bojangles

i'm not even sure what back country is, technically, but the word seems to be tossed around a lot by the who's who of richy rich hunting kids. look, i'm not gonna buy some $350 pants, but i would like to get in there to some solitude some day. not sure when my life is gonna calm down to that point, but hopefully i can pull it off some time soon, like maybe a couple of days this fall. is it all that and a jelly samwich? i've been looking lustfully at some maps and some places on google earth, wondering if there's any critters out there, or just tumble weeds and rattle snakes.

I hadn't thought about the impact the archery hunt would have on these areas. i'd say there's a bunch of land in 22 that never sees a soul all year long, much less a bowhunter. i don't see any of us dragging our bows over the mazatzals. there's a big stretch of land there, and other places as well. us bowmen are in treestands in the high country, or sitting tanks in the desert near our trucks.

bummer. i'll have 8 this year.

22s

plus 1 nap thunderheads sure have killed a lot of animals, and their cheap, and tough, and....everything else you need them to be. i'm hooked on expandables right now, but...just find something that flies good and looks tough and is sharp, and you'll be in business.

here's a dilemma, i got this late archery elk tag.... i don't know if i should get way back in there and hunt, or if i should just try to find something that i can shoot near the road, so it's easy to get out. i'd hate to hike in for 3 days and come home empty handed, i'm one of those i gotta fill my tag kind of guys. while i really like the hunt, i go into mild depression after a big bowl of tag soup.

it was a tough call for me. i wished i could shoot all the arrows out there for a year just to see what i liked. i wound up with the easton hexx. 7.9 gpi, and .001. i just shot the first dozen this morning. they flew crazy good with field tips, as i was expecting. there will be no shooting at the same spot with these arrows. i know it's a little light for some guys, but i'm pulling 70 pounds, soooo.... wish me luck.

i'd love a place at the strong hold.

thanks for the great replies, keep 'em coming. i'd really like to get out there and hunt the old fashioned way, i think the biggest hold up right now is work, kids, etc. it keeps me from really planning a big hunt, seems i can't let myself get away. i think if i could ever push past that, i could really get out there.

i think i'd like to give it a whirl anyways. i'm not into trends, and think with big brands pushing "back country" lingo around, it's gonna get popularized, and possibly not be what it is in the near future. but i know, they gotta sell their $350 pants and $600 packs, so some certain wanderlust must be prostituted out so we'll all train to hunt and drink mountain ops and whatnot. but i'm looking for solitude and challenge, probably not the real thing, but maybe just a taste of what i think it might be. reading my grandpa's memoirs got me thinking about what a softy i've become. he punched cows in the old days by himself in the wilderness, sometimes a couple days ride from camp. i think i'd like to do something as tough as he was, even if just once. since hunting is my thing, it seems it might be my opportunity at hand. i'll chat more tomorrow, thanks for the lively conversation.

awesome. i got another buddy who drew that tag as well.

congrats! i drew the late archery. wish i had the muzzy tag. i love 22s.

wut? i don't take workout supplements. no matter what. just give me an elk roast and i think ill have the nutrition i need.

i refuse to pay money on special food to work out. maybe that's why i'm not famous. at this point, i'm strictly calisthenics and biking. last nite i rode as fast as i've ever ridden, today, i feel like i'm gonna die. i'm gettin old.

i'm trying to figure out why i need a portal account. why can't they just post the results?

well, you'll see a huge improvement over that old thing. I'd start with shooting PSE's and Missions, I just bought a PSE premonition HD, (pro series, not available at bass pro) an incredibly high kinetic energy and fast bow for the money. It's funny how a lot of bows look just like it for $4-500 more. The mathews halon looks and specs just like it, but costs a solid $400 more. There's a lot of bow companies that have been trying to keep up with Arizona bows here lately. It's a tough task. Missions are great bows for the money also. Not all the bells and whistles but they are shooters for the money. there's hoyt, prime, obsession, athens, bowtech...the list goes on. they all gonna kill deer. develop a budget and go from there. i'd set aside for a good sight, decent arrows and broadheads, as if not more important than the bow itself.

wow, that's generous. i wish i knew someone who needed it.

nice, bro!

well, i'm a budget guy, so..... everything i suggest is going to be less expensive. what are you shooting now? there's quite the variety of bows that will kill elk. we've gotten so picky, it almost sickens me sometimes. i think my next bow may be a stick bow. i haven't actually heard anybody say, "i hate my new bow" in a long time. i think it just boils down to, what makes you feel good inside.

care to elaborate? i've always been told this, but just plunked down on a 6.125" brace height bow, and honestly, can't tell the difference. maybe its the string stop.

i think it's odd that there are so many negative reviews on PSE's shop. You'd think they'd offer top notch service, them being in Tuscon and all. And i'm surprised that Bull Basin doesn't carry PSE, once again, them being in Tuscon and all. Crazy world. That said, i really like my PSE, absolutely crazy kinetic energy. I also like mission bows as well, for an entry level product. They're really shootable for the money.

boy, i hate to give advice when it's not asked for, oh well, here i go anyways.... why not have matt mclearn build you a custom rifle? It will cost less than Christiansens and probably shoot lights out better. he's not widely known, but he is well known amongst the world's top shooters. plus, he's an AZ local.

just talked to a buddy who was certain he'd get drawn, but no charges. he just broke down and called his credit card company, and they said he'd been charged for twice from AZGFD, even though it wasn't showing up yet.

it is a goal of mine to one day build a long bow and kill a deer or elk with it. i found some great stuff on youtube, with detailed instructions on bow building. i think killing a big game animal with a stick and string would be one of the most satisfying things a hunter could accomplish.

http://www.kxlf.com/story/31562121/wyoming-wolves-kill-19-elk-in-suspected-surplus-killing?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KXLF_Butte more goodness.