KaibabHunter

I finished up today without any issues.

I found a bunch in a thick brushy vein in the flats within 1/2 mile of a dirt tank trying sneek in on a buck. Lost the deer and was gonna try a fawn distress call cause I knew they were close. Coincidentally glassed a pig 70 yards out and when I blew the call I had 10 pigs going nuts and come 10-20 yards out everytime I blew the call. Thought 1 might charge! I didn't have a tag... Bumped into another group in a similar vein way out in the flats walkin back to the truck in the dark after another blown stalk on deer.

They must've been doin it in the 40's too. Same thing happened to me.

Montana elk/deer combo was a 100% draw in 2011. Costs $900+ for the tags. If u draw that then u can put in for the LE units in the second draw. If u get one of those then that would give u a start with guides. I tried it DIY archery this year - unsuccessful but had fun. Also Allegiant air is very cheap for flights...

Wow! Sweet Desert buck. Congrats.

I was on a tall and heavy 4 pt with 9 does and a forky with him. He was pushin them but not real crazy. With all those eyes and a swirly wind at the worst time I wasn't able to get closer than 200 yards before they snuck off. They lined themselves out on a ridge and no matter which way I came at em at least 1 could probably see me, but i had to try. I was glad to see something other than a momma's boy buck with the does though, which is what I went after yesterday. 2011 is over for me, but next week I'm out for 8 days...

Got my 12 yo boy the Savage youth 7mm-08 shooting 139 gr Hornandy SST's and it worked great on his cow elk and has never complained about recoil. Cabela's sells it in a rifle/scope combo.

Nice! I was on a nice tall &heavy 4 pt today but couldn't make it happen. Awesome buck congrats!

In one of the 40's again today. Had 3 does at 40 yards but no buck dang it. I'm just tryin to fill my 2011 tag so Im not picky. Had the local militia move in 3/4 mile away and blast away probably 1500 rounds...I shifted spots about 15 miles and realized I didn't have my binos...went back, past the red dawn crowd and found my binos on the road unhurt. Didn't have time to shift back to where I was so I found some north faces and glassed up 1 group of 4 does, then another group of 3 that eventually had a forky pop out. Put a good stalk on but they ghosted. Lots of does but not much for rut yet that I can see. Next week maybe...

I got both barrels starting with my first hunt in August. Been to MT, 2 jr hunts, dec archery since, and another week planned in the desert in jan. I dont put in for spring hunts cause that would probably be a little much...

Awesome!

Awesome!

Awesome man! Cool lookin buck. I'm tryin for my first too. I hunt solo but with advice from some good guys and alot of effort I've been gettin closer every year. Hopefully this week and/or jan I'll get my chance. How's the rut?

Yeah but keep in mind my streak was based on paper apps, now it's online and I think that'll screw the odds even more withe every body and their mother applying ... What used to take 4-6 pts might take 6-8. Remains to be seen I guess.

As a resident I drew my 1st early archery bull tag in 06 with 4 pts and another one in 2010 with 6 pts (loyalty / hunters Ed / 4 pts). That's every 4 years or 4 pts...I have 4 for 2012 so I hopin my string stays alive...

Im in one of the 40's and I have 5 does bedded now without a buck. Cut a big fresh track yesterday and followed it for 1.25 miles before losing it. Never caught up and no hills close to climb and glass him up. The storm hit hard and standing water is everywhere but starting go down. My plan A and B spots were flooded out so I just found a good hill and started glassin. Maybe in 2 weeks when I come back these does will have picked up a buck.

Awesome ram and really cool pics. Congrats

Heading up tomorrow to hopefully get the drop on some bucks for the opener for Chase. Good luck to all the kids and parents. (FYI more rain possible on Sunday). We'll probably stop by the jr camp at some point.

Creed or anyone for that matter, Forgive me if I'm reading it wrong, but isn't the link above to voice your opinion to those that are for/proposing this plan? I don't think they will do anything but ignore the voice of hunters/ranchers/miners using/contributing/spending money on those lands. I think they already ignored us by not mentioning hunters as one of their main buy ins to the concept. That was the first clue to their intentions, see below: "The proposal also has the blessing of city and county officials, developers, conservationists, military representatives, recreationists and the faith community, and the groups will gather further input from the public over the next few months before taking the proposal to Congress, said Mike Quigley, Arizona wildlands campaign coordinator for the Wilderness Society." (don't see hunter's specifically mentioned anywhere in there...) Who in our state, county, country, is pro-hunter/access? What organizations and politicians are on our side? Those are the ones that I would like to contact to ramp up efforts on the behalf of hunters. They should be at those meetings just as much as any of us! That said, I apologize, but i can't make the meetings and those proposals impact the very areas i hunt and now take my son to hunt (jr hunt next week). How many jr hunters will loose hunting opportunities due to limited access? My boy will hike but has his limitations, even i have my limitations and i'll pretty much go anywhere by any means to hunt. I spend alot of time and money accessing those areas (legally and with respect). Not trying to put all of the legwork on anyone in particular but some are more familiar with a place to start besides yelling at those deaf to our reasons and logic... Also, any comment from the AZGFD and where the wildlife managers for these units stand? Right now this is the only contact I see besides the sonoran heritage group: Daily News-Sun: Jeff Dempsey may be reached at 623-876-2531 or jdempsey@yourwestvalley.com.

I am but the real question is is my wife. That answer is no unfortunately. With all of the hunting I have done and still have to do I have to pick battles carefully. Sorry.

Where are u located?

I got my12 yo boy the 7mm-08 savage youth shooting 139 gr hornandy SST's and he did really well with it. The combo did a number on his cow elk and recoil is light enough to not make him afraid of the shot. Shoots pretty tight groups after it's zeroed too.

Glad to hear it. Congrats to the hunter.

This is chases first elk tag and I was excited to get him out. My opinion is if you want to get someone hooked on hunting, get em in front of bugling rutting bulls! We drove up Thursday night and had 10 elk right at our turn off to camp so we felt good about the opener, plus the cold cloudy weather helped. We still hunted and sat a saddle that gets used regularly, so much so that I had 2205 trail cam pics from 9-1 to 9-14 until the memory card was maxed out - almost all were elk, some deer and a bear. We were finding some sign but not tons and after 2 1/2 says we stopped in at the jr camp had some lunch and shifted spots tryin to find buglin bulls. We only moved maybe 5 miles and found at least 6 bulls bugling in one area. We chased em around for 2 days and had 3 close calls but kept getting busted before we could get a shot. They would answer cow calls and bugles and get pretty worked up but would not come in. While walking out in the dark with a full moon we busted 2 cows feeding by a tank at 50 yards. I had figured with all the rain just prior to the hunt that water would not be an option but these elk seemed to be centered around this tank. We decided to bust out the blind and sit the tank the first and last 3 hours of the remaining days. After setting up the blind we sprayed the area along the walk in/out with elk fire cow in heat urine for cover scent and hopefully a lure to the bulls in the area. We came back about 3:30 and about 5:30 had a cow come in but couldn't get a good shot at her. Not long after she finished drinking her calf came out of the trees and we were both glad he hadn't shot the cow. Then the bugles came closer and closer from all directions and right at dark bulls started comin out of the trees and were buglin like crazy. I was hopin chase would get to experience the rut to get him excited and hooked forever. We ended up staying in the blind an 1 1/2 after dark watching these bulls party. The moon was so bright we could see them well and even better with binos in the dark. We came back in the morning a little after first light and spooked a cow from the tank and didn't see anything during the morn but the bulls bugles strong till about 9. We shifted the blind over to where the shooting lanes opened up better and brushed it in nice about 100 yards from the near edge if the tank. We got back in about 3:00 and sprayed the area up with elk fire again. Chase just chilled on the ground out of sight inside the blind and played phone games while I read and kept watch. With about 40 mins of light chase sat up in his chair knowing they'd be coming soon if they were comin in at all. 10 minutes later a young cow came charging into the tank and drinks. Chase puts up his new savage youth 7mm-08 using the blind opening as his rest and gets ready. She feeds up but won't quiet give us broadside. He has her in the scope waiting when I see another bigger more mature cow coming in fast. I tell chase to wait a bigger one is coming in. This cow comes in with her nose in the air and pushes the smaller one out of the way and stops broadside. I tell chase to breath, aim 3" below 1/2 way up her shoulder crease and just squeeze the trigger until the shot and I plug his ears with my fingers. He settles for about 5 seconds and pulls the trigger, nailing her perfect in the lungs. She hunches and stumbles and falls over dead on the tank after about 15 seconds! He was pumped and tried to play off his shaking on just being cold. I was a little worried about the 7mm-08 with 139 gr hornandy SST being a little light but it did great and the damage to her lungs and part of her heart was devastating. It was fun and frustrating at times but in the end the plan came together and chase did his part like a pro! Now its time to shift focus over to his 42jr hunt! (if somebody can post a pic, I can email thx)

Thanks for the nice replies! I was not shocked ok he keeps telling people that I am shocked but I'm not he was shocked not me. chase Ps I'm serious