CouesPursuit

It's hard to imagine actually being there for that kind of phenomenon but those guys' giggling is priceless. Better than any drug I'd bet.

Great DIY buck and story, congratulations!

Man I enjoyed it the first time but I knew I was going to have to revisit it when the pictures came, great hunt and great buck and great write up!!

+1 and +1

As always, good looking out, rossislider!

Great job to the boys and their proud dads!

Sounds like great family time, congrats on a couple delicious trophies!

I learned and observed a few things - 1. Be comfortable: -Unless you're in a trailer or wall tent, Mr. Buddy is your best buddy. That little heater hooked through the tent to a 5 gallon propane tank outside was heaven. Kept everything I needed warm in the tent and it helped dry packs and boots at the end of each hunt day. I was 100% comfortable in a summer tent down to about 0 degrees with the heater on low. The rain fly will help retain heat but the heater's o2 sensor will shut it down if you don't have it vented some. -Bring two pairs of boots, even if one pair is a rubber muck boot or snowboarding boot. When you get back to camp, start the hunt boot drying immediately and put on your second pair. -Don't be too proud to get some hand warmers and stick them in your coat hand pockets, I used to always say what a waste of money, but after your hands touch the bare snow or cold metal of the tree stand, it was nice to get them thawed right back out and ready to go. -Baby wipes, water, scent spray, etc. = Totally useless unless it's in your tent overnight, keep those items thawed in your tent. -For me, wearing one pair of really good merino wool socks and adding wax dressing to my boots kept my feet amazingly dry and warm. The wax dressing or alternative water proofing is a must. -Wearing bibs and coveralls, were so incredibly warm compared to my warmest snow pants and jackets. Coveralls may also help with scent control and the ability to draw your bow back instead of wearing 5 layers of shirts etc. -Eating a banana, an apple, and quality oatmeal made me feel GREAT every morning, add a single cup of coffee and it kept me "regular" and clean as well. 2. Tree stands: -Scent control is still important but every time I checked the windicator it would rise around me. This was a nice change from the usual wind swirling and shooting down below me. -Kick off as much of the snow on your feet as possible. Any snow you bring up the stand with you has the potential to freeze and be slippery or freeze and be loud. -As said above by azpredator@work, stay in your stand as long as possible and stay optimistic. 3. Hunting in Snow: -Snow 24 hours old is nice and quiet, regardless of time of day. It was most quiet moving sideways through the snow instead of lifting my boot all the way in and out of the snow pack every step. -Day 3 after new snow had the most active deer. Day 2 had lots of snow falling from trees and may have spooked the deer a bit, it was tough to tell the different between something moving through the woods and snow falling from trees. -Blood trails in the snow are amazing, but that is no reason to rush the tracking process. Be methodical and track them right. I'll probably come up with a few more but those are some of the things I will remember for my next snow bow hunt.

I did it for the first time last year and will be doing it again at the end of the month. They turn out great. http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/42989-processing-from-ground-to-sausages-and-snack-sticks/

I wrote these minutes up for another effort and figured I'd share them with CWT since the department hasn't shared anything publicly themselves. If anything isn't clear let me know and I will do my best to fill the gaps. The meeting began promptly at 5:59 PM, led by James Goughnour of Rim Country Custom Rods followed with introductions of AZGFD personnel by Chris Cantrell. Amberle Jones, AZGFD Habitat Specialist, started off with a presentation highlighting her habitat project work in the last 7 months at Roosevelt Lake. Habitat Surveys: Side-scan sonar units were used to survey the sand, cobble and vegetation characteristics within the lake. Several examples of the sonar scanning images were shared in the presentation, mostly illustrating a lack of structural habitat. This images will be referenced together in a mapping environment and tied to their GPS location for accuracy. Habitat Implementation Plan: Amberle is the lead on the plan required to implement the ‘what and where’ of habitat work at Roosevelt. The plan is currently circulating around the department internally for comment and finalization. 20 locations (~1 acre areas) at Roosevelt were displayed on a map, spread out evenly across the lake, with the plan to create at least 5 new habitat structures per year over the next 4 years. Points on the map were picked based on “where people fish,” side scan images, contour lines, and biologist opinion. Depths from 15-40ft are being targeted for new habitat based at the surveyed 2090’ water elevation level. Habitat Types: Concrete fish balls, Mossback safe havens, poly shrubs, and brush piles will be used as the new habitat structures. Regarding concern to potential prop damage and other USFS concerns, any concrete structures would be marked with habitat buoys (not hazard buoys). The department would be limited to amount of concrete structures in any given area and they would be strategically placed to minimize conflict. Attendee Bruce Ivor suggested looking into abandoned citrus orchards as a source of hard word for the brush pile habitat, rather than Christmas trees, which decompose quickly. Juniper/cedar trees were also mentioned as potential brush structure as recent and ongoing grassland habitat restoration efforts by the G&F department could supply another source of hard wood. The price comparison between purchasing habitat, such as the mossback safe haven structures, versus building habitat (both artificial safe havens and concrete fish balls) was discussed. At this point in time, the type of material used by the Mossback company was said to be far more specialized than anything the department could mimic themselves. At $232/structure, the department plans on purchasing 80 mossback safe havens. The AZGFD has also been creating concrete fish balls at their Region VI office in Mesa. On January 23rd for the pouring of concrete and the 26th for the breakdown of the molds, the department has asked for volunteers to complete another batch of concrete fish balls. Contact Amberle.Jones@azgfd.gov for more information. Attendees offered to construct the fish balls on their own property in Tonto Basin, saving money in transportation and increasing the number of available volunteers. A special concrete mix/specification was discussed along with potential permits required to build the structures. There was a concern for approval to do this off-site, which will be discussed by AZGFD personnel and said Tonto Basin residents. Christina Perez, Grad Student at the University of Arizona, discussed her ongoing study of environmental DNA (eDNA) to evaluate biomass composition. Upon success (the biomass eDNA of a sampled area matches the fish detected in sampling), the technique could be used as a cost-effective fish species presence/absence indicator. In the last year, fish were sampled by gill net and electroshocking along with the collection of eDNA at various study sites at Roosevelt lake to establish an initial comparison. Results of eDNA portion of this study are not yet complete. The fish sampling survey results concluded that gizzard shad were the most common fish in the combined surveys, something like 70% of those sampled, followed by largemouth bass in the +- 15% range. Other fish species were not common in the surveys but most were captured in low quantities. It was discussed that survey results were similar those found in recent years and nearly identical to those in 2013. The relative weight, also explained as the condition and/or fatness of the fish, was calculated for each species. 1. Results show the gizzard shad fall way below the average, indicating overpopulation and competition for resources. 2. Largemouth bass appeared to fall just below the national average relative weight but in a generally healthy condition. 3. Crappie were not surveyed based on a minimal catch rate by the sampling methods used. 4. Threadfin shad were also not surveyed based on a minimal catch rate by the sampling methods used. In a new effort to survey crappie, trap nets were used for the first time in the spring of 2014. In their trial run (4 nets, 2 nights), several crappie were sampled. However, more nets will need to be purchased to get a viable sample size and a more intensive effort was discussed to occur this coming spring. Chris Cantrell discussed the Florida-strain bass stockings at Roosevelt Lake. 400,000 fry were stocked in the spring of 2014 and another 400,000 fry are planned to be stocked again in the spring of 2015. A low 1% recruitment/survival rate is expected on the fry stocking. Of the $50,000 incentive that was put up by AZGFD for donation price matching, approximately $7,500 was donated as of December 6th, 2014. Donating folks mentioned – Midweek Bass Anglers, Shake Rattle and Troll Radio, Rim Country Custom Rods, Rambo Realty, and other Tonto Basin small business as well as individuals. To special mention, the Arizona statewide chapter of Anglers United donated a generous $25,000. The remaining donation solicitation is still up for matching (approximately $17,500) until December 31st, 2014, for bass only. The funds raised will be used for Florida-strain largemouth bass subadults in January. Currently, funding will support 30-40,000 bass at 3-5 inches in length with an 80-90% recruitment expectation. In addition, working with Florida Fish and Wildlife, AZGFD personnel were recently trained in brooding genetically pure Florida-strain bass. Plans were discussed to cut out a portion of the trout hatchery and Page Springs and support a brood stock supplied by Florida Fish and Wildlife. A redirected budget of $200,000 will also be used to enhance the warm water hatchery facilities at Bubbling Ponds, including renovating new ponds. These efforts should have the AZGFD producing Fl-strain largemouth of their own in coming years, since FFW cannot brood them for Arizona. Other fish stocking discussion was raised by attendees. There is no plan to stock fish species other than largemouth bass. Chris Cantrell discussed a new property purchase by AZGFD adjacent to the Bubbling Ponds hatchery and a potential contract with the Bureau of Reclamation to expand some of their contract work with native fish species, moving them off of the hatchery at Bubbling Ponds, and opening facilities for warm water species including crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, and walleye, in addition to largemouth bass. A state-of-the-art warm water hatchery is under long-term investigation but it was clearly stated nothing would happen soon with regard to budget constraints. After a question about fish harvest by anglers and a potential slot limit, recent creel surveys were discussed. Of surveyed anglers, a total of 5292 hours fished produced 1919 fish caught by 935 anglers surveyed at the boat ramps and 176 rover anglers surveyed (shoreline fishermen surveyed by boat). AZGFD personnel recalled harvest was less than 5% and most fisherman were practicing catch and release. At this time the AZGFD does not recommend or support a slot limit as it could affect the desire for people to fish the lake, specifically bringing bass tournaments to Roosevelt. Schedule and Timeline discussed. Minutes from last meaning may have had a transmittal issue but would be sent to the email list as they become available. Other grants were discussed. Folks shared their current organization’s recent attempts and plans to continue requesting money from conservation constituent groups. These are grants the AZGFD cannot request themselves but require tax exempt, 501c organizations to submit an application. The meeting was adjourned at 7:22PM.

I have no problem being wrong but the "multiple sharp points" threw me off thinking of actual thorns! Good call Hunterjohnny! Very common and from the photo it sure fits the bill. Should have caught the leaf description.

Great website! Good luck with the venture!

Haha well then congrats on 2 bulls! The ceonothus is pretty friendly when it isn't bone dry, don't usually think of it as a thorny species but it can be.

650 to DDD do I hear 700? Do I hear 700? Beautiful O/U!

Without a detailed photo it's tough but 2 more families come to mind with thorns in manzanita habitat, check out the Rhamnaceae http://www.arizonensis.org/sonoran/fieldguide/plantae/rhamnaceae.html and Ulmaceae http://www.arizonensis.org/sonoran/fieldguide/plantae/ulmaceae.html species. Congrats on the bull!

If multiple sharp points is equivalent to 2 thorns coming out together from the stem, you might be looking at Mimosa aculeaticarpa biuncifera or Wait-a-minute Bush. If there is one thorn at a time it's likely a species from the genus Acacia sp. Similar species are illustrated in the link below. http://www.arizonensis.org/sonoran/fieldguide/plantae/mimosoideae.html

Those waders looked interesting but they only have size 7, 8, and 15!! lol

Very Merry Christmas to you both! Fantastic display! The wife and I will need to take a closer look only being a couple blocks away!

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I use the orange-handled Piranta. My process is to use the existing blade at the time of harvest to skin and debone the animal. I then change to a new blade once all the hair/hide/bone is out of the equation, typically once I'm at home doing final processing, for trimming silver skin etc.. Leaves it razor sharp for the next harvest as long as it doesn't touch hair or bone. I never change blades in the field, scares me. Works excellent on ducks too but is a little short for geese. After a few of these comments I may look into the outdoor edge, baracuda, or alterative 22xt blades. I haven't carried my buck knife in my pack in quite a while.

1- We need to get out and kill more predators. If anyone isn't familiar with the 3-Bar Wildlife Area and study, you should read about it. Before the enclosure was opened up, something like 120 whitetail and mule deer were having a party in a single square mile with no predators, and no significant habitat damage after several years of drought, in the desert. Sure, lack of precip and habitat conditions influence population dynamics, but predators are and always will be #1. The department could implement something to entice that control. 2- I'm also talking about 2 legged predators, more people need to familiarize themselves with the firearm or bow in their hand, and not take every shot they think they can make. We have all heard the stories about wounded animals and that is something we can often control. We need more 'one shot one kills' across the board (or at least more 'only one animal shot at' kills). Also food for thought, many of the animals that are being wounded are often the "trophy" animals whose absence are what many folks are concerned about. We need to stop helping feed the coyotes. 3- Habitat restoration. The reason this is #3 and not #1 is that it is slowly happening. Just recently (and still ongoing), the public came to terms with what smokey the bear did to our forests. There are some big things happening in the Arizona forest industry and some big players getting the word out. Again, it will be a slow battle but it is happening. Tag numbers down and prices up? Sorry, but that's a terrible idea in a realistic world. We need to maintain the recruitment and most of the folks unhappy with the game right now make up a low percentage of the total hunting population.

Get well soon, Ernesto!

They can show up on any of the rivers or reservoirs but there isn't much food to hold them. Roosevelt lake gets a few but they get educated quickly, Colorado River is your best bet.

"Coyote advocates called on the commission to ban prize hunts on grounds they do not reflect good sportsmanship. Arguing there's no proof the hunts prevent livestock losses, they say coyotes play an important role in nature, feeding on rodents and dead animals." Fairytales..

Subjective answer to a subjective question. IMO, it varies between species, geographic region/elevation, and unknown weather patterns. I'd bet the rut has slowly started and will peak sometime between Dec 15 and Jan 15. No reason it will be any earlier or later than average.