Red Rabbit

El Fuego, I am planning on heading south after spending Christmas in Phoenix with the folks and sisters, and chase some mearns and then coues with the bow. RR

Scott, A good day considering the dryness. How's the new Ford? Received the cd today, thanks. Had some of those mearns last night, wrapped with green chiles and bacon, and grilled outside. Schmecht gut! How bout posting some close-up pics of that Beretta ? I went Sunday to find some Gambels with Rica. Flushed one small covey of three birds. Didn't hear a call, nor get a reply to some of my own . Will be looking for a new spot. Doug

Had the pleasure of hunting a couple of days down south with Scottyboy, Firstcoues, Scott's bud Rich, and Scott's father Charles. Had three dogs, including Scott's Penny and Virgil, and my Rica. Rustled up several coveys Friday and Saturday. Pretty country to hunt in with the oak covered draws and plenty of grass in the draws. Was nice to have a bird hold tight, rather than having to chase after the running and flighty Gambel demon birds. The passel of Mearns from Saturday. Pic'ed is Scott's LC Smith sxs .410 Lots of immature birds due to the good rains this summer. Rica and RedRabbit Scott, Penny the Brittany, and Virgil. Penny would amble and hunt the base of the slopes. Virgil would be with my dog, usulally too far to be seen out front in the tall grass in the draws. Virgil thows up a pretty point with an upright tail. Scott should have some good pics to post. Doug~RR

Saw the proposed hunt guidelines posted on azgfd.com for the 2007 elk and antelope seasons to be voted on at the Dec. 9 commissioners meeting. http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunt_guidelines.shtml

The number of archery bull tags are up 110 , but archery cow tags are down by 1485 . The reduction in archery cow tags was a stated shift of antlerless to the general season in accorcance with demand, but the general cow tags decreased be 5. HUH? Maybe the general cow permits were slated for a large reduction and the shift lessened the reduction number. One plus is that the archery elk and early rifle are scheduled to start one week earlier. Doug~RR

Travis, In looking at your buck and Larry Johnson's B&C#2 143" record buck, they appear to be relatives, although Johnson's is listed from Navajo County (and from the WMAT rez (IIRC)). Doug~RR

http://www.house.gov/mccaul/pdf/Investigai...rder-Report.pdf This may give some insight to the Texas border.

Watched the show and was a little dissapointed. It did show more aspects of the total hunt experince and not just the kill, but seemed like air time was wasted on footage like the truck turning off the highway. Guess I still look for learnable info on "how to" and tactics, and not just entertainment. Doug~RR

Chris, I can easily see the oops happenning. Last November I had a hard time distinguishing two similar bucks apart through the rifle scope as they moved around in and out from behind an oak at 400 yards. Ended up not shooting as I decided both were under 90". Even a smaller set of antlers can be a useful trophy to make a bow rack, coat or hat rack, door pulls, candle holder, etc. Doug~RR

I heard Casey had a slightly used 7 mag for sale that included a bipod built into the barrel.

Nice looking pup. Same line as Heidi? How old is he and how is he doing on the quail hunts?

Casey, I think Penny got the most birds. Christian- Another "ugly" dog . Got a pic of the pup? RR

Riley, Congrats on a sucessful hunt under crowded conditions. Doug~RR

Bill, Make sure you save some $$$ for the waterfowl stamps and taxidermy, and shoot some Harlequins. Beautiful bird for a mount. Doug~RR

Travis, congrats again! Tremendous buck with character. And for those of you whose virtue of patience was tested, here's the pics:

Scott Little Bitty Goose

PHOTOS OF CONTEST ENTRIES I will try to add new entry pics as I collect them. Bowsniper Bowhunter4Life 4Point Elkaholic345 Couesfan Scott Adams Ronda Adams AZPackhorse AZPackhorse's son Youngbuck Peloncillo Younghunter Younghunter's Dad Firstcoueswas80 Coues7 Parothead HuntScout Cramerhunts fisher_hunt Trophymaster Coueselk Miss Coueselk 270Longshot 270Longshot's Brother Ernesto's 106 buck from Mexico

The ADA Junior camp in 20C went well. One hunter was successful Friday morning, and another Saturday morning. I don't know exactly how many junior hunters went through camp- over a dozen. Sorry, but I do not have any pics to share from the camp. Doug~RR

Lance, you must have had some good mojo in your camp! Doug~RR

Congrats on the one shot. How'd your dad do? RR

Handled the new Mathews Drenalin today at Bull Basin Archery in Flagstaff. Was struck by it lightness 3.85 lb. Fired off a few shots with the bare bow (only had a Whisker Bisquit rest). Real quiet and little jump. Draw curve was a little different. Solid back wall. Was told the bows may start shipping in the next week or two. 320 fps IBO. 7" brace height. Doug~RR

I like these better than any pair I've had so far. Great support, comforatble, easy to break in, rubber rand protects against rock gouging, no Cordura panels to transmit catus needles and dust. Gore-Tex, no insulation. Lowa Tibet GTX http://www.lowaboots.com/catalog/ShowBoot....ry=2&Type=M

Ran into this information last week. A good read on edges and sharpening. The Spyderco looks to be in the future. http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=26036

Here's some pics of a couple spots I have hunted. I like to hunt at around 5000' elevation, below where it is too thick, and above the muley flats. I like to see oaks on the north slopes, for bedding in shade and food/mast. This first pic is looking nortwest, so it is of the southern face. There is another peak to the right not seen that forms a good saddle with this peak. Deer feed on the south slope and move back around to the north side to bed. There point in the middle of the 700 yard wide saddle that makes a good spot to be for glassing and within shooting range before daylight and before dusk as the deer come back around to feed in the evening. THere is a tank right below where the pic is taken. On the right side of the peak, you can see a point that allows one to glass below and to the northwest to another saddle. Deer have come around from the north side on both ends of this peak. Some have been spotted bedding in the cuts seen in the middle of the south face. One can also glass to the south and across to the oak covered north side of the ridge the pic was taken from. Being at the picture taking spot will give a good view of the south slope and the saddle. THere are enough draws that a stalk could be made up one and hope the deer have not moved. I would prefer to be near the saddle before daylight, though. This pic is looking southeast. In this area, I look to see deer feeding on the open ridges and bedding in the trees in the cuts. There is a tank below and to the right of this ridge. Doug~RR Stan, Right in the middle of your pic, there appears to be a small hill that would allow you to glass the ridge further behind, and also below to the flats in front. Looks like a good spot to spend a day and let the eyeballs hike around. The ridge to the far-left edge in the pic looks nasty-covered in catclaw. Doug

What kind of terrain do you chose to hunt? Deep in the mountains? Steep and lotsa oak? Rolling hills? Ocotillo thickets? Mesquite flats? Why do you choose it? What do you look for in that area to hold bucks, and how do you hunt that terrain? Any change in area preference from early season to the late? If you have a photo to include and aid with your explanation, that would be great. Doug~RR