WhtMtnHunter

I have 2 youth size Axis stocks, just in case...

It would be kinda cool if they added shotguns to the HAM hunt. Call it HAMS or SHAM or MASH. Anyways, putting a slug in one from a shotgun sounds fun!

Gary Reeder Custom Guns 2601 E. 7th Ave. By Cal Ranch They did some custom stock work for me and it turned out awesome.

I've got a Ranger XP and this happens all the time lately. Usually when the engine is cold it will sound like its running on 1 cylinder right when I start it. I turn it off, take off the seat and rotate/apply pressure to the spark plug wires where they meet the plug. Always fixes it but can be annoying. After it warms up, or later in the day, never has this problem. I think I need new plug wires.

Just got this email from AZGFD. We are slowly moving in the right direction. With the draw deadline fast approaching now it's a question as whether or not to apply now or wait another year... U.S. Rep. Gosar leads U.S. House Committee passage of bi-partisan Grand Canyon Bison Management Act PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department applauds the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee for approving a bi-partisan bill that will allow the Department to better manage and conserve the bison population within Grand Canyon National Park. Today the Committee passed the Grand Canyon Bison Management Act, attaching it as an amendment to the larger Sportsman’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act. The Bison Management Act, introduced in June by U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, requires the U.S. Department of Interior and the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to coordinate on a plan that would allow sportsmen holding a valid state-issued hunting license to assist in management of the bison population within the park. The amendment follows the release of a National Park Service plan that allows public volunteers to assist in culling an overpopulation of bison on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Wildlife surveys estimate that about 600 bison have migrated into the park, where hunting is prohibited and bison are impacting both natural and cultural resources. Left unclear with the current National Park Service plan is whether a licensed, skilled volunteer would be allowed to harvest and keep the entire animal. The Service stated previously that it was legally prohibited from conveying the harvested animal to a private hunter. Approval of the Bison Management Act will provide clear legal direction that allows skilled volunteers to keep the entire animal when leaving the park. “While the National Park Service plan has some components that move in the right direction, it will surely face endless litigation while a bison herd continues growing unabated on the Grand Canyon National Park,” Arizona Game and Fish Commission Chairman Jim Ammons said. “This federal legislation will allow Arizona Game and Fish Department and Park Service to apply the best wildlife management practices to manage the bison herd effectively and immediately. Right now, Grand Canyon National Park simply cannot properly manage the unhealthy growth of the herd without this legislative fix.” Rep. Gosar stated that the Bison Management Act provides a direct, cost-effective solution that strives to protect Grand Canyon resources. “This is another important step in the legislative process to provide local wildlife managers the authority to utilize state licensed skilled volunteers to provide a timely solution, with no cost to taxpayers, to address the exploding bison population problem in Grand Canyon National Park,” Rep. Gosar said. Biologists predict that the herd could grow to nearly 800 in the next three years and be as large as 1,200 to 1,500 animals within 10 years without further management actions to control the size of the herd. AZGFD continues to collaborate with the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and the InterTribal Buffalo Council on bison management guidelines for herd reduction. “The Arizona Game and Fish Commission and Department thank Dr. Gosar for continuing to pursue this issue for the conservationists who appreciate the Park’s historic landmarks and want to protect them and prevent undue degradation to habitat and native species by managing the bison herd at sustainable levels,” Ammons said. The bipartisan House bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Tom O’Halleran, David Schweikert and Trent Franks. Operational details of herd reduction under the National Park Service plan are still being worked out and more information, including potential volunteer opportunities, will be announced at a later date by the National Park Service.

So the new hunt recommendations came out for 2018 spring hunts and they made some significant changes to the 12A bison hunts. Now there is an early hunt with 25 tags that starts on April 13 and runs until June 3(6 weeks instead of 5 months). It's for Bull bison only. The following June/July hunts are 2 weekends with 12 tags each and also for Bull bison only. What is the reasoning to going to bull only if they are trying to reduce the herd size? Which hunt typically has the best success--the early hunt with 25 tags and a longer season(only 6 weeks now), or the June hunts when it might be drier but there are 12 tags for just 10 days? No Raymond Ranch hunts? Recommendations can be downloaded here https://s3.amazonaws.com/azgfd-portal-wordpress/azgfd.wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/21140913/AZ-2018-Spring-Big-Game-Hunt-Recommendations-7-21-2018.pdf

All the park plans for the bison can be found here: The FONSI report. It's a 6mb .pdf https://parkplanning.nps.gov/showFile.cfm?projectID=49574&MIMEType=application%252Fpdf&filename=Initial%20Bison%20Herd%20Reduction%20Signed%20FONSI%2009%5F01%5F17%2Epdf&sfid=297104

So from what I can gather though a couple of phone calls...the park service is planning to start culling the cows and calves in the spring. The idea behind going to bull only is that once the culling starts inside the park they hope the cows will quickly wise up and start to leave, and they don't want hunters sitting on the boundary shooting at them and pushing them back in. I also heard that they may allow hunters in the park to assist in the culling and that each hunter may be allowed to shoot up to 3 cows and/or calves(in particular) and may be allowed to keep 1. However it's a long time between now and then and I am sure things will change. Maybe someone else who has more inside information will chime in. I'm very leary about cashing in my points but also don't want to wait much longer if they really start to knock the herd down.

Just takes a little digging on the internet. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/551229 The map is on page 23 of the .pdf file (or page 14 of the original report). Have fun!

From you guys that have done this hunt how about a few tips! Can you walk the fenceline? Where is the best place to shoot one to anchor it? Are their areas that have buffalo that don't get hunted for whatever reason? Any other buffalo attractants that might work besides salt? Go early in the season or late? Which hunt is the best? What would you do differently given another chance? Have the bison moved east or west of the locations from this old map(attached)? Are there salt locations on the west of this map?

Cleaning out some stuff and have Huntin Fool magazines dating back to 2008 that need to go. Great resource for someone starting in the out of state application game, or someone that wants a reference of years past. Free to anyone in the Show Low/Pinetop area. Otherwise in the trash they go!

Probably because the National Park service is run by a bunch of hippies. Now is a good time to submit comments on their proposal. 23 days left to hopefully change their direction. AZGFD, both Senators, most of our Representatives, all the conservation groups, and every sportsman and woman vehemently oppose their assessment but apparently they are beholden solely to minority special interest groups. Think Theodore Roosevelt would approve of their wasting of game animals in a park(monument) he created? Not a shining example of representation in government. submit comments here https://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=79883

Do you have the 1st or 2nd hunt there? Or were you lucky enough to get the muzzy tag? Cool pics!

Only red boxes for me. But I have to say that the NM draw system is making AZ look really bad!

The ranchers are allowed to access the entire Woolhouse with motorized vehicles.

Is this a typo or are they really adding a 12A West buck hunt in lieu of the doe hunt they had at the same last year? Nov 10-13, 150 tags. Would be great for the kids if true!

I'm in! Thanks John!

Village Tavern - Scottsdale and Shea The Steak Au Poivre is awesome! Has something for every taste and classy to boot! http://www.villagetavern.com/index.cfm

I really like the Black Diamond Storm. Plenty bright, very light. I like the red and green LED's for night vision in the blind or the truck. Runs on AAA batteries.

Ours showed up in the portal this afternoon!

Aren't those rifles designed to use stripper clips? Does is specifically say 30-06 on it or just something like .30US? Could it be a 30-40 Krag or a 30-03? Let's see a pic.

The Apache Gold Casino RV park just east of the 77 turnoff will let you fill and dump. I think last year they charged us $5.

Bighorn tag unit 680-Montana

Come on man! 7 minutes! haha. yes

Had to join the fun. Should be easy.