Red Rabbit

There were 7 people at the Flagstaff meeting, plus 3 G&F members. Rather informal but a good open discussion. Concern was raised about the overlap of the archery deer and elk seasons. Hope th commission changes the season dates. No valid reason for the overlap was given. The increase in the number of Kaibab tags was basically attributed to wanting to keep the herd in check while winter range improvements/plantings have a chance to establish themselves. Fawn: doe ratios was given at slightly over 100:100 for this year. Concern was made that the earlier October season will catch the bucks up on top in bachelor groups and result in a good kill of the deer, predicting greater than harvest objectives and detrimentally affecting the future age class structures. The 3 month closure of the lion season is during time when lions are not normally harvested anyway, and is thus a moot politcal closure. Point was made about not being able to train dogs by pursuit though. The October whitetail hunt in 6a was split to reduce hunter crowding. Last year, 6A WT hunter success in Oct was 17%. First year it was 6% The theme of increased opportunity was evident in the discussion. The idea that he survey was canned in its questioning was stated by the audience. RR

Another problem is having 1000 turkey hunters the week before the Oct Kaibab deer hunt. Guess if you have the deer on alert from turkey season ending the day before the opener, deer harvest will be less and thus you can have more tags issued. RR

I keep wondering how the increase in Kaibab tags can be validated biologically (and not simply for love of money). Loss of 58,000 acres due to the Warm Fire? But this was on summer range and not on limiting winter range. The recent fire on winter range in the southwest corner (can't recall its name)? But the habitat on the larger area burned a few years ago should be recovering enough. Seems strange that the number of junior doe tags on the Kaibab were reduced last year and then substantially increased this year. Here's a story published for the ADA study done for the AZG&F a couple years ago regarding browse, and the deer population and permit allocations http://azdeer.org/kaibab_article.htm RR

It's always fun to look back on the past hunting season and reflect at the special moments. What ONE picture from your season is your best capture of the hunt? I did not draw a tag last year, so was forced to go to Kodiak and hunt Blacktails. I think this photo captures the spirit of my hunt by showing the beauty of the area, the weather sustained, and the peacefulness atop the island we hunted. I took a lot of photos on that trip, but this is the one. I had a lot of good times hunting quail and grouse with Rica, but hunting Kodiak was tops last year for me. Doug~RR

My initial thought is after scanning the recommendations: "Beam me up, Scotty. There's no intelligent life down here." The archery deer season ends the 20th of September, but archery elk opens the 14th. If you have an elk tag, you can still hunt deer, but you will have archery deer hunters in the woods without elk tags. It rained close to a normal amount last year, so there are a few more spikes and forkies this year. Let's issue more WT tags in October and November. Move the early rifle Kaibab hunt up a week because the harvest was higher than projected last year. But then let's issue 550 more tags for the earlier hunts? RR

My code was "larva enoch" = spiritual soul of Enoch? I applied for 2C muley and 27 WT. Have not decided on antelope yet, as I may try to find a landowner tag intead of being assigned a random ranch somewhere in half of NM. RR

HuntnCoues, The ACI can be attached to your bow and would be useful from a treestand or in steep terrain. Or use Leupolds new rangefinder. RR

This is a great canoe for trout fishing on the Mogollon Rim or White Mountains.

Shortpants, Does seem like the true colors of certain people were revealed through toilet bowl eyeglasses. The amusing irony is the trophies that were killed after all the deception. Thanks for the story. No names or locations were needed to get the value of the scenario. You can tell from my pics were I hunted two years ago, but its not a secret spot as evidenced by all the other hunters there. Had 5 other groups spotted within the area I hunted. Time to find a new spot. The fence cutting reminded me of a fence-cutting episode in northern AZ. Some well-known hunters were met at a gate and told of private property and not to tresspass. They cut/let down the fence anyway and shot the buck the ranchers friend was hunting. Charges were filed with Coconino sheriffs, but I do not know of the outcome. This was the during the time of the Navajo Rez/Lacey Act legal episodes a several years ago. Doug~RR

Shortpants, Would you relate to us your Rod Serling episode? RR

I would suggest going to a lot of archery 3D shoots this summer, and shoot any smokers. The knowledge you learn on the smoker course about shooting in tough, tight lanes and targets will be worth more than the $10 arrow you break. Take the rangefinder out on your scouting trips and learn what 20 yards looks like in different lighting and terrain conditions, guess the distance to an object and then check with the rangefinder, Figure out why you were wrong. Work on being within 1-2 yards off. Practice shooting up and down hill., kneeling, sitting, squatting, standing on a stump, one foot, give yourself only 30 seconds to range, load, draw and shoot. Run 100 yards and then shoot while you're breathing hard. RR

I believe last year G&F approved the carrying of handguns during archery hunts. 6" barrel length restriction and has to be open sights. From Hunting Highlights, Feb 2006 http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/highlights/highlights_0602.html#2 "Archery-only hunters can now carry a non-hunting handgun for protection The October issue of â€Hunting Highlights“ reviewed the legality of carrying a handgun during an archery-only hunt. The rule at that time was that hunters participating in an archery-only hunt could not possess a firearm, even if they had a concealed weapons permit. Since that time, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has issued a directive allowing hunters participating in an archery-only hunt to carry a non-hunting handgun for personal protection and safety. As a guideline, a non-hunting handgun shall be defined as a handgun with a barrel length of 6 inches or less that does not have a scope or any type of electronic device. Handguns meeting this definition may be carried during an archery-only hunt for personal protection only. They may not be used to take any species of wildlife while participating in an archery-only hunt." RR

**SOLD** Marlin 1894CL Classic lever action chambered in 218 Bee. NRA Banquet edition w/ NRA coin in stock. Leupold Vari X 3-9 Compact, Weaver bases & rings, ring marks. Hornady dies and brass. Hammer extension. ~1.5" 5-shot groups @100 yards w/ factory ammo. $725 shipped, or can do f2f in Phoenix over Easter. Doug~RR

Remington shows a 700 SPS youth model and Model 7 youth, both with 20" barrels in 7mm-08. My choice would be a 700 Mountain LSS (laminated stainless) in 7mm-08- light at 6 1/2 pounds and has a thin 22" barrel. You can cut the laminated stock for a shorter length of pull, or get a cheap synthetic to cut. Friend's son and daughter used the 7-08 on cow elk successfully over a period of years. Doug~RR

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/218b.html http://www.reloadingroom.com/page12.html A start for info. I originally bought the 218 Bee for spring turkey, but G&F changed the rule about using centerfires that next year. Did use it for one fall bird.

**SOLD**

**sold**

Leitz Trinovid 10x25 BCA binocs. Purchased 1986. Hinges still tight. Body wear. A few cleaning scatches on the lenses. $125 shipped. Doug~RR **sold pending funds**

Rick, PM replied to. Doug

I thought that the 280, 35 Whelen, 6.5-06, 338-06 were also good cartridges based off the 270 winny. RR

My favorite is the most recent from last fall's Sitka hunt on Kodiak. Hey Gabe, welcome. You picked a great name/handle for hunting with your better half. Doug~RR

SPF- Sold Pending Funds Keven, either the threads on the barrel or receiver are not true. The centerline of the receiver and barrel are about 2 degrees off. RR

Winchester Model 70 Super Grade (1998) 300 Win Mag, glass and pillar bedded; Leupold bases, Millet engraved rings; Leupold vari-x III 3.5-10x40 (1987) gloss, duplex, ring marks; barrel is off axis from receiver, barrel channel has been glassed, see pic; magazine spacer removed for long throat 180 gr Hornady Heavy Mag = 1.47"/5shot groups(5 group ave); 180 gr Federal Classic=1.45"/3shot/3groups; 180Winchester Power Point=1.12"/3shots/3groups; 180Accubond handload=0.98"/3shots(7 group ave). Rifle is picky about factory ammo (2.3"-4.1" groups w/ Federal ammo) and some handloads. RCBS Dies, brass, load data. $925 shipped Doug~RR

I hear tales of how unit 9 was once a great unit for nontypical muleys. Now its a great unit for elk. Gotta wonder about the inverse relationship between elk and mule deer populations, How muleys are submissive to whitetail and elk, and the number of deer tags once autorized for 7and 9. Still pretty competitive in 7 with 800 permits for the 2 remaining forky bucks . Doug~RR

In watching the weather radar, seems north of Flag into unit 9 has been shortchanged this winter. Most of the precip this winter has been falling southeast of Flag along the rim. Noticed that yesterday the Grand Canyon reported 0.96" of precip. That's good. Flag airport got about 0.4" the last 3 days. Doug~RR