Red Rabbit

Went up to the north rim this weekend to find some blue grouse with Rica. Missed a gimme shot on Friday, and got one bird on Saturday. Rica flushed five other birds that escaped through the thick timber. Did not see any deer or turkey. The scenery and the hunting was better than the shooting.

Gino, The GM mentioned the chukar over in 13, but guess the population is sparse. Don't know if I really want to chase em up and down the verticals and have them laff at me. Have not been thinking of December Coues at all Went flying over the unit again with google earth a couple of evenings ago. Just waiting for the temps to drop before I do any real time scouting. We had frost on the pumkins up here in Flag last night, so it won't be long till the desert is reasonably hospitable. Doug~RR

Thanks, I bookmarked that site for the tieing patterns. Getting close for the brookies at Big or Crescent, although the Boulders in Utah are about an equal drive from Flag.

Trail Camera Ethics With the usage of trail cameras becoming more common, perhaps we should be asking ourselves if their use is ethical by standards of fair chase. Is their use going against the spirit of hunting heritage and values? Are hunters using them to satiate the drive for success and overlooking the fair chase philosophy? Under item 7 in Pope and young Club’s Fair Chase statement (see below), the use of electronic devices to locate game is forbidden. Certainly, a trail camera is used to locate game and does not involve the direct, concurrent presence of the hunter. Is there a difference between hanging trail cameras to locate the presence of game when the hunter is not around, and having a passel of hired guides scout for the hunter instead (an activity which many hunters object to on various website forums in discussing auction tag holders)? Perhaps one could rhetorically argue that scouting from a chute plane as more ethical than using a trail camera as the hunter is not using an electronic device to locate game for him and is actively involved in scouting at the moment. In a similar vein, the common use of hand-held radios to guide hunters to an animal while stalking should be examined. In summary, it seems that we hunters have allowed the use of electronic technology to supplant our hunting skills and ethical behaviors. Maybe we should step back and do a reality check upon ourselves and see where we stand in the deep-rooted philosophies of hunting values. Fair Chase Taken from http://www.pope-young.org/fairchase.asp "From its beginnings, the Club has grown to epitomize fair chase and sportsmanship in hunting. This fair chase philosophy reaches to the very foundations of the hunting spirit; it remains a dominant factor in the personal hunting ethic of every responsible individual; it is key to bowhunting's future with deep roots in America's hunting heritage. Simply defined, fair chase is the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit of free-ranging wild game animals in a manner which does not give the hunter an improper or unfair advantage over the animal. It does, however, extend beyond the hunt itself; it is an attitude and a way of life based in a deep-seated respect for wildlife, for the environment, and for other individuals who share the bounty of this vast continent's natural resources. The term "Fair Chase" shall not include the taking of animals under the following conditions: 1. Helpless in a trap, deep snow or water, or on ice. 2. From any power vehicle or power boat. 3. By "jacklighting" or shining at night. 4. By the use of any tranquilizers or poisons. 5. While inside escape-proof fenced enclosures. 6. By the use of any power vehicles or power boats for herding or driving animals, including use of aircraft to land alongside or to communicate with or direct a hunter on the ground. 7. By the use of electronic devices for attracting, locating, or pursuing game or guiding the hunter to such game, or by the use of a bow or arrow to which any electronic device is attached. 8. Any other condition considered by the Board of Directors as unacceptable. "

some reviews, other sizes can be clicked on the right of the page. http://betterviewdesired.com/50-60mm-Spotting-Scopes.php

Might look at the Nikon Fieldscope 50ED. Body weighs only 16oz. Two different zoom eyepieces are available. Sportsmans Warehouse might have them in stock to look at. I would look near dusk to see if the 50mm objective is a handicap for you. RR

So what happened the day before the hunt to get the stars aligned for a 3 minute hunt? You're getting paid well by the minute on this particular deal Doug~RR

I like the Lowa Tibet GTX boots. Gore-Tex but uninsulated. Full Grain leather with the protective rubber rand. Mine required very little break in. http://www.lowaboots.com/catalog/ShowBoot....ry=2&Type=M

Pretty buck. He has a lot of white on his neck. You have had a good hunting season this fall. What outdoor adventure is next if the hunts are over? Doug~RR

Josh, you make it sound so simple that he just walked right up to you and committed suicide by impaling himself on your broadhead right in front of your eyes...and the hunt was much easier than drawing the tag. Nice pics. Do you have one wearing your orange sponsor shirt? Congrats.

Nice bull for sure. Is the 409 net or gross score?

Amanda, Unfortunately, I did not take any more pics. Forgot to take one with Rica and the bird, or her in any of the clearings we hunted. The aspens might be about one-two weeks away from turning golden, so another trip may be in order. Stan, I thought about flat tires driving down those rocky roads. Guess one is more prone to do so when my tires' wear bars have their wear bars showing. Majin those hunters were thankful to get a ride after a bummer of two flats. Somehow I thought you were going to be elk hunting on the south rim. How was the deer hunting? Doug, Will look at them nest time. Grouse nymphs? Wet hackled grouse?

Jason, Congrats to your wife and FIL. Looks like his buck was a fighter and not a lover, owing to the scars. Enjoy the meat and memories of the hunt. Do you have a favorite dutch oven recipe in mind? RR

What vegetation do you prefer to hunt coues in? Why the preference? Any seasonal variation in your preference? Oaks? Pines? Ocotillo? Mesquite/Palo Verde? Pinon/juniper?

Thanks Stan. The hook reminds me of devils claw. Good luck with the elk this weekend.

That forage must be the secret to the good antler growth. Maybe it's the new strain of five leaf clover being tested by BioLogic, Whitetail Institute or AntlerKing? Not to be outdone by "deer cocaine"?

Allen, The SST should behave like a Nosler Ballistic Tip, if that is what you want. Federal loads the Partition, TSX and Accubond, and would be better for elk, imo, should your son shoot the shoulder. The SST should be fine for a broadside, behind the shoulder shot. I have used a 129 SST from a 260 on antelope once. Hit the spine, so I can't give you pertinent expansion and penetration results . I would think of the SST more like a deer/antelope bullet. Have used plenty of Ballistic Tips on deer and all exited. Doug~RR

Tony, I see that Duwane is speaking at tomorrow night's ADA clinic, if you need a chance to invite him. How many rsvps have you received? Perhaps some carpools from Tucson, Flag, Mesa and Payson could be formed. Doug

I just counted up entries and there are 62 people entered. Deadline is Oct 15 to enter, so don't let father time sneak past you. We have some good prizes lined up this year already. Doug~RR

Your hunter got a nice buck. Congrats to him and you. Do you have pic with a side view to help show that mass? Doug~RR

Gary, Welcome to the site and congrats on your first coues with a bow. Doug~RR

Nice buck and nice job with the photo setup. Congratulations.

With horses, you could pack into the Pajarita Wilderness and leave most everyone behind. Good luck on your hunt. Welcome, and congrats on your 22 buck you pictured. Doug~RR

I suppose the perspective is different if one considers ASHA whose board has anti-gun connections. http://www.nraila.org/Hunting/Read/Hunting...les.aspx?ID=200

Sunset will be about 6:15 in regard to any optics testing. I can bring Leica 10+15 Duovids, Velbon Luxi-F and Velbon Chaser EFL tripods. Anyone interested in shooting some sporting clays at Ben Avery on that Sat? Doug~RR