idgaf
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Posts posted by idgaf
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Ummm...wheres the 100" buck?
The 100" buck ran over the hill my brother in his infinite wisdom went after the smaller deer while my nephew my other brother and myself stood there wondering what the heck is he doing the deer ran to the other way.
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This is the basic rule of supply and demand. 5000 people want 40 tags for a unit, bottom line is your going to wait or get lucky. I hold in high respect the people who can wait 10-20 years for a tag. There really is no reason to complain or demand a rule change, game and fish has it right it combines luck and dedication to give you the best opportunity for success. Hunters of Arizona have a limited resource, when it comes to elk, that has been managed well. For the record it takes me 4-5 points to get a late season archery tag.
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Stages 7 , 8 & 9 anger , acceptance, and resolve for completiton, results must be getting close to getting released
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Bill wouldn't that make your guess Sunday April 1st az time?
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the phone number has been busy for the last 30 minutes
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I'm kinda tired of waiting for draw results. 2010(this is when my hunting adventures get interesting) starts off with my usual skunk on javelina and january deer. I learned in early spring that I was drawn for the inaugural unit 27 archery antelope hunt. Fortunely, I was able to do sales calls in Morenci to help with scouting and saw an animal or two that peaked my other interest.
Archery season begins and meet some of the other four hunters all focused on the beast that was little north of the main herd. With such focus I decided to go after the second biggest animal for the area instead of the largest. I had a few animals within range that in hindsight I should of not passed on. After passing on the animal below it runs across the road into a hidden valley and meets his demise in a way I feel responsible for.
My hunting party (brother and friend)and I hit the hidden valley that afternoon and just missed the kitty. The antelope was still flexible. For a second I considered putting my tag on it, but decided not to. This changed our plans for the next day and 1/2 our plans. We played tag with the kitty just missing him/her several times. One time a heard of javelina came to feast on the antelope and only left after a brief fight with me using an arrow as a club/whip and rocks/boulders as projectiles(if a game officer is reading this I felt endangered for my safety and no pigs were hurt). Apparently they had a couple of unseen piglets that they were protecting or they were really hungry and wanted to have me as a snack.
I ended the hunt with two more opportunities. One of them I had the biggest buck at less than twenty yards and no shot, because all I could see was from the neck up no view of the vitals. The second was a 62 yard shot on the second biggest buck which ended up with a complete pass through and me following the wounded animal for two days to determine that it was a non-lethal hit. I ended the hunt out of frustration early and went home.
I caught my breath after that very trying hunt and decided to go close to the house to try my luck around show low on labor day for deer. I got a slightly late start with the sun starting to break I hit rim road in hopes to speeding to my spot to start hunting. Trying to get to my spot I got behind some road hunters in a dark colored new silverado. My best attempts at tailgating they would not let me pass. They see deer and would stop in the middle of the road to check to see if they were shootable. I fully expected to get an a fight with at least one of the passengers but there solice held solid and the did not let me pass and I followed for what to seemed like an eternity. After frustration setting into the point of near no return, I take the next turn which happens to Joe Tank road and go to my old archery target shooting spot. I climb the first hill I see get accidently get within first pin range of a buck and release. I did not see the rack completely until after I release the arrow and the buck falls down within sight about 50 yards from where i shot. The buck was so close to town my extraction team was at the parking area with 15 minutes of me calling them. I need to thank the diehard road hunters for making me not overlook the obvious.
This is where 2010 gets cool. My brothers grab left over tags accidently for separate units one got 36c the other 36b. I tag along with not much to do but glass and cook. I call my brother that lives in Tucson the Monday before the that we will go down to 36b Thursday evening shoot a branch antlered buck and be in 36c in time to glass for the evening hunt. We arrive to a spot I had not been to in 20 years or so make camp about ten o clock or so and climb the nearest hill just before sunrise. We sit and glass until about 8:00 am until my brother sees a branch antlered buck misses the easy shots the makes a great long distance shot on this buck. He was tagged out and we were headed to 36c by 10:00 am opening morning.
36c was a little more difficult that evening my brother and I did not see a deer that evening and 9 illegals one of which was very daring and flipped us off before disappearing. Seeing this and realizing that this brother will take an incredible effort for him get an opportunity. We decided that we would have to go to the farthest part of redondo canyon inorder to be successful. The climb and the wrong turn through a cactus field made this memorable and painful. We get to the top and see absolutely nothing except an illegal camp. We keep glassing to no avail and start heading back around 3:30 or so in total disbelief of not seeing one deer.
Minutes after taking the last picture we get edge of the mountain when a 100 inch buck jumps out at thirty yards and runs to the canyon to our right. With no shot opportunity and the buck running to the right, my brother runs straight down a cliff nearly comparable to the edge of the Grand Canyon and starts shooting at an unseen animal. After a few moments we here three shots in succession from my brother and see something rolling on the opposite cliff. It takes us literally ten minutes to get the hundred yards that he traveled in just a few seconds. After a brief discussion we head to the downed animal which is another twenty minutes to travel 150 yards or so on incredible lose rock.
After field dressing and pictures I became witness to the greatest exhibition of pure endurance that I have seen. We our a Gps'd 4 and 1/2 miles from camp in very steep terrain. My brother puts the deer on his shoulders and starts the hike out stopping only once making it back to camp twenty minutes before the rest of us get there(rather embarassing).
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Next I go back to my home unit, 3c, after work once again to a roost tree I know to try and fill my otc turkey tag. I try to get there an hour before dark and stormy day. I get there right as the turkeys get there and pick the last one out within twenty yards and release no tracking on this one.
Next up was my daughter's and two nephews junior deer hunt in 27. My daughter missed a couple of bucks I was salivating over and I learned something very important, not to push two hard. We had to rotate my wife and her sister took my daughter I took my oldest nephew and my brother-in-law took his youngest son. Alot of shots were missed and fun was had by all. I had the greatest miss on the hunt "Team Diva" which was my daughters and there friend and I were glassing a hillside from where we parked the truck and I spot a mountain lion walking on the adjacent hill. I asked my daughter to borrow her rossi single shot .243 with two safety's, I get a bead on the lion pull back the hammer and squeeze. CLINK. I forgot the second safety. On the way down the hill I was pulled over on the way down from show low to the juan miller and the the DPS officer look at the what was about to me. (Two of my daughter and one of there friends) simply looked at and said your in for an experience and walked away laughing, no ticket given. Eventually the missing stopped for a short time and my hunter after the switch got his deer.
Next up was scouting for my wife's elk hunt, she had 3b muzzleloader bull hunt. Found some good bulls during scouting but unfortunely so did alot of other people.
After that my brother and I returned to our hold stomping grounds to continue our four year quest for a buck my wife named Mondo. We had him within shooting distance both bow and rifle between the two of us four or five times. Ending with him in my crosshairs at 80 yards or so and me missing. He was/is admirable competition that became my version of windmill chasing. I would travel 10 hours just to hunt him for seven. Here is pick of his antler and some not so friendly interferance. 35 males and one Female.
During my wifes elk hunt we hunt we saw cool things Like big mule deer and perched eagles. I also learned never ever push a tired women to far or she will consider hurting you. We had to back off a little bit on the intesity and she ended up taking a spike hitting it 5 out of 6 times with a muzzleloader
End of 2009, I think I went over my limit on pics so I cannot attach the spike pics
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One of these days I will get my act together and actually take a camera with batteries on a consistent basis.Looking through some "old" photos I have had the priveledge of being on some really memorable hunts since August 2009. My daughter had a "spill" on our labtop in July 2009.
The hunt on this one was not the exciting part. My wife and I went after work one Friday evening in August of 2009 to try to call in the bear after about an hour or so we determined nothing was going to come in so we decided to get back early and get the kids a normally timed dinner. Well driving on our way out we see a bear on the side of the road. Altough its the general season I took at the time my new bow. I pull over with my saying something about hurry hurry its going to run. The bear sees me and starts running. I have a friend who once told me if a bear starts running run after it and it will run up a tree, so I do this and start running after the bear. What my friend did not tell is what to do when they stop. I am running at a good clip with bow in hand closing in fast on bear that is looking directly at me and not moving. When I get within 20-25 yards or so, something clicks in my that bear is not moving and I should be shooting. I stop put my first pin and release on a slightly quartering to bear. The arrow takes out one lung and the liver which means the bear takes off at a full tilt directly away from me. I call my brother and his 8 month pregnant wife come and help with flashlights and extraction. The blood trail is very good but goes an extended distance in pitch black darkness. The first time we my wife, my brother and his wife find the bear several hundred yards away we are within ten yards and she is standing on her hind legs, huffing and kind of lunging forward at us. After a comedy of errors we find her again a short time later and bring her out. A beautiful mohawked red 5 year old bear.
This little guy caused me to have several session of rabies shots. It was in unit 27 during the August archery deer season. I was sitting under a tree glassing when he came within 15 yards of me or so. I yelled scat it huddles up and gets in a pouncing mode. I stand and yell again it starts with a low erie purr/growl. I pull back and release realizing it is not going to leave. The next few seconds I find hard to believe. The bobcat "Matrixed" (jumped) my arrow at less than 15 yards and immediately goes back into pouncing position. I release another arrow as fast as I can and do the damage you see. It did make it about twenty yards to my left before expiring. I started skinning it and all the fur would fall off in my hands. I made a big mistake and without thinking touched my bloody hands to my mouth. I talked to G&F officer the next day and asked if this was normal behavior for a cat this time of year and then he told me the effects of rabies and I should get vacinated immediately.
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In general, No, there are no leftover November archery bull tags. It took me four years to get a permit, putting it as my second choice.
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That just increased our odds
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Google Chrome is faster than IE
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You poor guys having to wait til August, but the people that have it really bad have to wait until January
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Lol I like your name
Fred was taken
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Thanks for the props, Coach it would look like I know what I am doing, but its more like the law of averages balancing out. Cpugsie, with the rage they are high maintence but the risk does not exceed the reward. The velvet deer I posted was killed with a muzzy three blade. I just could not get them to tune this year so I freaked out and started over.
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That's cool way to go
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Short story
2 1/2 hour hunt in 24a 94 and 2/8" buck straight spot and stalk no camo 36 yard second shot.
Long Story
I decided at the beginning of the year that I would only hunt giant deer this year, but putting a branch antlered coues in front of me in a perfect stalking position was like putting a crack pipe in front of an addict, leaving it lit and saying do not smoke it. After work on Monday on my way back to show low from doing sales calls in globe and safford (sometimes my job is really convienent) I decided to stop along 60 and hunt until darkish and then get back up the hill and hope my wife made dinner. I parked along the highway and decided to hike the plateus towards the reservation line. starting at about 3:20 or so I started my trek and within the hour I spotted a small mule deer buck and eight does. I watched them for a short time and considered the day a success. After my encounter I considered cutting my trip short and making the kids/ wife dinner but decided against it and went to the next hill. I walked halfway down the hill, set up my bi-pod and scanned with my naked eye the opposing hillside; I immediately picked out a gray mass sunning itself under a bush like tree. I put my binoculars to eyes and saw the antlers. I watched for a while and then took a quick texting poll from my brothers on whether or not I should pursue. After a couple of responses that I won't repeat I furthered examined the area I fond one more deer that could spoil my stalk and adjusted my plan accordingly. I quickly ranged the area at 450 yards checked the wind once again and started my totally no camo stalk. I made it to my desiginated checkpoint grabbed an arrow out of my quiver and checked to make sure that my rage broadheads were undeployed in the quiver. I creeped over the hill and started looking around after a few moments I saw movement working its way up to me. I confirmed that it was the buck and not his companion pulled back relaxed, second guessed my pin choice, settled in with my first choice again, relaxed and released. Expecting to see/hear a reaction the buck acted unscathed and I thought for second wow that was a fun to bad I missed. The buck ran about twenty parallel to my location and then stopped to see what all the comotion was all about. I looked around for a second and thought really. I grabbed a second arrow pulled back without a doubt of first pin, settled on his shoulder and released. I heard the thumped of the arrow and watch the buck run for 5 or ten seconds (an eternity) and disappear if I believed my eyes.
I called my middle brother, ( he is the one that wanted the play by play), and walked down to the shot site and started looking for blood, hair, etc. After a few minutes or so I found the start of the blood trail and then called my wife to tell her i was going to be late. I am not much into the trendy choices (such as my dislike for anything supported by pitchman michael waddell) but the blood trail with rage broadheads are huge and they fly very well. I went down the trail following blood and watching the sun lower itself in the sky when my buck turned slightly more downhill in his travel and the blood really started to flow.
I trailed a little farther and saw his body at the bottom of the arroyo between the two hillsides. He traveled 50-100 yards before expiring.
The time is now 5:00 I hunted 24a for all of 2 and 1/2 hours this season and took this buck. I wanted to hold out for a giant but this is way to much fun to be so serious on holding out for a giant. My bow, the monster, has really stepped up my game.
The real work began right then. According to my GPS I was 5.62 miles from truck with no flashlight, a dead cell phone and a down deer. I finished my packout at 8:10 pm and still feeling the effects of the packout . i have been very fortunate the last couple of years taking a good rifle buck in October and a tall muley in velvet in august of 2010. Thanks for reading. My last three deer have taken in three different units, no secret areas just a natural curiosity to explore
2010 buck
2011 buck
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Finally getting off the bench and getting to hunt. After spending and commiting to spend several thousand of dollars on taxidermy the last couple of years its time to go after the legends, My standards are very high for the antlered animals 180"+ for muleys or 110" for coues. When I get skunked for January I will remind myself its the journey that one of the measurements of success. Good luck to everybody on the upcoming seasons.
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I bought the Matthews Monster and I love. It is not a user friendly forgiving bow. What it is is a lighting fast tool that has help me improved my hunting. I did not get the bow because of my abilities I got it because of its abilities. Since I purchased it in 2009 I have taken (in this order) bear, bobcat, turkey, Mule Deer (4x5), and an elk (6 point). All with my first pin from 10 yards (bobcat) to 45 yards (mule deer)
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A friend of mind told me f you every see a "smaller" bear run directly at it and you will tree it. After a shortened bear calling expedition after work with my wife in 2009 and Me not being an expert at judging bears saw a fully mature colored phased one on the side of the road. I grab my bow and start walking towards it when it starts running. I immediately remember what my friend said and start running at the fleeing bear. What my friend did not tell me was what to do when it stops and your still running. I managed to hit the breaks (hard) with bear looking at me wondering what I was doing and put an arrow through her at less than 25 yards. That feeling that I immediately felt was somewhere between pure adreline and pure stupidity. I look forward to feeling that emotion again.
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very nice buck and bull what unit were you in?
the bull was in 3c , the buck was in unit 1
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thanks for the props. Looking through my phone pics I have been very fortunate the last couple of years
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I did not have a lot of time to scout, eventough it is my home unit. I hunted every day and managed to get this one on the last day of the season. The rush was on to get done before thanksgiving dinner. My brother-in-law and I had dinner in camoflage. It made my wife really, really happy.
the reason why I could not scout much
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if it helps with the anticipation, the elk were still screaming in unit 1 during my deer hunt last week. We saw well over 50 bulls
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It was alot harder than last year when I took my nephew. My daughter had the tag this year and we got on a few opportunities and a few misses until she finally connected last night about 5:15. She hit the spine above the shoulder and the bullet seemed to split and follow the spinal cord both ways on the elk, dropping her instantly. We saw everything from wolves to grouse.
Most Wallow fire closures are OPEN!!
in Elk Hunting
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I have seen alot of deer in the burned part of 1 as well as the non burned part. During my hunt last year we saw over 10 bucks in two days and 1 hour of hunting. The only thing that will change about unit 1 deer is the perception of unit 1 deer.