stanley

Unless you own shares in Cabela's....

Call or text me at 602-399-4769. I would be very happy to share some info with you! S.

Congrats to all those with Jr. Kaibab tags!!! Will not be there this year, but have been on that hunt many times over the years for my three kids and with the children of friends. My favorite hunting memories by a LONG SHOT, are from those hunts! Enjoy!!! S.

Is it hard to do without dogs? I have a couple spots I've seen quail in. I've never hunted them. It can be frustrating without a dog. I've dropped birds and looked twenty minutes only to find them dead right where I thought they went down. Just make sure that right after your shot you kick the ground where you are so you have a reference from where you shot. Then visually mark where the bird was hit and what direction it fell. As soon as you get to that spot, drop your bag or mark the ground and start walking in increasingly larger circles till you find the bird. Quail hunting in the desert is totally doable (and a lot of fun) without a dog. Just don't shoot if it will fall into high brush or hard to reach areas cause you'll never find those birds. Sounds good, thanks for the info! Not hard without dogs at all, IMO! Heck, I was born and raised here in AZ and I didn't even know what a hunting dog was until I got older and moved away for college! I would venture to say that the majority of Gambel's hunters in AZ don't use dogs at all. Just run & gun, drive to a new spot, and repeat! (Mearns & Scaled a TOTALLY different story, of course.....) That being said, I agree with akaspecials that it sure helps to take a moment or two to mark reference points upon downing a bird. Have spent lots of time over the years walking in circles, looking under bushes, and then going back to where I shot from to 're-reference' the spot! All part of it though.... S.

YES!!!! Can't wait! I don't have a dog anymore (had a Vizsla for a while....), but either way I absolutely LOVE running and gunning gambel's!! Daughter has a Jr. Elk tag that will keep me occupied on opening weekend, but will be out after that! S.

OUTSTANDING!!!! Thanks for sharing with the site! S.

I personally don't worry too much about the drug runners. Have hunted down there plenty of times, including bivey hunting a couple of times in those mountains and have never even come close to having a 'run in'. Have I seen some illegals and possibly drug runners? Sure. But never a run-in or confrontation. 1000's of hunters every year hunt in the Southern units, and it seems that actual confrontations resulting in anything dangerous are extraordinarily rare. I think you are generally correct to assume that if you are not a threat, that you will not be bothered. Sounds like you are already thinking prudently and planning well. You should have a GREAT hunt! S.

Nice!! That truly is, in fact a Big Brown!

Great tag! My $.02 is that if you are planning on doing a bivi camp, I would not worry too much whether the Elkhorn gets hit hard or not (which is does.... ). No matter where you go, once you get in a couple of miles you will leave the VAST majority of the other hunters behind. Those mountains are STEEP!!! Enjoy! S.

Going through my storage, and decided to get rid of a few things that have been collecting dust for a bit too long..... Brand new (In the box, never opened/assembled....) Char Broil Commercial Infrared model number 463243911. http://www.manualslib.com/manual/27012/Char-Broil-463243911.html This is a 2012 model, and has been sitting new in storage for 4 years. The current year's version is selling at Lowes for $299. Will sell for $125. Yakima hitch mounted tilting 4 Bike Rack. Awesome alternative to roof mounted (easy). Kids are grown so not hauling 4 bikes to San Diego and the mountains all the time now, so selling. Heavy duty, Yakima quality! Current models sell for anywhere from $200-$300. Will sell for $125. Barrel stove for Cabela's Alaknak tent (or other wall tent....). Bought this used a couple of years ago from a guy on this site, Used it a couple of times, and it is an awesome addition to my Alaknak but I have found that I just am not using it quite as much as I wanted to. So in the interest of trimming down my storage and pending move, I'm parting with it. Cabela's has it on sale now for $200, I think. (pic was lifted from Cabela's site. Didn't want to set it up for pics.... ) Will sell for $100. I live in Central Phoenix. Send me a message here, or call/txt me at 602-399-4769. S.

Yakima bike rack, anyone????

Outstanding! Glad all the parts were there! Glad that thing will finally be put to good use after many years collecting dust in storage! S.

I had an outstanding hunt in Unit 1!! Bulls bugling most days, sometimes for several hours and sometimes for just a bit, but it was plenty for me. Chased bugles, set-up ambushes, cut them off, begged, prayed, etc... In the end, I didn't end-up killing (or wounding) anything. Passed on a couple of small ones and choked on a big one or two! Spent 11 amazing days in the woods and had a great time! Two big lessons learned for me: 1) Need to learn to bugle better so I don't just scare them off! 2) Extra patience while waiting in a likely ambush spot. Just because they are not making noise does NOT mean that they are not coming. Twice I got antsy and moved, only to then see nice bulls parade by the spot I had been sitting just a 1/2 hour before! Anyway, overall it was an amazing time in the woods! S. PS: Big thanks to those who provided help and advice on the unit. Extra BIG thanks to Pine Donkey!!!!!!! You made my hunt, Robert!!

Grill and stove sold pending funds. FYI...... Thanks! S.

I think I know.... S.

Caught this while prepping for work this morning! Nice camera work....

Boys are off to college, and daughter doesn't want to shoot doves (Though she does have a elk tag this year... ). That being said, when the boys were still at home they showed-up late to school EVERY Sept. 1st! S.

The chopper pilot mentioned McDowells while speaking over the live shot. S.

No story...... Just the regular chopper reporter showing the live footage. Kind of like they sometimes zoom in on Squaw Peak hikers and stuff. He did specifically mention that they were using their 'long range' zoom cam so the bucks weren't scared or anything (Looked that way in the footage too.... They weren't even looking towards the chopper.). Being 'metro deer', I'm guessing they are kind of used to air traffic on occasion. Whether someone was hunting those bucks at the time....... What if? I guess someone would have been hunting them. Would have been cool to see that, I guess. S.

Well, I guess there is plenty of info out there on it..... Good deal on the new shooting range! S.

Wow..... This is a deep one, and definitely struck a chord with me. I'm just a few years older than you. Almost 'emty nester' status. Little sweetie is the only one left, and she is starting her Sr. year. Boys already off to college. I have found that recently I am focusing on much different things than I used to even just a few years ago. An old but good quote comes to mind: "Wanting what you have, as opposed to having what you want." I didn't understand that a few years ago, and now I am realizing it. So much happier these days because of it. My life today is focused on relationships, gratitude, and serenity in my heart & soul. It feels like a good place! S.

Archery elk hunt is three weeks out, and I am suddenly finding myself getting a little giddy!! Can't scout this weekend, as I'll be out of state getting my middle son settled-in the dorm for his Freshman year of college. Plan being back up in the White Mountains the weekend of the 27th/28th, then again over Labor Day weekend (I hope....) though. So, is it too early to ask? Anyone hearing a peep yet? S.

Nice!!! Yep, saw your other post(s) on horn rubbing. Thanks for the info! S.

Ugh..... Sucks! I just bought this off of this site --> http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/67607-complete-archery-outfit-for-sale/ Complete PSE package, gently used. I'm going to clean it up a bit and give it to my oldest son for Birthday/Christmas this December. That being said, you can definitely borrow it for your archery elk hunt if you would like. Would be better than it sitting unused in my closet until December! Contact me at 602-399-4769 if you are interested! S.

Then they'll know I have an archery bull tag and a rifle deer tag this year.