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MTNSGT

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Everything posted by MTNSGT

  1. MTNSGT

    2019 archery deer

    Congrats on a sweet buck!
  2. MTNSGT

    Draw Question

    I am fairly new to this whole draw process. I drew a deer tag through the draw this year so I understand that process. I have read the most recent elk and antelope regulations and have found that obtaining a bonus point only is pretty confusing to me. I will be moving overseas for a few years and am interested in obtain bonus points only for elk over the next few years. My question is can you obtain a bonus point only through the online draw system? Or do you have to submit a paper application?
  3. MTNSGT

    Draw Question

    Thank you!
  4. MTNSGT

    Draw Question

    I am moving temporarily for work but I will be gone for 3 years. Not sure what the criteria is for how long me being away makes me a non resident? If I own a house here during the time of me being gone would I still be considered a resident? These arent things I've thought about so thank you for bringing that up.
  5. MTNSGT

    Draw Question

    Thank you for clearing that up for me. I didnt want to miss out!
  6. MTNSGT

    46BE

    Beautiful Ram congrats!!!
  7. MTNSGT

    My 2019 archery buck

    Great buck! Congrats!
  8. MTNSGT

    closed

    Have you thought about a Mission? They are very reasonably priced and shoot lights out! They are also crazy adjustable. I bought my wife one 2 years ago and she shoots better than me on most days out to 40 yards or so.
  9. MTNSGT

    Pre fletched arrows question

    I shoot gold tip hunter 340 spine cut to 28.75. I have had good luck with just regular blazer vanes and 50 grain inserts with a slight right helical for mechanicals. I really like the blazer heat vanes in a 4 vane configuration with the slightest right helical for fixed blades, also with a 50 grain insert. You can get a dozen hunter shafts on amazon for a fairly decent price, I paid less than $70 for my last dozen.
  10. MTNSGT

    Pre fletched arrows question

    I have had very little luck with prefletched arrows and broadhead tuning. I have gone to doing all of my own and can get pretty repeatable results. It's not hard but does take some time to get what you like dialed in.
  11. MTNSGT

    Custom Gunstocks

    Good luck with your search!
  12. MTNSGT

    Custom Gunstocks

    Have you thought about giving Boyd's gubstocks a call? I believe they do custom work. I have a Boyd's on my rifle and love it.
  13. MTNSGT

    Wild Game Processing-Tucson

    There are tons of YouTube videos on how to break down cuts. It's actually very easy. Pick yourself up a grinder from harbor freight and have some fun.
  14. MTNSGT

    Winners Choice Strings

    I have winners choice on my Halon and they are nice. If you dont mind dealing with a little twisting while they break in they seem to hold up pretty well. I shoot on average 3-500 arrows a month and I have had mine on for almost a year now.
  15. I would first like to start off by thanking everybody for the wealth of knowledge that is shared on this site. I have been a member here for about a year and have just got around to posting my story. I read these forums daily as I have become completely obsessed with chasing the "little ghost" known as Coues Whitetail. I have become so invested in learning about and chasing these deer, sometimes my wife thinks I'm crazy. I have done hours upon hours of research to figure out an advantage, if any, over these sneaky critters. I have many more failures than I have had success in 3 years of hunting in Arizona, but have learned more than I could have ever imagined. I have hunted almost every season since I was 11 years old, only missing seasons for being over seas. When I found out I was coming to Arizona I was thrilled to start a new chapter in my hunting career. I quickly found out that hunting in this state is like nothing I have ever done before in my life. My first season was an OTC hunt in January. My game plan was to sit off of deer travel areas and hunt ambush style with my bow. At the time I was only confident out to 30-40 yards. I can say I busted more deer in that one season than I had ever before in my life. As the season went on, I was finally presented with a shot opportunity. I had a doe pass within 25 yards of me and had no idea I was there, following behind her was a nice 3x3. As the buck came into shooting distance I grunted with my mouth in order to stop him for a shot. Little did I know he wouldn't stop, but run completely out of the area. Completely confused, I searched for any video I could find on deer hunting in Arizona. That is when I learned about "glassing" for deer. I got myself a pair of 10s but lacked a tripod. I learned how to glass for deer by hand pretty quickly. As the season started to end I was presented with another shot this time at 50 yards. Needless to say I wasnt prepared and missed pretty badly. My first season in Arizona ended leaving a burning desire for success. During the off season I shot hundreds of arrows to prepare myself for longer shot opportunities. I became confident out to 65 yards very consistently. My obsession was growing more and more every day leading up to the next OTC hunt in August. I spent days looking for spots to set up and hunt. I stumbled upon a secluded watering hole with very little access. There was tons of deer sign everywhere in the area so I knew it would produce. As the season opened I fully committed myself to sitting the water. I spent countless hours on water without even seeing a single deer. The season ended much quicker than I would have liked, but it only made me work harder. The next season passed with the same outcome as the 2 prior. Fast forward to August/September 2017, I now am confident shooting well past 70 yards, I have a tripod and a pair of 15s, and have scouted and found bucks consistently. Opening day comes and I am not able to hunt because of work. The next day I'm out early and in my spot. Right after first light I glass up a group of bucks I have seen all summer long. I watched them and devised a plan to slip in within shooting range. I was able to stalk within 60 yards of the deer but was never presented a shot opportunity. My confidence is sky high at the point. A week goes by and have blown quite a few stalks. My wife being as great as she is wanted to come out and help me on my hunt. We were set up and in position to glass for the bucks I had seen numerous times at this point in the season. The words I SEE A BUCK!!! Coming out of my wife mouths filled me with excitement. We came up with a plan for her to keep an eye on the deer while I slipped into position. I got to 33 yards from this buck with only a tree separating him from me. As the buck walked out I was at full draw, I settled my pin and let my arrow fly. I heard a lot smack and the deer took off. After a few minutes passed I walked to where he was standing and found my arrow. My heart immediately sank as I didnt see a speck of blood on my arrow. Needless to say I missed. I took a long walk of shame back to where I had left my wife. We talked about what happened and I determined I rushed my shot. We got back on the glass. 15 minutes goes by and we see another group of bucks headed for an area where the wind and cover was in my advantage. I quickly got down and in front of where they were headed, a quick confirmation from my wife let me know they were still headed my way. I started ranging trees and found out the farthest shot I would have was 30 yards. No sooner did I clip my range finder to my harness the first buck stepped out right where I thought he would. He looked in my direction but I dont think he saw me. He put his head down and slowly started feeding, I slowly drew my bow and settled my pin, I verified my bubble was level and my pin was behind his shoulder. I sent my arrow flying hearing the solid thud of making contact. I watched as the buck ran 15 yards and fell over! I just harvested my first Coues, on the ground and with my bow. The amount of relief and pure joy that over came me was undescribable. He isnt the biggest buck in the world but he was my first spot and stalk deer in Arizona. I continued to hunt the following seasons with my bow without firing a single shot. I decided I would try my hand at rifle hunting. I was fortunate enough to pick up a November leftover tag. I got myself a rifle and started practicing every chance I got. I was very confident in my shooting ability leading up to the season opener. Opening day November 2018 has finally come. I found a good vantage point with plenty of deer activity. The canyon I was hunting in was much steeper than what I was used to bow hunting in. As the days of the season started to roll by, putting 15 hours a day in the mountains, a shot opportunity presented itself. A nice 3 point was feeding 400 yards across a small draw from where I was at. I ranged him at 410, and got myself set up for the shot. I plugged the numbers into my ballistic calculator and dialed my turret. I took my time and squeezed off a shot. I thought for sure I hit him good, but at the same time not sure if I had hit him at all. I worked my way to where he was and searched for blood, nothing. Completely beside myself I bailed off the mountain and headed straight to the range. I put paper at 100 yards only to find my zero had shifted 2 inches high and groups larger than an inch. At this point I realized I hadnt cleaned my rifle in a few range sessions, so I headed home, re-torqued all of my mounting screws to spec and cleaned my rifle. I took the afternoon off to let myself reset mentally. The next morning I was right back into the same canyon waiting for daylight. It was very still, with only the slightest breeze. As the sun started to rise I noticed 3 deer feeding. I immediately recognized 2 of the bucks from the morning before, I continued to search and eventually found the buck I had missed the morning before. He was about 300 yards above the other 2 smaller bucks. I ranged the bigger of the 2 smaller bucks at 297, he was slowly feeding on the hillside. I went through all of the same steps I had the morning prior. I watched him through the scope of my rifle waiting for him to stop, sure enough he did exactly that. I squeezed the shot and watched him drop, I racked another shell and kept my cross hairs on him, he stood back up slowly and I shot again, dropping him once more. I continued to watch him until he stopped moving completely. I called my wife to let her know what happened, she was excited and happy for me. I harvested my first rifle buck in Arizona, on day 4 of the season! Again not the biggest in the world but he is my first. Once again I would like to thank everyone for sharing their knowledge and helping me learn and understand what it takes to hunt in this great state!
  16. MTNSGT

    A Story of Firsts

    Thanks everybody for the positive feed back! Unfortunately this will be my last season in Arizona for a few years. I'm already looking to get back here and continue chasing these deer.
  17. MTNSGT

    Ballistics Calculations???

    I use strelok and it is very close to actual. I dont have a chrono so I had to do some trajectory validation to find a close velocity that I believe is about spot on. I have found that the Hornady app is about 1 MOA off in some cases compared to strelok, shooter, applied ballistics, and the G7 ballistics calculator. Once I found my "actual" velocity, I compared all of the above mentioned calculators. The closest to center on paper at 300 yards was strelok. All were tested with the same ammo at the same distance allowing cooling time between each group. I've read that the more precise your inputs are the better outputs you will get. I havent had the chance to really stretch it out and see how accurate the outputs I'm getting are but 1st round hits at 600 are pretty good in my eyes. Especially have zero long range shooting experience prior to.
  18. MTNSGT

    WTB LRAB

    Sportsmans warehouse in Marana had a box or two of the 6.5s on Monday
  19. MTNSGT

    Finally...

    That is such a sweet buck! Congrats!
  20. MTNSGT

    rifle for wife

    Ruger American Predator 6.5 Creedmoor. My wife is pretty small and shoots mine extremely well. I put a bedded Boyd's stock on mine and swapped out the picatinny rail it comes with for an EGW 20MOA. It consistently shoots half inch groups at 100 and I have taken it out to 600 very easily even with cheap ammo. That setup should leave you plenty of room for quality glass and rings. I have well under $2k into mine.
  21. MTNSGT

    Opening morning Jr success

    Nice buck! Congrats to your son.
  22. MTNSGT

    Call it what you want

    Great story and one awesome buck! Congratulations!
  23. MTNSGT

    Friends Archery Bull elk down

    Sweet bull congrats!
  24. MTNSGT

    The First of Many

    Great mass and lots of character! Congrats on an awesome buck!
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