Snapshot

I guess prime would be in the eyes of the beholder. I would rather glass up one single good buck than a whole bunch of dinks, and I would consider the spot as prime if it held even one good buck. Some would consider quantity over quality as prime, or vice versa. Just my opinion.

I have nefer been to Emerald lake, just saw the trail sign on the pack in to camp. Glad the law breakers got their dues.

Pheeeeeeeeeeeeewwwww! Was that picture taken of emerald lake or is that father back!

I am curious about the leftover tags. I drew third choice unit 23 rifle mule deer, but my second choice was muzzleloader whitetail which there are leftover tags for. Is this probably due to the non-resident quota??? Would game and fish swap tags? I doubt it, but I thought I would ask anyway.

I can imagine that was tough to deal with, I have been in the Weminuche and there is some high altitude and nowhere to hide up on the divide. I was hunting with Rocky Mountain Outfitters and a storm made a tree fall on one of the wall tents at another camp. I was bowhunting elk in Montana in 1990 and was clawing my way up the side of a steep mountain when a storm hit with thunder and lighting on top of the mountain, rocks where knocked loose and came rolling down the mountain towards me, scared the heck out of me, I was by myself and got the heck out of there asap. Scary stuff that lightning!

I had an experience like that at a road block coming back from a days fishing at parker canyon lake, cocky,arrogant guys giving me the third degree. They searched underneath my truck with mirrors and then asked where the fish I caught where at, I told him they were all small so I threw them back but told him he was welcome to smell my hands if he wanted to. last year on my return from hunting 30B I was stopped at a road block on Sonoita highway and the guy had the dog sniff my truck and trailer but I told him that Ihad a dead javelina in the back just in case the dog freaked out, but he just laughed and waived me thru? You never know what you will encounter with some of those guys, some are good guys and some are jerks.

As far as lightning, I have heard to find the lowest ground possible and to never hide under any tree in a lightning storm, it is better to lay flat on open ground than to be under a tree, especially a tall one. As far as snake bite, I purchased a pair of snakeproof hunting boots from cabelas for hunting the southern units during warmer weather. In my reply to the post 30B, you can see me wearing those boots in the javelina picture. A $100.00 investment is well worth it, compared to the aftermath of a snake bite, I have had a few close call encounters with snakes. I have read the best thing for snake bite is to identify the snake (for type) and get to a hospital ASAP, the Venom ER guy on tv said some people do more harm than good trying to do field treatments? With anitvenim going for $800.00 or more a vial, and a bad snake bite may require 10 bottles or more, it can get expensive in a hurry if a person is not insured.

I will post some scouting pictures later in the season for you guys with 34a tags.

I apply for 30B as my third thru 5th choice every year and have been drawn 3rd - 5th choice there the last 4 years in a row. I have taken a buck 2 out of the last 3 years. I did not get a buck last year as I only had 2 days to hunt and the two bucks I saw gave me the slip in thick cover. The foothills on all sides of the Dragoons get alot of pressure, not only are there other whitetail hunters, but mule deer hunters as well, be prepared for alot of competition in the accesible areas. I have not hunted the mule mountains, however the access is limited and the competition at the accesible areas will be just as bad, I imagine? You may find a dink running with does or by himself in the lower elevations after opening day, but if you want a chance at a good buck you have to go high up in the canyons away from the roads, look for the secluded little spots that get overlooked by the average Joe. Most of the steepest areas will be pretty tough on a 10 year old. On the North end you have Jordan and wood canyon which are steep on both sides but you can glass the mountain here. On the Northeast side you have forest road 795 which will take you through some spots to check out, and will run into FR84 Cochise stronghold east. Middlemarch pass will give you access to the top of the mountain if you don't mind a vigourous, sweaty hike, glass the side canyons at the crack of dawn and last light. The southern half of the Dragoons also requires some legwork but Black Diamond area used to be o.k but the ranch access is closed off. Cochise Stronhold west is a small camping area and the deer don't hang around long after opening day, they head up and over and there is a good trail to follow over to the east side. The soutwest side of the Dragoons off of Middlemarch road gets alot of recreationists, hikers and rock climbers who come out in the nicer weather, and people who don't like Bambi killers, as I had a run in with them before. The San Pedro has both whitetail and mule deer but it is thick,thick,thick. You have to hunt like an eastern hunter and still hunt slow,slow,slow and hope you can shoot something in 2 seconds, or sit up on the hillside of the wash and glass the cover and hope to find something moving, I have been in there and there is good sign, but it is not my style of hunting. some of the major washes in the unit will hold scattered whitetail in the thick cover. As far as the rest of the unit,I don't know, I only hunt the Dragoons. The only way to success in this unit is alot of scouting, hiking and glassing, or extreme luck. Unit 30B October 2005 Unit 30B November 2006

I feel campfires are part of a hunting tradition and I certainly enjoy a nice cozy fire unless I am out spike camping with a backpack in a good area then I won't light one.

It is a great magazine!

I am a hunter through and through. I hate to see any animal suffer, and I always strive for quick humane kills. Speaking only for myself, I feel ethics would be my choice, and I certainly don't feel that putting a suffering animal out of its misery should be grounds for any type of lawful punishment. Even though that calf probably will not last too long with that injury, it certainly would be hard to watch knowing the animal is in extreme pain. If any agency wanted to convict me for my choice of ethics vs. law, I could live with that, as I will be judged by a much higher force at a later time.

I live on the Northern edge of 34A and I ride my quad from my house down there all the time and glass my spots. Mostly the northern half of the west side from Madera Canyon up to Mt Fagan. last year I found about 20 bucks from dinks up to a 105" ish, buck. I only hunt the area during late archery. Anyway, if you come down I will be more than happy to show you around. I usually start looking for bucks in late August through the end of the season. There are more bucks in the southern half of the unit but I do not go down there much. There is more private property issues in the unit than there used to be so access into some of the areas is more difficult but there are still many quality areas to go to. One thing I have learned is alot of the bucks that are spotted early in the year are killed during the first two hunts. If you scout, do it after the second hunt ends as the area gets hammered during the first three hunts (archery,oct,nov). I went down last year after the second hunt ended and the bucks I found were extremely spooked.

30B Oct whitetail 3rd choice plus my New mexico Hunts.

30B October whitetail 3rd choice for me, along with my New Mexico hunts. Outdoor Writer, Based on you applying 38 years for sheep and all the great stories and articles you have provided us with over the years, I feel AG&FD should give you a sheep permit based on your merits. Just my opinion! best of Luck.

I don't know anything about the July 17th rumor, but having the earlier elk and antelope draw along with drawing tags in New Mexico has certainly helped alleviate alot of my "draw anxiety". In years past the first two or three weeks of July really seemed to drag by waiting for results and then trying to plan hunts accordingly. I would be very impressed if the draw results are ready this month.

I sent in a cashiers check. With all the problems they have had with the draw system I didn't want to take any more chances then neccessary. have not heard from anyone on any checks being cashed?

Shot a Javelina in 30B on Saturday 11/11, saw two good bucks in the thick stuff, but they saw me first. I will be going back next weekend to try and find them again.

Nice pics. That Bear Wallow is great country. Been in there myself before.

I helped locate some bucks for my uncle and cousin in law down in 35B, Tony took an average 3 x 4 whitetail on the last morning we were there. I glassed up a couple of nice bucks the previous evening and we went back in the morning and hiked into the head of a deep nasty canyon, and he put him down with a 330 yard shot. The 85-90" buck we were after did not show him self long enough for a shot, so he settled for the smaller of the two. Saw alot of bucks but nothing really big. We saw a search and rescue team and the coroner bring out a dead illegal alien that had been found dead by a hunter, pretty sad way to die, I hope they can find the family, Alot of alien activity in the area.

Have been scouting alot in unit 34A, lots of bucks, lots of feed, cover, water. The biggest buck scouted is "100-104" approx should be a good hunt for those with this permit. And yes, lots of rattlesnakes seen, and 2 big Gila monsters as well. Watch your step guys!

Will be looking for Bear during my turkey hunt in unit 27, mid October.

Heck of a nice buck. Who's your taxidermist?

I use 12 x 50 Docter's as my main optics for everything, great glass. You should see what fedex delivered to me today. I ordered a pair of Zhumell Tachyon 25 x 100 binos with built in tripod adapter. These things weigh 9 pounds and are as long as my forearm.I don't plan on packing them around, but to sit on trailheads and overlooks to glass the backcountry. I like the higher magniifcation glass, although if you are still hunting through thick cover the higher magnification can be a drawback, 8 power is good in the thick stuff. But for long range glassing I would go with the 12 x 50 with a lightweight tripod for extended glassing sessions. Good luck.

Scott, How the heck are you. I have talked to you in a while. I did not draw any unit 27 tags except for turkey. Unit 30 B whitetail , 5th choice. Glad you guys pulled some great tags. Good luck. Brent W. - Sahuarita