Snapshot

There are other states where public access is a huge problem. In 1991 I guided archery hunters for an outfitter in the upper Madison valley of Montana.It was right next door to the famous Sun Ranch, and not far away from a ranch owned by the actor Steven Seagal. An area of vast tracts of private property. This particular ranch was at the base of a huge mountain range, and we hunted the mountains right behind the ranch on public land. The only way to access this prime hunting area was through the ranch, or a 10 mile hike across very steep terrain. The hunting was primo for undisturbed animals. As you can imagine, most land owners and outfitters jealously guard their domain from outsiders.

As someone mentioned "Private land is private". If that private land is blcoking access to choice public land hunting,or recreational activity, the G&F, as well as the State of Arizona should come up with a solution if the public need warrants it. If I was a ranch owner scratching out a living, I certainly would not want a bunch of yahoo's driving through my property at all hours of the day and night, and possibly, littering, cutting fence,injuring my cattle,shooting water tanks, and whatever else that could possibly happen. We have all seen the damage done by disrespectful slob hunters. It is the bad apples out there that have created the "no access" mindset of most ranch owners, and I don't blame them. As far as the county maintaining ranch roads, just remember that ranchers are tax payers also. These guy's have paid their dues and many of these ranches have existed long before any of us, as well as our parents, were born. Being a hunter does not entitle us access as we see fit. Would you want all your neighbors walking through your backyard beacuse it offered them better access to the local park.? I doubt it!

No. I once posted a pic of myself in a leopard skin thong. The traffic collapsed the entire internet. Al Gore had to re-invent it. Jennifer Aniston viewed it like 20,000 times just herself. Stay away from Jennifer.......she's mine!

This topic is approaching 10,000 views.! Is that a new record?

Sometimes these organizations turn into the "Good ole boy's" network. SCI is a perfect example.

The guy's were all over TV. Nothing like giving the Cartel a look at their faces. Watch your back fellas.

Guys like you are the reason that I loved living and hunting in both Kansas and Nebraska. Go to some of the other web sites and look at the Washington hunting threads... Guys like me? Idaho is not far away...great hunting ! British Colombia to the North....Great Hunting! Even though Seattle itself is not so great. Lots of public land available to hunt. I was fortunate to be able to hunt BC in the 1970s and Idaho in the early 1980s. Won't be hunting either again at this point in my life. Glad you like it. Hope you stay there and enjoy it. I have never lived, hunted, or even been to Washington. I don't have anything against Kansas. I just mentioned I would pick Washington over Kansas. Simply for the fact, I am a mountain man.

Thats funny! I have heard that the .460 Weatherby is quite a "BOOMSTICK" I used to have a Taurus .44 mag with a ported barrel. The guys at the indoor range didn't like it much either. That thing would shoot flames straight up out of the ports.

I had a Muzzle Break on my trusty 30-06 for many years. It is a sweet shooting rifle. Do I really need a break? No. But it really made shooting sessions more enjoyable, and accurate. I could shoot it all day, and it wouldn't really bother me. Not much more recoil than a .243. The recoil of a 30-06 is moderate compared to the bigger magnums. The downside is a muzzle break it will make your ears ring out in the field, without ear plugs. I have noticed downrange noise is much less, and it seems to spook the animals less if you miss a shot, or need a follow up.

There are alot of African PH's that will not even allow the use of a muzzle break on their hunts.

You can also have a Break-O mercury recoil tube installed in the stock butt.

Guys like you are the reason that I loved living and hunting in both Kansas and Nebraska. Go to some of the other web sites and look at the Washington hunting threads... Guys like me? Idaho is not far away...great hunting ! British Colombia to the North....Great Hunting! Even though Seattle itself is not so great. Lots of public land available to hunt.

Just remember what happened to Dorothy& Toto in Kansas. If it was me, Washington would be an easy choice.

Happy Birthday Fellas!

Happy birthday. Hope things are going well for you!

I prefer the 30-06,as I have been shooting one for many years, and it will take any game in North America. The .270 is a great cartridge as well, however, I have only shot a .270 once, and do not have any experience with that caliber. Like Lark and the others mentioned, the 30-06 Factory rifle barrles are twisted for average bullet weights. 150,165,180.etc. I noticed a difference in accuracy between the 150 and 180 grain,at least in my gun. My first rifle as a kid was a Remington 788 in .308. That light rifle without a recoil pad kicked like a mule to a skinny kid. lol

I get tired of seeing some of these "Canned Lion Hunts" on the Outdoor channels. Lions that are bred and raised for sport hunting inside large fenced enclosures. The same goes for dart hunting Rhinos.

Good to hear you at least are getting something. Insurance companies sure want our premium payments on time, but they sure don't want to pay anything out.

When the wife makes a comment to that effect, she is sending you a message........trust me!

O.K.......now I am hungry.

Merry Christmas! Nice pic.

Merry Christmas!

We had planned to be there but... I put a kink in my back on the 9th hole Thurs. and it got so bad that I quit after 14 holes. By Fri, despite lots of pills, I couldn't stand upright. It didn't start to feel better until Mon., but it's still tender. Yep, that golfing can be a pretty tough sport! LOL Merry Christmas Tony, to you and yours!

For the right amount of money, I am sure it could be arranged!

Thanks for the great information Bill. Even though I have never set foot on Afican soil, It has been my lifelong dream to go on a "Big 4" and plains game safari. Specifically in Tanzania. I have read alot of the books of past/present African hunting greats, as well as watched many african hunting shows, videos, and countless hours researching African hunting via the internet. However, unless I win the lottery.........lol