bigbuckfever

I've been a painter for over 40 years in AZ and the labor force has definitely changed in the last 10+ years. The last time I tried to hire painters, I included a $500 bonus to be paid after one month (if they stuck around) and I couldn't find many takers that were qualified. I would get plenty of calls, but no one would actually show up for the in-person interview. (Finally had a woman show up and stick around for the month and then she was out of there once she got the $500.) When employers end up competing against the government that is giving away $ (that they took from the employers in the form of a tax), why would the next generation work for the money when they can get it just for applying with the government? I'm all for legal immigration, but when literally millions pour into the country illegally, heck no! having said that, I have to say that 99% of the people that hold the signs asking for money on the street corners don't appear to be Hispanic. They are coming here because they want to work, n ot because they want a free handout.

That seems to be the only time I see turkeys-when I am hunting something else and don't have a turkey tag

I still snicker every time I drive past Pete's Place and see a cow as their draw for a topless bar. Never worked to coax me in.

Dang, you got to have one of those magical days in the field every hunter and lover of coues dreams about. Not just one awesome find, but 3 in one day. A lion skull next to those two on your wall would've been a heck of a topper. Congrats to ya.

I'm very grateful for all the veterans out there, past and present. I'm kinda partial to this one, my dad.

These rules get truer as you age

Good for you. The few times I got to hunt with my dad are some of my favorite memories.

Congrats on the buck and good for you that the ole gun trick worked.

Nice!! Congratulations.

Congratulations on a beauty. Nice photo too.

Wow, what a great first buck! Congrats to both of you. Looks like you had a great vantage point too. Thanks for sharing.

It's been at least 10 years since I've been to Usery. Felt like I was walking on eggshells so I wasn't going to be publicly shamed for any little faux pas.

Great write up. Just when you think you have everything planned out, "life" happens and changes the plan. Congrats to you and your son, he'll have those memories all of his life

That's good stuff. Congrats to all of you and thanks for sharing the story.

That sucks

Congrats and awesome write up. I originally joined this site to hopefully read stories like this. (wish more members would post up their stories with pics). Good job setting the hook on his hunting life. Oh, and beautiful buck too!

Jerkey Butte?

"but definitely had the white tail." The OP might have seen a black tail on one (or more), but this guy had a WT tail for sure

The body on this deer completely dwarfed the 110 I shot at in 23 (turned out I missed him but was sure he was down in the brush, so I didn't shoot at this toad when he popped out of some bushes on the same hillside 2 minutes after I shot at the other one) I went and got my hunting partner and got him lined up on this guy and he popped him. The biggest bodied Coues I have ever seen. Woody Holloway in Young said this was the first Coues deer he had ever had hands on that had a longer distance between the nose and eyes than any other Coues buck. Has a pretty dark skull cap that is more characteristic of a mulie, but definitely had the white tail. (No, that's not the one in my avatar) No doubt in my mind there is a whole lotta cross breeding going on around there.

There is definitely some cross breeding going on in 23.

Another nod to Archery Headquarters. Travis is a great guy to get help from. Daniel at Timber Mesa is pretty solid too.

Congrats and way to stick with it, not easy to do. +1 on leaving the anlter the way it is,

Totally random purchase Edge. There is a sword fighting "shop' in Mesa on Dobson just south of Guadalupe. They might know something that could help. I believe it's called Mordhau Historical Combat.

Shot placement is critical in a lower caliber gun, especially on an elk. If he were to get buck fever when he's trying to hold steady on an animal, (it can hit anybody, and you can't practice shooting with buck fever) you can see all the steady practice go out the window. I would recommend the 06 for the first time just to have the extra punch for a less than perfect hit on a live hunt. Just my 2 cents. I agree with the muzzle break too, really helps. Hope he has a great hunt and you can set the hook for life!

Thanks for sharing. I love velvet bucks