wetmule

I much prefer the good ol' "pink slip days" myself (not talkin about lingerie, although I do like those too) Things are way too complicated these days, I don't know how any of us ever survived without these stinkin computers and electronic devices. laser rangefinders, digital trail cams etc. etc. I wonder how any work got done at all or how any of us ever killed a deer with all the contraptions and accoutraments it takes to get by these days. I've saved all my pink slips from the days of yore and I could literally wallpaper my bathroom in pink, maybe they will be worth something on ebay someday. Good Luck to all hope you all get the tag of your dreams.

What ? No kitchen sink ?

Have one good mule and one pain in the behind. The good one (a little female) will go anywhere and do just about anything. The rancher I got her from named her "wrongway" cause she likes to travel in reverse. She will walk backwards alot of the time to get to where she wants to go and she can often be seen walking across the arena in reverse. Once you are on her she is good to go.

Neo, "Serious change in the Govt. at all levels", thats funny,even though I agree with you, good luck on that one. If you are a hunter you definitely don't want any more wilderness areas designated. Once you give it to them or allow it, you will never get it back even if it turns out to be a horrible mistake.The next thing that will happen is they will want to turn off and bulldoze all the wildlife drinkers in the wilderness and turn it all back over to mother nature. Much like de-listing Wolves - that people on both sides of the wolf issue agree should happen, the politics of it all and the special interest greenies involved - I have my doubts if that will ever happen. When the Sierra Club took out a full page ad in the Flag paper a few years ago requesting comments from their bretheren on the Parashant Natl. Monument and suggesting massive road closures, lobbying for more wilderness in the Strip, suggesting that if you want to ride your horse or mule in the monument that your horse needed to be wearing a diaper to catch the droppings. As much as I'd really like to see Lark ridin around on his new mule wearing pampers (mule wearing pampers not Lark) I don't think he should be forced to diaper ol' Molly. These people are nuts and anything they do or want to do I'm completely against. Call it a hunch, gut feeling or whatever you want but I don't trust these groups at all, especially when they are all aligned with little Janet. As far as all the idiots that blow by road blocks or take their quads where they are not supposed to be - You can't regulate or legislate idiots, you just have to deal with them - police ourselves, citizens arrest, lobby for huge fines and jail time whatever it takes to make that dude not want to do it again.

AZ Bare, It definitely works and pretty good at certain times. I've rattled in quite a few and from my experience you need two key factors. Areas with good to high buck doe ratios and a good coues deer rut going on. The sucess I've had rattling has been with these two conditions present during the bowhunt in January. All cases that I've experienced, the deer came running in and just about ran me over much like a coyote coming in to a call looking for a free meal. It's quite a rush and definitely worth trying. Good luck

Keith, It did pass and I believe they allocated 3 1/2 million dollars for those five projects, which could turn into 7 - 10 million in matching funds. If I still have that info in my computer I will e-mail you.

Responsible logging doesn't prevent forest fires, it keep fire from becoming devastating and catastrophic. I've been hunting and recreating in the Kaibab since 1970 and I much prefer the way our forests used to be managed with selective logging, where they rounded up and burned off the slash piles. It opened up the forest floor, allowed trees to get big, created all kinds of forbs, grasses, mushrooms & browse and didn't deplete the water tables. There used to be substantially more deer in the Kaibab than today's numbers, and although I'm sure some of the decline is drought related, I attribute at least some of the decline to the absense of logging and poor wildlife and forest management. Where you use to be able see 50 -80 bucks on a good day, we are now lucky to find a handful on a good day. But then again, maybe that's what the powers that be want - unhealthy forests with limited wildlife resources and unhuntable populations of game.

IMHO, we should send all these invoices, bills ($$$$$) to fight these fires directly to the Sierra Club and the judges that continually support them for tying up our legal system and forcing the F.S. to defend all these freaking lawsuits that prevents thinning and logging. I would be all for a class action lawsuit directed at the Sierra Club and all the liberal judges that reside in their back pocket. If the F.S. was allowed to thin and log these huge fires would be non existent, our forests would be in great shape, we would have no bark beetle die-off because instead of 50 million trees per acre there would be 100 and the ones that are there would be able to get enough moisture to fight off the beetles and other disease. The F.S. is a beaurocracy beyond all beaurocracy's that has been infiltrated by Sierra Club types and that agency is going downhill fast. IMHO, we should send all these invoices, bills ($$$$$) to fight these fires directly to the Sierra Club and the judges that continually support them for tying up our legal system and forcing the F.S. to defend all these freaking lawsuits that prevents thinning and logging. I would be all for a class action lawsuit directed at the Sierra Club and all the liberal judges that reside in their back pocket. If the F.S. was allowed to thin and log these huge fires would be non existent, our forests would be in great shape, we would have no bark beetle die-off because instead of 50 million trees per acre there would be 100 and the ones that are there would be able to get enough moisture to fight off the beetles and other disease. The F.S. is a beaurocracy beyond all beaurocracy's that has been infiltrated by Sierra Club types and that agency is going downhill fast.

The fire on the west side ten years ago consumed alot of Kaibab winter range and was NOT a good fire. The elevation of this fire leads me to believe that this will be a good one and in the long run will be better for the deer herd. Not all fires are good as evidenced by the west side fire, and now we have a huge problem with cheat grass and other non native species taking over and smothering alot of deer food and threatening alot of winter range deer browse. The ADA and finally the G&F dept. have undertaken the monumental task of trying to limit and possibly reverse the detrimental effects of the Bridger Fire. The point is not all fires are good especially if the Forest Service and the G&F Dept. ignore the problem for ten years before they even address it. If you look at the Rodeo Chedisky fire, they (Forest Service & G&F) did alot of work up there to quicky restore the burnt areas and the wildlife and vegetation is reaping the benefits. On the flip side they completely ignored the Bridger Fire and now we have a giant problem in the Kaibab.

Like it or not, politics has become an integral part of our AZ G&F Dept., Wildlife Management, The Commission and all that relates to what we like to do as sportsmen and women; which is fish, hunt when we get drawn and enjoy the out doors and the wildlife in it. Unless sportsmen & women have a seat at the table in the political process, including the nomination of commissioners - we WILL be left in the dust and decisions will be made on our behalf that we will not like and decisons have already and are continuing to be made that the average hunter doesn't agree with. I know Pete well, and although I don't agree with every thing he says or does; there is no one out there that works harder for sportsmen and women and AZ's wildlife than Pete does. He certainly has rubbed some in the wrong way, but that IMO, is not a bad thing. He is one of a very few out there that saw the direction this commission and the Dept. is headed and saw or sees that direction as heading south, as many of us do. He, they whoever -- a group of very concerned sportsmen got together during the USO Outfitters G&F FIASCO and started the process of forming SFW, an organization to give sportmen and women a seat at the political wildlife table. They put forth, very transparently, a list of candidates for consideration as nominees for the commission vacancy all of which were well qualified, active sportsmen and women with long historys of doing good things for wildlife in this state. The NRA originally endorsed one of those candidates Mrs. Nancy Lewis. Mr. Napolitano elected go his own way and not appoint anyone on the list that was endorsed by any of the conservation groups - ADBSS, ADA, AAF, AES, RMEF etc. all of whom openly participated in meetings, discussions, talked about their resumes desires and qualifications etc. She appointed Ms. Martin and through their political influence and effort got her blocked from going forward. Somewhere in the middle of all this crap the NRA changed their support from Nancy Lewis to Ms. Martin in some backdoor midnight shady deal with the governor I suspect. Like Lark said the NRA does a great job at what they do - gun rights, gun ownership, gun laws, gun advocacy etc. They have never participated at all in any wildlife or G & F issues in AZ and IMO they need to keep it that way. It is very obvious that the Gov. Mr. Napolitano contacted her "friend" the Pres. of the NRA and asked them to get involved, knowing that they would have a big chance to sway the legislators with the NRA endorsing ms. Martin. It almost worked, well it kind of did work-- because I just heard today that the Gov. dismissed Mr. Gilstrap and immediately replaced him with Ms. Martin as interim commissioner, which she can legally do, until the next session starts. So we have Ms. Martin on the commission until Jan. I think, then she is gone. I second the Lark for commissioner, I'm not kidding, you would be exactly what this Dept. needs - heck I'd even give you that sheep tag you've been pining for if it was up to me.

Nice hopper bowsniper, but I had you figured for a much older guy, LOL

AT, I've always wanted to get my bunny slam but unfortunately I'm not licensed on the rez, so I've got nuthin to trade you. If you're good at judging bunny ears you should be able to name your price and a S.C. elk or coues in trade is more than a good deal. When does your book and instructional video "Field judging and Trophy Care of AZ Wabbitts" come out ? Can't wait to pick it up, can CW.com member order direct or do we all have to get it at Cabelas or Sportsmans Warehouse? Good luck on the trade.

Desert Bull, even Hannibal Lectur and starving cannibal pygmys would say no way to Ted's fermented liver, -- tastes like bad politics and isopropyl alcohol bleecchhh! I'm not much of a gut eater, but I do like dove and don't equate it to flying liver at all and quail is just great !!

I agree with Mr. Q alot of them are unwatchable IMO with poor quality, poor ethics poor judgement, poor script, poor production & editing, poor execution, poor everything and leave me wondering why I just watched and wasted my time -- and why they even made the video in the first place. I've seen a few that I enjoyed but for the most part I'd much rather read a good book. Maybe even one of Bill's books.

The Wicked Cockroach of the Middle East is Dead ! , one of em anyways. "NO SOUP FOR YOU" No Virgins Do not pass Go Do not collect 200 Do not go staight to jail Do not go to purgatory Direct non stop flight to heck for you "NEXT" Way to go Army, Navy, Air Force & Marines - Keep up the good work

OK it's settled there are several great packs out there. I think the best one is whatever your sherpa is using, I don't care what pack he's using as long as he gets the job done. I think Casey is the resident sherpa here, I wonder what he uses?

Thanks to Keith new BOD, and Peloncillo-Kevin for showing up and participating. Big Kudosto you guys. Stan - 8:04 pm I knew you were headed east, how far east are you, China? Thanks for all your help as well as the encouraging words.

I wonder if the giant Hardback version of the catalog will still show up on some of our doorsteps? I will definitely check it out, I've never seen the Matterhorn with a bunch of sheep mounts and other critters on it. Maybe they can incorporate Lark's roller coaster into that display?

Gonna have to start payin sales tax now, bummer!

Jennings Shooting Star with xx75 2216's or Bear Kodiak Hunter with cedar shafts can't decide which Zwickey Black Diamond Heads Fingers

CHD, You already know my choice but I'll tell you anyways -- (Odocoileus Hemionus Hemionus Stripus Gigantus)

Just curious about the success on the bull hunt last year ? With 14 bonus points I drew a muzz elk tag last year in 27. The success of that hunt was 36% with nine bulls taken out of 25 hunters. Neither myself or my hunting partner took a bull on the hunt. We both had numerous opportunities and called in lots of 330-350 class bulls and had a really good hunt, but we both elected not to shoot looking for that next level up of bigger bulls. The success rate of most early bull hunts generally run anywhere from 70%-95% respectively and many of the archery bull hunts had much better success rates than this hunt. Either the majority of the hunters on this hunt were like us and elected not to burn a cap looking for something better or the conditions during the hunt were not conducive to finding big elk or perhaps something else unknown is going on with the elk in the unit. I do know that in both 1 and 27 you have to weed through alot of bulls to find a jumbo, but I know they are there. Anyone with more knowledge of the unit than me have any theories as to why the success rate was down.

tk, If you are looking for a heavy duty indestructable external frame type pack you could take a look at the Bull Packs, I think they carry them at The Outdoorsman's in PHX on Cave Creek Rd. I have one and really like it. You could strap a moose to it if you wanted providing you can get it on your back, it also has a really nice bag on it with long side pockets that will hold a big Swaro spotting scope. It's a little heavy but one of the best made packs I've seen or used. Good luck

From what I know the raffle type tags are an incredible amount of work to promote and administer and to see it thru to the deadline - to do it right - in order to raise alot of money. The only group I know of that in the past has done a great job of going about the process of selling a raffle tag is the AZ Elk Society. They have raised alot of money with their raffle tags, that had it not been for a ton of volunteer effort, that money would not have been raised. I don't think the G & F or any other group could do what the AES has done in the past. Now there is a group effort through the Super Raffle and those tags should produce great habitat & wildlife revenues through the group effort. One thing to note is that although most of the time an animal is harvested on these special hunts, it is not always the case and I can think of a few times when no shots were fired. A few tags every year for the money raised for wildlife is a no brainer IMO. They are not taking tags away from anyone, ALL of the money is put back on the ground in this state with no administration fees or % cut for anyone, is species specific - deer money goes directly to benefit deer, etc. I do think it is a great idea to offer a raffle tag that allows the fortunate, lucky average joe the opportunity to go when he or she would otherwise would not be able to participate in the auction type tags, thats 99% of us. I do think these tags are maxed out in this state and I would oppose any increase in raffle or auction tag numbers.

CHD, You need to change your tag line to read: "Sarcasm and Button Pushing, Two of The Finer Services I Offer" Personally I like them, the few commissioners tags offered in AZ have no impact on permit numbers and are not taking away any permits away from any average joe hunter in AZ, they are not figured into the permit numbers at all by the G & F. The money raised (all of it, every dime ) goes into habitat improvement, habitat restoration, water projects etc., etc. All the money raised by the sheep tag goes for sheep improvements and projects, deer tag money goes directly to deer habitat, etc., elk--elk. If the money went to buy nicer trucks for G&F or pad the directors wallet, I would feel totally different. I believe this state has a great program with the few tags that are offered and the benefit far outweighs any negative. Utah's program is another story where they offer several hundred or more auction and raffle permits and those average hunters are losing permits by the truckload and many of them are pissed, and I believe rightly so. Way to go CHD you pushed another one of those buttons, but I think you knew you'd get a volatile mixed response, isn't that what you are looking for? Take er easy