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Maybe I'm missing something, but isn't 15k for 6 people only $2500 per hunter? And at 12k only $2000 per hunter? I have a coworker who does this every year with some long time friends of his for about the same. I think it actually sounds like a chance for a great time with some good friends if you got 5 buddies who can afford it too. Just sayin'......

If you can stretch 'around 1500' just a bit more, I would suggest this scope. I notice you keep commenting on the clarity of the Zeiss. I've only looked through 2 S&B's, and I consider them at the top of all others(except possibly us optics, but have yet to look through) in terms of clarity and craftmanship. If you go that route, you will never doubt if you got a scope that was 'good enough'.

If this is anything like my '85 that I had when I was younger than this is steal. That truck would out-climb, out-pull and out-go dang near everything it came accross, even if it was 10x more expensive. I only wish I had the change to spare on this right now. Jerry

CJ, check your inbox.

Are you outta 469 or 669? Who were you working for? Have any UA welding certs? If you have a 18a and/or a 42 cert let me know.

I also have their pack and love it. The frame is very similar to the MOLLE pack I had in Iraq, but stronger. I put my tripod in one side pocket and keep my trekking poles in the other. It's very nice to be able to keep them on a trip where they are out of the way, and then have somewhere to put the bow and break out the poles to make it up and out with a load. Only been able to pack out a Javalina in it so far, but I have loaded it with 80+ lbs and gone hiking to help get in shape for philmont & elk season last year. I've yet to do anything more than an overnight out of it, but I have no doubt that it could handle a week or two in the high country of CO or the likes, especially with compact backpacking gear. You will not regret buying it. Jerry

Someone else then. I'm useually headed that way about 4.

'Bout what time?

Nice little sales pitch they have there, but that thing can lay down some water. I hope it truly earns its paycheck over the coming days.

This was my blind during elk season last year. Not the best pic, but hope this gives you an idea. Ended up doing a little more on the left side to clean up the stright line made by the edge of the blind there. Once I had it brushed in, not a single animal ever looked at it. Even had a bear walk less then 10 feet from it without pause, on two seperate days. Make sure to not have any light sources coming from behind you. You may also want to wear black for your upper body, but also have your camo with you in case you need to get out of the blind for any reason. As a side note, I ended up taking my bull out of a ground blind, made from stuff I found in the vicinity laying on the ground and clearing a nice shooting lane. Cannot forget the shears/saw. Also make sure you practice shooting out of your blind in the same manner you would once the season comes around. The last thing you want is to miss the animal of a lifetime because you are not used to shooting out of a blind, or a certain position, or a certain type of chair: trust me. Best of luck in your upcoming hunts, enjoy the addiction known as bowhunting, and welcome to CWT.com. Jerry

So I've recently read the few threads on here about the issues folks are having with loosing an animal and then recovering it after the close of the season, doing the right thing and notifying the G&F only to have thier animal siezed. I was looking for where in the regs the G&F would be allowed to do this, and from best I can tell, it looks like is is a combination of a few laws and a rule: A.R.S. 17-101 A. 18. “Take” means pursuing, shooting, hunting, fishing, trapping, killing, capturing, snaring or netting wildlife or the placing or using of any net or other device or trap in a manner that may result in the capturing or killing of wildlife. A.R.S.17-309 A. 11. Take wildlife during the closed season. R12-4-302 I. Immediately after an individual kills wildlife, unless exempted under R12-4-217 or the individual who took the wildlife wishes to divide the carcass under R12-4-305, the individual shall attach his or her valid tag to the wildlife carcass...... Now I have no clue how hard it is to change things like this, but I know anything you try to do with the government takes forever and then some. But I think a few rewordings and additions may make things much more the way they should be when it comes to situations like these. I'm no lawyer, so I am sure my wording is off, but it sounds right to me: A.R.S. 17-101 A. 18. “Take” means pursuing, shooting, hunting, fishing, trapping, killing, capturing, snaring or netting living wildlife or the placing or using of any net or other device or trap in a manner that may result in the capturing or killing of wildlife. Which would rule out the complications from A.R.S.17-309 A. 11. And; R12-4-302 I. 1. Immediately after an individual kills wildlife, unless exempted in this subsection, under R12-4-217 or the individual who took the wildlife wishes to divide the carcass under R12-4-305, the individual shall attach his or her valid tag to the wildlife carcass in the following manner: a. Remove all of the detachable paper covering from the adhesive back of the tag; b. Seal the exposed adhesive portions of the tag around the wildlife so the tag cannot be removed or Reused and all printing on the face of the tag is visible and: 1. For a deer, elk, or antelope, seal the tag around the antler or horn, or through the gambrel of a hind leg; 2. For a javelina, bighorn sheep, mountain lion, buffalo, or bear, seal the tag through the gambrel of a hind leg; and 3. For a turkey, sandhill crane, or pheasant, seal the tag around the neck or a leg. 2. a. If a taken animal cannot be immediately recovered, the hunter may notify the Department and include the following information: 1. Species, sex and description of game taken; 2. Unit, location, date and time of shot(s) taken; 3. A detailed description of the shot(s) and attempted recovery efforts; b. Any hunter who notifies the Department in accordance with this subsection may continue to locate legally taken Wildlife after the close of the season, provided the following conditions are met: 1. The hunter shall notify the department within 24 hours of the close of the season that the taken wildlife was not recovered; 2. Within 5 days of the close of the season, the hunter shall provide for inspection the unused tag to a Department official; and 3. The hunter shall not attempt to locate any legally taken wildlife under this subsection while actively hunting in any manner for any wildlife, nor shall the hunter be in possession of any firearm for the purpose of taking wildlife while attempting to locate wildlife under this subsection. c. Once the taken wildlife is found the hunter shall: 1. Notify the Department as to the location of the recovered wildlife carcass; 2. Not move or disturb the wildlife carcass until inspected by a Department official: and a. If the wildlife is verified by the Department official to be the same wildlife as reported by the hunter in accordance with this subsection, the hunter shall attach his or her tag in accordance with this subsection and take possession of the wildlife carcass; b. If the wildlife is unable to be verified by the Department official to be the same wildlife reported by the hunter in accordance with this subsection, then the Department shall seize control of the carcass. I've never been in the situation that some of you have posted about, but I can only imagine how horable I would feel if I was. If anyone knows about making these things legal, I'd like to hear how. I've never been to a G&F Commsion meeting, is this something that could be brought up there? I assume the revision to the A.R.S. would have to be through a member of the state senate or house? Let me know your thoughts. Jerry edit-Wasn't sure if this belonged here or in the politcal area. Thought it might get more traffic here, but feel free to move it if it does not belong.

Either out of Oxygen or you need to clean your tip. Could also be a kink in your O2 line. If it is the tip, your tip is too close when you cut. Jerry

You need to ask yourself what you really want out of a new rifle. How far are you looking to shoot? Do you handload? How much time can you spend at the range? Are you just looking for an excuse to buy a 'bigger' gun? A properly built and dialed in 7mag should have no issues shooting out to 500yds for deer. There are threads here on this site, and even some websites dedicated to long range shooting/hunting, that would more then back this up. The key to it would be if you did your part. But if you're not good enough behind the gun to shoot @500yds with a 7mag, then you won't be good enough to shoot that distance, or further, with a 'bigger' gun. Please don't take this as an attack, as it is not. Just merely stating my opinion when it comes to people wanting to shoot at game at longer distances. If you do not handload, my suggestion would be to invest the money into a reloading kit and start reloading. With the money left over you could bed your rifle, get a trigger job, and upgrade the optics. And have a better shooting gun system then if you bought one off the shelf brand new(for that price at least). If you want a 'bigger' gun, then go for it. Buy it and I hope you enjoy it for as long as your shoulder and wallet will allow you to. If you want to just extend your range accurately, then let us know. There are some really knowledgeable folks on this site that I am sure would be more then willing to get you going in the right direction, if you so cared for some help. Just my two pennies. Jerry

I used to hunt at night when I lived in CO. It was fairly simple to do. Go into the local field office, fill out a free permit/form with unit(s) wishing to hunt, and then call the WM each night when driving out. It was only valid for a month at a time, and becuase there were lynx in the units, the permit was valid for coyotes only. Fairly simple system to use, though there is a long ways to go for some folks to fill out a form at a regional office here in AZ.

Thanks for the pointers. I been hunting in mainly creosotes, with palo verdes being sparse. I am finding deer sign, but I think its all been coues sign. I guess I need to look for larger tracks and scat. I've been glassing, either from up high looking down or from small knolls down in the flats looking up into long draws, or across small canyons. Will be headed out on wednesday to finish out the month and will just keep at it. Thanks again everyone. Jerry

Hey all, I have the urge to take a mule deer this year, though I can't really say why. I've been at it for about 12+ days now, but all I seem to find are whitetails(bunch of mule deer does one day). So I think I'm doing something wrong. I dropped from about 4500' down to the 2000-3k' range and still just saw coues. I know the mule deer herds are hurting because of the drought, and was reaffirmed of this by a WM this weekend. Even tried hunting different units and various parts of the units. Been locating water sources, finding a little bit of sign, trails, etc. but still no bucks save for a forky that was running with all those does. Been pushing anywhere from roadside to ~3 miles in, so I have both the mix of crowds and of solitude, but just can't quite figure it out. Could have likely tagged out on coues by now, but the challenge of this has me determined to go this route. Does anyone have any tips on how to find these desert mulies? Jerry

Way to get it done, bro.

Any luck on your buck? If not, still need a hand?

PM sent

Mind if I ask why?

Managed to see the same one, parked in camp both times. Never saw anyone or I woulda said hi.

Way to stick with it all these years and get it done. Congratulations.

I'm by no means any expert, but I'd say your son missed a solid 350 class bull.

Thanks, was nice to meet another CWT'er out there. Was nice talking with your grandpa too. Sorry 'bout not getting it back to you that night, was just too long of a night. Hope to see ya out there sometime again. Jerry

Great post, glad it got stickied