Red Rabbit

Geoff, Thanks for the report. Did anyone ask how/why the units were chosen to be the alternative management units for coues? Aside from 36C and 23, the units did not strike me as being premier coues units to begin with. Did anybody object to the Nov Archery elk hunts and bring up the previous time last year in which the season was proposed and defeated? Tonight's meetings June 6 are in Tucson and Prescott: Tucson, June 6, Arizona Game and Fish Department Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road. Prescott, June 6, Yavapai County Supervisors Office, 1015 Fair Street. Doug~RR

Mike, Did you go to the meeting last night in Flag? I was doing an introduction to archery training with some small youth last evening. In rereading the guidelines last night, I noticed that the November Coues hunt would be shortened to 7 days from 10. One possible good thing is that the November Coues would be separated from the muley hunts in November with units that previously had both simultaneously, by moving the November Coues season to the end of the month. Again proposing November archery elk? I thought this late season camping trip was ixnayed last time it was brought up. Any other states have this season? Doug~RR

Campfire restrictions for entire Coconino National Forest 06/05/07 Officials with the U.S. Forest Service have announced campfire and smoking restrictions will begin Friday at 8 a.m. Fires, campfires, wood-stove and charcoal fires will be allowed only in developed campgrounds and picnic areas, according to a press release from officials with the Coconino National Forest. Use of petroleum-fuel stoves, lanterns and heating devices meeting safety specifications will also be allowed. Smoking will be permitted within an enclosed vehicle or building in a developed recreation area. Fireworks are forbidden on all National Forest land. Fire danger in the forest has increased to very high, and the restrictions will remain in place until officials determine that conditions have changed to reduce the risk of human-caused fires. Violations of the restrictions is punishable by fines up to $5,000 and up to six months in jail. For more information, call 928-527-3600, or visit www.coconinoforest.us.

I received the same e-mail and viewed it as a neutral message to convey information, and not as any ADA position statement. Hopefully, we sportsmen will make educated, lucid questions and position statements at the meetings or via e-mail Doug~RR

Both ATV and Trailer are SOLD . Thanks for looking. Doug~RR

**SOLD** 1998 Suzuki King Quad LTF 300 ATV 2WD/4WD; High/Low/Super Low; Locking Front Differential 280CC, 5-Speed Manual, IFS, IRS,only 700 miles, runs great, great shape Rear Cargo Bag, Saddle bag, Hand Warmers, Gun Rack, Street Licensed. Snow Bear Utility Trailer $2900 package; $2500 ATV only; clear titles Doug~RR

Basser, One bull I was looking at last summer was located 8 miles away and across two highways come the rut. RR

Hooked on coues, I have not heard anything about a change to the 10% NR cap. I have heard some people are trying to get the 20% top-BP set-aside modified so that some (half?) of the NR tags are available in the regular draw and not all taken in the 20% pass. Doug~RR

Katkiller, I would sell the trailer separate only if the ATV sells separately first. Then it would be $400. Doug~RR

The stone building is an old well house that was originally used to pump water up to Flagstaff. You can also see the cistern tank. The pump is still in the building. This elk will be different with the split 3rd and messed up left pedicle/G1, maybe a kicker off the right 4th. David- You mean this guy that will have matching kiskers off the 4ths? Did you draw 11m Archery? Doug~RR

I like the owl pics. Is that blood on his beak, or the natural coloration? Doug~RR

Another pic, courtesy of Bob Uecker. Doug~RR

The 2008 -2010 hunt guidelines are on the G&F website . Study these proposals carefully. More G&F medicine for increased OPPORTUNITY. Go to a meeting to express your reasoned opinion. http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunt_guidelines.shtml Propose up to 5 % of the whitetail tags as December. Last year the recommendation was to offer 5-10% in the late season. This year in 2007, about 9% of the tags are for December hunts in most units. So, let’s cut December tag numbers in half, crowd the early seasons even more to decrease harvest and validate increasing tag numbers (ie opportunity) further. Keep Whitetail units 6a, 23, 30b, 31, 36b for alternative management units to harvest older age class bucks with up to 30% of the total harvest during the late season. In 36C, 12% harvest in Dec. In 2005 16% harvest was in Dec. In 6a for 2006 16 of 76 deer were harvested in December for 21% of the total harvest. Does this mean that permits will be shifted from Oct and Nov back to Dec to more approach 30%? At least 2% of the general deer tags to juniors-only. Now, the recommendation is for at least 3%. Still need more Junior tags, in my opinion. Is permitting the Kaibab archery hunts in the future? Laying the groundwork. From page 9C of the 2008-2010 Hunt Guidelines: “Archery deer harvest will be managed not to exceed 20% of the overall harvest in a unit. When archery deer harvest meets or exceeds 20% of overall harvest, the Wildlife manager will recommend reductions in archery hunt opportunity according to the following prescriptions, to include permitting harvest. Permitted harvest once prescribed will be managed to meet demand by weapon type.” (2006 archery data not available) In 2005, archery harvest in 12a was106 and rifle harvest was 640, for a % harvest by archery of 14%. However, in 2004, archery harvest in 12a was177 and rifle harvest was 416, for a % harvest by archery of 30%.

Sounds like she may be a candidate for a bird dog, private charter school instead of home schooling. I remember working with Rica almost daily that first summer, and she just about had me trained by October . RR

Stan, How's that Visla doing on training? Will she be ready for a first quail season next fall? Doug

They look well used, even before the fall to concrete. At $2600 for repairs, or $535 for min repairs, might be time to cut your losses. For 2600, you could get new Swaros and then some. RR

Just a heads up that the Bowhunter Happening will be moving to Sunrise, May 26-28 http://www.arizonabowhunters.org/

Lance, Sure would be nice if a few sinkholes in lower lake were plugged and you could still use that ladder. Doug~RR

Flagstaff Archers, Rim Country Bowhunters and Granite Mountain Archers will be having their 3-club scene shoot at Willard Springs 14 miles on I-17 south of Flagstaff on the weekend of June 23. Doug~RR

Christian, Glad you enjoyed the shoot. I always liked the shoot at Clints Well and the course layouts (but did not make it this year for the first time in several). Smokers are fun and a learning experience. Hope to meet you at some other shoot. The three northern AZ clubs are having their scene shoot the weekend of June 23 at Willard Springs south of Flag. Doug~RR

http://www.wildhorsepreservation.com/resources/1971_act.html Will need to start digging that BBQ pit in the backyard. Might need to start researching where to have a habitat improvement project and test the Nosler E-tip when it comes out Doug~RR

SPF Sold Pending Funds RR

BENELLI NOVA pump, 12 Ga., 28". Advantage Max 4 camo. Improved cylinder, modified & full choke tubes. Primos Jelly Head 0.655 constriction turkey choke. Limbsaver recoil pad. Fired only 7 times. $350 shipped conus to FFL. Doug~RR

SOLD PENDING FUNDS RR

Lohman CD Varmint Caller. Two 15 Watt speakers. Remote (works just a short distance 20 yards, better to use manual controld). Wall charger. 4 CDs. $175 shipped conus. SOLD Doug~RR