WFGinNM

Anybody heard from Jason since 2009? These bronzed antlers are awesome, would still like to get one. Thanks, --Bill

Great hunts, Congratulations. I drew the Burro's January Archery Coues' --Bill

Even better... it does state the date of May 9 in the regs... this is good news to me. I hated to have to put in the AZ draw not knowing New Mexico... I gonna get a Caldera tag! Good luck in the draw, that is my back yard. After I'm done shed hunting for the season I'll post some of the antlers I've found on the National Forest side of the fence. --Bill

This year the draw results will be May 9th. In the past it was later. --Bill

After a year and a half of waiting and some scouting (the unit was 4 1/2 hours away), I went on my whitetail hunt in Eastern NM last week. The country is extremely void of cover and these deer were harder to hunt than antelope. Instead of running a few hundred yards if they spooked, they would run over the horizon miles away. We glassed a few bucks, and on the 3rd day I decided on the buck I wanted to try for. Glassing using the truck for a wind break in the 30 mph winds, the temp was in the single digits without the wind. Terrain Small herd of Whitetail about 3/4 mile away (pic through the 15's) After watching the herd bed down about 9:00am we watched them all day from behind a few different hills from about 800 yards depending on the wind. After waiting until 4:20 in the evening the herd finally made it within 350 yards feeding and I shot this buck, 8 point with a broken point and a 15 1/2" spread. Another pic from were we camped the next day. We took two bucks from this herd (my friend's was a 9 point with a 8 1/2" spread) but I need to ask my friend if I can post a picture of him. The deer had bigger bodies than I thought and that was deceiving in judging them from a distance. I plan on hunting this TX sub-specie again probably in a different unit though just to explore somewhere new. Take care, --Bill

Thanks everybody, it was a different hunt. The picture where I'm just wearing the sweatshirt is because we were hiking and I didn't want to sweat, just after the picture the layers were put back on. Here are both the deer. --Bill

Here are a few pictures of the Valle from Thursday evening. More later, --Bill

Here are some pictures of our property in the Jemez Mts. that burned. I'll find some before pictures to post soon, they are all on a separate hard drive. --Bill

LOL It just may be better this year since 6C no longer exists. --Bill

Thanks everybody, Here are a couple pics of before and after the fire plowed through. I am fortunate that it was not my only home, all my neighbors up there lost everything they had, the folks that were there only had a few minutes to evacuate. One of my friends wasn't there so another friend let their horses loose. I hope they made it. I'll post more pictures of the fire later, I still have my house here in town I'm preparing to defend. --Bill

I drew Odocoileus Virginianus Texanus, (How's that Mr. Quimby? ) Unit 59 December. Yup, I'm happy. --Bill

I had thought about that Bill, and changed it at the last minute. Another reason why I don't gamble, given a 50/50 chance I will lose every time. Travis, I'll be posting pics and such throughout my scouting, which is 4 1/2 hours away. Thanks, --Bill

They should be online June 8th, and there is a chance e-mails may be sent out the night of the 7th. Good luck in the Draw, --Bill

A friend came out from PA for a few days to look for antlers and hopefully get a turkey. Opening day we planned on going to a spot that I like to shed hunt but never turkey hunted, Jason brought the shotgun just in case. Around noon we were glassing an open area to look for antlers and he used his slate to see if any birds would respond. After a few minutes of glassing I saw a turkey running at us about 200 yards away. we hustled back to the treeline where we left our packs, and the shotgun. Once we got set up I started calling and a tom would answer but wouldn't come closer. Jason mentioned that we should move to him, so we did. Not long after we repositioned, the tom came in gobbling non-stop and Jason added his first Merriam turkey to his large collection of Eastern birds. This bird was 20+ lbs, 8 1/2" beard, and the longest/sharpest spurs I've seen on a Merriam's, 1 1/4". --Bill

Vini, One of these days we will get out again. I can't wait to call in a bird or two for your boys. With the lack of snow the only sheds I've been finding are up high. 6 mile 4-wheeler ride and a 4 1/2 mile hike through the blow downs of the old burn, topping out with about a 3,300 ft elevation change one way. After this weekend Erika may never go looking for sheds with me again. But she is dying to find her first brown elk shed. --Bill

Thanks, We found 20 elk sheds but only 5 were fresh browns. Too far back to be carrying out whites so they are hanging in trees. I'll be heading back out this weekend with my Wife to hopefully find some more browns. --Bill

Wish I could make it, with gas prices climbing I have to hold off on road trips until I find out what hunts we didn't draw for. I'll just have to hit the hills looking for sheds that day and wait/hope for the after get-together pictures. --Bill

"I know in the .270 Win./WSM I've been happy with the Federal Premium ammo. I like the Nosler Partition and Ballistic Tips." My 7mm (ruger) shoots both of these Federal Premium loads well. I have used the Ballistic tips on Deer sized game, and use the Nosler Partitions on Elk, and Oryx. --Bill

I have Swaros. It took years of upgrades but I finally got a pair. --Bill

Very nice, it sure is satisfying to finally get them up. --Bill

Has anybody in AZ been fishing for walleye yet? I took the boat out once but our surface temp was still a bit cold. It should pick up in a few weeks here. --Bill

Thanks for sharing, all these pictures are getting me anxious to hit the mountains. --Bill

Great shed, was it in the tree when you found it? --Bill

Great finds Dan, I'll finally get a chance to go out this weekend. Been a busy spring, I can't believe it's already the middle of April. Thanks for the pictures. --Bill

Way to stick it out in the snow, I plan on finally getting out this weekend. Good job, --Bill