Sam

Read between the lines.......The AZGFD made a mistake in helping/agreeing to introduce the wolf back into AZ. Why else would they agree to delist this species? Seems to me that they realize that the wolf has not been contained to the Blue Wilderness area and now something has to be done. Like someone said - no fence, no containment. Let's hope that the wolf will soon be classified as a "fur bearing" species and we have an open hunting season on them.

I agree on the poor management of the elk herd. The Game and Fish are allocating way too many permits in some areas. Look at 5A - I have hunted this area on and off for elk and deer since 1980. This is always my first choice for both species. I have hunted from the pinon/junipers to along the rim (6,000ft to 7400ft). The increase in rifle bull tags have more than doubled in the last 5 years. I drew a tag this year - one of 340. I thought to myself, man this is alot of tags. But I know the unit and had confidence that I could get away from hunters. I hunted for 5 days in areas that I have shot elk and have always seen multiple bulls on any given day. I DID NOT SEE 1 ELK. I couldn't believe it. My friend hunted for 7 days and jumped 2 elk. We are both experienced hunters and hunted in completely different areas of the unit. Too increase the permits from less than 100 bull tags 6 or 7 years ago to 340 is ludicrous. I know that animal management is done more effectively by controlling the female population, but AZGFD has destroyed the elk population in 5A. LOWER THE NUMBER OF ELK TAGS! And get rid of the wolves.

Wolves will breed like mad and are very invasive. Look what happened to the deer herd in 27. I agree with Bill - once they re-establish themselves in southern AZ our Coues population will be destroyed. They are eating machines and do not kill only when hungry. I bet the wolf pack that killed the doe in the above picture did not come back to feed on her again. My brother-in-law heard wolves howling in 4B the day before his late cow hunt started. They are moving West. Where is my shovel?

As I am getting ready to leave on a bull hunt today after dinner, I am thinking back to my last bull elk hunt, four years ago. The hunt started off with absolutely great weather, lows in the 20's and highs in the 60s. I passed on several small bulls. I had the whole week to hunt and was holding out for a nice bull. Some of you may remember that year, Monday night the weather turned and it stated getting really cold and snow. The lows hit single digits and it snowed all day Tuesday and Tuesday night. Well, I hunted in the snow and got a shot at a small 4 point - I missed. That night I cleaned my gun, wrapped in a down jacket and went to bed. Early the next morning I got onto a set of bull tracks. The wind was blowing like mad and I would guess the temp to be around 10 degrees. About 8 am I catch up to the bull I was tracking and see it feeding in the snow about 40 yards away. His head is down and his antlers are moving back and forth as he digs through 4 inches of snow to find some food. What an awesome sight! I kneel down, settle the cross hairs behind his shoulder and pull the trigger. The trigger doesn't move.......so, I check the safety, move it twice, re-shoulder my 700 and pull the trigger again. No movement at all. At this point the bull has no idea I am there and frustration is starting to set in. I chamber a new round, pull the trigger, nothing. I decided to take a round out of my pocket - chamber it and try once more. I was afraid I was going to break the trigger as I pulled with all my might. At this point I realize my trigger is froze. A layer of ice must have formed behind the trigger the night before. Picture a 38 year old man spitting behind the trigger trying to melt the ice with a perfectly symmetrical 6X6 40 yards away. I could not get it melted and the bull walked off. I was about ready to cry. Actually, I really thought about throwing my gun and go after this bull with my Buck knife. As the weather looks pretty nasty for this year's hunt, I am praying that this will not happen again. I will be carrying my Dan Wesson .357 just in case....... Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm heading out Friday morning early on an elk hunt in 5A. I was planning on hunting off the 300 road about 10 miles East of Hwy 87. This is my usual spot for this unit. Anyone have any idea how much snow they got in that area? I know that when there is enough snow on the rim, the elk move north towards Winslow. Anyone think they may be on the move from this past storm? Thanks for your thoughts........

Thanks for this link - never knew they had a camera at Clints Wells. This is great! Not much snow as of 6:00.

I'll be in 5A. You guys think the elk will be moving to their winter range? Any idea how much snow the rim got?

Sight it in with one brand and stay with it. My daughter uses a .270. She shoots Remington's managed recoil 115 grain bullets. I thought I would try a Hornady 140 grain just to see if it shoots the same. Well, not even close. I shot two Hornady rounds at 100 yards and they both were 2 inches high and 3 inches to the right. Then I shot a Remington round - dead on, covered the X. My daughter shot a Remington round next, covered what was left of the X. So, all the these years, I have always shot Core - Lokt out my model 700's in a 30-06, .270, and .243 caliber. Seems to hold true every season.......not the most expensive ammo, but works for my family.

Thanks for the advice. It does not seem too difficult. I think I will start Monday afternoon.....I think eventually, I may replace the whole front panel. I can rocks getting kicked up and more cracks and holes occurring.

I bought a 1987 Coleman tent trailer from a friend of mine today. My daughter has a deer hunt next weekend and my younger daughter has been complaining about tent camping again. Even though I have hunted out of a wall tent for 25 plus years, I figured my wife and daughters may stay with me if I made it more comfortable for them. Anyway, I paid $500 for it and the canvas is perfect. It has hardly been used at all. Actually, the original tags are still on the zippers. He just put new tires, regulator, water pump and propane line. Here's the problem.......he had a blow out last time he used it and damaged the fiberglass in the front of the trailer. There is a hole roughly 9 inches at it's widest spot by about 7 inches. It is a jagged hole that is right on the outer edge of the front panel. I thought of placing a piece of aluminum or sheet metal across the entire front and rivet it to the sides. Any ideas how to repair it? Is their a fiberglass repair kit for a hole this big? Where would I buy it? Thanks for your advice........I would hate to use duct tape, but may have to, we leave Thursday for her hunt.........

I agree, I think they were 2 separate offenses. I had no idea that there were that many people living in the woods. We always talk about how we have to worry about our camps and safety down south, does this mean we now have to start worrying about our camp and safety up north too? Breaking the law is breaking the law. If they poach, what will prevent them from stealing my cooler or lantern or sleeping bag while I am out hunting. And you are so right, if these guys are truly getting food for their family, then shame on them for not taking the whole animal. But, why not shoot a smaller animal. I'm sure they have no way to preserve the meat. Anyway, I play by the rules. I went to college, took out loans and finished a master's degree. I have a job I love - don't get paid much, education is not a wealthy profession. If I can't afford something, I do without.

I just read about two bull elk that were illegally killed in Unit 5A in September. The poachings occurred outside of Clints Wells. I have hunted this area for over 25 years and have spent countless hours in the woods. Like many of you, I sometimes see the same bulls and bucks year after year. When these things happen it is such a tragic event. This always upsets me, this time more than ever - I have a bull tag up there in November. I wish I was up there scouting when this happened and had a chance to get a plate number on one of these scumbags. Anyway, take a look at the article link below and if you saw something suspicious - report it. http://azgfd.net/artman/publish/NewsMedia/...n-Arizona.shtml

What a great family outing. Congratulations on a successful hunt.

116 7/8

Nice story - hoping my 12 year old daughter can harvest her first deer this year. And you are so right, they grow up very fast!

Agreed - get the meat off the bone, keep it clean and out of water (melted ice) use frozen milk jugs, and keep the flies off. Shade and creek beds make a big difference. After a deer or elk has been cooled through, it can be wrapped with a blanket during the day to keep it insulated and keep the cold from escaping the meat. Then unwrap it at night so it can cool even more. In October down south, this will not work. But up north in late October and November, I have done this a number of times. This seems to always age the meat just right, so after 2 or 3 days it is ready to start butchering. Three hours in a pack in 80 or 90 degree weather will spoil the meat. Most packs don't breathe much. Use pillow cases strapped to the outside of the pack or use just a framed pack. Let the meat breathe......

I've seen a decline of deer in unit 27 since the wolves were released up there. They also seem more skittish - if that is possible for a whitetail????

Where is the pic????? I must really be missing something. I can't find the pic and I would love to see it - i need some excitement before my bull hunt! Thanks if someone can point me in the right direction.

I'd saw you have been lucky - congrats!! BTW, I think I have 17 points now for antelope if you want to increase your chances of getting drawn .

The first buck looks every bit of 16" - I think a few more. I'd say it may be close to 90. It really stands out in the herd.......I would not pass it up. Even though I have not had a tag in 20 plus years, this one would do very nicely.

Well, I finally broke down and got another dog. I had German Shorthairs growing up. And more recently, the family had an American Eskimo, which had cancer and we had to put down a few years ago. So, my daughters wanted a lab and we got the one you see below. The first two pics, she is about 9 weeks old. The third pic, was yesterday by the pool, she's now 3 months old. She already loves the water and does well on a leash. She sits and stays pretty well. She has alot of energy, of course, but loves to sleep too. Stays in her crate from 10pm to 5 am. Pretty good. Of course, she is right by bed, so I hear her move around, but doesn't cry until 5am. She is very different from the Shorthairs and Eskimo I have had, so I have a few questions. When do labs stop biting stop? My daughters are going crazy. She often has a very "soft" bit, but that can turn hard very quickly. Any tips to get her to stop? Not much is working. Do we just live with it for a while? Hasn't chewed up anything in the house yet. We distract her with ice, carrots and toys. Will pool water hurt her? She likes to bite at it and drink some when she's on the steps or swimming. What age can I get her used to a cap gun and .22 blanks? She is mellow in the sense that noises do not bother her. Can .22 blanks be used in a 22 LR H and R pistol (break action)?? Thanks for any input you dog owners have. Sam

Glad it wasn't CWD. From the video, it looked bad. Thanks go out to Nitro and Amanda for contacting AZGFD. But, many thanks go to AZGFD for following up so quickly!

I would set my scope to 400 yards. Aim dead on and about 2 to 3 inches behind the shoulder (that is if I wasn't so excited that I forgot to check the wind). 30-06, 180 grain bullet.

Absolutely try to get closer. After all, is that what hunting is all about. Making a connection with your quarry, trying to outsmart it, and then make a clean ethical kill. If the stalk is blown, so be it. We need to think back to the days when all we had were 9 power scopes and no range finders. We relied on our hunting skills, not our high tech equipment. Glad to see most people said no shot.

How about PONDEROSA'S ........ after all we have the largest continuous stand of them - at least, I think we still do as long as that fire north of Flagstaff gets put out soon......