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11M archery bull September 13-26. 5 bonus points.

I can hit a volleyball sized target at 100 yards say 8/10 times if I don't shoot in rapid succession. I am told you can have work done on the gun and bring it down to a softball size with the same 8/10 shots. Fun gun to own, that is for sure.

I saw a dead cow elk on I-10 between Wilcox and Bowie. Couldn't believe it was an elk, so stpped to look at it and sure enough it was. That was back in 1993.

I have spent quite a bunch of time in 6A. Quite a bunch. Lots of elk in the unit. Haven't seen that many 350" bulls compared to the amount of bulls I have seen (meaning percentage wise, the percentage of 350" bulls compared to the number of bulls is low). It is not a trpohy managed hunt unit like there are in some other units in this State (say for instance Unit 10). I would hope for a 350" bull, but I would be realistic with my expectations. If the right opportunity presents itself with a bull you would you would be satisfied with, I would wouldn't hesitate to shoot. There is much much more to having a "successful" hunt than the score of the animal. On some of my most "successful" hunts, I didn't come home with a score at all because I didn't take an animal. It is all about the enjoyment and memories and not the score. Hunt the entire hunt hoping for a 350" bull but enjoy and savor your hunt. It may be years before you draw another tag. Just my opinion.

I am going to be hunting TROPHY QUAIL!!!! Woohooo.......

Used to live in Tucson back 15-20 years ago.and hunted 35B quite a bit. Shot a 97" coues in the canyons southeast of Harshaw. Mearns were fun to hunt too - ore to the east of Harshaw. Haven't been down there in 15 years. I heard the illegal immigrant problem has worsened. Looked at buying property in Duschene (sp?) - liked the area but was worried about vandalism being I couldn't live there and the illegal problem (I lived and worked in Tucson).

for budget numbers for $1000 bucks: $200 on a rifle scope (maybe look at Burris - decent quailty without spending big bucks) $100 on a tripod $400 on binos (maybe look at Nikon, Pentax, Burris or Minox - get around a 10 power) $300 on a spotting scope if you really think you need a spotting scope (I wouldn't - not for a cow hunt - you are not judging antlers or something) You'll spend 80% of your time looking through binoculars mounted on a tripod - spend your money there (again, maybe even spend the spotting scope budget on really good binos) Look at Ebay - lot of people selling their stuff because of the poor economy (I just bought a pair of Swarovki 7X42 SLC for $620 delivered) Just my 2 cents

354

I about pissed my pants - after almost 27 years of applying, I finally drew an antelope tag here in Unit 7. Maximum bonus points down the shi___er, but I finally made it!!! Going out scouting again tomorrow - already been out several times these last few weeks. I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight....... And to top it off, I drew a Unit 9 general season bull tag too - 3 points well wasted. I was blessed. Sorry some of you weren't drawn - been there, done that, and it sucks.

18B? 10?

I have seen whitetails does this same thing to other does. It was like they were playing tag or something. I didn't see anything disturbing them. And they did it for several minutes. Standing fairly still one moment, then chasing each other faster than heck seconds later. I am thinking it has been a long time since the last rut

A tripod for a 15X power is about a must.

I stay out all day.

Of the ones you list, I beleive Minox are the best. I have a pair of the 20X60 Pentax I no longer use if you are interested.

just got back from the north side of the Peaks - spotted 7 bulls in a bachelor group - no cows. Biggest bull was in the 360 range.

Used to use the Leupold that did all you mantioned. I now use a Swarovski. I can't imagine ever needing a better one even if they invent one.

I think I finally figured out how to upload pictures (I am technically challenged - thanks Tyler for the advice). Anyway, just wanted to show you guys my combination bino/spotter gizmo I put together some time ago. It works well. Cost $7 for the parts (wing nuts, galvanized angle, and all thread studs) from the hardware store. It weighs a whole 4 ounces. I know Jim White markets a similar gizmo, but his costs a few dollars more. My bino and spotter doesn't look at exactly the same spot, but so darn close, it isn't a real issue. The gizmo sure makes glassing more enjoyable - just turn your head to the spotter to closer inspect what you were looking at through your binos. If you are using a digiscoping adapter though, you have to have the spotter in the vertical position (not horizontal as shown in the photos). Thought this gizmo idea might help some of you this Fall. If you make one, bring extra wing nuts and studs in case you drop one after in the cracks of a rock and can't get them out during the "big" hunt (this is from personal experience). Hope the idea helps. Ted

I was blessed - GOT A UNIT 6A LATE WHITETAIL TAG!!!!!!!!! Congrats to those who were drawn and condolences to those who weren't - we have all been on both sides of this issue. Didn't draw a sheep tag.

When I got mine, I thought I died and gone to Heaven. I own the 10X42 SLC, but the 15's sure made things so much more enjoyable.

I take my Lab all the time. I bought him a dog backpack so he can carry some of my load. My pack was 26 pounds (with the water, tripod, optic gear, and stuff), I gave him 12 pounds of it. Now we are both happy - he goes with me instead of staying at home, and I don't have to carry as much up and down all those hills.

I blew out a disc in my lower back back in 2000. The pain for the next year and a half was bad - I can take pain but it was bad and never wasn't there. It got the point I couldn't sit, the pain from turning over in bed when sleeping would wake me up, the pain in my right leg was incredible, driving was painful, always short with family members because I was in such pain all the time, I lost weight, ect. In 2001, I had the disc removed. The doc said it was the worse he had ever seen (and he had been doing it for a while). As soon as I woke up from anesteshia, the pain was gone. I was out of the hospital the next day (I hate those places). I was back to work 2 weeks later. My back isn't as good as it was before I injured it, but far better than those years after the injury. I still feel it sometimes, but the doc said the disc is kinda like a pillow between two bones, and without that pillow, I have bone on bone, so it isn't gonna be like before. But I can walk for miles (my hunting backpack weighs about 20 pounds with all the optics and gear I pack), work out everyday, can quad and 4 wheel with the best of them, and have helped packed out 2 deer and 2 elk and helped a couple people move since then. One bull elk (he was a 6X6) last year was all by myself a mile from the truck up a steep hill. Bottom line, try to avoid surgery, try physical therapy and their exercises first, but if it gets bad, I mean bad, get it done. And if you get it done, it ain't the end of the world. You can still hunt and do just about everything you did before - just be careful and know your limits. That was my experience anyway. Hope this helps. Good luck.

I wash them under the faucet when i get home. Out in the field, I use a lense brush and try to always keep the lense covers on.

Well, I got another elk tag for unit 9. Pulled a 363 2/8 out of there a couple years ago and now I want his big brother. I've gone up there so often with my hunting partners and brother when they've gotten drawn that I always see big elk. Don't hunt the water holes though, nothing there during daylight except cows and dinks. Antelope? I've got 19 bonus points now. huntin' hard