Red Rabbit

Keith, They do have a small housing development starting in the meadow just north of I-40 and A-1 Mtn Rd. Hook an immediate left and go west along the interstate for 1/2 mile or so and it'll turn north to A-1 Mtn and lots of places to drag a house and park it. They have done a lot of thinning and controlled burning in that area to reduce fire danger to the city of Flag. RR

Finally shot a Shuttle T-Lock this afternoon out of my LX. At 30 and 40 yards, flight was identical to the field points . What a change from my previous tuning experience with Thunderheads. RR

Welcome. Assuming that you are using factory ammo, I'd try the 120 Nosler Partition or the 115 Barnes X. Handloading, I'd still stick with the Partition, Barnes TSX, or Nosler Accubond.

David, Roads in 7m suitable to drag your 5th wheel would include A-1 Mtn Rd west of Flag off I-40, FR 222 off Hwy 180 past Snow Bowl turnoff, South on the FR700 off the Mountainaire road, Woody Mtn Road and out the water well road by the Arboretum. Check the yellow pages on-line www.dexonline.com for recreational vehicle storage in Flagstaff. There was a guy in Mountainaire who did storage, but not any more. Kendrick Park out Hwy 180 is on the 7E/W boundary, not in 7m, but a good spot to watch elk early morning come off Saddle Mtn or Whitehorse Hills. RR

Page 54 in the regs. R12-4-107 BONUS POINT SYSTEM "An applicant issued a first-come hunt permit-tag under R12-4-114©(2)(d) after the computer drawing does not lose bnus points for that species, and a valid but unsuccessful applicant for a first-come hunt permit-tag remaining after the computer drawing does not gain a bonus point." nothing to lose by trying, but a hunt to gain.

Now that we have all drawn December tags and are working up new loads, trying new factory ammo, new wonder bullets and new thunder sticks, thought I would share some observations. Many think that one gets less recoil with lighter bullets in the same gun. Having done some checking for my 300 WSM, and a 7 RUM, the recoil changes a negligible amount. In the 7 RUM, 140 grainers at 3300 fps gave 32 ft-lb, and 160's at 3200 fps also produce 32 ft-lb recoil, using max loads with the same powder with a 9 lb rifle. My 300 WSM produces 30 ft-lb with both 150 and 180 grain bullets in an 8 lb rifle. The recoil from a lighter bullet is offset by its higher velocity and greater powder usage. Link to recoil calculator: http://benchrest.com/sst/recoil.html Trajectory favors the lighter bullet by 2-6" less drop at 600 yards with a 200 yard zero. 10 mph wind drift favors the heavier bullet by about 2" less drift at 600 yards. the heavier bullet has 13-15% more energy at 600 yards. So for long range coues, I would say to choose the non-varmint bullet that is most accurate, since any advantages of heavy vs. light are slim (recoil and energy) and opposing (drop vs. drift). But it sure is fun to tinker and experiment . Doug~RR

Gnoto, Actually, I have a tag in 36c. But if you have a good mearns spot, I'd be obliged. Doug~RR

The 7 RUM belongs to someone else, but somehow I have four 300 mags that all want to go hunting. In the 300 WSM, I am trying to find an accurate 150 grain load with the Nosler Accubond. I have one with 150 TSX's, but I like to tinker. Will use 180's on the elk and may on the coues also, depending on whether I find an accurate one with Nosler 150's. RR

Ben~rifle looney, Has JB at the Campfire given you a label too . A good one to have. I have been using the Point Blank program. Doug

I'll be across the road from you in Nov. Have a good hunt and good luck! Doug~RR

The regs say permits should be mailed out by July 29, and refunds by August 12. Since the draw was posted, we can breath easy and go scouting. Doug~RR

Ben & Charlie have good advice; 150 grain Partitions. I would also try the 160 Nosler Accubond also. I have had real good accuracy and game results with the Accubonds out of my 300 WSMs. Doug~RR

Rica, my GWP, was reaaalllly reaaaallllly haaaappppppy that I was drawn for late season mearns.

It's going to be a busy fall. Drew 36c Nov coues and unit 9 rifle elk. Add those to the New Mexico Nov coues in unit 23, and Utah archery muley, and the gas bill at $2.50/gallon will require a second mortgage. Congrats to those who drew, I'll have a beer(s) in sympathy for Allen, and let's all enjoy our hunts, successful or not. See you in 36c, Ernesto. Let the Scoutin' begin! Doug~RR

I remember a spot in the Superstitions where it looked like someone had target practice. The moonlight caught the casings as it shown the hole in the rock. I think they were some weird chambering from Holland.

Next Friday, 5:01 PM, at the Bowhunter Happening, we'll all be walking around with cell phone earrings.

Scott, Let's forget about the Grouse. Rica just pointed 3 mallard ducklings in the backyard. Gently caught and mouthed em. Momma's having a conniption flying around the neighborhood. Think we'll take a hike on the north side of the Peaks tomorrow and scout for grouse (and deer). RR

Blue Grouse season opens Sept 9, the same weekend that archery deer on the Kaibab opens. Are you thinking N. Kaibab or SF Peaks? A fall fishing and grouse trip to the White Mountains sounds inviting also. A friend and I are going to Utah for a week of archery deer, connected with the Labor day weekend. I am trying convince him to schedule it for the week before Labor Day, but we should finalize it after the AZ draw comes out. Doug~RR

Scott, I hunted up on the north rim two years ago for a day after I first got Rica, and we got one. The guys went last year, but said it was real tough/few birds. Gotta go early before the berries shrivel up. There are grouse on the peaks by Flag, but are real limited in numbers, I'm told. AZYOUNG- About how many birds have you come across in a day? Doug

I like the part about having paid with a CC

Casey, Hope you make it a good one. May your folks reimburse ya for all those bullets we put in the cinders...Doug.

Got the calendar blocked out for a unit 23 coues hunt, Nov 5-9. Casey, are ya free to pack out my buck? Anyone else get a coues tag? Doug~RedRabbit

How do you choose your hunting partners? Do you share a camp because he/she a long time friend, immediate family member, relative? Do you hunt with the person(s) because they have the same drive, or hunting tactics, or tell good jokes? Would you choose to hunt with a new person to expand your horizons and maybe learn or be exposed to something new? Do you hunt alone for the freedom? Have you felt hog-tied because of the obligation of long-time partners? Do you hunt with someone because they asked you, or because they have a lot to offer you in terms of experience and knowledge to share? Do you hunt together throughout the day, or just share the camp and go separate ways during the hunting day? Do you hunt with someone new to hunting and you want to share your techniques and ethics? Have you asked your neighbor and his kid to join you on a hunt?

Casey and I were out this morning testing some handloads for our WSM's. After, we set out the target stand with an 8" Shoot-n See stuck to some fresh white paper. We guessed the range to be 300-350 yards, as we had no rangefinder. Shot half our shots off shooting sticks and the other half prone, over the daypack. We shot 19 times, hitting the spot 9 times, and 6 others being 2" off the perimeter. 4 out of 19 would have been misses or wounds, and those came off the shooting sticks. Shooting prone off the daypack almost seemed like cheating. Both of us were not using select handloads, but factory or hand loads that gave 2"-4" groups off the bench at 100 yards. Soooooo..... has anyone else been out practicing lately and learning abilities, cuz we all know we drew drew a December tag.

Ernesto, I was archery deer hunting for coues in 6B a few years ago with a friend. He was sitting a trick tank along the rim, and along comes some hippy long-hair... nekked as a jay bird . He was the guy that manned the fire lookout a mile away. We have called the tank Naked Boy Tank since. RR