IA Born

PM sent, also.

South central. I could get more specific, but then I'd have to kill you. South central Kansas is a long day's drive from my house. Just saying....

I'll take the .300 WM and .308 brass. I'm in Flagstaff. PM coming shortly.

That was just his breakfast! You should see what he packs for the rest of the day. Nice one, Muddy!

I used to do owl surveys in the Huachucas and I found some of my best Coues sheds there! Nice job, Julie! As far as the legalities of what you can pick up, I don't know Amanda personally (we have several mutual friends, though), but I know she knows what the rules are and she's right. I've seen skeletons down there that still had leathery hide, but were obviously years old. Great find! Of course, now you've got me missing the Huachucas!

You now have to buy your $65 big game license. Grand total this year is $175. Once again, Matt, nice job on the KS birds. I may make a trip up there and meet you one of these times. When you want to go after real Merriams give me a shout!

Are you still looking? A co-worker of my wife was selling an older Remington Speedmaster a week ago. I bought the Marlin 60 from her and passed on the Speedmaster. It is an older model in good shape. I think she was asking around $300 for it, based on blue book (she did her research). If I would have had the extra cash, I would have grabbed it. Love those Speedmasters. PM me if you are interested and I'll see if she still has it.

I have a bottle of H4831 that is about 1/4-1/3 full. It came in a box of reloading stuff that I picked up at a yardsale 3-4 years ago. I have no loads that I use it for and its been sitting on my shelf untouched ever since I got it. It appears to be in good shape (checked it today to verify amount) and I think today is only the 2nd time I've opened it since I've had it (first time was when I got it to see how much). I'm in Flagstaff so shipping it is out, unless you can ship powder UPS or FedEx like you can ammo. Make me a fair offer and if it can be shipped, its yours.

I'm looking for a Springfield or Rock Island Arsenal manufactured Springfield 1903, manufactured between 1915-1920 if anyone has one in good condition (clean bore, good wood, shootable) they are looking to unload. Prefer SN above 1,000,000. Will consider a 1903A1 from Remington manufactured in early 1940s, with SN less than 3,300,000, but prefer an earlier model. Thanks!

That is AWESOME! Congrats, Tess and dad!

Would you be interested in a NWTF 35th Anniversary Commemorative (custom engraved, gold inlay) Weatherby Vanguard.300 WBY Mag (no scope), never fired outside of factory with original box and test-fire target?

Both firearms sold. Thanks!

SOLD!

Its been a long time since I’ve posted anything on here due to being busy with work and family obligations, but I’m finally getting around to posting my 2013 archery javelin hunt. After being as restless as can be since I didn’t fill my elk tag last September, I’m proud to say that I have redeemed myself and started off 2013 on a high note. A good friend of mine and I had archery javelina tags for 18B. Because of family commitments (family trip and my daughter’s soccer schedule), I only had 2-5 January to hunt this year. That ended up being perfect timing because it was during our kids’ winter break and my daughter could go with me. My buddy (Bill) and I had this tag last year, but, again, because of family commitments, I had one weekend free (MLK weekend) and was going to pull my daughter out of school on that Friday to make a nice, long weekend of chasing javelina and desert mule deer (my buddy’s sons have taken some BEAUTIFUL desert muleys from this unit and 2 years ago, I put a stalk on one but it didn’t end well). Well, last year, my wife managed to get extremely sick the only weekend I had available so I ended up staying home to take care of her and our son. Bill went out with his son and glassed up a herd one evening and found them again the next morning, taking a nice, big javelina! I was happy for him and extremely jealous at the same time! The desert muleys are my big draw to the area, so I end up getting my archery deer tag to keep in my pack just in case a nice buck shows up while we are looking for javelina. So Bill and I made our plans to meet up over there Wednesday morning, 2 January, and start hunting with the time we had. Just like me, he is busy chasing two kids everywhere. Bill had to be back in town to get his son to basketball practice Thursday afternoon. Although his son admitted that he would rather be out hunting (I admire his compassion), we assured him we’ve all been there and he’d have plenty of time to hunt in life. He’s all ready an accomplished hunter and Bill is one of the best at glassing for wildlife I’ve ever seen! If memory serves me correctly, Bill grew up in Kingman, so he knows these hunting units better than just about anybody else and he knows where to go to get away from the road hunters! After getting camp set up and relaxing a bit, Bill’s son asked when we were going to head out hunting. We got geared up and drove to the area where Bill and his son got his javelina last year (and saw a nice buck). As we were walking up to the ridge top, I happened to turn around just in time to see a big javelina across the wash from us, a couple hundred yards up. We kept an eye on that area and started glassing both sides of the ridge top as soon as we got situated. Being out there always makes me forget how much I actually love the desert. As we were glassing, I was thinking about how proud of my daughter (Sydney) I was for doing her first real hike up a desert mountain, avoiding most of the spiney stuff (I carried her pack for her, though to make it easier for her) and her attempts at glassing. Of course, who can say no to a good bag of beef jerkey? Bill was keeping an eye on the area where I first saw the javelina and where he saw it last and we started talking about a game plan. Going after this javelina kind of excited me because he was probably less than 200 yards from where I parked and I could stop by my truck on the way to get my javelina call, which I really wanted to try out (forgot it when we took off). I looked over and there was Sydney sitting next to Bill, learning the finer art of glassing. She’s also all ready working on him to help take her out when she’s 10. Bill loves getting kids out as much as I do and we’ll be making plans for a youth hunt in this unit in about a year! We had been there less than an hour when Bill got up to look at the opposite ridge and, within 5 minutes, says “I see pigs!” Turns out he glassed up a herd of about 14 javelina in about the same area as the ones he saw last year. They were feeding their way across and down the opposite slope from us. We grabbed our gear and headed for the next little knoll, cutting some distance. On the way, Sydney fell once and landed with one of her legs in a prickly pear, but she got right back up and got moving, with the idea that she’d get the cactus spine out while I was stalking. I’m so proud of how tough that girl is! We reacquired the herd moving and formulated a plan. I quickly grabbed my radio with the earpiece so Bill could keep me posted on where the javelina were and guide me closer and took off down the near slope. As I got directly across from and slightly below the javelina herd, something spooked them and they started heading back the way they came. They couldn’t have seen me because I was in the shadows of the opposite slope. Despite their excellent sense of smell, the wind wasn’t carrying my scent across the canyon and up to them. It’s possible they heard me, but who knows. I regrouped at the bottom of the wash and discussed my options with Bill. I didn’t really want to get into a game of chasing them over adjacent ridge tops, but I didn’t want to walk away, either. The plan was to angle up the slope, keeping down wind and work my way back up the spine of the ridge to where they crested. When I was ready, I put on my newly acquired Safari Sneakers to keep from doing another stalk in socks like I did 2 years ago (took me a week to get all of the cactus spines out of my feet and socks) and made my way to where I thought they crossed. Bill confirmed my location and I crested over the ridge top, following fresh javelina tracks and remembering their smell. Within 5 minutes, I looked up and saw a nice one quartering away just over 70 yards. I worked on closing the distance and then started seeing more of them bedded under oak shrub, cat claw, and yuccas. Something happened and several of them spooked, but there was one slightly quartering to me at 64 yards. I closed some distance and was contemplating a longer shot if it turned full broadside, but then all heck broke loose and I was in the middle of a scattered, frightened herd. I remember praying that none of them would go on the defensive and cussing myself for not having my call with me when I looked up and there was a HUGE boar running away from me. I drew my bow and tried to stop him at 30 yards, but he kept on running. After I let down, I picked up another javelina moving to my right. I drew my bow, waiting for him to hit an opening 10 yards in front of me, but he kept moving and came to a stop in a small clearing 5-6 yards in front of me. I remember thinking “Man, he’s small, but he’s a filled tag and he’s RIGHT THERE!” Before I knew it, I pulled the trigger on my release, hit him square and he took about 4 steps, turned the opposite direction he was facing at the shot and dropped right there, 5 yards in front of me. I got on the radio to let everyone know what was going on and tagged him. That was the first time I’d tagged an animal in Arizona since May 2008, the second fastest hunt I've had in AZ, and it was a great feeling! We decided I’d gut him when I got back to the group since he was on the smaller side as far as javelina go. As I was walking back up to crest the ridge, Sydney got on the radio to congratulate me and talk with me a bit. That right there was the highlight of it all! I didn’t care how big or how small the javelina was, I had her there to watch most of it and create those memories! As it turns out, after going up the ridge, down the near slope, across the wash and up the far ridge (all through cat claw, cacti, and other wait-a-minute-bushes) to get back to Bill, his son, and Sydney, I was very glad to have gotten a smaller javelina. The exit wound from my Grim Reapers left a huge channel and his guts were hanging out so throwing him over my shoulder was out of the question. I’d have probably died trying to carry one of the larger ones back. Next time, I know to field dress it on the spot and throw it in the meat compartment of my Black’s Creek pack! I forgot how much javelina stink and then throw in a gut-shot one and Sydney got a chuckle out of me dry-heaving, trying not to puke at the smell! After field dressing and pictures, I threw it in a garbage bag and then stuffed it into my meat compartment, hiking was so much easier. I couldn’t actually tell I had 20 extra pounds in my pack! When we got back to the truck, I went to rearrange my gear and noticed that my spotting scope was not in my pack. Sydney spoke up and said she carried it all the way back for me, which explains why she was moving a little slower down the slope to the truck. When I told her she should have told me so I could have carried it and taken the weight off her back, she was very clear that she felt like she should help me out since I had the javelina and my bow with me. Don’t know what I’d do without my daughter. I can’t wait until its her turn! All said and done, we were back at the truck before 1730 (left the truck around 1500) and had some chili warming up on the stove and a nice campfire! Life doesn’t get much better than that. This will go down as one of my favorite hunts ever because I had my daughter there with me for it. I wish she could have been on the stalk with me or seen the final part, but she said she had a blast and really liked watching the first part of my stalk through binocs and my spotting scope. Because Bill and his son had to be back, we decided to head on back to town rather than stick around and try to fill my deer tag. Sleeping in felt good, I won’t lie.

I will call you this week. We'll be down in Mesa this weekend for a soccer tournament. Maybe we can meet up near the field? My daughter's games are at the Quail Run Soccer Complex at Greenfield and 202. Cash or cashier's check.

ptt

Winchester M140 Ranger semiauto 12 ga for sale. Often referred to as the "poor man's 1400" because it doesn't have the fancy carvings in the stock and only holds two shells in the magazine (plus one in the tube). This shotgun has been in my family for decades (dad was original owner) and it is still in 98-100% condition and I have the original tag that was hanging on the trigger guard. It has a 28" VR barrel for 2-3/4" shells only with 3 Winchokes (IC, Mod, Full) and the choke wrench all in original factory container. It holds 2 shells in the magazine tube, plus one in the chamber. I have seen 20 ga and other 12 ga versions of this gun with one choke tube at 80-90% condition listed from $250-$400 on various firearms sites over the years. I'm asking $300 for this shotgun. I won't lie, I'm too lazy to get pictures posted, but if anyone is seriously interested, I can get you pics. I'm in Flagstaff and I'm not sure if I'll be heading to the valley anytime soon, but we could work something out.

Treestand has been sold. Thanks!

I have a Gorilla Silverback hang-on treestand that I don't need anymore. I bought it new for my Iowa archery deer hunt last October/November. Its only been used maybe a dozen times (probably less), including some practicing in my back yard in Flagstaff. I only actually hunted from it 3 times. I have the original strap, plus an extra Gorilla 6' ratchet strap for it. I paid about $170 for everything and am asking $100 for everything. I can get you pics if you are interested. I'm in Flagstaff and don't make it to Phoenix often, but I have a meeting in Mesa (AGFD office) in a couple of weeks on Wednesday, 6 June and could probably work something out after my meeting is over.

I also forgot to add that is the Magnum that has the original smaller (thinner seats), not the big thick ones they come with now. If I could figure out how to get a picture up in here, I'd post a couple. I can email pics to anyone interested.

Some of you saw the results of my Iowa archery deer hunt from last October/November. I thought I would provide an update with photos of the taxidermy I just got back a couple of weeks ago. About 4.5 weeks ago, as I was driving back to Flagstaff from a meeting in Phoenix, I get a phone call from my taxidermist in Iowa letting me know that by the time I send him a check, my buck will be ready to ship and it was a couple of weeks earlier than he expected. Check went in the mail the next day, but with my work schedule the way it has been, coordinating a time when I was actually around made it 3 more weeks before I could get the deer. So my taxi shoots me a text on 7 May with the tracking number for FedEx and the tracking info says the package will arrive last Wednesday, 9 May with signature required. No problem, I know my boss will let me work from home so I can be there. To confirm, I checked the tracking info Tuesday morning when I got to my office and it says the package will be shipped that day sometime. A quick phone call to FedEx to try and get it rescheduled or delivered to my office tells me the package is all ready loaded on the truck and I'm basically SOL. Fortunately for me, I lost a "discussion" with my wife over hiring a cleaning lady and the cleaning lady was there Tuesday afternoon when FedEx arrived. To say I'm happy with the work Rick did is an uderstatement. Thanks to Wayne (Bowman) for getting me in touch with him. Our living room is a completely open floor plan (both stories) relying mostly on ambient light from the big picture windows so I had to go up to the 2nd floor outside my kids' rooms to take the best photos. And a close up from below of the detail: I'm looking forward to having an elk to put next to it after this September and I'm getting motivated to get my Coue's whitetail mounted (just a skull plate plaque now) to keep this one company so I can have 2 whitetail subspecies on one wall.

Sorry, forgot there were 2 models. It's the Magnum. Scout is too small for me!

Every time I hear stories like this, it turns my stomach inside out and I squeeze my own kids tighter. As a former Tucsonan and a decent human being, my thoughts and prayers go out to this little angel and her family!

Nice first buck, Jake! And I admire you for ignoring your dad's suggestions and connecting with your first buck!!! Lord knows I've done my share of trying to ignore him! He sent me an email the other day and you can definitely tell he's proud of you, as he should be. Now go get one with a full set of antlers!

For the most part, I think its a great idea, but, like others have said, it should be limited to species. I have buddies back in Iowa (no age limit for kids) who take their 7-10 year old kids out archery hunting for those big midwestern whitetails. Inside of 20 yards, pulling 30-35 lbs, the kids are getting complete pass-through shots on does and a smaller Iowa doe is still bigger than any Coue's whitetail I've ever seen. For that matter, a "typical" Iowa doe is about the size of most "run-of-the-mill" muley bucks I've seen. Its up the parents and mentors to guide them on ethical shots based on the equipment set up. I don't think a 40+ yard shot at an elk with 30-40 pounds is going to be lethal. Maybe a 30 yard shot with 40 lbs will at least get both lungs, but again, its got to be up to us as parents and mentors to set ethical parameters. Some of the newer mechanical broadheads are designed to open with lower KE resulting from lower draw weights and I've seen them work from my buddies back in Iowa. A 20-30 yard lethal shot on javelina, Coue's whitetail, and many mule deer should not be a problem from a 30-35 lb draw weight, IMO. Elk and bison should definitely have a higher draw weight or I agree that we'll see more lost animals and discouraged youth. I recently told my daughter that as soon as she turns 10 (she'll be 8 this April and is pulling 18 pounds on her Nuclear Ice), I'll get her an archery tag if she can pull the minimum weight and she practices consistently (likely to upgrade from the Nuclear Ice at that point), but I'd rather her be closer to 35 lbs, if possible. Will I let her take a 40 yard shot? NOT likely. 30 yard shot? Depends on the circumstances and the species. 20 yards or less? Let it fly!