NOFX

Thats great bud. awesome story and awesome buck. Congratulations

Very nice, keep it up. It takes alot of talent to skate.

No, I found the sheds throughout the year.

Very nice Jack, congrats. Im headin up to 32 tommorrow. I dont think ill be able to top that but I do have a lion tag. John G.

Ive got question that relates. What about a backcountry hunt where ice chests cant be packed in? I am talkin like a 6 hr pack-in with 3 tags. Whats the best way to handle an opening morning kill? How long is too long?

I know people that would give up limbs to hunt on Fort.

Flash, you might want to get your facts straight before you start spouting off. GC has the most active fire use program in AZ. They also have one of the most active prescribed fire programs. There's a reason the Kaibab on the north rim has combined fire management with the park. Any fire that close to developed areas is not a great candidate for fire use, especially with the forecasted wind they recieved. I agree there needs to be more fire on the ground, but most fires in PJ just end up turning into a giant cheat grass patch that makes terrible wildlife habitat. Look at most of northern Nevada and around Caliente, it's hurt the deer, quail and most everything else. GC park don't want it. The biggest reason is smoke in the canyon that fogs up the tourists view of the GC. Alot of pissed off tourist from around the world if they cant see. I dont know where the fire was but I agree that anything close to developed areas is not a good candidate for fire use. Also, PJ needs fire to help decrease the stand densities so that a fire can not travel through the canopy. Perennial grasses recover quickly from low intensity fires which decreases the chance of cheat grass taking over. GC does have a very active fire use and prescribed fire program, and they are very good at it.

There are a couple reasons that our buddies from across the border start fires. For the most part we see illegals starting fires because they are too tired to continue so they start a signal fire so that BP will see it and pick them up. We also see illegals and drug smugglers starting fires to distract BP from them (as wklman stated) so that they can escape pursuit. We also get an occasional abandoned campfire from illegals camps that turns into a wildfire. Sometimes we find lone illegals near death, that are abandoned by others who start a fire so that BP or firefighters can pick up and treat the dying person.

Aaah, now we're getting somewhere. That does make perfect sense; baffle of 'em with brilliance. Instead of trying to smuggle drugs through the most monitored and patrolled area of the country, just create a farm on top of a mountain in the same area and double the chances of detection. After all since we can't find it on a map, it sure as heck won't be found by the border patrol or narcs. -TONY Um... I'm sorry if you misunderstood.... the fires are burning Up the mountain.... they were started in some side canyon(s).... probably toward the bottom, I'd guess. I must have the name wrong... I'm guessing it is one of the mountains that TLH mentioned. TLH, Buckhorn and I were talking about that this morning... it gets in their blood. My boy has wanted to fight wildland fires since he was 6 years old... now on his second year with this awesome Crew... he could be classified as a Hardcore Fire Junky. The boy loves cutting trees and putting out fires.....he lives,eats and sleeps it and unless he is Hunting or Chasin' those Girl Critters... it is what he thinks about most. CnS Two new fires started in Cochise County yesterday. The one your boy is on is probably by Miller Peak, which is in the Huachuca Mtns right on the border. It is very rough, rugged country and I believe that they were shipped in by heliciopter this morning. Good news is I think that they have a pretty good handle on it.

The paper my father is talking about does not 'blame' anything. What he is talking about is the fact that fires are starting sooner in the spring, and burning longer into the fall than they ever have - even in places where we haven't affected the fire regime. Also, forests that historically have not burned in 200-500 years are burning - Canada is set to become a CO2 source instead of sink for the first time because of all the trees it is burning every summer now. http://meteora.ucsd.edu/cap/pdffiles/warmi...ire_science.pdf This stuff isn't unsupported - there are hundreds (and thousands) of other researchers who have come to the same conclusions - everything from birds migrating and laying eggs at different times, tropical species moving north, plants blooming sooner, etc, etc. The paper also says that "neither the extent of recent changes nor the degree to which climate may be driving regional changes in wildfire has been systematically documented". I have been fighting wildland fires for about the last decade. In my opinion the increase in fire intensity is largely due to what buckhorn mentioned in his post. Also the increase in urban interface has reduced our firefighters ability to fight fire on safe ground. Firefighters are forced to fight at the head of the fire to protect homes, whereas we used to be able to chose our grounds (safest and easiest line to hold), which results in larger catastrophic fires. Also you have to add human starts into the equation. Historically only lightning started wildfires. So, in a way we are responsible for the increase in fire size and frequency. As for the longer fire seasons, I can only assume that we are in a warming trend. Although I hesitate to believe that we as humans are solely responsible. The earth has been through trends as we are seeing now. I would be willing to bet that we would see the same warming trend without human influence. However, I also believe that we could be more responsible and try not to add to the already warming climate. My opinion is full of assumptions as is probably most scientists opinions. The earths climate will change with time, it always has and always will, regardless of what we as humans do.

my wish list: -Range Finder -Lightweight, compact spotting scope. -.270 and a .300 win mag -New scope for my 30-06 -2 game cameras -1 Ground blind/treestand -Swaro 15's although nice and I want them baddly, they are not neccessarily "affordable" at this time. As goes with of most this wish list. oh well I gots lots of time Oh ya, I aso need a release for my bow.

That is a nice mount. However, I have never seeen this buck before and I would love to see more photo's. Did this toad come from Mexico or what? Score, any details? Regardless, congrats to the wife.

Gotta love those long, massive eyeguards. Congrats, awesome buck and Im not mad that ya held out. It is nice to see some new field photo's.

If the victim has to walk out, sit calmly for 20-30 minutes to let the venom localize at the site, proceed calmly to the nearest source of help and try to avoid unnecessary exertion which will stimulate circulation of the poison. http://www.whmentors.org/saf/snakes.html

Holy crap, that is simply humungous. Awesome find man.

You guys have done a great job with the contest every year and have great some great new ideas. I haven't entered the contest because I really don't care about what a deer scores, some of you do and that's great. I would probably enter with some of the new ideas mentioned, and would definately enter my kids when they are old enough. Amanda as far as the hunt stories being voted on, you could do it just about any way and it would work out great. One other Idea is to let every one who is registered vote and then take the top three and have some of the writers pick the best one, Outdoor writer, Bill Quimby, Chris Denham, You and maybe a couple more that I don't know. Again Great Job on the contests and I look forward to this years. I also love the idea of best hunt story. Although, I worry that the contest will turn into an English 102 final paper. I believe that there is a difference between best "hunt story" and best "written hunt story". Some of the best stories are told by those that wouldn't necessarily be considered writers. A good hunt story is a good hunt story, regardless of proper grammar, sentence structure and punctuation.

Due to my profession, I spend a ton of time hiking and have experimented with several different types of boots. IMO the best all around hiking boot is LA Sportiva Glaciers. I got mine from Summit Hut. These are pretty heavy duty boots that should last a long time. They are super stiff at first, but after they are broken in they are pretty much bomb-proof. http://www.sportiva.com/products/prod/239

I spend alot of time in rattler country and I havent come across one yet this year. It IS gettin to be about that time again though, so heads up, er down.

Arizona Griz.........I can't speak for NOFX but it is quite obvious your explanation is a little differrent the second time around. I believe your intentions were not to make enemies, as you stated, and I personally didn't take it that way. Just stating my opinion towards your comments. TJ I agree about the new and improved explanation, and I never thought you were trying to make enemies.

Because I am a new member, I will get to register for the contests this year. I think that all of the suggestions are good. However, I noticed that the registration deadline for the last contest was Oct. 15th. This is after the Aug/Sept. archery hunt. Hypothetical scenario: My buddy, who has no interest in joining the forum, tags a toad in Aug. I could set him up as a member and join the contest after the buck has already been harvested to win a big prize. My buddy wins the contest and forgets all about the forum (0 posts, 0 views). I know that you want to recruit new members but maybe the registration deadline should be before the Aug. archery hunt. Just a suggestion.

Woohoo! Do you know if there will be any price change with the new batch? Where does the line start? Don't know yet on the price. Hopefully it won't go up. Amanda We all know that the price will go up and you cant blame em.

I just got my hands an a pair of used Swaro 10X42 SLC's for a killer price. I am the kind of hunter who likes to travel light. So, if I could find a way around buying and packing a spotting scope I would be all over it. Are the doublers, triplers or boosters worth the money? I would only use it to judge the quality of a buck that I have already glassed up. Is it worth the money? or should I just nut up and buy/carry a spotting scope? I only ask because those that I have talked to have givin me different reports. Of course, I guess I could just stalk in closer for a closer look, which has been my strategy up to date.

I can-not and will never understand thief's. It is simple really, If You Did Not Buy It, Then It is Not Yours!!!!@!! Whether the items are returned and the dirtbag stoned, know that somehow that person/persons will pay in the end. Sorry for the loss and I will keep my eyes open for ya.

Please don't waste the measurer's time.................we are not compensated...............I personally will not perform any measureing unless the hunter has full intent on submitting an application............ WELL EXCUUUUUUUSE ME! Arizona Griz.......How MIGHTY you must be! When you took on the job of a measurer I'm sure you knew you weren't going to get compensated and you wouldn't measure a buck for someone just for the heck of it? TJ +1 I would hate to waste your time as a measurer! If I ever bag a buck worth measuring i can promise I wont inconvenience you.

Way earlier in this thread it was stated that hunter opinion wouldn't matter. Is this correct?