Red Rabbit

Post Deleted. (Didn't want to be splattered with flying urine)

Rent a boring movie some night and enjoy the plucking. A fine tooth comb may help on the burrs

Great story of a first hunt to go with the pics. Knowing Richard and Gabe, I can only imagine how happy they are for Jori. Her encore is gonna be tough though. I believe Gabe said he scored it at 116 2/8 gross. RR

I started with the bulky Bushnell YardagePro 400 and 800 models, which maybe were good to 2/3 of the max range. I now have the Leica 1200 non-scan. Looks like Doug at Camera Land has some good pricing on this model. http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/in...?showtopic=4737 RR

Some interesting reading on brakes and hearing loss. http://www.chuckhawks.com/muzzle_brakes.htm http://keepandbeararms.com/information/XcI...tem.asp?ID=2052 http://www.freehearingtest.com/hia_gunfirenoise.shtml http://www.elcaudio.com/decibel.htm From elcaudio.com: "Here are a few observations: The blast noise emanating from a rifle with a muzzle brake is measurably more intense than the same rifle without a muzzle brake. The .300 Win Mag bolt action (using xxx ammo—see Table 1) measured 7.3 dB more intense with the BOSS than without the BOSS. Note: A 7.3 dB increase in PPL is a 2.3-fold increase in sound pressure, as shown below: 20log [2.32P] = 20log 2.32 = 20 x 0.365 = 7.3 dB P 1 Similarly, the Browning .22/250 (40 grain) measured 7.8 dB more intense with its BOSS than without it. Other comparisons can be made using Table 1. Note: When comparing firearm peak pressure levels using Table 1, remember that a 1 dB difference can be heard, a 3 dB increase is “quite a bit” louder, and a 10 dB increase is “twice as loud.”

Bownut, I have a constant ringing in my ears. Probably from shooting my Hoyts without ear protection for too many years Actually, I think the ringing is due to the last two seasons of quail hunting. Have some digital muffs for this year. Seriously though, brakes are good to reduce recoil for the bench. I don't notice recoil when shooting at game, though. None of my rifles have a brake, but some friends' rifles do. I find the increased noise and blast may also cause flinching, just as recoil would. Reducing jump to see bullet impact and game reaction is a definite plus. A good recoil pad like the Sims, and a bench setup like the Caldwel lead sled also help make bench shooting tolerable without a brake. Can also use a Past shoulder pad. When shooting prone, one might consider a brake like the Holland with the ports to the side so dirt is not blasted up at the shot. However, one friend shot a braked 300 win mag at a bear 4 times, without plugs, and his ears rang for months. How can you spell hearing damage? Would not consider shooting in the field without ear plugs. IMO, possible hearing loss is not worth the recoil reduction via a brake. Doug~RR

NeoLaquachi, et al The number of 615 permits increased for the general season is due to and increase of 620 general bull tags and a DECREASE of 5 general cow tags. Archers are to get 110 more bull tags. RR

My 300WSM gives consistent .308" groups measured outside to outside, at 400 yards . . . . . . . But then again, that is with one shot groups to make me feel happy

As noted, the allocation % has now separated the bull from the cow tags. G&F looked at the demand for cow elk tags based on first choice applicant numbers. Significantly more hunters, 5 wise, apply for rifle cow than achery cow vs bull, hence the shift. The department used first choice to judge what and how hunters want to hunt. The department was also directed by the commission to increase the elk herds from 17,000 estimated to 25,000 objective, which would result in less cow permits total being issued. With fewer cow permits, coupled with the shift to rifle cow, it seems that archers took it in the shorts. Rifle cow hunters lost permits in order to increase herds, but gained them back due to the shift from archery. G&F had a series of open houses at the regional offices before Saturday's Commissioner meeting to ask questions. This was also discussed on Bowsite before and after the meeting.. http://forums.bowsite.com/tf/regional/thre...71&state=AZ http://forums.bowsite.com/tf/regional/thre...22&state=AZ RR

Jeremy, Welcome to the site. Looks like you did not waste any time putting that guy in the skillet by getting him opening morning. Is his right G2 forked?-can't really tell in the pic. Your top photo is well taken. Congrats. Doug~RR

Tommy, Thanks for the info, pics and link. Doug~RR

Head down just above the left deer Doug marked, and right behind the cholla in the upper right. RR

Tommy, That line of ringnecks indicates lots of fun was had. I haven't shown the pics to Rica, but I'm sure she'd want to hear some details on the pheasant hunting. Public v private lands? Big pushes w/ lots of people, or small groups? What part of Kansa? Contact info? costs? Rica says thanks. Doug~RR

Can't be any coues in 5BN cuz there's no whitetail general season in 5BN. Now someone will be saying there are coues on Mount Elden north of Flag. Nope, ain't believing it. The Anasazi in Walnut Canyon probably wiped em out 700 years ago iffin the coues did make it this far north. RR

Sierra Trading Post has the Eberlestock X-1 pack on sale for $80. Just a heads up. http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/315,782...ickdraw-X1.html RR

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.