Red Sparky

I just read again CNS pinned topic on being patient after the shot so since I have a few questions I thought I would make a #2 post since the last post was two years ago. A lot of good information in the original topic but it leaves me with a few questions. I hope it is like the first post and argument free as I would like different viewpoints. Trying to add more knowledge to my bag of tricks. Here is my scenario that is getting me upset. I watch these "hunting shows" on TV and it seems like a deer is shot close to dark. They start tracking and then decide to back out to recover in the morning. So they go back to cooked dinner and nice comfy beds and have "long sleepless nights". The next morning they recover a set of antlers and the rest has been eaten by coyotes. Also hunting in Sept. where the lows may only be high 50's low 60's and daytime highs are low 80's I want to field dress and start cooling off the meat ASAP. I agree that you need to give an animal time to expire and not bump it or you may never recover it. Now I mainly solo hunt until I can find a decent hunting partner. I carry with me a pack where I can spend the night out in the woods and not have to go back to camp. Not a comfortable night but food, water, shelter are covered in my pack and a fire if I want it. Would it be better to spend the night where you would give up the trail and listen for coyotes if they find your animal expired? Then you can head to the area and possibly find your animal with some meat still on the bones. It also seems like you would be at the right spot to start tracking again as soon as the sun comes up if you don't hear any coyotes. I figure if a bear or cougar find it I am not going to hear it anyhow like with coyotes. So what are your thoughts? My only problem is if the animal is still alive but too sick to get away from coyotes. It is illegal to shoot 30 minutes past sunset but to me it is more ethical to put the animal down quickly and humanely. That is a bridge I will have to cross if I am ever in that situation. Hopefully I am never in that situation but it is better to prepare for it.

I would argue that it is a "small battery-powered hand carried device..." Either way, I'll call the authority having jurisdiction and if they say no go then I'll gladly pass. If you wanted to argue it feel free. It took me 10 minutes to find it online so glad I could help you know where to look. Love the fact you like your own post.

I think game cams are illegal in FS or BLM wilderness by this definition. I think they mean handheld cameras are allowed. CFR-2011- title 36 section 261, prohibited uses, definitions: Motorized equipment means any ma- chine activated by a nonliving power source except small battery-powered handcarried devices such as flashlights, shavers, Geiger counters, and cameras.

Cool pics. What is your camera set up?

The problem I have is the subcontractors that collect the fees. The fishing area up here by Jemez has day use fees for fishing and overnight camping. Years ago I bought one of those Eddie the Eagle passes that were suppose to give you free day access and half price camping fees. The reason I bought it was we were going to White Sands National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns NP, and Mesa Verde NP so I had access for a year for what the those entrance fees would have been. I did not have to pay entrance fees at any of those locations. Needless to say I was carrying the book that said I did not have to pay day use passes at FS campgrounds when the subcontractor (not from NM) said I had to pay. I pointed out I did not have to pay and they said I did. I said we won't be staying then and I will contact the FS Monday when I get back to Albuquerque. They changed their tune real fast, I still didn't stay and did contact the FS on Monday. I haven't been back except for fishing in the wintertime when subcontractors aren't there. So the extra fee you are paying is to the subcontractors that clean up and monitor the campgrounds, not the FS. I agree the FS should have enough funds from taxes to pay subcontractors and we should not have to pay extra.

Sounds like AZG&F was taken over by the NAHC. You now have the opportunity to send us more money to be a TROPHY Life Member rather than just a plain old Life Member.

Yep. First year in there but from what I have been told it won't be hard to find bulls as they should be screaming their heads off at that time.

I am in the same boat as you. If I see anything when scouting I will send you a PM, not sure where I will be yet.

I think you named her well. Good looking dog.

I am with you Phil. Corrective lenses suck but I have worn them since I was 6. For me shooting 60,70 yards I don't even have a bulls eye. My target for field points is 16x16 and broad heads is 18x18. I imagine it is an elk, not that I would shoot that far at an elk, and try to center punch the target. I imagine I am aiming for the lungs, tight behind the front leg on a broadside elk. I try to keep in a 10" circle at 70 yards and it helps my confidence at that range just knowing I can do it. Usually I hit in a 6"-8" circle at 70 yards, really makes you concentrate and builds confidence in yourself. I learned tonight not to shoot groups with my broad heads as I sliced a fletching clean off. I put 9 adhesive dots on my broad head target and out to 50 yards I will pick one dot per arrow. I didn't want to walk to 70 yards and draw out my arrow so shot another broad head, wrong move. Luckily I have time to get it refletched before hunting season.

Waiting for the - - - ... Maybe it is - - - ... - - - for S.O.S

Mine have already posted. Then again everything is in one draw so you are either really happy or disappointed once per year .

Agree but I would add bullet design ( HP,RN,FMJ,SP, etc. ) to the statement as well.

Working on my Jeep and it won't be ready by Sept. so if you see a '91 red/white chevy S-10 pick up with an extra cab that will be me. I may have the camper shell on/ may not it is dark blue. Hey it was in a yard with a free sign on it, it fit, so at least I am patriotic, red, white, blue. Hopefully we will run into each other.

Ask your local law enforcement agency. This is NM and not AZ but I live in the un-incorperated area of the county and not in the city limits. In some cities it is illegal to even shoot BB guns in the city limits. It is illegal to shoot bows in the city parks here, city ordinance. My house is on 2/3 of an acre and the entire back yard is block wall so I have a range in my back yard. No neighbors behind me and an 8 ft. wall to the east as I live on a hill and the rest is 4 ft high on the south and west. I built an 8 ft high x 10 ft wide back stop and can shoot to 70 yards. It is nice to be able to step out the back door and shoot daily. I did shoot out my target one time though. I had the target set up at about 30 yards and when the arrow hit the target I heard a sound like when you hit a watermelon. The arrow went through the target and smacked the block wall 40 yards down range, ruining one of my hunting arrows. I shoot a Hoyt at 70 lbs.

I need 2 non-working game cams. I will pay shipping to get them to me. I have an idea and I don't care what brand or model. If my idea works out I will post what I did so if anybody else is interested. So if you are going to throw them away because they don't work let me know.

Look pretty nice to me.

This will only effect thieves, not somebody trying to fix cameras. It will not intentionally kill or maim anyone, I don't want to spend time in lock up. I will post pictures of what I do and a video of how it works once I get it done so anybody else can do this. I plan on having another camera hidden so if anybody takes the "bait" I will post it here before putting it on youtube.

Better than that. Let's just say if it works there will be less camera thieves out there. I got the other parts I need already.

I have a range in my back yard so I shoot daily in all weather conditions. Wind, rain snow, 100 degree heat to 20 degree cold, you never know the conditions you will be hunting in. When I started, two years ago, I had the bow set at 60 lbs. and worked on form. You need to work on the basics and get your form down. When I got my groups down I started working on distance. Then each week I would crank the draw weight one turn. You won't even notice the increase. Once I had my bow to 70 lbs. I started practicing from one knee, both knees, chair, holding as long as possible, any position I could imagine for hunting. From July 1 to hunting season I only shoot broadheads and hunting arrows. Wear the clothes you will be hunting in if possible. The one thing I know from when I was throwing in a dart league....... if you over practice you will get worse and not better. So once you start getting groups opening up, quit for the day.

Yes but there is a difference between pine nuts and piñon nuts. If it has pine nuts, candy etc., it can't be labeled piñon nuts. Like the difference between green chile and Hatch green chile. The locals know the difference, close but not the same. There is a candy maker in Santa Fe that tried to use pine nuts to make piñon bark, it kind of backfired for them and they now have to label as having "pine nuts".

Roast them like pumpkin seeds. At least they tasted like pine sap rather than grass so you knew they were pinon nuts and not rabbit berries.

Here is the NM secret to gathering piñon nuts. Go where the piñon trees are. One year deer hunting in the northern part of the Gila forest I think I got like 10 pounds off one tree. It was a huge tree but not close to any roads. Growing up in Santa Fe I just use to go out towards where they put by-pass in but that is all houses now.

Here is a business idea for anybody. You know how they make scent killer in spray bottles? How about poison ivy or oak juice? You would have to wear gloves for your cameras but I think you might give a few thieves something to think about until they wised up and took gloves with their bolt cutters.

I bought some from Sports Authority and can't find them to tell you the brand. I think they are Hot Skins or Second Skins. Not Merino wool but very warm and thin. They wick away sweat and stay dry and warm. I like them because when I am hiking I don't get too warm and when I am sitting I don't get too cold. Usually I use them on my daughters elk hunt in November when I think one night my portable weather center measured 15 degrees for the low and 52 for the high.