Red Rabbit

Y'all have an enjoyable hunt and be safe this weekend. Enjoy the cooler weather this year.

I have used the 180 Accubond from my 300WSM on mule deer, Texas Whitetail, feral pigs, and cow elk with no regrets or concerns. Behavior was similar to a Nosler Partition- not as disruptive as a Ballistic Tip or Berger VLD, but still very effective.

I tried one on a rifle that had mediocre accuracy/precision. Regardless of where I placed the doughnut, there was no improvement in precision. Hope your results are better, as some have reported good success.

Vinnie, congrats on a nice coues and an enjoyable hunt with your friend Justin. Doug~RR

Hope you get to enjoy it with one of your prickly pear beverages. HBD!

Lark, I just found and read your first "meaning of life" post. Seems that the trail out of the woods has had its rocks and turns for your granddaughter, but the ride together has blessed the family in other ways. May God be with y'all and y'all with Him.

JLP, welcome to cwt.com. Congrats to your son on a nice bull. Doug~RR

If any member youth hunters were successful on their coues hunt and wish to enter the CWT buck contest, please email me your field photo, gross score and link to the story you post. I have only received one youth entry so far. Thanks. http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/in...showtopic=20199 Doug~RR

Nikon has a deal until Oct 31 that if you buy some EDG optics, you get a free D3000 w/ kit lens http://www.nikonpromo.com/edg.html But neither the D3000 nor the D5000 have an internal in-body autofocus motor, so you would need AF-S lenses that have their own motor (or focus manually)

Shoulda taken an old turkey foot and made tracks in the mud for those turkey hunters to find.

You can sometimes get used cameras from Adorama or B&H, but savings vary over new. http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20407482.html What lense will you use for birds?

tanclan, No preregistration is required this year. Forum Members need to just email the photo, score and link to the posted story after their successful hunt. Good Luck. http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/in...showtopic=20199

Stan, Are you using a wood stove or propane heater to keep Greta warm in the tent? Any condensation problems?

Greta- Looks like your deer hunt was great fun for you. Congrats on your success and keep drawing those tags. Stan- I know you enjoyed it as much as Greta. Thanks for that and taking the time for your kids. But why did you skip the traditional initiation for first time successful hunters of smearing blood on their face . How did the new tent work out for you?

Wyoming Antelope Hunt 2010 The second day of my first Wyoming antelope hunt began with a colorful sunrise. My thought was “Red in the Morning, Sailor Take Warning”, or in this case, the antelope should take warning. This second day was to be the day to uncase the rifle as I had decided to spend the first day of my hunt looking over the unit and many antelope in search of a nice buck. Preliminary conversations with others had said to expect to see hundreds of antelope each day and to not shoot the first nice buck. Second Morning’s Colorful Dawn Since I had accumulated four preference points for antelope in Wyoming, one of the better units was applied for this in year’s draw. While not one of the fabled Red Desert units, publications had suggested that this unit, among some others, possessed good trophy potential. A conversation with the biologist suggested that it may be better this year than even the Red Desert due to differences in previous winter kill and this year’s moisture. After entering the central portion of the unit to set up camp on Monday evening, the plan for the day of scouting was to first drive and glass from roads heading west with the morning sun at the back. Since I did not have the opportunity to scout prior to the season and locate a great buck that would require me being there at opening light, I had arrived a few days after the opening weekend to create a more enjoyable hunt with fewer hunters to contend with. This proved true as I saw only three other vehicles each day. Westward at Sunrise During the morning’s scouting drive, one area of sage hills surrounding a large water pond held two potential bucks was found worthy of returning to the next day. One buck with deep curls, albeit short in length, was seen from very short range of twenty yards when I crept over a rise to look at the basin below and we found each other in a stare-down. A second basin near the northern edge of the boundary held a satellite buck of maybe 16” and prettier than the dominant buck. In another small bowl, a buck and about a half dozen does were spooked from their feeding as the truck crested the ridge into the basin. As he fled with his harem, I said out loud to myself “Now that’s a good buck.” The small group ran to the head of the draw and began feeding again, so I circled around to the back side of the ridge on the north side of the basin to where I would be even with him, exited the truck, and slowly walked over the top until his horns appeared on the horizon maybe fifty yards away. What I saw through the Leica Binoculars confirmed my earlier thoughts about him being a prime candidate. Good Buck’s Basin In the sun-drenched afternoon, I drove easterly to the southeastern end of the unit to keep the sun at my back. The terrain was flatter, less conducive to stalking, and the numbers of antelope fewer. Only one buck was seen that was better than average. He was wandering alone, but no telling where he would be in the morning. But he was not as good as the previous ones to merit a drive east the next day. Nearing sunset, a 5-point bull elk with two cows was seen in the sagebrush hills far from typical elk summer habitat. The first day’s scouting did indeed reveal many antelope with plenty of bucks as people had said would happen. Most bucks would score around 70 inches or less. Some had length but little mass, tip curl or prong length. Back at the meager camp at the end of this first scouting day, I decided to make the “that’s a good buck” the prime target of the next day’s hunt. After sunrise and a quick breakfast, I headed the Chevy west to the small basin where hopefully the buck would still be with his harem. Taking a different two-track across the sage hills showed another nice buck, but he was not as massive as the target buck. Pressing onward, I arrived near the base of the draw the buck lived in and noticed a single doe on the slope, and a buck sky-lined on the ridge top. “There he is”, I exclaimed to myself. Buck’s Ridge and Road Not wanting to spook the buck by stopping the truck, I continued driving along the road to a spot undetectable from the two. I assembled my pack and rifle, left Rica my German Wire Haired Pointer, in the cab of the truck, and hiked up a shallow cut to near the top of the ridge and downwind where I could hopefully creep over the top and spot him before he saw me. In the time that elapsed since I first saw him and had gotten my gear together, he had moved back into the draw on the other side of his basin. Fortunately, I had seen him without him seeing me first. I backed down the slope, shucked the pack shucked and the rifle attached to the tripod with the Gun Claw, I crept slowly over the rise trying to keep a low profile as I gained enough ground to clear shooting line over the ridges curved horizon. The rangefinder gave a reading of 335 yards and the elevation turret was dialed. Conditions were virtually windless, so no horizontal adjustments were made for this condition. When the crosshair was still on his lung cavity, the 130 grain Berger VLD from the 6.5 WSM Winchester Super Grade was launched. The definitive thwack of bullet impact was heard, and the buck took four steps before collapsing. I was thankful for a quick kill, but was curious where the rest of his harem was as only one doe was seen minutes earlier. Arriving at the downed antelope, I was surprised at the mass and prong length and also the body size of the buck. I feel that the North American Pronghorn may be one of our most beautiful game animals, and I had taken a trophy that will grace my wall for years to come. Doug~RR

Received in an email a few hours ago: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Due to lack of volunteer support the ADA has canceled its 2010 Youth Deer Camp in unit 23. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The ADA is sorry to announce that it has canceled the 2010 youth deer camp that was scheduled for this weekend, Oct 8-10. The ADA regrets this action and we hope that this has not caused hardship for anyone. Unfortunately there just wasn't enough volunteer support to conduct the camp. (note: TheArizonaHunter.com youth deer camp in 23 outside of Punkin Center is still occuring this weekend)

I see that Vortex has the straight eyepiece Razor spotter listed on their website. http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/vortex...-spotting-scope A call to Vortex informed me that these are in the process of being shipped to dealers possibly this week. One would have been nice to use on my recent antelope hunt as opposed to an old Cabelas model.

HBD! So whatcha got planned?

Scott, go make some great memories and best of luck to ya! Doug~RR

Houston, Nice bull. I suppose the best congrats should be for sticking with him and tracking him for 4mi/8 hours for what was likely a difficult task. Many other "hunters" would have quickly said "Oh well" and gone off and wounded another. RR

I do not know if I would consider hunting Mearns without a pointing dog since they hold very tight and nearly have to step on them to flush. They are very difficult to see in the grass. I would stay to units 34A, 36B, 35A, 35B and look for oak-lined draws. Hunt the north facing slopes of the draws. From azgfd.gov http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunting_units.shtml 34A Mearn's quail season should be average to above average for 2010-2011. Summer precipitation started late but is on track for average to slightly above average amounts. Mearn's quail populations are closely related to summer precipitation. Generally, if the monsoons are decent, quail numbers will be good. Most of the Mearn’s quail habitat has received average monsoon rainfall. All canyon systems on the southeast side of the Santa Rita Mountains from Fish Canyon to Temporal canyon will produce fair hunting. If you want to get away from the majority of the hunters, try the higher elevations and steeper slopes. For a little more solitude try upper Temporal, Squaw Gulch, and the canyons around Alto on the southwest side of the Santa Ritas. It's more work but the birds are there and the country is beautiful. Make sure you and your dog are in good shape to hunt those areas. Don't forget to pick up a copy of the hunting regulations before you go. Make sure to check the hunt regulations as the season starts later for Mearns quail than the desert quail, and the bag and possession limits are different. A popular area for Mearns Quail hunters is Fort and Hog Canyon. The traditional entrance off of Highway 82 is not public access and has been posted no trespassing by the homeowner's association. Respect landowner's rights and use the alternative access through Gardner Canyon. 35A&B Mearns' quail populations are found throughout the numerous mountain ranges. The most huntable populations are found in the scattered oak-juniper woodlands at elevations ranging from 5,000 - 6,000 feet. These areas, located around the Huachuca Mts., Canelo Hills and Patagonia Mts., have good concentrations of Mearns' quail. Public access throughout these areas is excellent. To get good Mearns’ quail habitat, take I-10 to Hwy 83, south to Sonoita. From Sonoita take Hwy 82 east to Sierra Vista or take Hwy 82 west to Patagonia where the Patagonia Mountains or San Rafael Valley can be accessed. To access the Canelo Hills and the west side of the Huachuca Mts. take Hwy 83 south from Sonoita. Take Hwy 82 from Sonoita to Nogales to access the west side of the Patagonia Mts. Notes: Access information can be obtained by purchasing a USFS map or by contacting the BLM Sierra Vista office at (520) 458-3559. 36B Overview: Unit 36B is primarily a Mearns quail hunting unit. Some Gambels quail can be found in the San Luis drainage and in the mesquite/grassland habitat located in the northeastern part of the unit. Good Mearns quail hunting is found in the oak grassland areas along the Ruby Road and in the Tumacacori Mts. Hunt the north facing slopes that have good oak cover. A particularly popular area to hunt Mearns quail is in the canyons near Pena Blanca Lake. Be advised that the area immediately around the lake is a recreational area where shooting any firearm is not allowed. Contact the U.S. Forest Service-Nogales Ranger District Office for more information. The Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge is closed to all quail hunting in order to protect the endangered Masked Bobwhite Quail. For access and additional information, please see the write-up on javelina.

I had to put chains up front when on some slippery clay in Southern Utah one time, otherwise would have been sliding into the ditch. You will probably be able to get by without chains though. Have not needed them in AZ yet.

Since I usually have at tripod for glassing, I have added the 701HDV head and have the GunClaw attached to the gun ready to swap out with the binos. Just used the Claw on my WY antelope hunt. In the past, I have used the 25" Harris, Steady Stix, and a Daypack for rests

Rica and I are planning on hitting the oak hills with full stomachs of turkey and pumkin pie Thanksgiving weekend. Great bird to hunt. Hopefully the summer rains have produced a good hatch.

Tracy, Congrats on an exciting hunt! Great color that will look good if rugged. Looks to have the ears apart on the head indicating an older bear. Did you square him or measure skull size yet? Doug~RR