Hoss50

Also dont be afraid to look in the flat lands to the north with no trees. If there is water there could be elk. I saw some big elk tracks at a water tank that didn't have a tree within 2 miles of it.

I am very pleased with him. It was humbling to see the deer before him and after him at the check station be noticeably larger deer, but I knew he was a big deer, and am very thankful for the opportunity, and happy that I made the most of the opportunity in a quick humane way.

Fly-n-hi total performance center. Ask for Jeremy and tell him Harley sent you. Jeremy is good people.

Yes sir.

I need to get a couple sets of antlers mounted in the Phoenix area. Who would you recommend? Thanks

Just for grins I want to get my deer scored. He isn't a monster but he is a good deer, and I want to try and get an idea of how big he was. Who can I take it to in Phoenix to get it scored?

I assume turret.

I don't think I can really call this a build, it is more of an assembly really. I am excited about it though none the less. I knew I wanted to build this to be a more classic looking hunting rifle that was different than what most people are doing these days. What better way to build a classic non-traditional (to the US) rifle then to start with a Mannlicher style rifle in a well established European caliber that has never gotten its full due here in the US, 6.5x55SE. I have always been a sucker for cool calibers that are not "mainstream" or super common. I picked this rifle up new/used off backpage basically brand new for a good price about 6-7 months ago. Then the research and saving of $$$ began for optics, rings, etc. The rifle is a CZ550 FS (Full Stock) in 6.5x55. The CZ550 series offers the Mauser style action and also there single set trigger which is awesome. The single set trigger is a standard trigger that is pretty clean, has a reasonable weight, and is adjustable. The "set" trigger happens if you push the trigger forward and it "sets" the trigger to a much lighter and very crisp trigger for more precision shooting. My rifle doesn't have quite as nice of a stock pattern as this one in the first pic, but I still love it. I searched and searched for info on scope rings bases, scope, etc for months while I was saving some money. I wanted to maintain a classic look with a scope that had good features but didn't have a giant 50+mm objective and was somewhat compact. My price range was $600-1000 or so. I went to Cabela's, Sportsmans, and every internet site I could think of to research and touch all kinds of different options on scopes. I really liked the idea of a Leupold for the classic Gold Ring look, but it wasn't set on it. The final list of scopes came down to the Leupold VX-5HD 2-10 & Nightforce SHV 3-10. I was set on one of those, and then right before Christmas I found a website with closeouts on a Leupold VX-6 2-12 that I knew I wanted. I didn't have the cash though so I waited with the idea of if it was meant to be it would be available when I had the money. I sold a handgun last month to a friend and lucky for me the scope was still available. I pulled the trigger and brown Santa brought me this. It is a Leupold VX-6 (non-HD) with the Boone & Crockett reticle in the 2-12 power. Now it was ring time. The CZ550 has a built in 19mm baserail system. I liked the idea of the newer style Picatinny rail, and I found a nice one from EGW Guns, but I couldn't mix the oldschool with the new school. I searched and searched and finally decided on a nice set of quick release style 30MM rings from Alaska Arms. I emailed them for info, and the owner gave me a call and we talked at length and he answered all my questions and gave me great info. I was sold. I ordered a set of these last week from Morris @ Alaska Arms and they showed up on Monday! The quality of the product is awesome. I am very glad I made the choice I did. Everything showed up in this nice tin, and was packaged quite well. I knew I wanted to be better at mounting scopes and getting things done right so I ordered these from amazon from Wheeler. I lapped the new scope rings and leveled everything to the best of my ability hoping for the best possible results. I am not 100% done with this build yet, but I finally have a functional rifle, and I managed to sneak out to the range yesterday afternoon to get the scope dialed in to a 200 yard zero so I can take it on my javelina hunt this weekend!!! I plan to get a custom leather cheek riser built along with a nice custom leather sling at some point, but for now I am in business and ready to hunt! Harley

Update: She is a deer slayer. I drew a 12A east Kaibab tag along with my buddy. We both ended up using my CZ to kill our deer, and it did a great job.

Cow or Bull? Be prepared for anything from 50+ degree highs to cold as heck. The wind is the killer up there. Check high, middle, and low. Find fresh sign and hunt hard. I shot my cow elk low in the unit a few years ago when water was plentiful, but the very next season on the same hunt the water down low was gone, and we didn't see much elk til the end of the hunt when we found some in the middle elevations. I like to camp low southeast of Babbitt lake, and commute to higher elevations if necessary. 7E has been getting worse as an elk unit over the last 5+ years. There are to many tags. Hopefully they change that soon. Harley

20a rifle javelina. This will be the first time back since the burn. I am interested to see what it looks like since all my typical javelina spots burned.

Just an update for you. I just spent 8 days up north with my Crispi Nevadas. We averaged about 5-7 miles a day hiking. I am not the most in shape hiker but we put some miles on them. I am 320lbs plus a 30lb pack and a 10lb rifle. My feet feel GREAT. I never had a day when my feet felt bad at the end if the day, like I had with my old boots. Big thumbs up.

Where is a good place to fill RV water tanks in Flagstaff? I am headed through there next week and would rather not drag the 100+ gallons of water up the hill if I don't have to. Best case scenario would be some place on the 89 headed north out of town past the mall.

The giant station in Flagstaff no longer fills potable water. They still have a dump station and non-potable water though. We filled at Black Barts across the highway. Jacob lake lodge says they fill too, but a 50gal maximum.

Supposedly there are elk in the Kaibab. Has anyone seen them recently? I will be up there next week and was wondering if it might be worth while to buy one of the leftover elk tags. I will be in 12AE. I called the flagstaff game & fish office and they didn't have any recent info on sightings or info.

The company that owns Black Ovis and Camofire are the Crispi distributors for the US.

I have been wearing the same pair of military surplus combat boots for way to long, and I decided I wanted a new set of boots that would last, but be a good investment in comfort for my feet. If I can hike more miles because my feet are more comfortable, I can hopefully see more animals and get more opportunities. I am a huge Redwing Boot fan, and have owned many sets. I couldn't find a set I wanted to use as a dedicated hunting boot so I started looking for other boots. My initial price range was $200-300. Once I decided against Redwing I started looking at dedicated hunting boots, and I kept hearing about Kenetrek, Crispi, Schnee's, White's, etc. I originally went down to Ross to look at the Crispi Summit boot which is about $300, and intended on getting those. When I was speaking with the rep, he mentioned that the Summit does not have the ankle support system the Nevada's and other more expensive Crispi's have, and they cannot be re-soled like the more expensive boots can. That was the deciding factor. I can get the boots re-soled. I have done this to multiple sets of Redwing over the years, and it is a huge bonus to be able to get more miles out of the same boots. This should hopefully be the last pair of boots I buy. That was worth the extra $100 over the Summit IMO. I am glad I didn't cheap out and get a lesser pair of boots. $400 for a set of boots should be a no brainer for most of us on here. I bet 99.9% of us have WAY more then that into our rifles, bow, etc. If you are willing to invest well over $400+ in a rifle or bow, why not on your boots. You MIGHT get a chance to use that rifle or bow on your hunt, but you WILL get to use your boots on that hunt even if your weapon never gets shouldered or drawn.

I bought a pair of Insulated Nevada's about 2 weeks ago. So far I LOVE them. I got them and walked 2 miles in them in my neighborhood, then went scouting the next day. I walked about 5-6 miles scouting with ZERO issue. I have worn them since walking in my neighborhood to get a few more miles on them before my hunt that starts this weekend. I made the investment to get good boots for once in my life, and I am super happy I did. I wear a 12-13 depending on the shoe manufacturer, typically in wide width. I am really probably a 12.5, except nobody makes a 12.5 in the US. I went down to Ross Outdoors to try the boots on because they were the only shop in town I found that stocked any Crispi. I tried on the Nevada in size 12 regular they had, and it was nice, but a little snug. I had them order me a 12.5 wide, and with a mid-weight sock on they are perfect.

I am guessing that if it is only 30-40 animals that they cant do alot to encroach on the deer, and the amount of resources it would take to track them would not be worth the effort or dollars. They also get idiots like me who plop down $50 for a tag I have almost zero shot at filling. It is free money. If they really wanted them gone they would issue an elk permit with every deer permit, and then if you filled the elk permit they gave you a 2nd deer tag as a bonus. Those elk would be gone quick.

Couesnsheep I think does the dog food with meat, and others too. I am doing some of the same with old meat right now trying to make freezer room without wasting meat.

I want to compliment Ross on fine customer service. I went in today to look around because I had never been in the shop. Dave helped me out and gave me great info and customer support. The shop was very nicely stocked with great products as well which was awesome. Thanks Harley

Thanks Again Ross team. I ordered a set of Crispi boots and the Ross guys got them in quick and let me know they were in ASAP. I picked them up late last week so I could wear them on my scouting trip last weekend. All the staff I have worked with have been super helpful and knowledgeable. Good work guys, and thank you.

I put some miles on Crispi Nevadas this weekend out scouting. They are awesome. They are super comfortable, good stability, and good traction.

Link? I only see them at $170

Has anyone been up there since the rains? How bad of shape are the forest roads in? Are they a muddy mess?