bowsniper

What's up Corky? You asked the forum for some help and then you don't post a pic of your ram? Mark

Good finish to the story! Thanks Hector. Troy's old man needs to take credit for the missed shot. I ranged him at 400 yards, "just by that red rock". So I had Troy dial 400 yards into the scope turrent. Only I was looking at the wrong "red rock". When he finally popped out and I saw him for the first time, it was by a different "red rock". By then we had lost enough light that I could not find him in my cheapo bushnell archery range finder. Finally, I told Troy to go ahead and take the shot. The ram was actually at 300 yards, and Troy put the bullet just where it was suppose to go, 2 inches high into the rock wall behind the ram. ARRARGHH!!!! I agree with you, seeing that ram stand straight up with his front legs high looking down at Tommy was the most majestic and incredible thing that I have ever seen! Thanks again to the many friends who made this hunt successful! Mark

When Troy drew the tag, I completely freaked out. My son has a sheep tag, I am completely clueless about how to hunt sheep, and I'm way too cheap to hire a guide. That's when Matthew and Ernesto came to the rescue. They spent countless hours scouting for us and teaching us for the hunt. When the season opened, along with Matthew and Ernesto, there was a complete herd of friends there to help glass and make the hunt a success! It was a blast meet everyone of you. For me, the most enjoyable part of the hunt was teaching Troy about ballistics and long range shooting over the last several months. Since he started bow hunting when he was 11, we really have not done any shooting except plinking. Because of the tag, we spent many hours shooting out to 500 yards. Thank you all for making my son's hunt a success. A special thanks to Dee-Dee, Matthew's wife, who gave up many hours of Matthew's time so he could spend time with us. Mark

My son (kidbowhunter, 15) and I had a bunch of help this weekend! Thank you guys! They got us set up on a 155 - 160 ram on Saturday. I ranged to where I thought he was, almost 400 yards, and dialed in the scope. He popped up at 300 yds and I could not find the ram in the fading light with my cheapo bushnell range finder. Troy took the shot and it hit 2" high above the ram. Boy, I really felt like crap for letting my boy down. We'll be back at it this weekend. Thanks again to you great sheep hunters and glassers who helped us! Mark

My son won a shoulder mount in the big buck contest last year from Bagnoli Taxidermy. I have left a few messages with him to arrange for the mount, but I haven't heard back form him. Is he still in business and if so,what is a good way to reach him? Thanks, Mark

Ditto! You could say the same thing about people who want to ban baiting. Anyway, although there are probably a few guys who just want to "show up and shoot" the bear out of the tree, hunting bears and lions with dogs is ALL about the chase with the dogs! The shot, if taken, is almost an after thought. The fun (for me, anyway) is all about the enthusiasm of the dogs and trying to keep up with them. I have a guide friend who runs dogs for lions and bears. He has never shot one himself because his kicks come from training and running his dogs. Even if he doesn't have a client, he's out treeing bears and lions. Anyone who supports hunting with dogs but is against baiting ought to give it another thought. If they ban bait, banning dogs probably won't be far behind. Mark

Way to go Kade!! Awesome long shot with a real big rifle! Your daddy has been bringing you up right! After you have taken dozens of trophies, you may forget about this day, but your daddy never will! Mark

Way to go, Daniel! You sure make me a proud papa! Daniel really worked hard for this buck. He had three coues hunts last year: his own rifle tag, his mom's transferred rifle tag, and December Archery. All together, 10 days without a shot, although he did pass a button buck because it was still with his mother. The string tracker worked like magic! The shot was double lung, although high in the lungs. With only a 1" broadhead, there was very little blood. After the arrow passed through, it got wedged in some brush as the buck took off. Since the arrow was stuck, the the length of the string pulled through his lungs to where he piled up. We followed the two strings, one stained red, through the thick and nasty, around trees, and across a small drainage. The string is similar in size and strength to dental floss. I was impressed that it pulled through the deer and around many corners without breaking. Mark

I don't think that boy got to be that big by being lion food. Lions tend to move on not hang out at salt licks. Big bucks are completely unpredictable, unlike spikes and does. Also, big bucks don't casually come in, he could take an hour, and the least little noise will push him off. Coues, not always, but usually wheeze when they pick up a scent. Be totally silent in your blind, keep all windows closed except the you are shooting from, and you need a bit of luck too. Mark

Very nice buck!! Congrats!! Mark

Very nice buck!! Congrats!! Mark

Radar is showing that you boys near Globe will be getting rain the next few hours. Hang in there! Mark

I test shot 25 to 30 rages through netting and they opened/deflected more than half of the time. If I use a rage in a blind, I drop the netting. They are a awesome cutter. I dropped a lion with one and he piled up in 20 yards. That is the entrance wound you see in the pic. Mark

40b I really appreciate your offer, but we really lucked out not only on the draw but the hunt too. A close friend who has hunted sheep there before, has another friend who drew the other tag in that unit. He has invited us to join up with his group, so we are all set! Thanks! Mark

40b

Yeah, that was us. Good to hear from you. We'll be asking lots of questions. thanks!

My 15 year old son, KidBowHunter, drew a desert sheep tag!! We are pumped!! He wants to use his bow, but we'll see..... PS: He did have a few bonus points, I have been putting him in since he was born!

I have been wearing soft contacts for most of my life. I am literally blind without them. I can do everything with them, except open my eyes while underwater. Your astigmatism complicates things, but in the last few years contacts have come out that correct astigmatism if it is not too bad. An eye doc would need to test you. I would see an optometrist over an ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is an MD, but optometrists have much more experience fitting glasses and contacts. My doc is Neha Amin at http://www.advanced-vision.org/our-team . She is very good at fitting contacts and glasses. But, I do not buy my glasses there, the glasses technician stinks. Hope this helps. Mark

I am so sorry for you and your family. This fire has been going since May 8, a whole month! Has the FS been fighting this fire or what? The wollow fire did not start until 3 weeks later. Where were the resources to fight the Horseshoe 2 fire? Was this a USFS "let it burn"? Mark

This is truly a catastrophe! This was the best high country in Arizona. I am sick over it and I am praying for all the lives it is affecting. My friend, Jim Pinter was on the front page of the AZ republic on Saturday. He was carrying all he could from his home in Alpine to evacuate. I'm sure there is plenty of blame to go all around, people, agencies, treehuggers, whatever. But the simplest thing to do is just blame it on the one thing that you hate most. Yeah! The wolves did it! It's all because of them! If they hadn't been in the forest none of this would have happened! Mark

I am sorry Amanda! That really bites! I hope that they catch the dirt bag! Mark

BECAUSE G&F HAS PRESENTED NO VALID REASON TO ESTABLISH THIS RULE! There is no scientific evidence that baiting transmits CWD. "Some" say that it is "unsporting". How about using dogs for bear and lion? Is that "unsporting"? How about a antelope hunts that are a 99% success rate? "Unsporting"? How about siting a water hole. The little animals need to drink, so is that "unsporting"? It is all about G&F making more revenue through selling more tags. EVEN IF YOU DON'T USE "BAIT", WE HUNTERS MUST STICK TOGETHER! THAT IS THE ONLY WE CAN STOP G&F FROM MAKING NEW RULES THAT ARE ONLY ECONOMICALLY DRIVEN! Stick around, after they are finished with bait, these could be the next rules: No use of dogs for lions. No use of dogs for bears. No hunting within 200 yards of water holes. No use of sabots in muzzle loaders. No use of black powder pellets in muzzle loaders. No use of in-line muzzle loaders. No use of large caliber center fire rifles. No use of bullets containing lead. No use of optics over 10x. No use of calls. No use of scents. No use of decoys. No use of electronic game callers. No use of hevi-shot for waterfowl or turkey. No use of game cameras. Use your imagination because AZ G&F will. Mark

I agree, what a BLAST to watch. But your comparison to wolves is REALLY screwed up! The wolves are native, the cows are exotic. The cows ought to be blasted like the hogs. Mark

A couple of friends and I would like to pop over NM and try to hunt up some feral pigs. There are a few in AZ, but I'm thinking we'd have a better chance in NM. Does anyone have any general info or know a rancher who might want some some respectful and responsible hunters to clean out a few pigs? We are not into a guided hunt but would be willing part with some $$ for a good location and quick "how to" talk. Thanks Mark