IA Born

Working in wildlife management for so long still hasn't numbed me to this stuff. I honestly never get tired of seeing this stuff, as cruel as it may seem to some. Thanks for sharing!

Actually the first hunt is 7days long the second hunt is 7days then after the second hunt everyone drawn for that hunt gets to hunt the remainder of the hunt, normally two more weeks. Now I'm not a turkey hunting expert by any means but in general the hens are laying on their eggs by the first week of May. Hens can have up to three nest attempts if earlier nests fail. I don"t believe it matters at what elevation you hunt. Here is a picture of a young man I mentored last years youth hunt (a week prior to the opener) at over 9000 ft elevation. Personally I like the later hunts the older bigger gobblers are easier to call in because they are not with their hens. Good luck which ever season you choose. " Now I'm not a turkey hunting expert by any means..." I call BS on this statement! hmmm you don't seem to recall to well our last turkey hunt the only thing shot was a vehicle but that is another story for another time. I recall it very well! I still watch the video of Syd working your box call! I'm about to order her one of her own for Christmas, too! As for the vehicle thing, we still shake our heads and giggle a little. I wish you could have seen the look on your face when you told me what happened!

Actually the first hunt is 7days long the second hunt is 7days then after the second hunt everyone drawn for that hunt gets to hunt the remainder of the hunt, normally two more weeks. Now I'm not a turkey hunting expert by any means but in general the hens are laying on their eggs by the first week of May. Hens can have up to three nest attempts if earlier nests fail. I don"t believe it matters at what elevation you hunt. Here is a picture of a young man I mentored last years youth hunt (a week prior to the opener) at over 9000 ft elevation. Personally I like the later hunts the older bigger gobblers are easier to call in because they are not with their hens. Good luck which ever season you choose. " Now I'm not a turkey hunting expert by any means..." I call BS on this statement! But, yes, I agree with Bill. I like the early season because they are less pressured and not as call shy, but I love the later part for why Bill likes it.

I'm just now seeing this after getting back into the swing of life after my long trip to Iowa and back. This makes me smile a much needed smile! Congrats on your harvest and filling the freezer, Mike! You are spot on with your priorities being your son's football game. Lord knows I've blown off my share of other things in life that I truly love to be at my kids' events! As for your beard making you look like a garden gnome. I say no way. It actually makes you better looking! Congrats, Mike!!!

Same here. My daughter has had that hunt the last two years (her first two), and now she has a buck tag. From last year, after tagging her second doe on the afternoon of opening day: "Don't get me wrong dad; I love this hunt and its been a great experience, but I'm ready to chase some antlers!" How do you say no to that? Good luck to all you parents taking your kids up there this weekend! I love seeing kids out hunting, but I'll always have a soft spot for girls hunting with their dads!

Bringing this back up. We have about 50 tickets left and quail season is just around the corner!

Our local Northern Arizona Chapter of the NWTF will be selling raffle tickets at Sportsman's Warehouse in Flagstaff this weekend. We will have chapter members there from 9-2/3 Saturday the 10th and from 10-3/4 Sunday the 11th. NWTF is corporate partners with Ram so there will be a Ram or two there, too. I will be there from 10-12:30 Sunday. We are raffling off a Tristar Setter O/U 20 gauge with a 26" barrel. Tickets are $20 each and we're only selling 100. We will draw the winner once all 100 tickets are sold. If you are out and about in Flagstaff or are elk hunting one of the local units and tag out early, come on over and grab some tickets!

Congrats on a great bull!

Half-Rios...

Yep, any Goulds tag is a good tag. I know most Goulds units well and will put you in some good spots away from crowds if you get drawn. If you get drawn before me, though, I'll kick you in the junk before telling you the good spots!

Unfortunately Mike, we can't set up for on line sales because of how few tickets we have. Its more of a hassle than its worth. You can send me money, though!

Our Northern Arizona Chapter NWTF is raffling off a Tristar Setter O/U 20 gauge with a 26" barrel. It has 3" chambers and 5 chokes. Tickets are $20 each and we're only selling 100. We've sold 42 so far, so we have 58 left to sell. We will draw the winner once all 100 tickets are sold. Unfortunately, we are not set up yet to sell tickets online, but we are working on that for future raffles to make it easier. If you are interested, pm me for details on where to send a check (made out to "NWTF")! All proceeds from this raffle go towards our high school scholarship fund, the youth turkey camp near Happy Jack, and various habitat improvement projects.

Its that time of year when the AZ State Chapter of the NWTF offers its 31-Day Gun Raffle. All proceeds from this raffle go towards the NWTF youth program (camps, youth pheasant hunt, JAKES memberships, youth days, etc.). The raffle will start on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th and run through December 24th. Tickets are 1/$20, 3/$50, and 7/$100. This is the second year that Sportsman's Warehouse is helping sponsor this raffle. If you don't like what you are drawn for, you can get full in-store credit for another firearm or anything else you might like. If you purchase your tickets before November 10th, you are entered into an early bird drawing for a chance at a great Browning Yukon Gold 23 gun safe. A flyer is posted below for you to see what all is being given away and how to get your tickets. The raffle is being structured differently internally this year. As an incentive for chapters to sell tickets, each chapter that sells 300 tickets will get rewarded with credit to go towards purchasing things for their fundraising banquets, youth camps, habitat improvement projects, etc. If you buy your tickets because of this post, please consider helping our chapter up here, unless you are affiliated with another chapter. If you buy directly through Fred Deneke (contact below), you can tell him you heard about it from me with the Northern Arizona Chapter. Online sales will get split between chapters. You can also get your tickets directly through me, by sending me a check made out to "NWTF" and include your name and a phone number. I will get all tickets submitted in time for the early bird that arrive on time. Promise. While I really want to see our chapter get its credit, buying your tickets and helping support our youth programs is my first and foremost priority! Flyer with Guns and Ticket Purchase Info: 2016 NWTF 31-Gun Raffle Flyer.pdf

I realized earlier this morning that I made my 1000th post. I don't know why, but I started thinking about that post a while back about someone else and their 1000th post and this was all I could think of as far as my tenure on CW! Rossislider probably said it best: I spend too much time on this site. I still don't like the fact that I'm sitting in my office instead of chasing bugles today, though.

I'm smarter than I look! And that statement makes for an awesome 1000th post! I'm somebody now!

As much as I try to avoid them, I figured I'd jump on the bandwagon this one time. Where am I? Or where am I not?

Exactly! I'm sitting in my office on opening morning for the first time since 2011. I hate it. I have a ton of stuff to get done and I can't get motivated. I hate my friends that didn't get drawn so I can help and I hate my friends that got drawn, but didn't need my help!

West Fork of the Black!

Tomorrow will be the first day since 2012 that I've sat in my office on the opening day of archery elk season. I've either had my own tags or been helping someone. I'm not going to enjoy coming into work tomorrow. My boss and I were talking about it yesterday. She said she fully expects to not see me tomorrow if I get an offer to head out!

I've been a German shepherd guy my whole life and will never be without one (or two). I used to hate cats with a passion and then my wife talked me into rescuing a kitten that had been dumped in the desert at 6 weeks old. That kitten had such an attitude and chip on her shoulders, I couldn't help but fall for her. She was aptly named Spazz because she used to wait in the doorway of a room in our apartment and ambush our ankles/legs as we walked by. She's also held her own against four total German shepherds, including being best buds with our old female. A couple of years ago, our new young male and newly adopted female decided to gang up on her and come in from different angles. Both of those big, tough GSDs ran out of the room with their tails tucked between their legs and a "WTF just happened?" look on their faces. Both cats and dogs bring something special to the family in our house, but I'll never be without my GSDs. And I never get tired of seeing that video, PRDATR! Some dogs just need their butts whipped!

it's the old Grand Canyon Airport Always have to be technical, Tim!

This is exactly right. We teach this exact scenario in Hunter Ed. You have a legal right to track the animal, but you have to prove you shot it in your unit first. That's where you contact the WM for your unit before heading into the neighboring unit with your firearm or bow.

Great story and Go Jacks!! Congrats on a great buck!

My answer was better!

Trees, an old chimney, and a couple of buildings.