Str8Shot

Steve there is no doubt that hunters and sportsmen affect the land and some bad apple hunter cause even greater issues... Still G&F and Hunting organizations have poured a lot of money into that area for over two decades. Since 2013 and the change has all that previous work been privatized? Is the Navajo Nation and the lessee picking up the tab on everything? Or are ranch roads still being maintain by state $$$$ is there no more money being spent to upkeep and improve tanks ... are there no longer any mass clean ups by hunting organizations going on? A price can be added to anything but at $60 a head for anyone over 18 hunter or not , I find it hard to believe the costs of cleaning up after hunters is not being covered... I do not mind the fees and actually think the rules they have are fair and right ... but it is hard to believe hunters are costing them more $$$$ than they are making and without some pretty substantial proof and transparency when it comes to the real $$$$$ I am not just going to take the word of a few that their maintenance is not more than covered...

Steve, Half the Unit and #'s and I am wondering as it stands what percent of tag holders are already paying the permit of $60 for access and why that is not enough? I would think that more tag holders than not pay just so they have the ability to hunt the entire unit.

Do not think for a moment that if the ranchers restrict hunters that it means All hunters ... it just means Hunters not wanting to pay a big premium ... The only way to keep that from happening is for the state G&F to designate the are as non hunting. Lark, i know what ranchers have to deal with and understand the need for them to make an extra buck, but many have and are going way to far and as you said probably due to someone whispering in their ear... heck, I would not mind seeing fair toll easements for access to our lands if it would help out the rancher while still allowing hunters access. I guess I miss the days when ranchers not only gave access but begged for the hunters to take out a mountain lion and some coyotes while on their hunt to help with the predators.

You are right, but they can control if the land can legally be hunted by anyone.... I say close these ranches off too any hunting for a few years and the greedy will find a way to make it fair for all hunters. Taxpayers are being denied access to public lands that are landlocked and to hunting game that belong to all the people of this state. We are not talking about High Fence hunting ranches who pay a lot of $$$$$ to build herds and then profit from hunting, we are talking greedy ranchers who are trying to get in bed with a few greedy guide/outfitters to profit a lot of $$$$$ off of game and land that belong to all Arizona taxpayers.

reason to have a gps on your person and set a way point ... Hope someone honest finds it and gets it back to you.

Cabelas had the Rino 650 last week for 329.99 have never seen it that low anywhere hopefully it will drop again ... Now they have the 64st for 279.99 which is a real good deal on a solid GPS

Insanely AWESOME Buck.... I am betting his gene pool is littering the strip waiting to grow up big like poppa !

I know many people who have encountered them and several that have shot them ... With the exclusion of my idiot ex brother in law who fired from a vehicle all the rest had done so legally and none of them were cited... I am not quite buying that they were citing people for looking because of a release on their wrist during a open hunting season... I do not see catching poachers and unethical hunters breaking the laws as a waste of time or resources.

I think This guy is Their Hero !

I just saw these guys doing Thunderstruck by AC/DC .... pretty cool covers

^^^ LOL, that is funny ^^^^ .... the guy I know got caught was an ex brother-in-law and was told had he gotten out and stepped away from the road and shot it he would have been fine.... That was over 10 years ago ... I do not think they were doing it enough because every year we see plenty of road hunters and often see guys shooting right out the window.

Do not think they only use them out of season ... I know someone pretty close ( never hunted with him) that lost his license during a Hunt he had a tag for because he shot from the vehicle on the road. He was told that he was the 5th person that day to shoot that decoy from out the window of a truck.

LOL ...I had a similar experience in 3c around 95 ... but it was a big Tom in a meadow .. I grabbed the camera and headed to the only tree between us and the turkey decoy to try and get a good picture and my cousin ended coming up behind me. As soon as I zoomed to take the Pic I could tell it was a decoy and started laughing as I turned and waved around, knowing someone was watching. As we headed back to the truck, a blind dropped, and two LEOs drove out in their truck stopping to meet us as we got to the road... Similar response from them, about passing, but emphasized if my cousin had pulled his pistol and shot it would have been a different story. Me being a smart azz said, well once we know it is fake what if we decided to sight in on it , the guy laughed and said people have done that in the past and they were cited for destruction of State Property... The LEOs were both cool guys

They do not use Kia cars for the bait car program... They use nice cars . I do not see how the entrapment can be argued based on the size of the Rack ... A deer illegally shot is a deer illegally shot ... and yes the should use ugly women for their prostitution stings

Arizona has done this in the past and think they should do it more, but using trophy caliber decoys to really gauge the dishonesty and lack of moral compass of some individuals, who choose to call themselves Hunters.

Trphy Back when the 3c tag was the first 2 weekends in November 2 out of the 3 years I helped my dad and then his friend the bucks were swollen that second weekend and sparing .

there are quiet a few tanks that are not Toxic mine ponds around the mine as well ....

Your comment implies that I am dumb for answering his question.... Unfortunately there are too many individuals, like you, afraid that helping someone with a question is going to hurt you or your hunting spots... There are several other ways to get into the wilderness north of and between the mines and lots of land with lots of game. Unless you are a road hunter giving someone the name of a road should not hurt you in the least bit.

In northern Units I have seen it a lot through the years , and not just little guys ... Down south start seen small guys sparing in mid November and chasing a little , but nothing like you see in mid to late Dec. through Jan.

I literally Just heard them talking about this case on KTAR about 15 minutes ago on my drive home... Fracking Disturbing I hope they catch the Poaching Jerk!

Unless things have changed you just take the Pinto Valley Mine Road right through the mine ... the FS roads will be posted

These late hunts are where shed hunting pays off for guys ... Think of where you seen them earliest in late winter through spring ... they will be working there way back, knowing these areas and some in between usually are holding a good source of nutrition something the need after the rut and to make it through the winter .... Once they find an area they are going to eat more than travel (they have to put back on mass,) and unless the snow is deep and hard packed making it hard to graze , or the water is frozen so thick they can not bust the edge ice with their feet do not assume they are not close.... Elk primarily feed and breed during the night and lay up in cover much of the day, so if I were in your shoes I Would be looking for good grazing grounds and hunting the thicker stuff between .... Also water is less of an issue when there is so much rain and snow , food is much more needed and this time of year can contain enough water for them to stay put for a while.

I just went to buy one ... the system said an error occurred to try another payment , but the funds came out of my account ... I want in but am not doing to do multiple transactions and not get confirmations of entry and being in drawing

Crab Claws are sweet but those Eye Guards are insane and look ready to do some damage !

YEah , looking at the pics it is a XDm , but you can still find the XDm new for close to $500 Not sure where you shop but all that I have looked at are $649.00 plus tax....... My dad picked up the exact model shown on the box this last January at a local shop for less than $550 out the door .. Buds has it for $580 right now