Viper

I have been reading about this issue for some time now. It is one reason why I've delayed getting into the trail cam hobby. I went to the CWT yard sale last Saturday, met a few of the fellow CWT folks. I bought a Covert 3.0 cam from the shop. I'm planning to put it up this weekend where I got drawn for elk (4B). Being a total trail cam rookie, I am reading all I can. It sounds like I really have to consider where I hang it, and how I secure it. It is a real shame that we have to go to extra trouble and expense to make it "secure". Has anyone tried the "government property" angle? Maybe put an official USFS or G&F logo and warning statement on the box. Maybe set a Rambo snare with spikes....that would make some good pictures

I've had the older 12x50 trinovids for several years now. I hope I never have a warrenty issue, but it's good to hear the possitive experiences. I will feel better about shipping them off....they are considered family.

I plan on bringing $$. I want to buy a couple trail cams, a quick-pitch cabin tent, and whatever else I can't live without. I look forward to meeting some CWT folks. It seems a lot of you live in Mesa/Gilbert area.

Daryl, I too am interested in doing the trail cam thing. You posted some great pics! What camera did you buy? You said it was the older one...is it the covert II or the older, odd shaped covert I ? I am leaning toward the covert I, but wasn't sure if 3 MP is good enough resolution. Do other trail cam users have experience with the covert I, and can offer input? I also noticed Bass Pro has Wildgame Inovations 10 MP camera for a little more $$. Anyone have opinions on this camera? Thanks, Brad

Is this still happening? Will there be a good number of sellers?

I haven't got into the trail camera craze yet, but am interested, so I read the forums to learn the pros/cons, etc... I found these batteries years ago by reading digital camera/battery reviews. They are high capacity NMH type and have been awesome in my long zoom digital camera. Now they have a new generation battery that retains 85% charge after a year. I bought several AA for my cameras, headlamps/flashlights, radios....heck, even my toothbrush. I also have the charger/conditioner that is AC/DC, so I can charge in the field off the vehicle. The first ones I bought...maybe 10 years ago are still going strong. You get what you pay for. Good quality rechargables are worth the extra $$. http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/Index.asp

I'm not sure how this works, by looking at the pics. I assume the rubber(?) strap wraps around the bino, but I don't get the two different sized notches in the plate. I have a Leica Trinovid 12x50. The universal adapter I have is similar, but a flat plate with foam, and velcro straps that wrap around each objective. It works well, but a little hassle with the velcro straps. I'm always up for something simpler.

I've seen racks like that before... Pretty cool, but I bet they are spooky in the curves, eh? All that weight above cab height has got to be like having a cab-over camper on board. Did you install air bags? Believe it or not, it handles really well. Not much noticable lean in a curve. No air bags yet, just stock suspension. Not sure how it will handle a sudden blow-out at highway speed. I'm not anxious to find out. I figure it is similar to a cab-over camper. The spooky part is loading them...but you get used to it after doing it a few times. Honestly, after selling my tent trailer we have gone back to the tent, so I haven't used the rack in quite a while. I haul the quads on a trailer, which is simpler. I'm not sure what the next move is.....small toyhauler, small camp trailer (using the rack), stay with the tent......these quads sure complicate things

Here are a few pics of the rack in action. A friend had one he ordered from a company in Utah. It was a bolt-together type, probably a bit lighter than mine. Another buddy worked with a guy that does welding jobs on the side. He used the bolt-together as a template to build two, one for each of us. We had them professionally powder coated by another friend. The total cost was around $1300, as I recall. That was in 2005. May be much more now. Anyway, it's well built, all welded joints. It fits perfect in my 6.5 foot bed. I strongly recomend a 3/4 ton or better truck for this setup. Redman, if you are interested, I can check with my buddy to see if he wants to sell his. It fit a late 90's Ford 250. It has a cross-member that attached to his 5th-wheel hitch for locking it down.

I have a steel rack that slides into the bed of my 2500. Basically makes a flatbed just above the bed sides. I can fit two full size Arctic Cat 500's side by side. The 12 foot folding ramps slide under each quad and lock in place. Plenty of storage under the rack, and the tailgate will close. It handles great with stock suspension, but I think I will install airbags. I hauled my quads this way so I could pull my tent trailer, before I sold it. I'm guessing the rack weighs about 300 lbs. I can load it myself.

FYI - I found out from the ABA Chairman, there is no discount fee for one day, or per course. It's $40 no matter how many days/courses you shoot.

Holy CRUD!! Did I read that right....$40 to shoot Non-comp? I just want to go for the day, shoot two courses. Do you know if there is a per day fee, or per course fee? Maybe a discount for Sunday only? I guess I've been out of the loop for a while. The last shoot I went to was $25.

I prefer 12x for open country hunting. It is good magnification on the tripod, yet steady enough when supported on my knees or moses-pole. I love my Leicas. I have not regretted the purchase. I break out the Zeiss spotter for a closer look. I use the Nikon 8x Monarchs on a bino harness for elk.

Small world....I too have a 4B archery bull tag and will be shooting a Drenalin with the same arrows.

What choke and barrel lenth?

Is the XD sold as well?

A buddy that works for SRP sent me these pics of the transformer fire in east Mesa. I spotted the sticker before noticing the smoke Is that an obsesion or what?! Not sure who's truck it is.

Yup, great guy, good customer service. It's good to see he is still in buisiness after all these years.

Need some advice. I bought a lightly used Matthews Drenalin last year. Lately, the first couple times I draw the bow, it makes a creaking noise. After 5 or 6 draws, it seems to quiet down. This is not a good problem to have in a hunting situation, as you can imagine. Is there a common lube point (cam axels)? And what is used? Thanks for any input.

Just wanted to follow up on the creaking issue. I took it to Robert Campos at Broken Arrow in AJ. He put it in the bow press and lubed the limb pocket bushings with lithium greese. That fixed it. I still hear a very faint noise sometimes, just as I hit full draw. This may be something else, i.e., wheels or cable roller. We discovered excess wear of the string where it breaks over the cam, so I ordered a Winner's Choice string. We will fix all the noises when the string is replaced in a couple weeks. I don't want to take any chances since I have a bull tag this Sept. Thanks for your input.

Are they IR? What type of batteries?

I had the same problem when i baught my drenalin new.I had people listen for the noise as i drew it back and we narrowed it down to the limb pocket bushing,i just lightly lubricated them and the noise went away. sorry cant remember what i used but i was on an elk hunt so supplies where limited. Thanks! I'll try that first.

Thanks for your advice! I will take it to Archery Headquarters and have them take a look. At least now I can appear to know what something about my bow

I have the Alaknak 12x12...love it! I can set it up myself. Everything...tent, roof protector, floor protector, poles, ropes, stakes, weighs around 75 lbs. It is very weather/wind proof. The stove that I got with it is OK, but not airtight like a cylinder stove. It easily sleeps 3 with the stove, 2 is more comfortable. I usually use a propane heater, as the stove will blow you out of there. Temps need to be below 40. I like the center pole. I bought the hangers that attach to the pole, for hanging clothes to dry, or hang a lantern, or....makes a good dance pole for the wife/girlfriend I also have the vestibule. That adds a bunch more space for gear, table, whatever. The only negative is...a lot of stake pounding. Canvas is nice, but much heavier, much more $$, and usually no floor. The "mildew" smell bothers my sinuses. It's a matter of choice.

September archery bull in 4B, 2nd choice....WooHooo!! My last bull tag was drawn in 2001.