Coach

Jimmer, that was a very good post. Good thoughts and reasoning. However, at what point does the Federal Government become responsible for our health care choices? A good argument could be made for the point at which an ER could/could not turn any patient away. On the surface, it seems like a good idea - I mean, if you've got a serious injury, for example, you are bleeding to death and show up at the ER, should you be denied care until someone proves you can pay for the services you need to save your life? At the same time, suppose you are homeless and starving. You can't just walk into Safeway or Basha's or WalMart, load up your cart with food and walk out, and claim you have a right to the food in your cart because it it necessary to your survival. That would NEVER stand up in court. So does the demand for medical treatment, even when the injury or affliction is not life-threatening, and usually self-inflicted, require John Q. Public to open his wallet once again, fall under some sort of "basic rights" assessment? Personally, I am tired of getting hammered by doctors that can't collect enough from my exhorbant health care contributions every single paycheck, that they send me bills for the "gap" that my expensive insurance doesn't pay, to get in line behind the ACCCS drains that can't even remember where their kids came from, let alone take care of them. Those human pez-dispensers never pay a dime, whether it's vitamins or prescriptions, or trips to the ER for a sniffle. Yeah, I'm ranting now and on a bit of tirade, but I've had it up to my neck with these liberal, "progressive", socio-economic policies that reward the the leeches and hand the bill over to those actually trying to make a modest living.

I've been watching this topic on several forums today. Personally, I think it was a death blow by the "progressives". However, some sharp minds have also pointed out how this could blow up in Obama's face. For one, it places severe limitations on the Commerce Clause. Roberts actually ruled this law unconstitional under the rules of the Commerce Clause, but ruled it constitutional as the government's right to tax. Obama has clearly stated all along that this is NOT a tax - but the SCOTUS just said it is a tax. Secondly, since a huge part of Obama's platform to get elected was that he would not impose ANY new taxes on the middle class, this ruling just proved that he imposed the single largest tax increase on the middle class America has ever seen. So, while I believe we just got screwed, a lot of doors just opened up to use this lost battle to eventually win the war. Romney just got handed the noose to put around Obama's neck. It's time to see if he's got the balls to follow through. BTW, this SCOTUS decision does not mean zero-Care can't be repealed. If played correctly, this law can be repealed AND have the added benefits of putting huge limitations on the Commerce Clause. That would be a huge win, but I'm being cautiously opptomistic. On the other hand, this might have just made individual health care a caustic drain on our national economy that makes social security and medicare look like chump change.

This is totally unbelievable. I am speechless. This country is in a death spiral.

Darn, I was hoping it was raining more heavily up there. We got a real nice soaking in Lakeside yesterday. Rained really hard for 5-10 minutes, then nice and steady for another 20 or so.

With the Sunrise shoot only days away, I'm a little confused by the "selective" closure of Pole Knoll. Tons of FS land is still open right across the road, as they site "fire danger". FWIW, I'm a big believer in keeping idiots out the woods in high winds and dry timber, but I find it a little perplexing that just now, after months of high winds and dry conditions, the FS closes down arguably the most heavily used area by visitors for the Sunrise 3D shoot. And it's been raining here - hard. Heck, maybe I need a tinfoil hat, but I can hardly see how camping in that specific area is somehow more dangerous than the hundreds of square miles just North of 260, that if anything are dryer than Pole Knoll. Why is it so dangerous in this little block of land bordered by the Greer road with winds blowing Northward toward Vernon, compared to the hundreds of square miles on the North side of 260 that are open where a mouse-fart and spark in dry conditions, would wreak havok, but are still open, did the Feds decide to shut this one area down? The wettest areas are always around Pole Knoll and Sunrise. The dryer, more "dangerous" areas are closer to Vernon, Alpine and Nutrioso. I have a theory, and it may be hair-brained one at that. I think USFS is sticking it to the tribe for covering their own backsides during the wallow fire last year, and not making their resources available during the fire. Now, they're gonna get a little petty payback by trying to reduce the attendance at the Sunrise shoot by closing off the area most frequently used for that event. I just can't see any reason they would selectively close this one area, while keeping everything around it open. Anyone feel compelled to agree, disagree, call me "captain hypberbole"? Let's chat it up. I'm on July 4th vacation, and I don't have a campfire to debate around, so this will have to do.

Right above the turnoff into Big Lake, there are always hunters and guides parked along the side of the road making phone calls. There is service, but if you move around too much and try to call while driving, more often than not the call is lost. Just above where the pavement ends after the turnoff into the Big Lake store and campground is the most reliable spot I've found in there.

Awesome pix! Sorry about the lost deer. Here's one my buddy shot on the Navajo a few years back right at sundown. Found it in the morning, "bearly". LOL.

Good post, and good ideas. I agree that the model used for bears could be adapted for deer. But as mentioned, a big portion of the bear management plan is centered around minimizing sow harvests. I think it's a good idea, and one that could work, with some common sense adaptations. The good news is, from what I've seen mule deer numbers are increasing in several units. I just checked my trail camera in unit 1 and had a solid group of 9 does at one time in an area that I'm not used to seeing many deer at all. 3A/C has been producing amazing deer over the past several years as the posts of youth hunters sitting behind 200+ bucks will attest to. And by most accounts, unit 1 should follow that model after the fire- just last fall I saw more bucks and higher quality than I saw in years, and that unit is just starting to rebound. I'm waiting to see what happens in 27 after the fires, and with the already-apparent rebound. That place used to be crawling with deer, and some really good ones. Hopefully it will be a sleeping giant in years to come.

Looks like one big snake. The biggest diamondback I've seen in AZ was around 5 1/2 feet long and probably 20+ pounds and it's not close to this one. If it's a real pic, it's a monster. Looks at least 6, maybe 7 feet. Where I grew up in OK, we had timber rattlers that would get that big but I've never seen a diamondback that big in person. Here's a pic of the biggest I caught...out by Willow Springs outside of Tucson back in the college days. I still have the skin from this one spanning the double doors to my office. It looks like a garter snake compared to the one in the initial post, and this one...

I'm here in Lakeside and it's a virtual parade of campers headed up to the higher country. Little to no rain in most areas. We've been reading mid 90's in the shade the past couple of days and I can't keep grass growing with daily watering. I get wanting to come up to the mountains and cool air, roast some weenies by the campfire, all that fun stuff, but the monsoons haven't started yet despite predictions for rain for the past couple days, we haven't seen a drop yet. One cigarette butt, or too many pine needles in the campfire, and folks are gonna lose their homes - not to mention the habitat loss. Like Tucson John, I've now been through the Rodeo-Chedisky fire, the Bear Wallow fire...If something starts below the rim on the Apache reservation country, my house will be ashes. Just please be safe out there and aware of fire dangers. Obide by the no campfire laws and use propane to cook. Enjoy the mountains, but leave them as you found them, is all I'm asking.

Prayers sent.

Is that a link? I can't get it to go anywhere. Would love to know more about this.

I've got some speed freaks too. Posted about them before, maybe on this thread. Very good boots for stalking, running around in the pines chasing elk, etc. IMO, they are at the top of their "category" of boots, but comparing them with Kenetreks or Meindl. Tough, steep, rocky country requires super solid boots. That's where the Kenetrek and Meindl, some Asolo really make a difference. Those same boots chasing antelope all over flat country aren't as well suited as the Speed Freaks. Like most good gear, you just have to use the right equipment based on the particular needs of the hunt.

+1 for the Browning Buckmark. I've got an older one. I always wanted the Ruger, but didn't want the contoured barrel that looks like German Luger. So I bought a Buckmark with a bull barrel for around $220 if I remember right. That thing is super accurate and dependable. Still one of my favorite guns. However, I just did a search and it looks like even these are going in the high 300's way on up depending on configuration.

$600? http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/panasonic-ag-dvc30/4505-6500_7-30836631.html Good cam, solid performer. Got something good in trade (no hunts)?

Selling my Pansonic "pro-sumer" video camera. It's a high-end MiniDV camera that beat out the Canon GL2 in CNet's testing. I paid around $1700 for this camera and just haven't ended up using it very much. It's a great camera - just needs a home where it will get more use. One of the things that sold me on the camera is the Leica lens. Here's a link to a detailed review with better pictures of the controls than I can provide. http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/panasonic-ag-dvc30/4505-6500_7-30836631.html I will post pictures of the actual camera, accessories and bag. It comes with a spare, long-life battery and charger. B&H sells this model used for $795, and that seems to be the median price on Ebay. I am asking $700 firm plus shipping. No trades, please. Updated - photo of the actual camera and accessories. The accessories include the instruction manual, remote control (unused) carry handle, battery charger, two batteries, various cables, contoured eyepeice and strap (both unopened).

The cats are on! Great job Wildcats. There are a few teams I love to watch in baseball, The cats, since I went to UofA and they are usually solid, OSU since both of my parents went to school in Stillwater OK and I was raised in the Ozarks, and Florida State, just because they usually have a solid baseball program. The Southeast conference is always fun to follow, but when the cats do their thing, it is a ton of fun to watch. Sorry Devil fans, baseball isn't ASU's sport. You've had some decent programs over the years, but the consistency isn't there. Don't get me wrong, if it were ASU vs. any Pac-10 team aside from UofA, I'd be rooting for the devils all the way. Outside the PAC, it would totally depend on the team. I'll root for lumberjacks over another state, and support ASU when they deserve it.

Just for fun, my wife bought me a super cool air-soft gun for Father's Day. My sons and I love to have air-soft battles on our property and the heavy forest backing us. The boys are some pretty darn good snipers too. Anyone not familiar with "air-soft" guns, they are basically high-tech BB guns that shoot plastic 6MM bbs. I grew up having "BB-Gun wars" with my brother and friends, where we would shoot the crap out of eachother with real bb guns, even the pump-up pellet guns, but we always stuck to a 2-pump max on those. I still remember one of my buddies with a bb stuck under the skin just 1/4 inch from his eye. Those were great times, but since I'm now "responsible" we wear full face masks and typically the boys will layer up in their winter clothes. Anything over 400 FPS stings pretty bad if your clothes aren't loose. I took one to the forehead when I assaulted the boys' fort and it bled like I had been punched in the head by Brock Lesnar. Looking back it was really funny. Carrie rushed out thinking one of the kids was hurt, and I had blood running over my left eye. Meanwhile, Nick turns to run in a hail of gunfire and goes right into a small pine tree, with a limb sticking him in the shallow skin along the sphenoid (between the temple and the eye). We were digging pieces of bark out of his face for weeks. Yeah, we play hard. So, this morning my kids present me with the coolest toy I've ever owned. It's a full-size, full-weight electric "Tommy Gun" exactly like the 1928 Thomspon (Chicago Typewriter). Pistol grip, drum magazine, shoots 460+ FPS at 800 rounds per minute. After all the baseball games finished up this morning and a little picnic at the field with my mom and dad, we geared up for war. They blasted me, I blasted them, it was a great time. What will really stick out for me, is this little "extravagance", was something we really can't afford right now, but my sweet wife has been working as much as she can, and she bought this totally unneccesary toy with the money she has earned teaching gymnastics and gave it to the boys to give to me. All so I can still be a kid with my kids and play with them. She buys nothing for herself and won't even let me buy her small things, but she works her tail off in the home and out of it to make sure her boys have the latest baseball equipment, and her over-sized child-of-a-husband has toys he would never buy for himself.

Great post TJ, and Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. We spend this weekend at the baseball fields in Snowflake and Show Low. Little league is over so we get to see the boys playing "club" ball where the level of play is so much higher. All 3 of my boys were playing this weekend, sometimes in different towns at the same time, so we didn't get to see all of it but it was a good time.

Wow, that muley is a stud! Nice finds.

Hey buddy, you didn't think we'd forget your birthday, did you? Here's wishing you a happy birthday and another great year of hunting. I hope you have a great year. Thanks for all of your positive posts, and your always-positive attitude. We haven't met yet, but there is alwas a place next to the fire in my camp for you.

Personally, I'm avoiding bars. From a WTSHTF approach, coins will be far more liquid. Paper money and certificates will be worthless, but tangible coins will maintain value.

I'm also looking to invest in silver. Looks like the canadian maple leaf is a good choice, or the silver eagle.

Nice job for the cats. Isn't it just like devil fans to discredit their own state? Those boys played hard and deserve to be recognized.

Spoken like a true fan (and player) of the sport. Giving credit where it's due goes a long ways in my book. +1