stanley

I made my first archery elk kill on a nice yearling cow in unit 1. Not a 'trophy' bull, but a trophy to me none the less! Happened in the rain on Saturday evening after stalking a large herd moving from their bedding area to their evening feeding/watering area. My spotter and I followed this herd for over a mile before actually getting in front of them (after they slowed down a little...). It was raining hard the whole time, and I actually think it helped out with keeping the noise & scent down. The rain didn't help much with my shooting however, as I first had a chance at a nice big cow. I belly crawled to within 30 yards, and when I finally drew the string to shoot her, I realized my peep sight had water in it and I couldn't see my pin! I layed back down to clean it out, but when I looked again she and several of her friends busted me! They hauled out of there quick!!! Anyway, soon after that we spotted this young cow and I was able to stalk within 20 yards to make the kill. I know what you mean about walking out in the rain in the dark Amanda, as we had to do it Saturday night after the kill. We didn't have rain gear on, and were soaked through to the skin! Made for a VERY tiring and cold night, but we had her hanged and skinned back at camp by 10:30PM! Oh yea, the bulls were going NUTS where we were hunting. The rain seemed to turn them on even more! Good luck all! S.

Hey Scott: Good deal on the deer siting. Sounds like a great day at work! I'll definitely have a lion tag in my pocket for my early hunt this year!!! Dave, does your boy have the normal November hunt or the juniors hunt? Just curious, as I'll be running the juniors deer camp for the ADA this year in 36A/C. Hopefully we'll see you and your boy there if he's got the junior hunt! S.

trufletch is correct. It is really up to how the game warden interprets what he sees happening. On page 67 of the regs (on-line), it outlines what it means to take/hunt from a vehicle. To summarize, it indicates that "You are unlawfully using a vehicle to take wildlife if you intentionally drive around until you see the animal you wish to harvest and then make an attempt to take". It also says that "you do not have to shoot from your vehicle to be in violation". Based on this, I think if someone was going from point a to point b, saw an animal, and then exited, got off the road, and killed it, it likely would NOT be considered road hunting according to the law. This is because the person isn't intentionally driving around until they see game. This whole debate is tough for me, as I grew-up hunting washes for quail. We would drive up & down the washes until we spotted some quail, then jump out and shoot and chase them a little. We would then get back in and drive around some more. I'm quite certain that many of us that grew-up in souther AZ hunted quail that way (and likely some of us still do.... ) This is obviously road hunting & illegal though, because the law doesn't just apply to big game. Good day all, S.

AZ Griz posted some pics of a nice buck his buddy got over the weekend. Kind of buried in the 'Nice Coues Deer Buck' post, so I thought I would post a link here. http://coueswhitetail.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=581&st=45 Congrats to your buddy Griz!!!!!! S.

AWESOME GRIZ!!! I love this time of year when the success stories start to roll in! Thanks for sharing. S.

Good job Treestandman!!! Proves that lots of good scouting and hard work really helps to increase your odds of being successful! Good show! Can't wait for some pics.... S.

"talk about a growed mans chuckycheese"! LOL!!! My kids go nuts for that place!!! Very funny quote Lark. I've GOT to get to Cabelas sometime... Thanks for the laugh! S.

I'll be there Amanda! An additional note about the clinic that isn't on the website is that we have some special things planned for the youngsters that show-up as well! We've coordinated with the G&F Education Dept. to have two presentations specifically targeted at the youths: Why We Hunt and Keeping Your Parents Safe While Hunting. They are also bringing a hunting simulator game for the kids to enjoy. We're sending separate flyers to the youths that got drawn for the juniors deer hunts this year inviting them to the clinic, so hopefully we'll get a good turn-out of little ones! If you come, be sure to bring your kids!!!! S.

The meeting is open to the public! Anyone can attend... Here is a link with some of the particulars: http://www.azdeer.org/deer_clinic_agenda.htm S.

Send a PM to Coueshunter (Allen). I think he helped guide up in the area last year. May have been th east side.... I'm not quite sure... Also, maybe check-out some of the popular muley sites. You might find a friend with some advice there... One comes to mind, but I won't mention it's name on here. PM me if you can't figure it out. Good luck! S.

Must have been dreaming Lark... The Navajos still own the Boquillas. That's who the WM deals with on land access issues, etc. There is a requirement to sign-in when you enter the ranch, but the access is open. He said that the Navajos have been good to work with on access issues, and that considering the shear size of the ranch, he couldn't foresee the hunting access being shut-down. However, shed hunters on ATVs (traveling off road) in the winter appeared to be a thorn in their side.... S.

At the Boquillas ranch clean-up last month, we had a good fire-side discussion with the G&F Wildlife Manager for that unit. The subject of puplic access (or not...) came up and he said that it was debated on the Boquillas several years ago. At the end of the day, the G&F said that if the public wouldn't be allowed on the ranch, then the G&F would NOT be patrolling it! The ranch backed off the subject very quickly after that. Not saying it will come to that with this latest hubbub, but hopefully these ranchers know that they can't have their cake and eat it to. No public access = no public funded fish cops patrolling! S.

Interesting topic Rembrant. (I also noticed your response to truett regarding the 23 archery coues question ) Seems like it is really a matter of preference. I don't mind giving out tips on tactics, etc., or overall impressions of a unit in public. I usually however tend to go to the e-mail or PM route for more detailed information. That goes for both giving information, as well as asking for info. I'll usually call on some of the folks I know in private for any kind of detail. I know that I would be a little irritated if I saw someone coincidently give-out any of my honey hole information in public! On the other hand, I am ABSOLUTELY thankful for forums such as this, as it allows me to gain good overall knowledge and meet folks that I can develop friendly relationships with & network.... My $.02. You know what they say about opinions though.... S.

Hey Josh: I logged in at home last night and watched some of the clips. We have DSL, but an old PC so I wasn't able to get the big files to run, but saw some of them. Very nice stuff! Awesome site. See ya, S.

G&S Stacy Peralta deck, Gullwing trucks, and Sims Snakes wheels..... Couldn't be beat in the old days!!! I'm talking late seventies! I think my wife sold my board in a garage sale several years ago! I was bummed!!!! S.

We'll have to trade skating stories sometime Josh! I was a thrasher 10 years before you, doing considerable damage to a couple of vacant pools in Kearny as a boy. I like the site as well, but for some reason I can't get the videos to play here on my so called 'work' laptop. I'll log in from home some evening to enjoy them; they sound like a hoot! Good luck to all this year! S.

Take a look at the 'Arizona Looses It's Court Case' post and you'll have your answer. S.

Well I'll tell you that something definitely has to change! I'm sure the G&F will get plenty of feedback in the coming months!!! I remember back in the 70s (before I was old enough to hunt), you were eligible for an elk tag only once every three years. I think they changed it when the herds started getting so big, but maybe it's time to go back to something like that... S.

36C October coues for me this year! Also drew a unit 1 archery cow tag. Should be fun chasing those big ol' gals around the woods in sept! Good day all! S.

It's a drag for sure..... Redman, here's my answers to your 3 questions: 1) Because AZ has the BEST public land elk hunts, and USO wants to bring as many of their clients as possible here. 2) Likely wouldn't have mattered if the results were already out, they probobly would have had to re-do it anyway. Sounds like the judge didn't really care if the draw was done already.... 3) Sadly, yes. S.

LOL Couesdiehard!!!! I've seen that picture plenty myself lately!!! S.

What a fish! Awesome pic! Reminds me of the old days.... My buddies & I used to spend several nights each summer sitting on the banks of the Salt river going after the big ones! We used to have some success on the Gila below Coolige dam as well (when San Carlos actually had water...). I don't think we ever got one as big as 55lbs (some close...), but it was exciting knowing that they were lurking out there... We primarily used waterdogs & night crawlers then, but I know a lot of guys go after them with carp or bluegills these days. I gotta get up there again sometime soon! S.

Cool pics! Those Gila Monsters are spectacular up close & in person. The color on them is amazing!! S.

Thanks for the clarification Doug! You should be a teacher... The deadline is approaching folks! S.

I agree that DiamondbackAZ's explanation sounds accurate. I still have one more question though; If 4 people (with no bonus points, for this example) put in on one application, does each individual applicant get assigned a draw number, or does the application get a single draw number? If the answer is the former, then what happens when any one individual draw number comes-up? If the hunt is available, do all 4 people get a tag? S.