Snapshot

Here is a pic of my Unit 27 archery bear taken just inside the blue range boundary. I spent a few days looking for a decent buck and checking out some Elk areas for an upcoming HOAL hunt in November. I was glassing a couple of bucks about a 1/2 mile away when they got real nervous and then took off like their butts were on fire. I noticed something dark moving in the brush and then saw a bears head looking out. He then moved down into the canyon and I lost sight of him, as it was to far and close to dark I decided to come back in the morning. I went into the canyon and looked around for awhile and came across a waterhole (seep) and it was loaded with bear sign, so I figured he was watering at this spot. I set up just uphill and upwind of the seep, it was tough sitting there because the flies and mosquitos where horrendous. Almost like a ghost the bear appeared at about 5:00 p.m, he came in so quiet that he almost caught me by surprise. He turned broadside at 32 yards and a double lung shot put him down in less than 2 minutes about 120 yards from where he was shot. I am not very good at guessing weight, but I am 6' 2" and 230lbs, and he is bigger than me so maybe he is 300lbs plus? He squares out at 7' and is just under 6' nose to tail. I was by myself so the photo is self taken with camera/tripod.

Magnificent bull ! I hope someday I can draw on one as huge as that. Way to go!

Thanks everybody! I appreciate the sentiments. I do know that the older I get the heavier the packframe gets. It took me a day and a half to get him out of there as my sciatic nerve has been giving me problems, so I was a happy man when I got the last load up the hill.

Awesome bull ! It seems a lot of nice bulls are being taken this year. Looks like all the rains and good feed is paying off.. Way to go!

One word, "Incredible". !

Its true that the guys on this forum will do everything they can to turn you from the dark side of carp hunting. I have been a mule deer hunter my whole life, but since I joined this forum I get this irresistable urge to hunt whitetail. Never under estimate the power of the force!

A dandy buck! 3 minutes into the hunt is incredible. I bet it was almost anti climatic having it end that soon.

Brent Waage AKA - Snapshot Beer preference: Corona or coors light Soda- any

Thats great to here! I will be hunting mulies in 23 during the second rifle hunt, didn't draw my whitetail tag for the unit. I will be going over this weekend to start my archery elk hunt in unit 23.

Just more Illegals,smugglers and Border Patrol. We were down there last year and camped in Harshaw. Check out the canyons on the west side of the range Paloma, Provedencia etc. they run east to west and less activity than in some of the easier areas. Saw a nice bear in there as well, watched him for an hour as he walked right up a rugged road through the canyon. Saw a lot of bucks but nothing real big 85-90" was the biggest we saw but my cousin in law settled for a smaller 3 x 4.

Can I tempt you with a whole box of red paper clips?

I bought an autographed copy of you and Duwane's book, someday I hope I can get you to sign it as well? Someday I hope I can try a hunt in old Sonora and see what the hunting is like down there.

Great explanation Tony. It is very true that whitetail now inhabit areas that they were not seen in 20-30 years ago. I have a favorite unit here in AZ that I have hunted since the late 70's, and there are whitetail there that are now in areas inhabited by elk, which I never saw back in the day, some of these whitetail were up in the spruce and acted just like eastern whitetails in the thick stuff. I have also noted more whitetail in the desert regions starting to inhabit the riparian areas that you would only find mule deer in years ago. I remember back in the late 70's were a hunter got in trouble for shooting a crossbreed "muletail", during a mule deer only season, seems G&F were trying to determine how to clasiffy that deer? I have even seen whitetails running with mule deer in lower elelvations.

If Tony will let me in his front door to the party, I have a 1996 PSE G Force bow in great shape that I will donate to the cause along with a little cash.

I got it today. 3rd Choice unit 30B October whitetail.

Still waitng for mine

"Snapshot" - I like photography and taking pictures.

Mine still has not showed up yet

Excellent looking area for a house. Defenitely a nice spread. Let me know if you are interested in custom cabinets and I'll hook you up, I also do finish carpentry, tile etc. Brent

I'm guilty, I am AZ resident, but I drew 3rd choice Unit 23 rifle mule deer tag. 1st & 2nd choice was whitetail.

My deer tag was in today's mail

Looks good from the front view!

I got my elk tag awhile ago but no deer tag yet.

I helped my Uncle in law on the same hunt you have last year and the bucks I glassed up for him were found on a west facing slope at the head of a steep canyon at 9:00 a.m. Some small bucks we found on opening morning were on an south and east facing slope at 7-8:00 a.m?

I know what you mean about MM, I am a member there as well. Just don't tell em about this site. Welcome aboard.