justinspe25

I wanted to Thank everyone who provided insight and for their willingness to help. My son and I had a great time hunting together, we shared ALOT of laughs and those memories are going to be cherished!! He got a pig on the third day at about 8:30am. Here's how it went. First 2 days we saw nothing but deer...that was really cool regardless! The 3rd we hit our opening morning spot again and at first light we saw two mulie bucks again! Hunting the flats for these buggers is not easy with alot of vegetation so I thought we should get higher so we can see down on the ground better. So I suggested that to Carson and he says ok and we pack up. As we are about to leave Carson says "dad pig", i said "big what"? He said "PIG right below us in the wash"! I said OHHHH! So move to get look and I spot 1 just hanging under a tree so I told Carson to get setup on a rock quick and shoot...but the pig took off. So we worked our way around the corner of this boulder invested hill and spotted 2 but moving fast. I think they heard us coming....not surprised as we were trying to hurry over these rocks! So we get another broadside view and he gets setup and i did a guesstimation on distance 200 yards, but right before he was ready for the shoot the pig ran off into the thick cactus and bushes!! We couldn't see them anymore so we made our way around into the sun and we were getting roasted so my thought was go up high to find them or just get on their tracks and chase em! I read that was a good strategy cause they don't go far. So i chose that not having much hope to find them still hunting on the desert floor. So we take off walking really slow and keeping an eye open but seeing nothing. The morning sun was just get hotter and hotter! So I said lets circle back and catch the road back to the truck. Not 5 mins later I start seeing fresh tracks and Carson says should we follow this tiny wash? I said nah lets just keep toward the road. Shortly after, right in front Carson and I this pig walks 10 yards right in front of us not spooked, he didn't see us. So I kneel and tell him "PIG", he said "where" I said moving to the right. 5 seconds later boom! He said "got em"! I walked around and he was not down so told him to shoot him again and he was down. Because he took a moving shot he hit him literally in the teeth and he fell and got back up. He felt bad but i said he it was quick shot and the good thing is you finished him off quick and we didn't have to chase a wounded animal. Here he is, my son's first big game animal! Talk about a proud pop! I was so happy for him and how he handled himself the whole time. He never got frustrated and stuck with it. It was good see deer cause it gave him confidence we were going to find something! Thanks again for all the help! PS: He got him in 37A!

Congrats!

I have this same hunt! All I have heard is its a tough hunt 😀 Hope to get out soon and look around.

Went out this last sat and mon with my son! Alot of shooting but not alot of killin, but we have fun. We had people all around us, i could hear bb's landing near us in the bushes! I saw some people getting tickets too.

Awesome bucks congrats!!

Hello, I completed hunter's ed with my kids in Nov and I am curious when should i see my point bonus in the system? I forgot to ask when i was there for 4 days . I checked after the spring draw but it was not there. I really hope it is in there before the elk draw!! If anyone has some insight i would appreciate it. Thanks, Justin

Well that's good to hear, thanks!

That is a beast buck, very cool congrats!

Congrats x 2!

Great looking buck, congrats!

Awesome job congrats!

Nice work congrats!

Congrats on a great bull!

Awesome! That's what it is all about, congrats!

Nice work congrats!

Awesome! Good for him and congrats to you both!

It been a long time since I had something to post on here. After a couple year drought I closed the deal this year. My bro inlaw/hunting partner and I hunted hard the 6 days of the hunt and had a few opportunities at bucks that just didn't pan out, but it was exciting find bucks and not just does and fawns the whole time. Long story short we hunted this 3x3 for 3 days and he gave us the slip every time, they truly are like ghosts. My bro inlaw had to leave Wednesday afternoon empty handed. So I had one evening and a day left to get it done. Thursday morning I would be by myself so I decided to hike this trail that may provide an opportunity. As I was leaving for the mountain i could see the storm rolling in, and I thought well this could get interesting. I got to the trail head about 6:30am as it started to rain and lightning. Well I decided to stick with it and headed off. I was just walking along real slow looking for movement, and getting soaked. As I came around this corner I look up the hill to my right and see a deer laying down staring at me. I put my binos on him and sure enough it’s a deer chilling out eating his breakfast just watching me, oh and it was a buck. I really couldn't believe it. I pull my rifle up to shoot and thought wait a minute he is not going anywhere and i don't want to miss this guy, so i kneel and rest the rifle on a rock and settle the cross hairs on his shoulder and boom. He vanished for a second then was rolling down the hill right to me. He ended up landing about 10 yards up the trail from me. After making sure he was dead and sent out some texts and made a call to my wife and told her the news. I dressed him out, secured my pack, threw him up my shoulders and trekked on out of there. What a awesome experience all on my own, I used all of the things I have learned from this site and from friends and family over the years.

404 error on the results page now. They are probably updated it finally.

Are you talking about the Hopi tags that are leftover? No, the 3 4a general bull tags.

How can there be leftovers for our 1st choice?!!!!!!!!!

2 Coues, 1 Bull, all rifle. I was 30 when I killed my first big game animal.

Congrats on a very cool buck man!!

Fantastic buck!!!! Congrats!

I am enjoying some tag soup this year...not. It was a tough hunt we didnt seen anything till Sunday when i glassed up a good buck. Everything went good, closed the distance without the buck even knowing we were there. Settled in for a shot, got alittle rushed thinking he was going to feed over the top. I had my boy with me who could not locate the buck in binos. I went ahead and shot and he vanished. I thought i dropped him. It was a humbling feeling walking over there and seeing him get up and take off. I missed him clean and he just hit the deck and hid till i will was right up on top of him. My boy had a blast though and so did i having him there. There are things i wish i had done different but live and learn. Seen nothing but does and fawns after that.

How is doll baby ranch for whitetail, good, bad, ugly?