IA Born

Fly fishing is one of my greatest loves. I can easily see how people get snobby about it. My snobby-ness only goes as far as I'd rather fish a dry fly than a nymph. I simply love fishing too much to be a fly fishing snob. I grew up in central Iowa spending almost every free weekend in the summer catching catfish with stinkbait on the Des Moines River below Red Rock Dam. How can anyone who has those roots be an elitist? And let me tell you, that Doc's stinkbait looks an awful lot like peanut butter, so its easy to not realize it when it gets on your PB&J! But it sure as #%$# doesn't taste like peanut butter!

Set up text alerts on your credit card. You'll know instantly if you get a charge. I set mine up to alert me of any charges over $10. As long as the amount meets my parameter, I'll get an alert before the cashier even closes the drawer. Pretty slick! It's notified me of several tags in real time. I'm going to have to look into that! I wasn't selected for jury duty this morning, so I'll be able to call in! But I'll definitely look into the text alerts! Thanks!

I just got chills, duckhunter! If (when) you were in Vicenza, then you've seen that profile pic of my dad. Last I knew it was hanging in a memorial/history section somewhere on base. He was there for the reactivation ceremony. I used to go to reunions all the time and those guys (and wives) have been more family to me than most blood. I know you get that. I've been to one reunion since my dad died. It was tough being there without him. I'm about ready to go back so my kids can learn more about the grandpa they never met. I read Sal's book a couple of years ago and have kept up with events in the Korengal. You have my utmost respect and unwavering appreciation and thanks. If there is ever ANYTHING I can do from here, don't hesitate! AATW!

I've been thinking about it since Halloween. That's when I started calling my credit card to check for hits!

My money is on Friday also. If I'm selected for jury duty and it goes into Friday, its going to be heck not being able to call and check!

That was awesome!

Dang Brian 17BP for turkey you aint been holdin your tongue on the correct side of your mouth and bitin down hard enough when you submit your application. If your luck holds maybe you'll get that Gould's tag your jury duty will start on April 22, 2016 and you will be sequestered. Good luck on the draw hope you finally get your Gould's tag without the jury duty. I think I'm going to have you fill out my next app for me if this year doesn't pan out, Bill! The good thing about this week's jury duty is that after this week, my name goes out of the selection process for two years. Otherwise, your April 22, 2016 scenario would be my luck!

I'm proud to "know" you. Thank you for your service!

That was two years before dad's last battle, before dad was even in country. As my dad told me, the battles were basically the same, just in different places and with different faces. He did a lot to help other veterans with PTSD as he tried to recover from and cope with his. Dad went to a 173rd reunion in the late 70s and met Larry Joel, the medic from 8 Nov 1965. Dad said Larry was a class act. I've had the privilege of meeting two MOH recipients, both from Vietnam. Both are two great, humble men. One gave me one of his official challenge coins. He was a medic and all he will ever talk about regarding the events that lead to his medal are the men he couldn't save. Here is "Dak To". http://www.amazon.com/Dak-Americas-Soldiers-Vietnams-Highlands/dp/0891419101/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1447186217&sr=1-1&keywords=dak+to I have an original hardback. Those are extremely hard to find now. Mike (hoghntr), if you are reading this again, you now know why I was so willing to help a disabled vet with info and the pack out. God bless you, buddy!

My dad served two tours with the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sep) from 1966-1967. His company (C/1/503/173rd Abn) was part of Task Force Black during the battles of Dak To in the Central Highlands. TF Black walked into a huge ambush on November 11, 1967 and was almost overrun. Dad was part of the point element since he was a forward observer for the mortar platoon. As dad was laying in the wounded area awaiting treatment, an NVA grenade landed in the middle of the group. PFC John A. Barnes III threw himself on the grenade, saving everyone's lives. Dad held him in his arms as he died. Combat Barnes was awarded the MOH for his actions. The men from C/4/503/173rd Abn broke through enemy lines on November 12, reinforcing TF Black and bringing much needed ammo and supplies. Out of just over 200 men in TF Black, 140+ were wounded, 25 were KIA, 2 are MIA, and 25 walked out without a scratch. Veteran's Day was always much more than Veteran's Day in our house growing up. I won't repeat the things we saw and heard. The book "Dak To" by Edward Murphy is a great book documenting all the battles of Dak To from June-November 1967. Ed lives in Mesa and is a dear friend of our family. Dad died April 10, 2004, but his soul never actually came back from Vietnam. His war was finally over. Happy Veteran's Day to you all. To the families of veterans, especially those families who fight and survive what comes home, you are loved just as much! Jump School graduation photo at Fort Benning. On his first tour during a break. 130 lbs carrying 100 lbs of gear. Photo taken by AP photographer and used for recruiting posters. Also in the opening credits of "Quantum Leap". During a break in a fire mission (according to caption on back)

If I'm not selected for jury duty tomorrow and Friday, I will be calling my credit card all day to see if there are any pending charges. I'm expecting one $25 charge for my javelina tag, but I'm hoping there will be two (or three) for my Gould's tag and, hopefully, my daughter gets lucky to get one! With 17 points, I should be getting close!

I just bought my tickets, but couldn't agree more with Rossi on this!

Second this wholeheartedly! I absolutely love reading your posts involving your daughter. This hunt takes me straight back to my daughter's first elk hunt last year. At 10 years old, she had the first Peaks hunt and hiked about 24 miles in 3.5 total days of hunting. She didn't fill her tag, passed on two unethical shots, and hiked her butt off and always managed to find a smile, even through the tears. She's filled two deer dags since then and that elk hunt remains my favorite because of exactly what you described, Lance. No matter the outcome, you're doing it right! Congrats to you and Taylor!

You are correct except for AGFD not telling the whole story. Two years ago when this law was first put in place, I raised all kinds of questions with folks I knew at AGFD. I was planning a trip to Texas to take my daughter on her first deer hunt and TX regs are such that you CANNOT bone out an animal until it reaches its final destination. It has to stay quartered or whole until its at the processor or your home to be self-processed. That, along with AZ's new law, created a major problem for me traveling from Texas to Arizona. According to the law, I would have had to stop somewhere in NM and bone it out before bringing it across state lines to get it to my processor (not going to wait in TX or have it shipped). As a Federal agent, I am not subject to any gray area of any law, so I made some phone calls, starting with friends. I used my wildlife management background to talk biology, reason, and law with them. It didn't take long for folks at AGFD to see the dilemma that the law created and they were working on it. Shortly after that, they mailed out post cards to every hunter they had licenses on file for stating exactly what you are saying: "you can bring back any and all parts of raw deer or elk if it is taken to a licensed taxidermist or meat processor." I distinctly remember getting that post card in the mail shortly after I was assured it was being sent due to realization of the mistakes. It sounds like AGFD forgot to update the regs in the book or put in the clarification language. That is a big deal, but AGFD did realize the situation they were putting hunters who travel to other states in as soon as they crossed the line. They didn't want hunters getting cited for pulling over as soon as they crossed the state line and have people boning out game on the side of the road. As for CWD in Arizona, it really is a matter of time before its detected here, biologically, in my humble, biological opinion. Its in NM, CO, and UT. Its not a hard jump to go from population to population to population of cervids from the three neighboring states. It may not ever be as prevalent as it is in the other states due to lower densities, but I'd be really surprised if it never showed up in the future. As for no evidence that baiting spreads disease, there is plenty of scientific literature out there documenting the increased rate of spread of certain diseases as a result of congregating animals at bait or feeding stations. In Wyoming, an increase of up to 20% in cervid brucellosis was documented as a result of the winter feeding programs. I'd have to dig through my literature, but its there and I can email it to anyone interested when I find it again. In no way am I bringing this up to advocate against baiting, just sticking to and pointing out science.

Did you remember to enter my name in the "who to give tag to" section? Sorry to hear about your wife's buck. That's just plain crazy!

Great buck, Mike! Congrats!

Yes sir it is. He no longer works in Flag. And happy belated birthday.I got a call in to Eddie already. Sorry to hear his hunt is going to work out! I've been super busy, but meaning to get ahold of him. Give him my best! He's a great guy and made quite the impression on my wife for his generosity and manners!

I was out at a soccer tournament in Phoenix all weekend and just noticed this. Thanks guys! Its a day I've struggled with over the years for personal reasons (dad's PTSD causing mine), but it was the best one in a long time! Thanks a bunch!!

Is that Duane? I've been meaning to get ahold of him to check in. Second on OE4A with Eddie!

NWTF State Chapter is raffling one off. I think tickets are $20/each. http://www.nwtfarizona.org/2015-pistol-of-year-raffle.html

Sure does make me miss chasing those grey ghosts! I need to get back down south again!

If you change your mind and want me to check in with AGFD up here, let me know. I'm probably overdue for a conversation with a few of them, anyway. And thanks for using non-lead up there! Its appreciated by many more than you realize!

You have to be the one to hit the animal. I was in a similar situation as Rossislider a few years ago. We came up on a nice 3x3 muley that had hit a minivan in the side door. No vehicle was around (turning around and drove back to the scene). I called 911 to try and get permission to dispatch it and try to not waste the meet, identifying myself as a Federal wildlife agent/biologist. The lady got real snippy with me emphasizing that I could not be issued a salvage tag because I didn't hit it. I explained that I was well aware of the laws, I just wanted to put it out of its misery properly and requested a DPS officer or AGFD officer on scene since I was without my pistol and with my family. She didn't appreciate me snapping back at her, but said an officer was en route. Right after that the buck got off and ran off. Last I saw, he was cranking south. One heck of a bell ringing. DPS arrived and I left a statement if he needed info for AGFD, but we talked about salvage tags. They can only be issued to the person who hit the animal, but that person can then sign them over to someone else.

Crap! I looked all over and can't find it. I must have recycled it after I got the bullets for her handloads. I can call over to a couple of friends/colleagues at the Flagstaff office and track one down if you want me to. Say the word. PM is probably best because I'll be at my daughter's soccer practice in an hour and out all day tomorrow.

Wing mountain is a good spot (I'm told), but it can be a pain to get in there and find parking. I've honestly never been there in the 8 years we've lived here because I refuse to fight that and pay. You also have to be careful because people (illegally) park along Hwy 180 and its a NIGHTMARE. NAU has a few hills that are popular, including the hills on the NAU practice fields to the east/southeast of the Dome. There are some around Ft. Tuthill/Fairgrounds. I know people hit some of the hills in Kachina, but they also get chased off by CCSO because they aren't supposed to be there. We usually tear it up on our backyard because its got a great slope and not crowded at all! There are some decent hills down off 89A just a couple of miles south of town heading towards Sedona, too. You can hike in a bit to the Griffith's Spring area just south of town and a couple of side roads that are gated offer good, safe, sledding. Let me put some more thought into areas I know if you want to avoid more crowded areas.