Red Rabbit

I did glass it one evening while scouting from the place where the phot was taken. I saw one doe. This canyon comes off a main road, and with the mine road up it, I figured it would not be a hot spot to hunt, but a good one to use for this discussion. If this was one of the two November hunts, going to the top and over, or further up the canyon to the left/northeast may be an option.

When we have gone for smallies Memorial Day or later in the summer, the flow was 100-250, if I recall. It has been several years since I last went, but it used to be an annual trip. We would go anywhere from the Pumphouse to Tick Flat. With the no-snow spring we are having, the runoff should end sooner. Seems we did better with black twister tail grubs than small rapalas or spinners. The most enjoyable was a popper on a fly rod. Doug

wow, 67 people are reading this about people yanking the chains.

Flow is still high. 794 cfs at the pump station. Might just take your kayak to the day stretch in the canyon. If you flip, you can still "scout for trout" http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/current/?type=flow

This decision to mutilate the brass was reversed.

Cool picture story of your trek through some steep and deep country. Did you come across any bear sign at all, or glass up any of the elk? Doug

Went back out to Grand Falls this afternoon to retake some photos with a new ND8 filter. The wind gusts of 63 mph on Sunday were gone, so didn't have to worry about the camera and tripod being lifted over the edge today. Took a series and used PSE7 to blend them into a panorama. Individual photos were done on manual: F/22, 1/20sec, f=18mm, ISO 200.

If you are not a member, this is a good chance to join and get information to keep you informed. While the word "FREE" strikes a good cord in the wallet, sending the NRA some money in the form of a paid membership, membership upgrade, or donation to fight the gun control groups is a good idea. Bump for a good cause.

Tim, I wouldn't consider it stirring the pot. The goal of this post is to get different strategies and reasoning so we all can learn from each other. If everyone throws in their 2 cents worth, eventually we'll get a buck (pun intended). From the first glassing hill to the saddle on the horizon is about 1200 yards, according to the map scale. I think that if one can get to the first hill by walking quietly up the rad before dawn, I would not consider it being too close. The problem with the road in that draw is that some will say, "let's drive up there instead of walking". I was helping a friend and his son on an elk hunt several years ago. He had located a point above a water hole on a cedar flat. Opening morning, we drove there. I wanted to walk the last ways, but he decided it was OK to drive out (not my hunt to argue) Anyways, we rattled the truck out to the point and spooked the 3 bulls away from below. By the time the hunter/son could get set up, the bulls had made haste. Doug

Nicely colored pelt on that feline. Congrats on your first.

Terry, In the morning, the thermals will be going down hill for the first moments while the deer will be out feeding. In the afternooon, I think the wind would be out of the southwest, so the scent from the second hill shouls get carried up and left, so deer in the thick stuff on the long ridge to the south should be safe fom scent contamination. Wind and carried scent may be one thing may do not consider in choosing the glassing spot or their approach. The map indicates a dam in the draw below the glassing hill, so one might catch a midday buck sneaking down the ridge to water. Jim, many thanks for your detailed response. Hey, this year the full moon is October 4, dark on the 18th, and first quarter on the 26th and full again on Sept. 2. Full moon for those of us lucky to draw a December tag is Dec 31. Doug~RR

The sad part is that the tubers themselve cannot take responsibility for their own selves. That lack of responsiblity is evident in the cities, in our neighborhoods, along the roads, in the forests, at shooting sites and in our own hunting and fishing camps. Guess many desert destroyers were never taught or led by example by their parents. The concept of "that's why I pay taxes" (so someone else can clean up my mess) is BS. (end rant)

For opening day and having the area to one's self (ya, one can hope that the ATVs don't blast to the end of the road and alarm/spook the draw), hike up the road from a mile below and would glass from the lower hill with the red arrows. Glass the open slopes for feeding deer. The glassing hill should be low enough below the horizon that the rising sun won't be in the eyes for a while. Keep and eye on that upper saddle for deer heading off the sunlit slopes on the other side of the far ridge.(sorry, put a blue arrow to there, not red). Midday, nove up to the next hilltop and glass from the ridge with the blue arrows into the bedding areas of that thick stuff. Think keeping below and glassing uphill will let one spot the deer bedded under the trees better. Evening, back to the first hill with the setting sun behind. The top hill may have bucks moving around the top from right to left in the morning to get to the trees on the north side of the top knob, and one could glass into the head of the adjoining basin. This could be a morning spot if the easy stuff the first day did not pan out.

Have you checked the sale on Leica spotters that Doug has? http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/in...showtopic=12840

Might call the Red Rock Ranger District and Visitor Contact Center P. O. Box 20429 Sedona, AZ 86341-0429 New physical address: 8375 State Route 179, Sedona, Arizona (Just south of the Village of Oak Creek) (928) 203-7500 or (928) 203-2900, FAX (928) 203-7539 Administration Office Hours: 8:00 a.m.to 4:30 p.m., M-F Visitor Center Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 7 days a week Beaver creek campground info http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreatio...reek-camp.shtml

Bill, I did not realize you lived right behind the brewery in Tejas. I should stop in on my next time through and go "shed" hunting with you Doug~RR

I know a guy who lost his boat to a fire when he was driving down the highway. The metal fish basket came across the terminals of a battery and started a fire. One also hears of the driver tossing a cigarette and it ends up in the boat being trailered behind.

Does not appear the boat was registered. Would not have gotten far anyway as no remains of an outboard or lower unit show prior presence. Suspect the burgers on the hibachi next to the gas tank are thoroughly cooked and no danger of e-coli remains. Oh, he spilled open his bassing tackle box and all the plastic worms dissolved his boat. I've seen that happen to the plastic lures in my tacklebox.

Looks like the DOD has rescinded the order. http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03...butt-ban-lifted/

A Conquest served me well for a few years. Smooth shooting bow. Grandfather had a PowerWagon that he used to plow snow in Wisconsin. His hood ornament was not a nice though. RR

Wait to look at the new Vortex Kaibab 15x when they come out towards summer. Better than the current Vortex 15x50 or Brunton, I would consider the Minox 15x58, or a used pair of Zeiss or Doctor for somewhere around $700. If you can scratch another $400, you should be able to find a used pair of Swaro 15s for $1400.

Doesn't this jeep have a habit of hitting wildlife? Will G&F require it to have a hunting license instead of a license plate?

Bill, those Iguazu Falls look like something else. It seems that one would want to spend the whole day there, but it appears to be rather misty and damp down below. Tyson, I have noticed a lot of HDR on some photo forums, but have not tried it myself. Some seem too neon to me, whereas a mild HDR composition can be appreciated. Doug~RR

Doug, Real neat rock formation with the banded layers in the last 3 photos. Is that a cave in the left peak in the bottom pic? RR

Just another adventure for all to remember fondly in the years to come. I assume your Extraction Team is licensed, bonded and insured