Redman

You know being from San Manuel and competing with those Safford boys you tend to take what they say with a grain of salt. But a picture is worth a 1000 words. That is one awesome buck. Are you sure that thing did not come from Texas? Redman

Megahunter6969 This year my father in law was stooped by a warden in unit 33. The warden and him glassed together and the warden found a small buck and asked if he wanted to go after it with him. Due to health issues my father in law cannot walk off road and had to decline (he has a champ permit). I was not there when this happened, but my father in law was extremely impressed with the warden and could not believe how friendly he was and how willing to help. Not that my father in law experiences help you in any way, but as with any organization there are good, average, and bad employees. I disagree with you and the management statement and all they want is our money. I feel they are doing a reasonable good job and are looking our for the AZ resident. Redman

Thanks for all the responses and specs (Bill Q). I'm been to the Sportsman's Warehouse a couple of times and they do not currently have any youth rifles (the have 22's and shotguns). I would like to put one on layaway and pay for it (after X-mas). My son's birthday is in June and his present will be a rifle and scope for hunting. I now believe in buy good stuff the first time so he will be getting a quality setup. With all the new short magnums (223, 243, 270) who knows what he will get. Redman

Mag, I know this sounds like a dump, but I would spend some time on the Arizona Game and Fish website and read the unit hunt reports. The reports are accurate and will get you to some great deer hunting places. I have used their recommendations many times to venture to a unit I have never hunted before. This allows me to "get" to an area then I pick the hill and terrain I like to hunt. Just as an FYI the 36 units are beautiful, but I would make sure if you are camping to secure your stuff with the immigration problem. Redman

Got both my tags today Redman

Two dandy bucks. Great Job Redman

I think the rules are different for state and federal land (I learned in the hunter safety course in Aug) You can drive on state land but not off federal. I am not 100% sure, but in the case you mentioned, I would probably drive off road and take my chances unless there was something in the way that I would cause significant damage to. I am not sure who can ticket you also, I don't think the game and fish could (only forest service??). Redman

Just awesome and I'm happy I could help. Redman

Great story as usual, and congratulations Alex. Dad you deserve a round of applause for taking your kids hunting (as with all other parents that do). I can't wait until next year when my son can hunt. Redman

http://www.skulltaxidermy.com/ Intresting site.

The story also mentions that he hasn't fulfilled all his restitution, so there GOT to be more to this story. Redman

It was also nice to meet you in person Bass, and thanks for the ride. Hope you liked my recommendation for the #5. These deer will sometimes not move for anything. A friend of mine walked around a juniper twice before the buck in it ran out. This was after he was talking with 10 feet of the tree, saying "the buck is not in there" my friend was like yes he is, I can see him. Finally he walked up to the tree again and it bolted out. I cannot wait until January (I have to wait until the new year ). If you guys are out in January let me know, like I said I have a unit 33 Javellina tag also and will be spending plenty of time looking for one. Talk to ya later. Redman

I finally got a mature buck. I found him on opening morning but he gave me the slip. I'd seen a lot of bucks but none as big as him. I was going to hunt until I found him again, luckily I found him again but almost to soon (because now I'm sitting at my computer instead of on the side of a hill). This time he did not get away. I wish January 2006 would hurry up and get here. Redman [/url][/img]

That's a sweet buck. Congradulations. Andy

Great buck Mike. That is definitely a unique rack. Talk to you later. Andy

I like small instead of little, but everything else great. Redman

That is right on track on what it would of cost me to put in four people as well. Hopefully this year applications will be able to be submitted on the Internet, then you can wait until the last day (since it will screen for errors) and they will hold your money for approximately 4-5 weeks. We could get a credit card just for this reason. Interest should cost no more than $15.00 for one month. Now if all four get drawn for everything, that is where it will hit ya, but think of it as a family vacation for something you all must really love. Redman

I think the rate increases are fair. I put in this year for deer, elk, antelope and javellina. Next year it's going to cost me roughly $85.00 more than it did this year. That's $7.00 a month or $2.00 a week. $2.00 A WEEK. All I have to do is use 1 less gallon of gas a week to pay for for the tag increases to support the Game and Fish and not make some oil executive filthy rich or pay for a king's golden toilet seat. Say I get drawn for all 4 species, that will be over 50 days of hunting. I know I am only going to get drawn for two species (deer and javellina) so its going to cost me $25.00 more to hunt next year (50 cents a week). I will have to budget sooner to put my son and I in for next year. Or I think I will not buy him on stupid video game. Redman

Let's wait and see what happens in January. If I arrow a buck, then bet with me on the tournament and lets hope UA doesn't choke on this year. Redman

Nice story and great buck. I will need to look into those packs. Redman

I shot at two good mule deer that were together. The shots were long, hindsight is 20/20. I should have probably of taken the 270 yds shot instead of trying to get closer, the 270 yds shot quickly became a 400+ yds. Seen probably 6 spikes during the hunt. Hopefully they will grow up. Redman

Thanks az4life, after rushing off the mountain in excitement the last couple of years I have learned to enjoy the moment and take my time. Take good pictures and live the good ol days. Finally getting a great buck this early in the hunt is bitter sweet. I would have loved to hunted all week and take him on the last day. I really enjoy being out there, but I couldn't pass him up just to keep hunting. I now have to find something to do this week since I'm on vacation. I drooped him off at the taxidermist, it was late, he didn't get scored. He's pushing 100. His left G2 was a little short about 5 inches so that may hurt. On the first day after seeing him I busted my butt (and knee) and hit my rifle and scope very hard, so that made me quit for most of the day. I had to re-sight in my gun. I was about 6 inches off to the right at 100 yds. The next night a good friend met me and in the morning we got into shooting position before daylight were I had see him the day before. After about 45 minutes of glassing I picked up some deer and my friend picked him up in the group. Watched him for about 20 minutes and I finally got settled down. He was 279 yds away, I missed my first two shots, but my third shot hit the mark and he did not move. I was afraid in the ruckus I was going to shoot a smaller buck, but my friend did a great job staying with him and giving me landmarks to quickly pick him up. I doubt I could have gotten this buck without his help. Redman

Here is a link for Javellina. http://www.javelinahunter.com/how_to_clean...elina_skull.htm Or you could order the bugs to eat the flesh for you. Redman

How do you keep your beer cold?? No seriously, this Oct, my nephew and I backpacked in, ate MRE's and had a good experience. After 3 nights I was ready to get back. I would say one night backpacking in the future to get across that rough canyon would be good. Redman

I am back from my hunt. Too bad I did not see any fellow CouesWhitetail.com members, I could of used some advice. I enjoyed my hunt and shot at two really nice mule deer but missed. As I mentioned in another post, there were a lot of road hunters driving the roads and this had me on edge. Tag soup for me, but I learned a lot. Hope everybody else had a good hunt. And if anybody knows a spot to avoid the roadies (general area, I don't want any trade secrets) PM me. I would like to go back next year. Redman