Red Rabbit

I see a lot of tamales for Christmas. Congrats. I didn't realize you were so short to make that Javi look so huge Doug~RR

Dave, Have you seen or gotten any young birds? I heard the Kingman area was good last year. Friends made it over twice last season, but didn't well. The birds actually held well yesterday. Had to kick a few out of the brush and pears after Rica was on point. She is a German wire hair pointer, about 4 years old. We will be looking forward to a Mearns hunt Thanksgiving weekend. Doug~RR

Congrats on your first coues. Nice to have a buck that runs up closer to you and says "Shoot me." RR

Rica went for Gambels today, as she did not draw a coues tag this year. She found three coveys in the couple of hours she searched. All three coveys were atop ridges and not in the bottoms, on the side hills, nor grassy flats. Wind was light, but fickled as it constantly changed direction, making it hard for her to work into the wind. After the pointing and the flushes, she had a hard time hitting those birds. Perhaps the stock length is a little too long for her to fit properly and wasn't nestling in her shoulder pocket consistently. Maybe the waning moon affected her bio-rhythms. She came home with a lot more empty hulls than the three birds attested for her effort .

Scott, Your family has been having an awesome year of hunting and fishing. You must be one happy, thankful, pleased and proud father and husband. Congrats to you, Rhonda, on a fine first coues and successful hunt. Doug~RR

Brian, Congrats to you and your wife on your successes. Noticed you had the Sims Barrel DeResonator on your barrel. How much did it help? I tried it on one rifle, but it made no diff. Doug~RR

I was drawn for rifle pigs in unit 23, and turkey- first season in 6A, (and a buffalo bonus point). Doug~RR

I had the 6a tag several years ago and found it to be a difficult hunt. Did lotsa scouting. The edge of Fossil Creek by the power lines was crowded, as was the top of Wet Beaver by Casner. I found what Lance said to be true. Doug~RR

Doc, Sounds like you had a good hunt with good results. Congrats. Once you got to your spot and off the roads, did you encounter many other hunters? Doug~RR

Welcome Bill. According to Jim H's new book and other readings, studies have shown no effect of the full or new moon on deer activity. But I do like the full moon to aid my hike in or out of the hills. RR

DesertSheep, Sounds like a great trip you have planned for next fall. Best of luck and enjoyment. A dall hunt has been my dream hunt for many years. Doug~RR

Sounds like sweet success. How many hunters were in camp? How long were you up there personally? Doug~RR

Have some great hunts, Tommy and Bill. RR

Congrats on your buck, Jim. Brilliant sunset pics. You guys are too young to get sore and tired. Doug~RR

Jake, Congrats on a nice buck on a father/son hunt. Doug~RR

Campfires are mesmerizing to look at, warm the near side of the body, and restore the spirit. But I am like TAM in that I do not like smelling smoky clothes. Rarely will have a fire in camp, as pillow time is important before the next hard day of hunting. I do not know what the deer thinks of smoke, but if he smells the smoke, he can smell your human body, so work the wind. Doug~RR

Casey, Here's a pic of the accubonds recovered from the two deer. The one on the right entered behind the ribs, traveled through the liver, lungs and heart, and ended under the hide in front of the offside shoulder. It weighed 152 grains. The other weighed 143 grains. As evidenced by the forward facing prtals, we suspect the bullet tumbled inside the deer and traveled backward. Maybe not a bullet failure in the sense that the animal died, but concerning in that two bullets travelled backwards. Here's a photo of a brownie that was on a point 340 yards below the kill spot, between us and the beach. We drug the deer sidehill to the next cut to get away from having to drag dinner directly underneath him. He got up and walked around the point a little during the drag, but did not make a move towards us. Doug~RR

Deerslam- It was evidently too early for Old Squaw and Eiders. Scott- Rica stayed with Grandma in Phoenix. We did not jump any Ptarmigan atop the hills. The grass was so high that she would have been unseen. RR

CB1, Bob- Besides the slippers, maybe some fleece pants to wear on the boat, and some foam earplugs to muffle for any snorer and wave lap at night. A good liqueur or sipping whiskey for after dinner and bring some to share. I shot resting on the backpack and did not carry a bipod. Lighten the pack load! I was just a jazzed about the Harlequin ducks as the blacktail. Tim of TR taxidermy in Flag were talking today about ideas on mounting the waterfowl as my creative juices were flowing. My last thoughts were of a duck taking off with one webbed foot still in a rippled bed of clear resin next to a shore of slate rocks with another standing Harlequin drake. Allen- it was special country that begs for a return for another blacktail. My long time dream hunt has been for a Dall sheep, so guess the serious planning should begin. RR

Go get 'em! Best of luck. RR

P&Y Doug- Nice framing by the puddle-neat photo. Bill- We were over by Uganik. Have a great trip next year. Christian- The climbing was a lot more difficult due to the alders, brush, stickers and grass. When spooked, the sitkas did not run as far as coues, but there was always an alder ticket to get lost in. CB1- I left the tripod in the boat to save weight and often the grass was too tall to sit down. It would have been useful at times though. Good raingear- I wore the rain pants alot for the wet grass and snow- use a belt or suspenders as the elastic waistband alone ain't enough. Waterproof surdy leather boots with straight beeswax melted in. A silicone spray or mink oil would be useless and snowseal does not last well for several days. A couple of guys used ankle-fit Lacrosse rubber boots. No cotton clothing; Cabelas Microtex is great stuff, as are Smartwool socks with a thin liner sock. A light rifle with a short barrel. Leather gloves for busting through the alders and stickers, and clear safety glasses so you don't get poked in the eye. Just carried 1 quart of water with cytomax or Clif shot mix. Safety kit with lighter, fire tabs, and an emergency mylar space bag. We drug the deer down the steep slope with a line that had a swivel in it for when it rolled. I tried a plastic deer sleigh from Cabelas that slid easier and protected the cape. Would have prefered the 3' wide model, but it would be too long to carry in the pack. Dragging the deer gets it out in one trip so a bear does not claim the deer left behind. Mine weighed over 200#. Splitting the load between two guys to pack out would work. RR

Scott, Congratulations on another successful hunt earned through working harder. Again, nice trophy photos. Good luck in Nov. Doug~RR

Amanda, Looks like your trip was timed well to coincide with the fall colors. Seems you kept quite busy up there. Your pics should entice many to visit. Danke. Doug~RR

Keven/Peloncillo made a comment in the unit 29 thread about how he felt the Nov hunt was different and more difficult than the October hunt. I have noticed and participated in lots of threads about equipment, but seems we talk little about the more important methods and tactics. In what ways have we seen deer patterns change and how have we changed our hunting tactics from early to middle to late season? Doug~RR

The two burgeoning bags are packed with warm cloths, raingear and daypack. The HS 300WSM rifle is waiting as it was mailed ahead of time. I will be leaving tomorrow for a Sitka Blacktail hunt on Kodiak Island for my first trip to Paradise . Will be hunting with a couple friends and staying on a boat for 7 days. Hope to get a couple nice blacktails, some Harlequin ducks, and of course lotsa pics. Y'all hold down the fort and good luck on any of your October coues hunts. Doug~RR