I recently gave my oldest grandson (12 years old) in Oklahoma my Remington 600 in 6mm as his first big game rifle. I told his dad to get him some factory ammo and then keep the brass as I had reloading dies, etc. that I was sending to him. He called today and said he cannot find one box of factory 6mm ammo anywhere in or around Oklahoma City. So my duty as a grandpa seems to be to find him some once fired brass that I can send back to them to reload. Anyone got any ideas? Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

What kind of accuracy from this rifle at 100 yards? Don Martin