knothead

I never realized how much I took for granted all the public lands we have here in AZ. It wasn't until I graduated college back in 1987 and moved to Texas. So happy I moved back. Hunted NM unit 34 elk and lots of national forest land with little pockets of Private land. They would lock gates to public lands just a few hundred yards down the road. The more and longer we can keep public lands open to general public use the better IMO. Instead of saying we need to sale the land because the government doesn't manage it properly, maybe we should just start managing it properly? We take a lot of things for granted living in AZ and out west. Such as access to public lands and weather. Unless you have come to AZ from some place else or travel to those places for extended periods of time, you never really totally understand.

I'm afraid you are going to be right. This is why we can't relent, give in or forget. The Utards need to do their part and find a good candidate to primary him. Then all of the public land loving people need to put their money where their mouth is and make a contribution to his primary opponent. Eli Crane is also on my watch list to be replaced. Very disappointed in him.

Got 13 Wyo antelope points and plan on buying more and using them in 2027. Had a successful archery hunt back in 2011 and I plan on doing it again but next time I am going to give decoying a try. The rut was crazy last time I was there. I actually hunted during a gun season but after the opener and never saw another hunter. I spent majority of my time in a blind so not seeing anyone was understandable. Weather was much better too. Congratulations and good luck to those people that drew this year.

Don't let up. Keep writing and calling.

Sorry to hear you can't ride anymore. I remember when my father received the same news. GLWS

Good gun for lefties due to bottom ejection. GLWS

More info:

One more thing, please ask all your family and friends to write and have the sale of public lands removed from BBB. This needs to spread like wildfire because they want to try and get BBB passed by July 4th.

Here is what I came up with some help from chatGpt: Dear Senator Kelly, As a proud Arizona native, lifelong outdoorsman, hunter, fisherman, and conservationist, I am writing to urge you to remove the public land sale provision currently included in the Big Beautiful Bill. The sale of public lands in the 11 Western states would have a devastating and irreversible impact. These lands are not just scenery — they are our heritage, our refuge, and the backbone of countless traditions, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Selling them off to the highest bidder, regardless of the intended use, opens the door to development that will erase these landscapes forever. Once sold and developed, they are lost — not just to Arizonans, but to all Americans. This land is not surplus. It’s the essence of the American West — the very thing that sets our nation apart from the rest of the world. Our vast, open, and shared landscapes are a legacy to be protected, not privatized. I voted for President Trump and support much of the administration's work. However, the inclusion of this public land sale is a non-negotiable deal breaker for me and many others who value our public lands. This issue transcends party lines — it’s about preserving what is uniquely and irreplaceably American. Please stand with the millions of us who depend on, respect, and cherish these lands. I strongly urge you to negotiate for the removal of the public land sale provision from the bill. Sincerely,

Getting Hammered in North Peoria. Bring it on!

Said nobody.

GLWS

It helps when you include the entire definition of a hunting bow from Pope & Young: I. Hunting Bow A hunting bow for big game shall be a longbow, flat bow, recurve bow, compound bow or any combination of these designs meeting the following requirements and restrictions: A device for launching an arrow, which derives its propulsive energy solely from the bending and recovery of two limbs. The bow must be hand drawn by a single and direct, uninterrupted pulling action of the shooter. The bowstring must be moved from brace height to the full draw position by the muscle power of the shooter’s body. The energy used to propel the arrow shall not be derived from any other source such as hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical or similar devices. These limitations shall not exclude the mechanical leverage advantage provided by eccentric wheels or cams so long as the available energy stored in the bent limbs of the bow is the sole result of a single, continuous, and direct pulling effort by the shooter. The bow must be hand-held. One hand shall hold the bow and the other hand draw the bowstring. The bowstring must be moved and/or held at all points in the draw cycle entirely by the muscle power of the shooter until release. The bowstring must be released as a direct and conscious action of the shooter’s either relaxing the tension of the fingers or triggering the release action of a hand-held release aid. Exceptions: Physically handicapped bowhunters shall be excepted from the requirements of holding or shooting the bow with their hands. Exclusions: The following shall not be considered a hunting bow: A crossbow. Any device with a gun-type stock or incorporating any device or mechanism that holds the bowstring at partial or full draw without the shooter’s muscle power. Electronic or battery-powered devices shall not be attached to a hunting bow, with the exception of recording devices that cast no light towards the target and do not aid in rangefinding, sighting or shooting the bow. No portion of the bow’s riser (handle) or any track, trough, channel or other device that attaches directly to the bow’s riser shall contact, support, and/or guide the arrow from a point rearward of the bow’s brace height. Let-Off for Compound Bows: * There is no maximum let-off for a hand-held, hand-released bow. We do gather statistics on this data, therefore we state how let-off should be measured. Definition of let-off: That characteristic of a bow that results in a reduction of the force necessary to increase the draw length after the highest level of draw force has been reached. This is characteristic generally associated with, but not restricted to, compound bows. The maximum let-off on a compound bow shall be measured at a point in the draw cycle after the peak draw weight has been attained. It shall be measured near the end of the draw cycle where the minimum holding force is reached. This point in the draw cycle on a compound bow is known as "the bottom of the valley." Determination of the percent of let-off: The values of the peak draw force and the let-off force shall be used to calculate the percent of let-off. The peak force is the maximum force obtained during the draw cycle. The let-off force is the lowest force reached following the peak force during a single uninterrupted draw cycle. In all cases, both the highest and lowest force shall be read from a scale during a single and continual pull condition, without relaxation. This technique eliminates the introduction of hysteresis, which can distort the reading. % Let-off = 100 X [(Peak Draw Force) - (Minimum Holding Force)] / (Peak Draw Force)

I have one of these. Favorite model and caliber. GLWS

Nice rig. I have a 2018 very similar. GLWS

Looking forward to hearing some suggestions.

If you have a tag you do not need a permit to camp during the dates of the hunt. I feel your pain. Back in November/December over approximately 3 weeks I must have tried to call them 15 times without getting someone to answer. I once got someone to answer, and she said the person I needed to talk to was off that day and she was filling so call back later. About a week or 10 days later I got someone to answer and answer my question. All I wanted to know was what were the spring turkey hunt dates since their website hadn't been updated from the previous year. It also had nothing about going to an online draw for Spring 2025 when it had always been first come first served. I mailed my money and application back in December, and I got it back a few weeks later. That is the only way I knew about the draw. I like to hunt/fish on SC but their communication tools are terrible IMO. Good Luck

I've seen some pretty cool stuff but don't remember much of it anymore. Getting old sucks.

yes, they approved, and I don't recall any changes. Now that they decided to make changes every 5 years or so (I believe we are 2 years away more changes) they pretty much go by what is recommended. I have started making a list of things I would like changed. #1 change for me is no more taking of hen turkey in the fall. From what I have observed, most the birds killed this time of year are hens. For the life of me I don't know why they allow the killing of baby makers. Almost everything walking or flying in the woods kills turkeys/poults. Let the hens have a chance to produce more then we may have more opportunity.

AZGFD meeting live cam: Commission Meeting Webcast - Arizona Game & Fish Department

I could be wrong but if memory serves me correctly based on the game and fish presentations, archery success was around 11%-13% and hunters hunting with crossbows during OTC archery hunts was around 33%. This was part of the argument made for removing crossbows from all the archery hunts. As more archery units go to draw it just forces archers to move to fewer remaining OTC hunts. Thus, you will see more units go to draw. Some units are more conducive to road hunters. I predict you will see 20A go to draw in a year or two as well. I'll admit, once G&F required mandatory reporting then started publishing the actual numbers of deer taken during OTC hunts, I was very surprised. Most the mule deer units get hammered. Call me whatever you want but I have always believed there should be no OTC opportunities for NR's. AZ just doesn't have the numbers of animals to allow this. Human population in this state is growing at 1 million every 8-9 years yet our animal populations are decreasing or staying same. Then throw in uncontrolled wolf numbers, feral horses/burros, drought and loss of habitat. Somethings got to give.

The skull on that thing is Huge. Did you ever send in a tooth, and have it aged?

My wife had that hunt back in 2003 so I don't think my knowledge and info is much good. I can tell you she did not kill on the Boquillas ranch and don't overlook that big wide-open country. This was probably the most stressful hunt I have ever been involved with. I scouted much more for this hunt than any other hunt and the pressure people would put on only shooting a 380 type bull was crazy. My advice to you and your wife is to enjoy the hunt and make it enjoyable for her. Congratulations and good luck!

yes, that is unusual. I always see the forbes such as small flowers or greens in their gullet. Not sure if I know what those are.