RodinAZ

Good pix, I hope you get that pesky bear.

Great pics! I'm heading up this weekend to put cameras out, hope I find a hot spot like yours

Free floating will most likely improve accuracy along with a properly bedded action. However an improperly bedded action will have the opposite effect. I had a rifle re-stocked and bedded by a "professional" rifle builder, it truly shot like crap, that is until I took it out of the brand new fiberglass stock and replaced it with the original Remington wood chassis and bedded it myself.

I agree, I bought a youth compound bow last year, my 6 y.o was able to pull it back but not the 5 y.o. A recurve would be a better choice at the age of your little ones. I believe I bought the Barret compound bow kit, it came with a few arrows, however the arrows are about 5" too long and mostly do not fly very well.

+1 to Phoenix Custom Rifles. I just dropped off a another rifle today to have barrel threaded. Brad and Keith are GTG, they know their stuff and are straight up front with you on all costs.

What 308 and Wano said is spot on. I have had a couple 260 AIs and now have a 260 Rem and a 6.5X47L, the 260 is slightly superior ballistically but otherwise equal. I would be confident out to 600-700 yds. with either using a 130 gr. VLD on CWT. Recoil IMO is right between a 308 and 243, otherwise pretty light recoil.

Just received a new Erbelestock (spelling?) its the M5 Team Elk pack @ 3100 ci which is expandable. It also comes with built in rifle scabbard and bow carrier. Although I have not used it yet, I like the features and abundance of pockets to store gear along with built in aluminum frame will make this great for packing in and out.

My hunting buddy and I drew early Elk tags and he has decided to NOT put in for the draw for WT tags due to work constraints. This leaves me in a pickle as I could care less about work and would rather chase white tails. Therefore I am again this year without a hunt camp, same circumstance last year (hence, I need a dedicated Coues partner(s) I can count on) as I would rather hunt WT than anything else. I'm not looking for a guide or any hand holding as I consider myself very capable as a hunter, I just would rather hunt/camp with like minded hunters. So, if anyone would consider adding a dedicated Coues hunter to their camp I would be willing to have a conversation to see if I would be a good fit. PM me with your contact info or I'll send you mine. I live in Chandler and have hunted the 36 units with good success, although I would prefer one of the northern units (22-24) or open to suggestions. Thanks, Rod

Thanks for the replies and PMs. I too like the idea about separate forum. Flatlander, I have only scouted and Coyote hunted in the 20s units, also spend alot of time in 3A, 4A and 4B on elk hunts and camping.

My buddy ended up drawing a coveted early Bull tag (dang him) and has decided to purchase an OTC deer tag, primarily for an excuse to scout his unit prior to his golden hunt. Therefore my interest to apply for a deer tag was on the back burner due to his success and lack of interest in applying for a rifle deer tag. So I missed the application deadline and now my focus is on picking up a left over deer tag. I have hunted 36A and 36B with good success and chances are good I'll find myself hunting either of those units come fall due to the abundance of tags. My conundrum is I'd rather not hunt there by myself given the border situation and would rather hunt/camp with other(s). Therefore, I'm throwing this out there if you have room to add a die hard whitetail hunter to your camp, I would be willing to do my fair share +. I'd be open to other units pending tag availability. heck, I would entertain the thought of teaming up with others if they are in the same situation. Rod

The 6.5 is my favorite caliber, I have both a 260 and a 6.5X47, not much difference in a velocity difference as far as I can tell with my loads. Both are very accurate and the cartridges have proven effective on whitetails. With either of these rifles, I would feel confident taking shots up to 500+ yards depending upon conditions. The 6.5 CM would also be a good choice, albeit no appreciable difference between the other two.

I bought a Rem. CDL last year that came with a Leupold custom dial scope, the scope worked very well as it came (used) with two elevation caps for different loads. However, the rifle itself didn't shoot well regardless of my efforts. This was the 1" model, if I were to buy another, it would be the 30mm model. Prior to this, I was using ballistic reticles for holdover at longish range. Recently, I've started dialing in the range as it is more consistent and allows you to dial in the correct adjustment for specific ranges.

Thanks for the replies fellas! Great ideas, are there any Coues Whitetail events coming up this summer? I'm on a 60/60/50 work schedule starting after the upcoming holiday, therefore kinda limited on Saturday events.

I'm looking forward to the opportunity to hunt suppressed, although not sure I will use one while big game hunting. Primarily due to the extra 10 or 12" a can will add to the length. I mainly see this as a benefit to the varmint and predator hunting crowd, as shooting prairie dogs is fun, shooting them suppressed is awesome. To comment on some of the previous posts; A class III license is not required to own a suppressor, you purchase class III items from a SOT/class III dealer, and after you complete the paperwork, include a $200 check payable to BATFE and wait 3 to 6+ months, you receive a FORM 4 (actually the form 4 is sent to the dealer) which allows you then to pick up the class III item from the dealer. A quality suppressor can be purchased for $500, up to $1200-$1500 depending on what you want. I have a Titanium 30 caliber can that works on every rifle caliber up to 300 magnums, I use it on my 17 Ackley Hornet, 223s etc.. So you could essentially have one "can" to handle all or most of your needs. If you want to shoot rimfire ammo, you need to purchase a rf can as they tend to get dirty. Some are solid and other makes allow you to disassemble them for cleaning. There are several methods in which you can purchase a Class III item, someone said "Trust", this is the most popular way. Many dealers will set up your Trust for free when you make the purchase, it only takes a few minutes, this is however a very basic trust in which you can add future purchases to and may not give you many options. The are other types of Trusts available, an attorney can set up other Trusts which would allow the Class III item to be automatically transferred to a beneficiary, whereas the basic will not (from my understanding)No finger print card needed, NO LEO paperwork- do your research. Next, you can purchase the item by means of personal application, this requires LEO approval, finger print cards and adds a couple weeks to the process, items cannot be transferred without going through the whole sales and approval process again. Lastly, a Corporation can take title of the Form 4, much like the Trust, it has similar application process, no finger print cards or LEO approval. The item stays with the Corp. for ever or until transferred to another Form 3 or 4. I'm not 100% sure on legalities of Corporation as far as use by Corp members, best to seek legal counsel if considering this route. Obviously, if you are considering a purchase, do your research and find the best method that meets your criteria. I'm sure I passed over some vital info and maybe some of the info I have is lacking. Regardless, the process is pretty straight forward and painless, other than the wait. Yes, suppressors do not silence, they only reduce the sound, typically somewhere around 30-35db reduction. Shooting subsonic gives incredible results, albeit a rainbow trajectory and not a realistic option for hunting big game, although a viable option for predator hunting where shots are within 100 yards.

I am located in Chandler

I have two unopened lbs of Re 17, 20.00 each or trade for other powders

OP updated, price is per lb. IBID

Bonus points here, that just means I get to spend more time hunting whitetails.

Great post, I can hardly wait to start camping, let alone camping while hunting. Regardless of the meal, it will 100 times better than what I eat at home. That being said, pre cooked hot and spicy chicken wings(just throw em on the smoky mesquite fire to warm them up), jalapeno poppers, either rib eye or some other quality cut of meat (I'm not picky), cowboy burgers are always great, unless you forget about them that is. There have been a few that said Crown and Coke which is hard to beat, I like mine with Sierra Mist, otherwise I'll take Captain and Coke.

Great stories, I can see where my wife would never let me out live me telling her "there's nothing outside". The first time we went tent camping (her last) it was late September in 4B and the bulls were just beginning to bugle, we had a bull very close to the tent bugling like made, she was mad at me because he decided to bugle next to the tent! Another time, I was out predator hunting with a couple guys, we drove down this deep dark canyon and all of a sudden, the ground ahead of us came alive. There were Coati's running everywhere, (I'd never seen one since moving from Iowa the year before)they jump out and load their guns quickly and started blazing away. Out of the "herd", we ended up with one each and layed them in the back of the truck with the coyotes we'd taken earlier. We stopped to do another stand about a 1/2 hr. later, Clint opened the tail gate on the pick up and one of the dead Coatis attacked, it was more like a big hissy fit but it scared the heck out of him and we got a good laugh.

What a toad! Great looking buck, congrats.

When I drove back to Iowa in early November, it was about 5:30 a.m when I saw a deer feeding on the edge of the road. At first I thought it had to be a mule deer, as I grew closer it became apparent it was indeed a huge WT. This was just east of Star Valley. And, on my way back from my elk hunt in 3c, there was a road kill WT doe in the ditch near where the buck was.

A buddy and I bought a couple leftover tags for 36B this year, this would be our first hunt in that unit. We scouted the unit a couple weeks prior to the hunt and found some promising areas, spotting two bucks that morning, we felt confident in our chances. Unfortunately luck was not on our side this year, we spotted only spikes the first two days, the third day I glassed up a very nice 4x4 two mountain tops over, by the time I topped the first mountain, someone started shooting at him and the buck dissapeared. That turned out to be our only opportunity after the spikes on day one and two. Overall, we had a great time and vowed to try the unit again next year if we are unsuccessful at our first choices. We did glass up several illegals and a handful of javelinas. Great looking country Our nearly impenetrable border fence Well, atleast I get another chance this year at elk.

A buddy and I will be there as well for our hunt. Weather conditions look favorable for the hunt, with the exception of the lunar cycle that is.

Congrats on a great buck!