Don Martin

Scrub oaks???? Looked like Ponderosa to me... Now you know why 275 inch bulls break up their antlers a lot! Great video! That is a vdeographer's dream. Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

How old and what do you think the ram you passed would score? I really like those old busted up guys! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Great ram! Congrats on a job well done! Got some age on him and lots of character. You should be proud! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Give 'em about 3 years and the larger one will be a shooter! Excellent footage. Thanks for sharing. Don Martin Ariozna Wildlife Outfitters

That is an awesome 15B West ram! Congrats! What kind of bases did he have? Sheep in there now have small bases. 13 to 14 inch are the average. Again great ram! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

That is absolutely outstanding! Good job to all who made it happen, and to a very good "mom" who gave up her tag to her young son! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

They have pretty much got it outlined in the other posts but here is a weird one I'll share with you. A few years back I had a friend from CA who told me he wanted to start applying for antelope. I told him to put in for points for a few years then give it a shot. He said nope, I want to start now applying for a tag. He was a ML hunter so that year he applied for Unit 18A, which had 10 tags as his first choice.. Under the 10% rule than meant only one NR tag COULD be issued for that hunt. Well it seems that the first two tags were issued to AZ residents under the 20% pass, and guess what? He got tag number 10 for that hunt! Unreal. But that's the beauty of the bonus point vs preference point system. This same kind of thing can happen again, but wow, not very often. He was very,very lucky! I use this example in my Hunter Education classes to show that a NR hunter can draw in some situations (not AZ Strip deer or early elk) draw a tag!. Don Martin Hunter Educatiom Instructor Kingman

Thanks, Don

If you are a javelina hunter and think you are going to want to hunt javelina on the Boquillas Ranch in Unit 10, you might want to read this article I wrote and have posted in other forums. Fellow Sportsmen: I'm sure by now you may have heard about a proposed access agreement by the Arizona Game & Fish Department for the Boquillas Ranch. This agreement, if it is signed by all the parties (AZ G&F Commission, Navajo Nation, Cholla Land & Cattle Co.) will define the way access is granted on this 750,000 acre ranch from now through 2015. NOTE: AS OF THIS TIME THE DOCUMENT HAS NOT BEEN SIGNED! My understanding is that since this document was passed out at the Commission meeting on Saturday, there have been three revisions to it! So there obviously have been some changes made in the document, but I don't know what they are. This is what I wrote for our local newspaper about what I know about this story. " I’ve said it many, many times before in past articles I’ve written in the Miner about sportsmen and the almost unfettered access they have enjoyed on the Boquillas Ranch. And I hate to point my finger at some of my friends and say, “I told you so,” but guess what? It’s finally looks like it is going to happen. It is like a tsunami on the horizon. It’s coming and it appears that barring some kind of major meltdown, there nothing much that can happen to stop it from changing the hunter access on the 750,000 acre Boquillas Ranch in Unit 10. What is going to bring this change is outlined in a 13-page Department document entitled “Cooperative Stewardship Agreement For Recreational Access.” I had learned from various sources that for some time the department was actively working on an agreement with the Navajo Nation, who owns the almost 500,000 acres of privately deeded lands within the ranch boundaries. Discussions were also held with the Cholla Land and Cattle Company, which currently leases the ranch from the Navajo Nation and runs the livestock operation there. But it wasn’t until I learned last week there was an item on the agenda for the G&F Commission on 1-11-2013 meeting which addressed a written proposal and a power point presentation to the Commission about this issue that the contents of the document became public knowledge. As information on what had been presented became public, it was apparent that some sweeping changes were being proposed by G&F. I spoke with Region 3 Supervisor Tom Finley at the G&F awards banquet last Saturday night (1-12-2013) and requested a meeting with him on Monday to go over the document. Subsequently I met with Finley (1-14-2013) and was given a copy of the document. As I read through it I have to admit I was shocked at what I was reading, and had many questions for Finley. Our over two hour conversation was cordial and pleasant and the long time departmental employee was very open and honest when it came to answering the questions I asked. Finley told me a lot of history about the access issues on the Boquillas Ranch, some of which I did not know. For instance did you know that there has not been a signed access agreement between the Navajo Nation and the Department regarding sportsman’s access on the ranch for many years? “Each year we just kind of held our breath and hoped that things would stay the same,” Finley said. Finley pointed out that the department had conducted projects in years past on the Boquillas to help mitigate issues caused by wildlife and/or sportsmen. There was the grading of some ranch roads using department equipment, funding for cleaning out stock tanks, habitat improvement projects, placing informational signs on ranch access points, and patrolling of the vast ranch during hunts by officers. There was also a sign in/sign out system put in place to see who was utilizing the ranch. And let’s not forget how the Mohave Sportsman Club held an annual ranch cleanup up out there for 21 years! But despite all of that, it finally came to the point where the Navajo Nation said they were going to close down the ranch. Finley said, “I got a call last fall from an official with the Navajo Nation and was told that the tribe intended to close down the ranch to hunters effective January 1, 2013.” Finley noted that as private landowners the ranch can control access and does have the authority to close the ranch down if they wanted. But the call came with an offer for G&F to meet with tribal officials and the Cholla Land & Cattle company and once more try and write up an agreement that would continue to allow sportsman access on the ranch. Finley said he was given the assignment by G&F Director Larry Voyles and Deputy Director Gary Hovatter to write up the proposal. “It has been a challenge for sure,” Finley said. “I feel like I have a big bull’s-eye on my chest.” Finley stated several times that sportsmen need to understand that the document has not been signed by all the parties, that it is actually going through a third revision. And Finley noted that the bottom line was that the Navajo Nation could legally at any time, close the ranch to hunter access. “They are already empowered to do what they want, as far as access on their private property is concerned.” Despite all those admonitions I think it is going to be a done deal. My take on this is that it is not if this agreement will be signed, it is only when. So let me get right to point and list some of the things that may be of interest to you as a sportsman who want to hunt on the Boquillas. Remember, this information is off the draft that was presented to the Commission. And as Finley noted, there are other revisions that already have been made. So some of these actions may be subject to change. First of all the ranch is going to start charging what is called a Recreational Impact Fee. That fee will be $60 for a recreational user over 18 years of age. The fee for guides is $200. I should note here that these permits are for each hunt. So if a sportsman has drawn two big game tags and wants to hunt on the Boquillas both times, they will have to pay for TWO separate RIF fees. Also anyone who helps or assists on big game hunts will also have to pay the $60 RIF fee. There are a number of exceptions especially when it comes to youth hunts, and disabled hunters. There are currently listed 26 ranch rules. I don’t have enough room to list them all. Here are a few. The ranch will not be open year around. Rule 5 of the 2013 Ranch Rules state: “Access by Recreational Users to the Big Boquillas Ranch will open 10 days prior to the archery-only pronghorn hunt opening date (late August) . Access before that date is prohibited on the Big Boquillas Ranch, unless otherwise expressly authorized in writing by the Lessee.” Under Rule 6, “Access by Recreational Users to the Big Boquillas Ranch will close 5 days after the conclusion of the December antlerless elk hunt. Access after that date is prohibited on the Big Boquillas Ranch, unless otherwise expressly authorized in writing by the Lessee.” That means no January archery deer or javelina hunts. There will be no general javelina hunts in February, or spring turkey hunts on the ranch. The ranch will not be open for prairie dog hunting in the summer until mid August. Organized predator hunts may be allowed on a case by case basis. Here are just a few of the other ranch rules that may be in force this year. Under Rule 14. “The use of trail cameras, scouting cameras or any other automated remote device camera systems is prohibited on the Big Boquillas Ranch. Rule 15 states, “The construction of or use of blinds or tree stands (commercial or otherwise) is prohibited on the Big Boquillas Ranch. Rule 16 states, “Hunting within 100 yards of a water source is prohibited on the Big Boquillas Ranch. Other proposed rules state that, “The use of any substance to attract wildlife (baiting) is prohibited on the Big Boquillas Ranch. (rule 20) “All spotlighting is prohibited on the Big Boquillas Ranch.” (rule 25) Now many may feel that these rules are unreasonable. But think of what the alternatives are. One is the Boquillas ranch could be completely shut down to all sportsman access. The other option, which may be called “elitist” is what is going on the ORO Ranch right now. In that situation you must call the Outfitter (Chad Smith) who controls access to the ranch, and you must pay fees according to what you have a tag for. And those fees are not chump change, especially for elk. I was told that fees from $8-10 thousand dollars for elk seem to be the going rate there. Same thing also happens closer to Kingman on the X Bar One Ranch in Unit 18A. Again you have to contact the ranch owners and pay fees, depending on what tag you have drawn. At this point there are many, many more questions that are going to have to be answered for sportsmen who I feel aren’t going to particularly embrace this proposal. In the end I bet after all the whining and griping by sportsmen, they’ll pay the fees and continue to hunt out there. I’ve suggested to Findley that some kind of public outreach should be done to let sportsmen know why this has all been proposed. Times have changed and so has the rules for access on large blocks of private lands. Wildlife and sportsmen no doubt cause an increase in ranch operations. The Cholla Land and Cattle company says they spend $500,000 annually for maintenance on the Boquillas. However there is no way that all of that can be attributed to wildlife and/or sportsmen. But it may be reasonable that a private landowner can obtain some compensation—and I don’t mean landowner tags—for allowing access on their lands. Right now, sportsmen from all over the nation are applying for antelope and elk tags in Arizona. There are almost 2,500 elk tags proposed for Unit 10, and 145 antelope tags. Know that if you apply for any of those tags and draw them, there is a very good chance that at least some and maybe all of the rules outlined here are going to apply. If you want a copy of the original document, it is a public record and Region 3 should provide it for you. If you have concerns, questions, or suggestions, contact Finley at his department e-mail address of tfinley@azgfd.gov " Well there you have it. I'm not saying if this is good or bad. I do know that shutting it down will cause a lot of issues with tag revenues for the Department and will cause a lot of grief to sportsmen who have already applied for antelope or elk tags in Unit 10. And it will cause issues for the Cholla folks as left unchecked, the elk population will absolutely explode. I do know that the Cholla folks do want elk hunters there. Each and every one of us will have to make a decision if we think this is a good or bad idea and if we want to continue to hunt on the Boquillas. If we do, then we'll be paying fees and abiding by the agreed upon ranch rules. Then there is the question about what may be a be the trickle down effect for other AZ landowners who might want to implement the same or similar "deal" with the Department. And what about the State Trust Lands (250,000 acres) that are mostly surrounded by the almost 500,000 acres of private land? Like I said many, many questions will need to be answered. I do have the complete report on a pdf file. If you would like it, send me an e-mail at awoguide@citlink.net and I'll be glad to send it to you and can read it in its entirety for yourself. I am putting this out here not to stir up a firestorm. It is here because I think the public has a right to know what is going on with this very important issue of access on the largest ranch in northwest Arizona. Don Martin

Brian is right on in his assessment of the 20% pass rule on sheep in AZ! If you are in the max bonus point pool for sheep, you'll actually get two chances to draw a sheep tag. First one will be during the 20% pass draw, the other in the regular draw. Alll the rest of us poor saps only get one crack, the regular draw. Don Martin Hunter Education Instructor Kingman

Before you apply for an elk tag in Unit 10,. you had better read my post about the proposal for the Boquillas Ranch in Unit 10 that I think will probably end up being signed by all involved. Besides a $60 fee per per person in camp hunt, there are also 26 ranch rules that will be in place.(some I ilikesome are??) I can send you the entire proposal if you want send me an e-mail at awoguide@citlink.net. Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

That is a great bull and no--you didn't get weak, anyone hwo hunts in that unit who passed that bull in 2012 would be crazy! Good job guys! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Josh, that is a true bull of a lifetime! That is in my view-My dream bull! Even though I don't put in for bull tags anymore, if I did that's the kind of bull I'd want. I'd gladly trade my 378 6 X 6 bull for that one anyday! Good job, you guys are awesome! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Awesome, good job by all involved, and what a well placed shot! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

If you are an antelope hunter and think you are going to want to hunt antelope on the Boquillas Ranch in Unit 10, you might want to read this article I wrote and have posted in other forums. Fellow Sportsmen: I'm sure by now you may have heard about a proposed access agreement by the Arizona Game & Fish Department for the Boquillas Ranch. This agreement, if it is signed by all the parties (AZ G&F Commission, Navajo Nation, Cholla Land & Cattle Co.) will define the way access is granted on this 750,000 acre ranch from now through 2015. NOTE: AS OF THIS TIME THE DOCUMENT HAS NOT BEEN SIGNED! My understanding is that since this document was passed out at the Commission meeting on Saturday, there have been three revisions to it! So there obviously have been some changes made in the document, but I don't know what they are. This is what I wrote for our local newspaper about what I know about this story. " I’ve said it many, many times before in past articles I’ve written in the Miner about sportsmen and the almost unfettered access they have enjoyed on the Boquillas Ranch. And I hate to point my finger at some of my friends and say, “I told you so,” but guess what? It’s finally looks like it is going to happen. It is like a tsunami on the horizon. It’s coming and it appears that barring some kind of major meltdown, there nothing much that can happen to stop it from changing the hunter access on the 750,000 acre Boquillas Ranch in Unit 10. What is going to bring this change is outlined in a 13-page Department document entitled “Cooperative Stewardship Agreement For Recreational Access.” I had learned from various sources that for some time the department was actively working on an agreement with the Navajo Nation, who owns the almost 500,000 acres of privately deeded lands within the ranch boundaries. Discussions were also held with the Cholla Land and Cattle Company, which currently leases the ranch from the Navajo Nation and runs the livestock operation there. But it wasn’t until I learned last week there was an item on the agenda for the G&F Commission on 1-11-2013 meeting which addressed a written proposal and a power point presentation to the Commission about this issue that the contents of the document became public knowledge. As information on what had been presented became public, it was apparent that some sweeping changes were being proposed by G&F. I spoke with Region 3 Supervisor Tom Finley at the G&F awards banquet last Saturday night (1-12-2013) and requested a meeting with him on Monday to go over the document. Subsequently I met with Finley (1-14-2013) and was given a copy of the document. As I read through it I have to admit I was shocked at what I was reading, and had many questions for Finley. Our over two hour conversation was cordial and pleasant and the long time departmental employee was very open and honest when it came to answering the questions I asked. Finley told me a lot of history about the access issues on the Boquillas Ranch, some of which I did not know. For instance did you know that there has not been a signed access agreement between the Navajo Nation and the Department regarding sportsman’s access on the ranch for many years? “Each year we just kind of held our breath and hoped that things would stay the same,” Finley said. Finley pointed out that the department had conducted projects in years past on the Boquillas to help mitigate issues caused by wildlife and/or sportsmen. There was the grading of some ranch roads using department equipment, funding for cleaning out stock tanks, habitat improvement projects, placing informational signs on ranch access points, and patrolling of the vast ranch during hunts by officers. There was also a sign in/sign out system put in place to see who was utilizing the ranch. And let’s not forget how the Mohave Sportsman Club held an annual ranch cleanup up out there for 21 years! But despite all of that, it finally came to the point where the Navajo Nation said they were going to close down the ranch. Finley said, “I got a call last fall from an official with the Navajo Nation and was told that the tribe intended to close down the ranch to hunters effective January 1, 2013.” Finley noted that as private landowners the ranch can control access and does have the authority to close the ranch down if they wanted. But the call came with an offer for G&F to meet with tribal officials and the Cholla Land & Cattle company and once more try and write up an agreement that would continue to allow sportsman access on the ranch. Finley said he was given the assignment by G&F Director Larry Voyles and Deputy Director Gary Hovatter to write up the proposal. “It has been a challenge for sure,” Finley said. “I feel like I have a big bull’s-eye on my chest.” Finley stated several times that sportsmen need to understand that the document has not been signed by all the parties, that it is actually going through a third revision. And Finley noted that the bottom line was that the Navajo Nation could legally at any time, close the ranch to hunter access. “They are already empowered to do what they want, as far as access on their private property is concerned.” Despite all those admonitions I think it is going to be a done deal. My take on this is that it is not if this agreement will be signed, it is only when. So let me get right to point and list some of the things that may be of interest to you as a sportsman who want to hunt on the Boquillas. Remember, this information is off the draft that was presented to the Commission. And as Finley noted, there are other revisions that already have been made. So some of these actions may be subject to change. First of all the ranch is going to start charging what is called a Recreational Impact Fee. That fee will be $60 for a recreational user over 18 years of age. The fee for guides is $200. I should note here that these permits are for each hunt. So if a sportsman has drawn two big game tags and wants to hunt on the Boquillas both times, they will have to pay for TWO separate RIF fees. Also anyone who helps or assists on big game hunts will also have to pay the $60 RIF fee. There are a number of exceptions especially when it comes to youth hunts, and disabled hunters. There are currently listed 26 ranch rules. I don’t have enough room to list them all. Here are a few. The ranch will not be open year around. Rule 5 of the 2013 Ranch Rules state: “Access by Recreational Users to the Big Boquillas Ranch will open 10 days prior to the archery-only pronghorn hunt opening date (late August) . Access before that date is prohibited on the Big Boquillas Ranch, unless otherwise expressly authorized in writing by the Lessee.” Under Rule 6, “Access by Recreational Users to the Big Boquillas Ranch will close 5 days after the conclusion of the December antlerless elk hunt. Access after that date is prohibited on the Big Boquillas Ranch, unless otherwise expressly authorized in writing by the Lessee.” That means no January archery deer or javelina hunts. There will be no general javelina hunts in February, or spring turkey hunts on the ranch. The ranch will not be open for prairie dog hunting in the summer until mid August. Organized predator hunts may be allowed on a case by case basis. Here are just a few of the other ranch rules that may be in force this year. Under Rule 14. “The use of trail cameras, scouting cameras or any other automated remote device camera systems is prohibited on the Big Boquillas Ranch. Rule 15 states, “The construction of or use of blinds or tree stands (commercial or otherwise) is prohibited on the Big Boquillas Ranch. Rule 16 states, “Hunting within 100 yards of a water source is prohibited on the Big Boquillas Ranch. Other proposed rules state that, “The use of any substance to attract wildlife (baiting) is prohibited on the Big Boquillas Ranch. (rule 20) “All spotlighting is prohibited on the Big Boquillas Ranch.” (rule 25) Now many may feel that these rules are unreasonable. But think of what the alternatives are. One is the Boquillas ranch could be completely shut down to all sportsman access. The other option, which may be called “elitist” is what is going on the ORO Ranch right now. In that situation you must call the Outfitter (Chad Smith) who controls access to the ranch, and you must pay fees according to what you have a tag for. And those fees are not chump change, especially for elk. I was told that fees from $8-10 thousand dollars for elk seem to be the going rate there. Same thing also happens closer to Kingman on the X Bar One Ranch in Unit 18A. Again you have to contact the ranch owners and pay fees, depending on what tag you have drawn. At this point there are many, many more questions that are going to have to be answered for sportsmen who I feel aren’t going to particularly embrace this proposal. In the end I bet after all the whining and griping by sportsmen, they’ll pay the fees and continue to hunt out there. I’ve suggested to Findley that some kind of public outreach should be done to let sportsmen know why this has all been proposed. Times have changed and so has the rules for access on large blocks of private lands. Wildlife and sportsmen no doubt cause an increase in ranch operations. The Cholla Land and Cattle company says they spend $500,000 annually for maintenance on the Boquillas. However there is no way that all of that can be attributed to wildlife and/or sportsmen. But it may be reasonable that a private landowner can obtain some compensation—and I don’t mean landowner tags—for allowing access on their lands. Right now, sportsmen from all over the nation are applying for antelope and elk tags in Arizona. There are almost 2,500 elk tags proposed for Unit 10, and 145 antelope tags. Know that if you apply for any of those tags and draw them, there is a very good chance that at least some and maybe all of the rules outlined here are going to apply. If you want a copy of the original document, it is a public record and Region 3 should provide it for you. If you have concerns, questions, or suggestions, contact Finley at his department e-mail address of tfinley@azgfd.gov " Well there you have it. I'm not saying if this is good or bad. I do know that shutting it down will cause a lot of issues with tag revenues for the Department and will cause a lot of grief to sportsmen who have already applied for antelope or elk tags in Unit 10. And it will cause issues for the Cholla folks as left unchecked, the elk population will absolutely explode. I do know that the Cholla folks do want elk hunters there. Each and every one of us will have to make a decision if we think this is a good or bad idea and if we want to continue to hunt on the Boquillas. If we do, then we'll be paying fees and abiding by the agreed upon ranch rules. Then there is the question about what may be a be the trickle down effect for other AZ landowners who might want to implement the same or similar "deal" with the Department. And what about the State Trust Lands (250,000 acres) that are mostly surrounded by the almost 500,000 acres of private land? Like I said many, many questions will need to be answered. I do have the complete report on a pdf file. If you would like it, send me an e-mail at awoguide@citlink.net and I'll be glad to send it to you and can read it in its entirety for yourself. I am putting this out here not to stir up a firestorm. It is here because I think the public has a right to know what is going on with this very important issue of access on the largest ranch in northwest Arizona. Don Martin

Wow, nothing for me and the lady friend. That means 14 bonus points for deer, 20 for sheep for me. Hope I live long enough to cash them in! Tried to check on my grandson who was applying for the first time and it said no record found! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Fellow Sportsmen: I am in need of a used set of good quality truck tires, size LT 265 70 R 17 Load Range E tires for my F-350 Ford. I will trade an overnight fishing trip for two persons (value $450) on Lake Mead in exchange for the tires. You can bring two more persons if your tires are worth at least $650, which is the value of my trips for four persons. This is a real deal, I am the only licensed guide by the LMNRA that operates on the east end of the lake. My business is Striper Hunters and we really do catch a lot of fish on our night time trips out of South Cove. I am a certified captain by the US Coast Guard. Got many, many references that I will gladly furnish to you to call toi verify what I am saying. Here are some recent (June-July) photos of our night time trips. We have averaged between 90 and 110 fish a night, with a high of 133 fish! You can expect to take home over 20 + lbs of striped bass and/or catfish filets! I can be reached at striperhunters@frontier.com or at awoguide@frontiernet.net This isn't meant to be an advertisement for my fishing guide service; I really need some tires and just want to trade someone for a great night time fishing trip! Capt Don Martin Stripers Hunters & Arizona Wildlife Outfitters P.S. This first attachment-the Lee family trip- we caught those 133 fish in just FOUR hours of fishing on July 14th!

Did you sell these items yet? If not, give me a call at 928-303-9481 and let's talk. Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

The annual Mohave Sportsman Club sponsored Boquillas Ranch clean up is set for July 28. This project is designed to help keep access free on the 750,000 acre Boquillas Ranch in Unit 10. Over 20 years ago when I was president of the MSC Isigned an agrrement with the Navajo Nation, the ranch owner, and the AZ G&F Dept. as part of their Adopt A Ranch Program to do a one day clean up each year. In exchange we were given free access to hunt and recreate. That was a heck of a deal then and even better now. Over 3,000 big game tags for this unit and for the most part, still good access on almost all of the ranch. Project starts at 8 a.m. We meet at the Pica Camp, which is two miles north of old highway 66 at mile pst 123.5. Unit Manager Ben Shelby will be there to give a short talk, and then we head out. G&F will have a trash recepticle there at 5 p.m. G&F gives oput maps, gloves, water and Ben will give you the "hot spots" for those of you who have tags there this fall. A good time to scout, shoot at prairie dogs and/or coyotes and have a good time with the family. Bring some sleeping bags and spend the night! Its gonna be a lot cooler there than in the valley! Hope to see you there! Don Martin Govt Liaison Mohave Sportsman Club This is all we had show up in 2011! Here are a few sportsmen signing up and meeting the G&F people who were there These are members of the Kingman Hunter Education team who were there last year.

If you want to catch and bring home an ice chest full of good eating striped bass and catfish, now is the time to go to South Cove on Lake Mead. Night time trips are producung from 80-130 fish a night. Though not giants, the best we've got has been 4.85 lbs this summer, you'll catch a lot of fish! All you need is floating lights, a boat, frozen anchovies and squid and deep water (80-100 feet). Or give me a call this month and if you bring a young person under 18, the cost of a trip is about half of a regular trip. Here are some recent trip photos. Capt. Don Martin Striper Hunters

Wanted to share with all you fellow turkey hunters our recent turkey hunt on the San Carlos Inidan Resvervation. First of all I want to thank Mr. Jim Warren (Old Gobbler) for the invite to camp with him and his friends. Jim and a few friends and a son in law all had tags, and it was a pleasure to share hunting tales with them around the campfire. Jim's knowledge of that area around Point of Pines is uncanny! Our hunt started off pretty good. We got there very late on a Saturday night and decided just to pull off the road, get some sleep and then try to find Jim's campsite on Sunday morning. After a short night, we headed out and right off the bat, we watched two good gobblers walking across the road heading for for or from a nearby water tank. We could have filled two tags easily, but that's not why we were there. We wanted to hunt, not just kill a bird! My buddies on this tri[ included Jimmy Wilhelm, a 63-year-old veterant turkey hunter who up to that point had taken gobblers in 48 states in the U.S. All he needed was a bird from Arizona to be one of a handful of men who had completed that unusual task of taking a gobbler in all 49 states that have them. (Only Alaska does not have turkeys!). His friend--and mine now, was Jim Ward. Jim is a veteran turkey hunter who has about 50 birds under his belt and when he got his Arizona Merriams, he would have a slam of turkeys! He had previously got a number of Easterns, Rio Grande and even an Osceola gobbler! Jim owns Warbird calls, and I can tell you, his custom turkey calls work great on AZ birds! Both of these guys hail from the great state of Virginia! Jimmy asked me where a guy should go to get a AZ Merriams as he had hunted once here on his own with no success, and once on the AZ Strip with no success. This was to be his third 2,500 mile round trip to AZ and he wanted to know where his best chance to get his 49th gobbler would be. Without hesitation I told him the San Carlos Reservation! We got our 2012 tags in 2011 as they always sell out a year in advance, its that good there! Anyway after our Sunday a.m. encounter with the two gobblers we headed along the main road until we found Warren's camp. We learned that two in camp had filled tags, while two others, Jim and Ralph, had both missed shots at birds. Before you say, "What how do you miss a turkey?" Wait till you hear as Paul Harvey would say, "The Rest of The Story." Jim told us of a water nearby and we decided to make a quick run out there, more just to learn the country, not expecting to see or hear any gobblers. We stopped two or three times along the way and the "boys" sent out some plaintive hen calls which sounded awful good to me! But we got no responses. When we got to the tank, we walked around it and the only tracks we saw were elk and cattle. We walked back to the truck and the boys set about making some hen calls. Suddenly, from the east came a real loud "Gobble-Gobble". We ran out and sat up in the brush and within minutes a long beard was strutting about 70 yards away. Unfortunately he locked up when he got to some laydowns, turned and walked away, still gobbling. Ok, gobblers 3, hunters 0. We went back to camp, got it set up and decided to do some more exploring in the afternoon. While just driving around we saw and heard more birds, but we didn't get any close encounters. Near sundown, we split up to try and listen for birds on the roost. As it turned out I found a couple of birds and was able to glass one up on the roost just 151 yards awy from the truck. I went back to camp and told the boys about it and said that Jimmy and I would go after him on Monday a.m. 0345 a.m did come early and off we went. I dropped Jim Ward off while Jimmy and I headed up the mountain to the previously roosted bird. We found him and I sent Jimmy down the mountain to get into position while I would wake the old gobbler up with some coyote howls from the Fox Pro call I had. Coyote howls did the trick and the old gobbler sounded off each time I played that coyote call. I figured that Jimmy had a bead on the location of thar roosted bird, so I sat down to watch the action. When I howled one more time, to the east of me I heard a distinct "gobble-gobble" from another roosted bird. I figured Jimmy had his bird located so I went back to the truck and grabbed my trusty SP-10 10 ga shotgun and headed down the mountain. I used the howler to get him located about 200 yards, sat down and waited. I didn;t have to wait long... The story is long, so I'll finish it up later! Bear with me. This is the Goulds gobbler my friend got on opeing day in Unit 35A. He weighed 22 lbs, had a 10.75 inch beard and a match pair of super sharp 1 1/8 inch spurs! Don Martin

Sorry its taken so long to get back to this. Fishing has started on Lake Mead and I've been doing some work up there! Anyway, I call this big longbeard in and still don't know how it happened, but I flat missed him at 45 yards! My first miss with Big Bertha on turlkeys! Anyway, I was disgusted and met up with Jim and Jimmy and told them what had happened. Jimmy decided to sit a small wet meadow while Jim decided to work the side of the mountain where he had heard a gobble. I headed down to a flat and saw some areas that had been tore up by turkeys. I walked away from the truck about 50 yards, called and four different gobbllers lit it up! Time was 7:30 a.m. Went back to the truck and got Big Bertha and set up. One bird with hens went up the hill about 100 yards from me, so I tried to move up only to spook another group of 4 hens and a big gobbler who was following them. They had been heading straight in to me. After they ran off I moved up a little farther and set up to call. Yep, the other two birds readily responded so I got ready. Within 5 minutes I had a long beard strutting through the pines. I had ranged the area and knew the "kill zone" and waited. One more little call and the gobbler was standing in front of me at 45 yards. Big Bertha spoke twice and the 10.5 inch bearded bird that weighed 20 lbs on Jim Warren's scales was mine! He even had 3/4 inch spurs. I met up with Jim and Jimmy and gave them the good news. We headed back to camp and I cleaned my bird. Jim and Jimmy went out that afternoon, but nothing was seen. On well, it was only Monday. The beard wasn't thick, but it was long. Definitely a mature gobbler! Jim Ward is on the left. More on the rest of the hunt later. Don Martin

Just wanted to say "Thanks" to all those who gave me some info on the recent Unit 35A Goulds turkey hunt. Special thanks to Wayne Kaiser and John Millican from the Huachuca Chapter of NWTF for their help. What a great bunch of guys! Met Matt Braun, the WM there and he is a good guy! Wayne even came out and spent a day with me even though he was getting ready for his own hunt up north! The week I spent there was a lot of fun and very educational. First of all I am glad we have so much border patrol presence down there. Those guys got a tough job trying to keep up with the smugglers- dope and human- who are in the area. Met some really great folks down there on the hunt, even though my friend Angelo Tiburti got finished very early on opening day. I think we have got the first bird of the hunt as we had to wait for the sun to come up to get our "Grip n Grin" photos! His numbers were pretty impressive. 22 lbs, 10.75 inch thick beard and razor sharp 1 1/8 inch perfectly matched spurs. From what I could find out, they don't get much better than that! And it was all due to the pre-season scouting. Just like anything else. Success comes much quicker to those that do a lot of pre-season work. Also met the Pebworth family down there, Ty, his son Ethan and daughter Brook. Brook had the tag and nailed a super gobbler on the evening of opening day! As we were leaving I met Russ Jacoby, one of the Hunter Ed instructors from Flagstaff, who was going after a big bird with his bow. Hope he did well! That guy is one heck of a bowhunter, I know that! Anyway here are a couple of photos. Now I know when I draw a tag I got a pretty good idea on where to start looking down there. Birds aren't everywhere, but once you find them and figure out their patterns, they are a ball to hunt. Don Martin

Congrats to you guys! Hunting the old fashioned way and getting it done, can it get any better than that? I doubt it. Enjoy the special memories of hunting with yuor dad, they are priceless! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

what an awesome story! Congrats to all. Hunting with family--especially your dad, that is what it is all about! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters