nateNAU

Back in high school all I had was a vw jetta. I strapped a few deer on that roof.

Bob, I love your excitement about your upcoming hunt over the past few months. I can definitely tell you have the same bug that I have got. I hope you shoot a monster and can't wait to see the post : )

I personally think most elk rut hunting is done before the sun comes up. Drive to what you think is a good spot, shut the truck off and just listen. If you dont hear anything give a cow call. If no response after a few minutes, give a juvenile bugle. If no response move on down the road a mile and repeat. When you get to an area with good responses, that is where you want to start. Calling or silent is a matter of personal preference and also situational. On the first few days of a hunt nearly any bull can be called in. When the hunting pressure increases, being silent may have its advantages. I love calling. A lot of people in the woods pick up a call at Wal-Mart right before the hunt and are terrible. Practice an cow esturus call, which I would define as a normal cow mew with a little rasp and excitation in it. When this is perfected you can call in bulls when a lot of other people tell you the rut has shut down or bulls have become call shy. Having a caller that can analize a bugle, drop behind the shooter by about 50 or so yards and maneuver himself to bring the bull infront of the shooter is also a huge plus. It is killing me this year becuase I dont have one september hunt to go on. Best of luck and make sure you post pics and a story when you shoot your bull : )

I have had cams out in 7e all summer. There are a ton of collared and ear tagged elk in there now.

What a shame. It is just a reminder to me that one bad set and the same could happen here in Arizona.

First year in about 10 years I haven't drawn a rifle tag so ill have to get it done with my bow this year. Took my first hike this morning to try and locate and start patterning bucks. Found 5 small bucks and one real nice one.

Thats a good looking set up.

Where are you located?

+1 for the accubond.

South of the big bo, north of the redlands ranch along cateract canyon. Good elk hunting and you would have it all to yourself.

Pm sent your way. Id be glad to answer any questions I can.

I have the 7e Nov archery tag. Do you have the early or late hunt? Ive spent quite a lot of time in the east part of 7e over the last few years from the archery deer season through the peaks only hunts. Not much experience during the late archery and rifle hunts. Just what I happen to see out there running my trap line.

I guess since in under 30 i shouldnt give my opinion but all I know is ill be chasing a bull with my bow this year.

If your around flagstaff, I'd be more than happy to take you out on my line.

There is one more main option. Ship to Nafa. My averages were $200 a cat higher at Nafa than what was offered to me at Kingman last year.

Awsome job! Keep it up. Sorry to hear about your stolen traps.

Happy trapper with a big cat.

Have had a lot of request to repost the picture so I have. As I have said I love to see and read other's posts and I would like to share mine. No weights or lengths. Just a happy trapper with a big cat.

No worries. Agree to disagree. I just posted the weight I got from my scale, right or wrong. Still respect anyone as dedicated to trapping as you. I sincerely hope you have a good trapping season and when I catch a verifiable 30lb-er ill make sure you are first to know : )

Thanks. Will do. I spent most of the night making another 15 traps. If its impossible then I did the impossible and I will do it again. I will catch another even bigger cat this year even if it kills me. Cooked crow? Who said cooked?

So I was correct. I am either a liar or to inept to read a scale. You trap the desert. Is it possible that your warm weather cats have less fat that a cat trapped up here? Can you really generalize your catches to everyone else? I didnt take pictures that f it on the scale because i didnt think i would have to defend myself and why would I post any other pictures? Im sure you'll say I rigged the scale or the tape measurer because now your saying I held that cat out. I think your ego is directly related to trapping and it pisses you off that you consider yourself and expert and someone caught a cat bigger than one you have caught. Your post explains your ego in how you choose to let posts happen or not.

Hyper. I have respect for you but that may fade quickly if you are calling me a liar. I guarantee that the scale read 31.4 lbs. I am 6' 3" and 300 lbs. The picture doesnt do the cat justice being stretched out.. This cat was actually obese. I have never seen a wild animal that was fat like this. It looked like a pampered house cat. About wore out a fleshing knife getting all the fat off.

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Ya Flagstaff. This cat was about 7200 ft. This has been the earliest cat I have ever caught but the hide is white as snow and there is a nice undercoat on this cat. Dont know if its the elevation up here or what but I would definitely call this cat prime. Stretched to 39 in. Just couldnt get 40 out of it.

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