azhuntnut

I was helping a guy out on a rifle elk hunt this weekend in 5bn and thought I would take him to a canyon where I had seen a 310-320 bull last Sunday. I had also seen alot of digging and good bear sign in the canyon. While I was glassing for the bull this guy start heading down the canyon. I managed to get him on video and then took the picture off the video. He actually crossed the canyon and started coming up the side we were on. I got a little ahead of myself and passed the ravine he was coming up, but the other guy got a look at him before he turned tail. I did manage to find that bull later in the day, but it was to thick for a clean shot. I also saw about twenty pigs today at 6600 feet and some fat coyotes. David

He was a shooter for sure. I would think he was over 300 pounds. I took this video from 130 yards through my camera. I checked the bear hotline before I left and a sow had already been shot. David

Draws are available online. I am chasin piggies with my stick thrower in the 20's, WHOOHOOOO. David https://www1.wildlifelicense.com/az/

Who ever said you had to put in for every big game animal available. I currently purchase points for the animals I will not have the time or money for and then down the road when I am ready I put in for them. I have children also, but I save my money to allow them to put in also. If game and fish told me they were going to increase the tags the next, I would not go out to eat 5-6 times next year and that would probably cover any increases. David

The topic of increasing tag costs comes up every year. One of the biggest complaints I have noticed are from the folks with familys where there are at least three people that want to put in. Something I started doing about three years ago that has helped me when it is time to turn in my applications. Go down to your bank and open a seperate account(free at wahington mutual). Whenever you go in to make a deposit into your main account, throw in twenty bucks or more depending on what you can afford into your "hunting" account. When it comes time for the draw you will have the money saved and on hand. I usally have enough each year to cover my fuel costs and other hunting equipment. I know it seems like game and fish want to make more money, but have you ever seen what a game ranger makes. Plus they have to do four years of college to get the job. I like to idea of the increases. I think it will weed out the weekend warriors that like to get away and do some drinkin and road hunting. David

I have never hunted in 22, but I have spent two years and 30 days of hunting in unit 31 without ever seeing a bear. I put in some long miles on those days getting back into canyons, sometimes walking over 12 miles a day. If the weather is cold, I would wait until the last couple of weekends when they might be coming out. Try to find some old mine shafts where they could be hybernating. When they start coming out, they will stay close to there hole. Fresh grass will be there main food source, but I have noticed them eating pinon nuts and juniper berries. David

That is one big rodent. Do you have any idea what it weighed? David

I think you guys need more water jugs. David

Great story Jim. I can't wait to have you in camp on one of my trips. David

Dave, I will be in Flagstaff tomorrow and would like to buy it. I will send you a PM with my number. David

I have a 2000 model sportsman 500 with almost 3k on it. It has been one of the best purchases I have made. This sucker will go about anywhere and never leaves me stranded. It will even carry entire elk accept one hind quarter. I wanted to get a ranger, but I couldn't get past the cost. David

Looks like you Brittany has the honoring licked. Who did you buy your Brit from? David

I am glad to hear that somebody is getting a little customer service from them. I used to spend about four thousand dollars a year having them dismount tires for me. On two occasions they have damaged the bead while dismounting the tire. They replaced the $230.00 tire and then asked me not to come back to there store since it cost them so much to replace. Now that is customer service. This has happened at two different stores. I easily sent them an additional $5000.00 a year in customers, but they didn't seem to care about the little guy. The funny thing is, the guy who owns them started out small and he built his company on customer service. David

I love the design of the new PSE mach X and all of the number written on it, but I have also heard it has a ton of recoil and vibration. I have not had a chance to shoot one yet, but I am not in the market right now to buy one since mine has been killing animals for the last couple years with no problem. 250fps/72pds CE . My buddy is getting one for Christmas so I should get a chance to dry fire it a couple times.

Micheal, Did you guys see any lions while you were out? I want to try and get over there soon and find one before the weather gets to cold. David

I actually looked at those, but I didn't think the soles would hold up very well. I might just buy another pair of Danner Pronghorns and be done with it. David

I personally don't know anything about the area, but if you want to get around the scouting restrictions, just buy a varmit tag and act like you are hunting coyote. David

Went to the zoo on Sunday with my little ones and got some good pics. I know Jimmy is gonna love the snake pics. Enjoy, David Close up. He wasn't even scared. Nice looking bobcat. Piggies.

I have been warned to watch out for that barbed wire with my new pup. I am dreading the day he trys to shoot underneath. Good luck with the recovery. David

Now we can't do anymore short jokes, or feed him to the bears type of talk. I will see you this week Bret. David

I also have the 2800 and love it. You can carry a ton of weight all day with no problem. I even ripped it last year while it was riding on the back of my quad. I sent it back and then fixed it with no questions asked. David

I took a look through those at Cabelas and noticed that they were off by a yard or two. I tried this on a straight shot, not angled. Plus, those units have a downside, you have to calibrate them before you use them. If drop them while you are hunting, you have to recalibrate it again and it is no easy task. David

They are priced right and will go just about anywhere with the right gears. I picked this one up for $1000.00 and I think I spent another 3k building it. You can't even buy rusted jeep for 2500 k. I was going to buy a Ranger, but decided to have some fun and build this little sucker. It isn't much wider and I can haul a ton a crap in the back or take my two boys with me hunting and fishing, plus momma can ride in the front. It only weighs about 2100 lbs and can be towed behind my fifth wheel with no problem. David

I took a little trip upto the Crown King area today to try and get any kinks I might have in the Samurai. I sure was nice weather for a drive today. I went out with about 12-15 other guys who own Zuks and tried some of the obstacles. Something I found out real quick is that I need to change the transfercase gears to a lower gear set. I just didn't have enough power(66HP) to make it up the hard hills. On the second hill I knew I wasn't going to make it and decided to back down. I was slowly coming down and then all of the sudden she rolled over on the side. I had a video camera running inside and got some good video. Here are some of the pics I lifted off of the video and some stills afterwards posing for the camera. I didn't see any wildlife, but had a good time. David

I just picked up a Browning 7mm a bolt stainless stalker with the BOSS system. I had been looking for one for some years now that I could build into a loooong range gun. You can make your own loads with lightweight bullets to really reach out there, or load them heavy for larger deer or elk. Take a look at the Browning with the BOSS system. With this you can tune the barrel to whatever bullet you are using. I already have one in 300 win mag and it is a tack driver. This is my third a-bolt and I have had good luck with all of them. Check out all of these different bullets available for reloading. You can also pick up a wealth of knowledge of this reloading forum. David http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/brows...**675***9016***