Red Rabbit

As a somewhat related issue, I read where Nevada ranchers are opposed to the Nevada G&F putting drinkers on federal land since the wildlife imapcts their livestock grazing. Wonder what these ranchers are saying about Grijalvas burro bill (Southern Arizonans need to replace/vote Grijalva from office, imo) http://www.idahostatesman.com/usnews/story/1006950.html

Just get the Rockchucker Supreme. You will be happier, especially with the greater leverage and larger window for longer cases. The Partner kit is cheaper (cost and quality wise) because you do not get a better single stage press, hand priming tool, and the Uniflow powder measure. Also, a cheaper balance scale is in the partner kit. http://www.epinions.com/review/Rcbs_Partne...nt_439695412868

My first trip to Alaska was a vessel-based hunt originating in Kodiak for Sitka Blacktails . Five of us (Art, Troy, Jason, Mecen and myself) were on a Art's 36' UniFlyte with twin diesels, galley, head and bunks for 4. We were out for 7 days of comraderie, good food and hunting adventure. Reflections in Kodiak Harbor. Kodiak is on the northeast side of the island, and we motored for a day to the northwest side, past some scalloped shorelines. We stopped above an underwater hump to catch some dinner- Yellow-eyed rockfish and quill backs which were served blackened and later in fish tacos. On the return trip we stopped again and caught some more yellow eyes and a couple halibuts. I spent a few mornings shotgunning some seaducks, primarily goldeneyes and the beautiful Harlequins. We saw over 30 brown bears on the beaches and the slopes, and one swimming across the bay. The Alaskan Vulture, err Bald Eagle, was ever-present, usually perched along the shorelines. A Lion's Mane jellyfish was in shallow water. Sunrises were quite colorful. We were treated to several rainbows. The hunting began on the beach with about a 1000' climb to glass for deer. But this climb was made difficult by the 30*-45* slopes, having to bull upward through thick alder thickets, knee-to-chest high grass, and thorn-covered berry stalks and devils club that constantly tried to grab a boot, stop the legs from moving, or trip you . It was like trying to run in waist deep water wearing ankle weights. Being over-the-hill didn't help getting up the hill either . We found the deer population to be severly lacking, possibly due to the long spring. Most of the bucks we saw were forkies. The first day we saw no deer. The second was wettened by a constant light rain. Troy and I saw a nice buck possily 4x4, but we judged him too far away to shoot and gave us the slip when we tried to close the distance. We passed on a few forkies that day. The rain tuned to snow that night. THis should have made the deer stand out, but the third day only shown a few does/fawns, and a couple of forkies. The wind howled up to 35-40 knots, making rough seas that forced us to hole up in a sheltered cove for four days, and kept the deer hunkered down in the thick alders. On the next to last day, the weather became nice and we pulled up anchor and relocated around the point into the next arm back towards Kodiak. The last full day, we jumped a nice buck out of its bed on a open slope, but it made haste around the point. We decided to work back that way and located a forky and doe in a alder thicket below. We rounded the next point and Troy spotted three bucks on a open ridge below. Shots from the 300 WSM anchored two of the bucks at 431 yards. We were subsequently concerned since we had spotted a browm bear about 400 yards directly above on a rocky ridge, and another after the shots, bedded 340 yrds below the deer. After a photo session, a quick gutting, we dragged both deer down to the beach below, paying attention to the location and movement of the brownie directly below. Doug~RR

Between the buffalo and these cows, you have certainly shown an attraction to hunting in the snow. Did you notice the elk/deer migrating to lower country, or were they just hanging about?

Updated the photo links.

Why do you apply for the coues hunt that you do?

The July 2009 issue of NRA American Hunter magazine had a comparison test of the various ballistic type plexes. Their comment about the Nikon BDC regarded the imprecision of the circles. At 400 yards, it is an 8" circle. Zeiss Rapid Z 800 ranked best, followed by the Leupold B&C.

Might look through the want ads here http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/tf/lw/classifieds.cfm or here on Archey Talk http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=22

I bought the value pack at bass pro and used em last wknd. They do take about 2 hrs to get going but last for probably 12-15hrs. i started em befor i went to bed and put em in my bed roll. Worked good. all night and all the next morning And they do have a shelf life. They are nice to use for the foot of the sleeping bag. Sometimes even putting on dry socks before crawling in is not enough.

They are still good for cleaning 22s, shotguns and rifles if not using a copper dissolving solvent. Still good with Hoppes or SC to knock the powder fouling out before attacking the copper. Yes, if using Sweets or Montana Extreme, a nylon brush is better.

Steve, Welcome to cwt.com! Feel free to post some photos of those strip bucks, the scenic terrain and how you would hunt that stuff. Most of us will never draw a tag there, or even get up there, but would like to see through others eyes and learn. Doug

Congrats on your first mearns. Funny how it was waiting for you to come back to camp. I had a covey fly through camp last year in 36B. Looks to be in good shape if you are going to have him mounted. RR

Lion is probably being given a suppository

Use the brush end of the Lenspen, or a photo bulb brush to get rid of the big particles. Then wipe with an alcohol lens wipe (available from Zeiss, B&L next to the eyeglass care section in stores). If you have crusty mud/dirt, I would wash under tap water first. If you have oil from your brow on the ocular lens, you may need to use 2 lens wipes. One problem with the suede pad of the lenspen is if you get abrasive particles on it, you will be rubbing them into the lens surface every time you use it.

Sounds like an adventure in the making and a fun time to be had on a new ranch. Best of luck to y'all in Dec and Jan. RR

Fox News reported that they found two bodies (one is the Mesa fireman, another near Payson). http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579930...test=latestnews http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/30_hu...randed_by_storm

To the lucky few who have pulled a treasured tag, good luck on your hunts starting tomorrow and may your experiences be pleasurable. Come back with some good stories and plenty of photos to share. RR

Here is an article in today's AZ Daily Sun containing some details about stranded hunters and the power outage at Blue Ridge http://azdailysun.com/articles/2009/12/10/...ront_208967.txt

Seem there have been more tales of entire camps being taken on the Kaibab than problems in camps along the border. Seems more hunters' F-250 trucks have been stolen from movie theatres in Phx than from the hunt spots.

Friend crock-potted a peccary from 6A. Was great tasting, like good pork, in the burros we ate.

Amanda, How often is that buck in the second photo frequenting the seep? Have you been able to pattern any specific deer to its drinking behavior? Doug

Slogged out though a little snow (we got about 20") to the Kachina Wetlands to get a view of the SF Peaks as the sun descended. Doug~RR

Great price for the rig. That scope now as a VX3 is $740 (1"tube, no side-focus) as seen on SWFA.

Here is Gabe's rifle.