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There is some really good advice here by some experienced waterfowlers. Coues Pursuit made a great point about not shooting hens. To expand on that I highly recommend you get very good at identifying ducks. Not just being able to tell what drake is what when he is sitting on the water, but what hen is what when they are on the wing. I learned my lesson when my duck hunting buddy who has more experience hunting waterfowl than anyone I know killed a hybrid duck on a refuge. He got a ticket for shooting too many hen mallards, even though this duck clearly had some pintail genes. Point is be absolutely certain about what your are shooting at or don't shoot at all. The best thing you can do is exactly what you are doing now (don't be afraid to ask questions), and then just go out and give it a go. You'll learn quickly by your mistakes unless you're hardheaded like me and things have to be beaten into your brain. Thanks for the different version of hen to drake ratio Coues Pursuit. I actually have more hens than drakes so I'm going to try that next time. I generally hunt early in the season and some hard to get to areas, so maybe that's why the >drakes do OK. I always thought of the colors being attractive. Your way makes a ton of sense though, especially late in the season.

Dang, that was pretty sweet footage! Let's hear the rest!

Great story and pics! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us. Congratulations on your nice wilderness backpack buck!

Way to earn her "stripes"! Thanks for sharing your hunt with us.

Looks like you guys did good! Congratulations to your cousin on a very nice bull! No better reminder of God's magnificence than to be in the woods during the elk rut! Thanks for sharing.

Nice job making it happen! Congratulations!

If you're opposed to driving to Whitewater from Tucson, I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help. I've had almost all my action along either the Gila River East of Yuma or on the Refuges on the Colorado north of Yuma. When the Colorado still flowed past Morelos Dam back in the day there was some really good hunting along the Colorado between Yuma and San Luis. I'm afraid things have changed a bunch since then though. Try the stock ponds in the desert or possibly the San Pedro River. Maybe there are some wet spots along the Santa Cruz you can try, otherwise I recommend bigger water. Good Luck, Nick

1. Reliable shotgun, waders, waterproof pants, jacket, hat, and boots. 2. A hunting partner (retrieving dog is best) 3. Steel Shot loads for your gun 4. Decoys if hunting near water, map of ponds to jumpshoot otherwise. Small water doesn't need a ton of deeks, add more drakes to your spread if possible and odd numbers are good (don't put out a dozen, add a few or take a few away). I usually use a mix of puddle duck species in my spread. Mallards, pintails, widgeons, teal. Any duck will decoy to a mallard spread so need need to over-complicate things but if you have a variety available use it. 5. Calling is not needed unless you are hunting over decoys. Even then, less is more. This will come with experience. Worry about your location, set up and decoys first and foremost. 6. Camo is very important. Don't let your shiny face be seen by the ducks. This goes for hiding yourself, your boat, etc. 7. When you kill your birds and cook them, don't over do it. Leave duck slightly rare and you'll enjoy the meat much more. I almost forgot...don't forget your Duck Stamps!

I agree! We are very fortunate to have all the public land we do throughout the state. Heck even the private land is hardly ever posted, at least around where I live. God Bless America and Arizona! My wife keeps toying with the idea of moving back to Indiana where she grew up. They better start transplanting elk quickstyle or I'm not moving a muscle! In all seriousness I don't see how anyone can stand living east of the Rockies.

Thanks for the heads up! Going to try to get mine in before the system crashes!

Wow! That's like a natural history museum piece. Excellent work Jim. Can't wait to bring you my next critter worth mounting!

Very nice Ike! Thanks for sharing with us here on this site! Nick

Nice of you to honor your Grandpa by saying a few words about him here. Sorry for your loss! May the Lord comfort you in your time of grief.

Our youngsters truly are a blessing. Great pics with the kids! Thanks for sharing your passion of the outdoors with your kids and the site!

Congratulations on your Dad's success! Very cool for you and your Uncle to be there to share the sweet reward.

OK here's how I see this one. I think it's ridiculous for the officer to make this citation but he almost didn't have a choice. Most sparrows except house sparrows are native birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. There is no open season for this genus ever with the exception noted. Are the sparrows going extinct from killing this one bird, not at all. Should the shooter be taught a lesson not to shoot stuff they shouldn't shoot...of course! I would plead guilty and get it over with and chalk it up as an important lesson to learn while out in the field. update after reading the entire thread... AZGutpile leaves very good advice...I would be certain that the officer did correctly identify the particular species in question otherwise he has not met the burden of proof to find you guilty of an offense, since there is one sparrow species that can be taken legally.

It was great meeting you guys and getting out in the field with you. Sorry we didn't have more action that first morning. Kyle has a bright hunting future ahead. He's a darn good shot for a 9 year old! Chase Stewart is an awesome young man! Look for him in the Olympics someday. He is one of the very best international skeet shooters in the country and a very hardworking and generous person. Glad you guys got a bird! Nick

Most excellent! Can't wait to hear the rest!

I did the hike in May of 2006. I was there when they found the Japanese woman who had been robbed, raped, and murdered in the Canyon. Not Cool! Besides that, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I highly recommend anyone who is able to do this hike. I agree with everything above! We went during the middle of May and it got a bit warm in the day but the water was nice and refreshing but not too cold that you wouldn't want to go in. I would highly recommend getting up as early as possible to start your hike, maybe even starting with a headlamp in the dark before it gets hot. The sun gets brutal. I would also plan on spending at least two non-hiking days to check things out, so at least 4 days total maybe more if you want to go down to the Colorado. Do not overpack! Food is available down in the Supai village if you really get that hungry. I brought WAY too much on my trip. Try to plan things out with your companions so you don't double pack things like cooking gear, etc. Be prepared for the downhill! My legs were not used to going downhill with that much weight on my back. That hurt my hips bad! Prepare with a weighted pack before you go, you will thank me! And yes by all means take a ton of photos! This is considered by many to be one of, if not the most beautiful place in Arizona. Kinda lost its luster when you could start taking a chopper down and stay in the lodge, but I'm kinda old school. Enjoy!

Really happy you got your buck back. Sorry you had to deal with all the crap. You can never replace your first archery buck kill! Congrats!

Nice

Bingo! Well Done!

Great work, nice bull!

Right on! Very nice!

I still have the Kaibabs. Not positive if they came with HD glass in 2010 but pretty sure they do. Retail price when I bought was $1200 if that helps. Nick