mp_moody

I build bonus points and buy leftover tags. I've hunted a southern unit three years in a row now and know the area pretty well. This year I am planning on doing the same. I already know what mountain I am going to drag myself up and am prepared for the sunburn, sore knees, and that feeling of disappointment after several fruitless days in the field. I guess I love the abuse and can't stop coming back.

No hits for me either. I had a horrible dream last night: I got drawn for deer in 24b, 33, and another unit (don't remember). In my dream I was disappointed because all I want is a cow elk tag, plus I've never hunted the previously mentioned units and don't have enough vacation time to scout.

So while we are on the subject of State Trust Land, are you allowed to drive on it? I've always been under the impression that you can, but a buddy was nearly cited for criminal trespass in the White Tanks. Apparently, the MCSO deputy stated that you may not operate a motor vehicle on State Trust Land.

We actually took the tent down and slept in Chris' trailer because the wind was pretty bad. Ended up heading back home on Monday evening to avoid the coming rain/snow. Did you ever go back out? I think next year I will go to this same spot and skip Bumblebee altogether.

At 23 years old, I finally have my first big game animal! ________________________________________________________________________________________ I hunted with some buddies and acquaintances just north of Bumblebee from Friday through Monday. Here are some random photos I took during those days: (If you know where this is, don't bother. All you will see are hunters) (If you zoom in you can see he is at least a spike). In the future, I will not be returning. There are too many hunters, too many roads, too many weekend warriors/shooters, and not any pigs! _____________________________________________________________________________________________ The sow was taken much farther south in the unit at around 9:50 this morning. It took us about half an hour to find her due to a small mistake in navigation, but we got her cleaned up and to the meat processor by 1:30 this afternoon. The skull is a mess. Believe it or not, I hit her in the ear with a handloaded 55gr soft point bullet at exactly 200 yards. The exit wound was tiny and just below her eye on the other side. The lower jaw is shattered in a few different places, but this pig dropped like a sack of potatoes! Not too bad for my first big game animal! Hopefully days like this don't come once every four years.

Saw you just north of the 101 on 67th Avenue on Monday afternoon. Sweet FJ!

PM sent.

On Saturday morning in 20B someone in my hunting party glassed up another hunter mooning him.

Magazine springs wear out with use. All of my magazines are always loaded. Think about it: do your shocks/struts on a vehicle wear out when the vehicle sits in the driveway, or does it occur through normal use (driving)?

Sig P226, non railed model. 18+1 rounds of 147gr Gold Dots. Plenty of firepower for those two legged animal encounters.

The argument that use of suppressors during hunting will aid poachers is absolutely ridiculous. If you believe this, then I think we should require archery hunters to use an air horn right before they take a shot. If I could afford a suppressor, the lawyer to set up a trust, and the seven months waiting on the ATF, I would have one for my ARs and one for my bolt gun. Ever had a stalk or hunt ruined by gunfire? I have.

Sure does look like it, or pretty close. I was in a similar canyon a few miles south of this during the October hunt, and I can tell you the weather was crazy. 90 degrees on Saturday and Sunday, then thunderstorms all day Monday!

Joke's on you guys, there are no bucks or does in the pics. :P Pay no attention to my signature though.

I removed the trail camera this morning, as this was only a test. I guess if one were to do research, they could figure out what unit I was drawn in. If anyone here can identify the exact area based on the ridgeline I posted, good luck on your hunt. There are too many hikers in the area, and once the archery season starts the javelina disappear. In the future I will scrub my pictures of all features which may help identify the area using MS paint. Thanks for the heads up.

Bought a $50 Walmart trail cam the other night to help me with javelina scouting. That is the most I'm willing to invest, as it seems these devices like to walk away on a regular basis. I went out on Tuesday afternoon to one of my favorite spots that has since become a very popular hiking destination. Walked a while off the main trail, and set the camera up on a game trail that I know is used by javelina, muleys, and those disgusting hooved vermin known as burros. Setting up: The only picture of game produced: Sigh of relief this morning: Edited for OPSEC purposes. I ended up jumping a herd of five stink pigs shortly after recovering the cam. I have hunted this area for the past two years with no success because it seems like they disappear on Jan 1st, but we'll see!

Turns out I was assigned a new department ID when I bought my license online. My social security number no longer works, instead I have a letter followed by eight numbers. 20B rifle for me

I have the exact same message. Hopefully the system is just overloaded. Sometime like this, except formatted properly should appear immediately below your birth date, and the bonus points are below this: Species Hunt No. Season Dates Open Areas Permit No. Result Reject Description ANY BUFFALO 07023 Jan 01 - Jun 14, 2012 UNIT 12A, 12B, AND 13A (HOUSE ROCK WILDLIFE AREA HERD) NT DRN Not Drawn This is all I see:

Looks just like mine, but the bale of marijuana seems to be missing.

I have the exact same message. Hopefully the system is just overloaded.

I usually have my 10x50 binos in my pack because I get sick of them bouncing off my chest. Do you guys wearing the Nimrod comfortably wear that under a pack? It seems a little claustrophobic to me.

Looks like I got a javelina charge as well. Hopefully it is for 20B, and I hope at least one my buddies get the same tag.

I have a pair of Vortex 10x50 binoculars, a Slik Pro tripod (as sold in the CWT store), and Slik tripod head for my glassing setup. I have used this on two coues hunts and a javelina hunt. The obvious weak part of the system is the tripod head. I'm not sure if these particular binoculars are too heavy for the head, but it seems that if I don't tighten the handle enough, I have to fight the binocular/tripod head setup from flopping over. Too tight and it holds the binocs steady but it is impossible to pan. It seems I spend more time messing with the tripod head than glassing. What is everyone else using? I don't mind spending a decent amount of money on a new tripod, as long as it is quality. Picture is the binocular/tripod/tripod head setup on a beautiful August morning in the Mazatals, trying to locate a bear.

Anxiously awaiting the results, as I would like to start scouting for javelina. Tag soup gets old when you have it for a few years in a row.

Unreal. It was upper 80s/90 degrees for a lot of us on during the first rifle hunt. Stay warm out there guys!

I have an After Action Report a few posts down in this forum. To echo what everyone says, go up high! If you are not covered in sweat, out of breath, and cursing because of the near vertical mountain you just climbed all before sunrise, you will only see does.