Sam

Great first deer - some guys would have given up on it. I have never seen an entire deer eaten in one night. I guess the desert is a harsh place. One year, I shot an elk and within an hour, there was a coyote tearing at it's hind quarter. I thought that was amazing.....but, nothing like this!

I just realized I never commented on this incredible deer. I was too caught up looking at the pictures and thinking how lucky you are to have both seen this guy alive and to have harvested him. Great job and congratulations!

You could be right on the anti's thing..... Might make a small difference, but again, I think the statistics show otherwise.... S. I agree about less anti's buying up the tags - but they do have to buy a license. How about when they allowed people to apply without a license and only issued a license if you got a tag. Now, that encouraged ALOT more people to apply. I went through some of the old stats. I'm thinking Game and Fish got rid of on-line apps in 2004. That was a very high application year for many units for the elk and antelope draw. Take a look. With the economy down, maybe we all might have a better chance of drawing a tag this year. I just wrote out $550.50 worth of application fees. With 15 bonus points, I may get an antelope tag. But, then again, I hoping there is a miracle and my daughter gets one with only 3 points:).

Great deer and pictures. Thanks for sharing a good story too!

Thanks for your thoughts Amanda and TJ. Here is a picture of Dave on a recent trout fishing trip.

I wasn't sure where to post this. Some of you may have known Dave Alves. Dave passed away Sunday night from a massive heart attack. He was a long time AZ resident and outdoors man. He loved to hunt and fish as much as possible. Dave retired from the Scottsdale School District a few years ago and was really starting to enjoy life. Sadly, his life was cut short at the age of 69. His wife will miss him greatly. Dave was a great man who cared about everyone. He actually gave my daughter her 270 Remington 700 BDL. He yelled at me for trying to pay him for it. He'll be missed! Sam

Beautiful pictures. Congratulations to Savannah on a great buck. I love this picture with Zip looking straight at this buck. What a harsh situation for her to overcome on the light rail. I'm so sick of hearing about innocent people, especially women, being hurt and taken advantage of. Glad she is ok. If we had stronger penalties for law breakers, maybe the criminals would be deterred.........

My kitchen table is full of notes, old stats and draw odds. My wife thinks I'm crazy to put this much time into it......little does she know I have a plan:). I write all my hunt numbers and hunt dates out on scratch paper way before I even touch an application. It is a challenge making sure my hunts don't conflict with my wife's or my daughter's. All I need is for us all to get drawn in different areas at the same time.......... By the way, I noticed a huge decline in applications after the Game and Fish did away with on-line credit card apps. There were way too many people applying when they didn't have to front the money. We can not let the GFD bring that back. NO ON LINE APPS! Now, if they have on line apps and also charge your credit card, that may work. But, I still think more people will apply. Writing out a check deters some people who just want to gamble........

A friend of mine used to hunt feral pigs alot in CA. The ranchers and farmers really wanted hunters to help control the population. The land destruction was really bad. But, he said they didn't taste very good and he doesn't hunt them anymore....... Are these pigs any good to eat??? I know I have to be careful on how I cook javelina.......

Nice Muley - Way to get it done before the New Year sets in.....

Congrats to DK. That is a great deer at any age!

What a hunt! Two great deer and a very cool story to go with the pictures. Congrats. Hope you got the sprinkler pipes fixed.........

Boy, I'm not so sure I would have passed him up on Saturday. You have alot of patience. Congrats on a fine deer.

Wow! Great deer. Congrats.

Great hunt - especially this year. Not alot of quail out there. I did manage a mixed bag a few weeks ago, with some gambles and scalies.

Love to watch them. One hunt, after a heavy rain, I got within a few yards of one and watched it lift up various types of roots and eat the bugs. It was really tugging on these roots. I've seen them up high in Mexican Blue oaks and Cottonwoods too. And packs with 20 plus animals in them. Very cool. Not sure if I would eat one???

Thanks. Boy, that is pretty lucky draw odds. That's good that you are sitting out this year. A friend of mine got his first tag this year - 31 years later!

This is truly a monster. Congratulations on the best deer I have seen in a long, long time. Great write up, something I'm sure you will always remember.

About 20 years ago while in college at NAU, my buddy shot a cow outside of Flag in similar conditions. After gutting the elk, he hiked out to a road and flagged someone down. This was before cell phones and he asked the person to call me when they got to a phone. They were very nice and actually called me to let me know he had an elk down. I knew exactly where he was. After driving out to the spot, I hiked in with my wooden toboggan in tow and the two off us pulled this cow out. I could not believe how easy it was. So, if you see a guy with a toboggan on a late elk hunt, don't laugh - it can make life easier...... Sam

Wow! Great bull on a tough hunt. It sounds like you know the unit and spent alot of time out there. Good job and yes most of understand the tears associated with joy! Boy, to be 25 again.......

You are a stud - yes girls can be studs too! Congrats on a job well done the hard way. Great deer and great trip with your dad. Ok, so when can I introduce you to my daughters. They complain when I say we're going up Camelback Mt. Sam

My thoughts and prayers are with the family. Looking at my own kids, I can only imagine the heartache. Seeing terminally ill kids is the hardest thing. I'm glad he was able to have a hunt that many people can only dream about. As for the burglars that broke into their home - I agree with CMC! Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up. But, then again, I think big brother should lay down heavy hands on all those who steal from others.

I'm thinking of a few other words besides "jerk hunter". That's really a shame that things like this have to happen.......

I have 15 BP for Antelope this year. Been putting in on and off since 1985. Hoping for my first tag this year! If I get drawn, I don't know what I'll do?? I think I'm too young to have a heart attack. Five points going in for elk. Good luck everyone.

I would have to say I always put in for units that I am most familiar with. This is my deciding factor. However, draw odds are also factoring in now a days. Seems like it is best to play the odds on the 2nd choice, because they most likely won't get to your 3rd, 4th , or 5th choices. Years ago, a guy could save his less desirable units for choice number 4 or 5 - not anymore, almost every unit is desirable for someone.