IA Born

The week before Christmas, we took a family vacation to Abaco Island in the Bahamas. We stayed at Treasure Cay and it was amazing. Of course, a trip to Abaco isn't complete without a bonefish fishing trip. It's the bonefish capital of the world, after all. The Marls is absolutely amazing. Jacob and I were in one boat and Minnie and Syd were in a different boat. Catching a bonefish has been a dream of mine since I was at least Jacob's age. Catching one on my fly rod is a relatively recent dream. I opted to forego the flyfishing for bones so that I could fish alongside Jacob. It was worth it all. We were in bones most of the day. I had three bites, but lost them, including a good one that broke my line at the boat. Jacob had a take, but didn't get the hook set enough, but that was enough to get him addicted. During a lull in the bones, I rigged my 9wt for sharks, after seeing multiple 2-4 foot black tips and a couple of -foot bonnet heads 10 feet from the boat. I cast to two different 3-foot black tips and they both turned and followed my fly, but passed it up. Later in the day, I cast to a 4-foot black tip and it took my fly, but I couldn't get the hook set right. The bend in my rod and that tug! But still, it was an amazing experience! By the end of the day, I won the first fish landed bet, finally catching my first bonefish. Addicting isn't even a good enough adjective. 10 minutes later, I helped Jacob catch his first bone. I knew as soon as I saw it, he'd won the biggest fish bet! Putting my flyfishing dream on hold was worth it all to watch Jacob fall so far in love with fishing. He badly wants to go back after bones. Who can blame him? When we met up back at the boat ramp, I learned that Syd landed a great bone, too. I cannot wait to plan another bonefishing trip! I just wish I could get the videos I took to load. The Marls This is a tradition pic Tailing bones There's a three-foot black tip in that photo My first bonefish Jacob fighting his first bonefish Jacob's first bonefish Syd's first bonefish On our third day on Abaco, we lounged on the beach; nothing exciting, but pure relaxation. On our fourth day, we did a mixed-bag trip that included bottom fishing, visiting the famous swimming pigs, and going to a cove where you could swim with, and feed, stingrays. Today is just pics of the fishing. We caught rock hind, strawberry grouper, trigger fish, and a parrot fish. I caught two of the trigger fish, but, generally, got outfished (again). I think my favorite part was watching the kids enjoy the action. When it was time to wrap up the fishing part, Jacob was genuinely bummed. He'd have stayed and fished all day (can't blame him) and it was hard for me to tell him that we couldn't! We had quite a few fish, but we ate very well for two nights after that!

Sorry, I was multi-tasking earlier when I did my original post. There are 7 or 8 decks of cards, with one for each chapter. I Have our chapter's deck of cards.

Well, crap! That's what I get for not editing it. If you buy cards and win, I'll do my best to have that honored. Until then, I'll edit it. Thanks for pointing that out!

That's one of the funniest responses I've ever read. I figured the steel shot would have less recoil, but I was wondering if there was something else I was missing.

A long time ago, I made fun of my brother-in-law for buying a .30-06 with a brake on it. Then I shot it. Then I seriously considered putting a brake on my .30-06 (still haven't). I put brakes on both of my kids' 7-08s to help them be more comfortable and enjoy the experience more. Shooting those two for load development made me love brakes even more. Like others have said, just keep ear plugs handy. Only twice its happened so fast that we didn't have time to use them. It wasn't that bad (that we noticed), but I always keep them handy. I have a brake on my 6.5 WSM because I love them so much and now I can't imagine getting a rifle without a brake. Someday I'll put on on my '06.

I'm going to start out with having him try the AA loads. The density is why I've always avoided steel shot, but switching to steel isn't intended to be the fix for this issue, though. Its strictly a professional/personal issue, especially now that I'm the lead biologist for our condor program. Dad always taught me to lead by example and this is a good start, especially for my kids. Cool. I'm not even speaking to the toxicity issues of lead vs steel, just that recoil is going to be different. At the risk of sounding dumb and having never shot steel shot, what are the recoil differences going to be? Are they that significant in a SA 20ga? All of my turkey loads are Hevi-Shot and the only difference I notice is because they are 3.5" shells. They certainly pack a bigger punch, but I expect that difference between 3" and 3.5" shells.

I'm going to start out with having him try the AA loads. The density is why I've always avoided steel shot, but switching to steel isn't intended to be the fix for this issue, though. Its strictly a professional/personal issue, especially now that I'm the lead biologist for our condor program. Dad always taught me to lead by example and this is a good start, especially for my kids.

Right? Its the "Volt", too, so it has green spiderweb paint all over the black stock.

I was looking at those, too, and wondering. I need to make the switch to nonlead, anyway, so this might be the driver. Its strange, though. I've never heard of a minimum fps to cycle a semiauto. But then I've always shot 1100s (almost all 12s), and haven't dabbled in new upland bird semiauto guns in a long time. I'm not a fan of 870s, so that wasn't really an option from the start. Thanks!

Thanks! My old 1100 magnum 12 won't shoot light 2-3/4" loads through the 30" full choke barrel. I learned that lesson the hard way one year after forgetting to switch from my 30" full (turkey) barrel to my 28" modified (pheasant) barrel. Turned my semiauto 1100 into a bolt action! Between what DUG, Remington, Winchester, and you're suggesting, I think we'll get him squared away. Now to just find a free weekend to head to the trap range!

That stinks since most game loads are 1250. Exactly! Shortly after posting this, I called Remington and emailed Winchester. Remington suggested three loads, all 6 shot, and Winchester suggested the exact load that DUG posted, plus I found two more on their website after learning how to navigate their ammo selector. I'll have to pick up a box and find the time to test them before going crazy buying several boxes.

This. Last year, we had a dusting in Flagstaff on Christmas Eve (I'm told; we were in Mexico), but then got almost four feet of snow one long weekend in January. Other areas got more from that storm. That snow pack, along with, a few February/March snow/rain events, carried AZ through to the summer rains. I'm holding out hope that we'll get that again this year. As much as I loved having a great mountain bike ride in Flag on New Year's Eve morning, I hated the dry conditions and the fact that I could have a great ride on New Year's Day.

Thanks for the input. That Galco and Alien Gear really caught my attention. Happy New Year!

That right there. I never change it up. You get many toms that will run to a still hot hen (sounding, anyway) since many of their hens are nesting. Sometimes, later is better. My biggest recommendation beyond what Big Browns says is to have an arsenal of calls. Many times, they've heard it all, so you need to find something they haven't heard if they've been pressured. I love wingbone calls for that very reason!

Got my daughter a Savage Axis 7-08 when she was 9, figuring on it being a starter rifle in case she didn't want to stick with it. She was tiny then, so I had a brake installed before she ever shot it. We got her started with the same Hornady reduced recoil 120s. She loved it. I developed hand loads with the 140gr TTSX and she loved it even more. With the brake, you can barely tell. Feels like an AR to me (and her). I was looking at the Ruger American Compact in 7-08 for my son, after learning some lessons about the original Axis line (no Accutrigger). It was very light and he could handle it well, but I ended up getting him the Savage 111 Compact in 7-08, again having a brake installed. Did the same, starting out with Hornady reduced recoil loads, and then loaded up 140 TTSXs. He loves it and is solid with it. He's a skinny little turd, too. You know the kind that has to dance around in the shower to get wet. I like the Savage over the Ruger American because its a little beefier and has a 20" barrel instead of the 18", but I don't think you'll be disappointed at all with the Ruger American! If you're up in Flagstaff, I have three different compact/youth 7-08s you can try. Two are braked and the Weatherby youth that my daughter was given by NWTF is not braked. Told her she had to learn to shoot without one now. She loves it, too!

That was it and it made sense when they explained it to me last summer. Thanks for the reminder of why I gut-checked myself when I first complained.

I'm leaning towards doing this as well, but it seems that if no one at AZGFD can answer the question, they need to allow it, fix the online app, promise they will accept the paper app, or clarify the rule. Unfortunately, it is not in my nature to just let something like this go. There are definite advantages to putting her in for the youth hunt (time of year, cost, her fall break from school, fewer hunters to compete with, etc.) that I would really like to take advantage of. This will affect both the elk and the deer draw as their will be youth hunts that weekend for both species. Petition the Commission. I'll be using some inside channels to try and push it forward, too. I don't remember the reason I was given for it this summer when I confirmed it for my son, but It really does need to change!

Found it. R12-4-104. Pg 113 in the 2017-2018 Regs. R12-4-104 Application Procedures for Issuance of Hunt Permit-tags by Computer Draw and Purchase of Bonus Points A. For the purposes of this Section, “group” means all appli- cants who placed their names on a single application as part of the same application. B. A person is eligible to apply: 1. For a hunt permit-tag if the person: a. Is at least 10 years of age at the start of the hunt for which the person is applying; b. Has successfully completed a Department- sanctioned hunter education course by the start date of the hunt for which the person is applying, when the person is under the age of 14; c. Has not reached the bag limit established under subsection (J) for that genus; and d. Is not suspended or revoked in this state as a result of an action under A.R.S. §§ 17-340 or 502 at the time the person submits an applica- tion.

I was in that situation when applying for the 2017 deer hunts for my son, who turned 10 in the middle of the Unit16 youth ML hunt. I had someone point it out in the regs to me. I'll try to find it. I went to the Flagstaff AGFD office and asked and they confirmed it. Its something I've been talking to them about, especially when they bring up hunter retention and recruiting youth into hunting. It needs to change. I'll try and find it in the regs, but I've had it texted to me before.

Andros is also on my list, but I wanted to check out Abaco the first time. I'll be getting an 8 wt for bones and (hopefully someday) reds, and my 9wt my all-around for small(ish) tarpon, cuda, and small sharks. After that black tip took my fly, that got my totally addicted to chasing small sharks with my fly rod! I think my wife would love Andros since half of the island is a national park. She'd love the birding and general exploration. My son would be ok fishing all day, but I'm not as sure about my daughter. Guess we'll have to plan a trip and find out!

In a heartbeat, I'd be there with you! Its close to the top of my bucket list! When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was study sharks...until I realized it was hard to do in Iowa.

Bonefishing was $500/boat and you had to provide your own lunch. That seemed to be the norm (+/-) for the local guides who weren't associated with the big lodges, like Abaco Lodge. I contacted three different guides and only one (Justin Sands) emailed me back. I knew he was our guy until he said he was having shoulder surgery. But he pointed me to Danny Sawyer, who was great. He also mentioned Buddy Pinder, but I never heard back from him. If (when!) we go back, I'm trying to decide if I'd stick with Danny (known good guy) or give Justin Sands my business since he was my first choice to begin with. The multi-package fishing/island hopping/ray swimming trip was $675 for the day and we had to bring our own food and drinks. We opted to grab lunch at a nice place on Green Turtle Cay, but brought our own bottled water. The open water charter could have been an all-day fishing trip, combining trolling and bottom fishing, but my daughter really wanted to see the famous swimming pigs, so did a combo trip of bottom fishing, seeing the pigs, having lunch at Green Turtle Cay, and then going to a cove to swim with and feed sting rays. It was an amazing thing to see and experience. I had to grab my son's hand out of the water because a small (2 foot) lemon shark swam right up to him as he was holding a piece of fish for a sting ray to eat. We didn't notice the shark until it was about 1.5 feet from him. My wife got a great pic from up in the boat, though. I'll try and post that one tomorrow. Open water fishing charters ranged from $600-$1000/day depending on the size of the boat and what you were fishing for. My son and I could have spent all day fishing, but we had to honor the family commitment!

That would be awesome! We definitely want to go back. I had my 9wt fly rod with me, but I chose to spin fish so I could fish with my son. Our guide was good with two people spin fishing at the same time, whereas only one person could fly fish. I didn't want my son sitting there getting bored and it was great to fish right next to him. After seeing a 4-5' black tip, I strung my fly rod up with bite wire tippet and started casting to sharks. We definitely want to go back, though!

We hired guides for both trips. The Marls is such a vast expanse of flats and mangrove islands that you could get lost unless you're very experienced. The guide was telling us stories of inexperienced people heading out into the Marls and having to be rescued because they couldn't find their way back. We stayed at the Bahama Beach Club on Treasure Cay ( Our condo was the one to the left of the condo with the car ports in the far right of the main page. Ours overlooked the beach. If you go to Abaco, I can definitely recommend some bonefishing guides. The main one I contacted (great reviews) had shoulder surgery, but he put me in touch with a trusted friend of his, who was our main guide, who brought his colleague so my wife and daughter could have the second boat. If you go, I'll give you all of the info I have. My son and I badly want to go back and chase bones with fly rods now!

Like others, both my kids have portal accounts and have had one since they were 9. It must be a part of the new portal changes and, most likely, related to the child privacy act. I think I'll bring this up at the next Hunter Ed Advisory Committee meeting, though. Whoever it was that said above that their kids won't be able to see their results is correct. Maybe it will, in fact, be set up for a family sub account.