Red Rabbit

Sounds like a cool use of technology, BUT... One problem I see is the lack of cell service where we pack in to hunt on Bigbuck Ridge. I also see this as taking the real scouting and hunting out of hunting. Will next year's real time video model come equipped with a rifle on servos controlled by our keyboard, like the system getting all the flak (and rightfully so) in Texas? Doug~Red Rabbit

I went to the mouth of the Agua Fria on Lake Pleasant about 2 weeks ago. Caught about ten whites on pearlescent shad grubs in the current. Heard the whites are back in the arm of the lake. A neighbor went two days ago and caught three from his kayak. Doug~Red Rabbit

I have only attended the local banquets here in Flagstaff. Every year I support the NRA banquet, and, depending on funds, go to the SCI, Mule Deer Foundation, RMEF, or NWTF banquet. Right now, money is real tight, so banquets would be a luxury event. Doug~Red Rabbit

Last week, while in Bear Basin Archery here in Flagstaff, I test drove the new Mathews Switchback. It was eqipped only with sights, drop-away rest and Limbsavers. No stabilizer or string leeches. I was in amazement that there was no detectable hand shock, kick or torque for this bow without a stabilizer, and it was real quiet. A tournament archer who just shot Las Vegas was equally impressed when he tried it next to me. It draws smoother than my LX. If anyone is shooting a ten year old bow, they would be amazed at how well today's bows shoot, and owe it to themselves to try one of today's top bows. Doug~RedRabbit

I noticed this post from another site. Is there another good search engine that is pro-second amendment/pro-hunting? http://www.shooterslegacy.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3024 "Beam me up, Scotty. There's no intelligent life down here."

Way to go, Brian! Glad you personally got to catch the sheistkopfs. Too bad that when they were hauled away, it wasn't by tying them to a bumper. Doug~RedRabbit

Happy birthday Scott! When I see that glow on the horizon this evening , I will know why. Have a good one. Doug~RedRabbit

Two years ago, a few of us went to New Mexico since we didn't draw an AZ tag. Calling in that tom to about ten yards and seeing it fan out and strut in front of the decoy was a vision now embedded in the cerebral cortex. Sure tasted good deep fried and now his skin is permanently in a strutting mount. Stan- Sure hope you get to call in a tom for your son. In person is a lot more thrilling than seeing it on an outdoor TV show. I have that new shotgun to initiate into the hunting world. Have 3 different loads to pattern through it. Keith- I have been archery deer hunting in 17 a couple of times, and the friend whom with I went to NM knows of a few roosts to check out. One fall, we were given the slip by some turkey-lurkeys near Camp Wood. Good Luck to all. Doug~RedRabbit

Howdy Ryan, Welcome to CWT.com. I have my first spring turkey tag since about 1995. Got drawn in unit 17. Time to shake the dust off of those box calls. Doug/RedRabbit

UM, That rifle/scope combo will work well on coues and antelope. You made a good choice. I think you will like that Sims R3 recoil pad. Have fun practicing those long shots this summer. Doug~Red Rabbit

While the 25-06 has long been thought of as one of the best for antelope, I would consider the 257 Weatherby for strictly coues and speedgoats. Weatherby has hand picked the better shooting Vanguards (less than 1" groups), and put them in a tan, pillar bedded stock, and calling them the Vanguard MOA for about $599. One negative is that they have 24" barrel rather than the regular 26" of Weatherbys (lose 50-60 fps for those 2"). I think the regular Vanguards are $399, and come with a proof test target. The 257 will have less recoil than the 270 WSM and shoot flatter. If you don't reload, Weatherby factory ammo is expensive. Comparing WSM's, the 300 WSM will shoot a 150 grainer as flat as the 270 WSM will throw a 130 grainer (near identical BC's at near identical velocities). But the 300 will have a little more recoil. If you shoot a 140 grain bullet instead of a 130 out of the 270, the 140 will drop a few more inches, but the 140 will drift a few less inches in the wind. If you handload, another good choice would be the 264 Win Mag, but you might have to find a used rifle or rebarrel one. I don't think anyone is currently chambering this cartridge in a factory rifle. A final thought is whether you want the extra recoil and blast of a magnum over the standard chamberings in order to get the extra reach. The standards will be easier to shoot well and more fun and cheaper to practice with. For example, the standard 270 Winchester with 130 grain BT @3000fps will drop 20", only 4" more than the 270 WSM with 130 @3300fps, which will drop about 16" @400 yards with a 200 yd zero. The 270 WSM will have about 40% more recoil than Jack O'Connor's 270. (I thinks Lark may be onto sumpin) So, in a standard, I'd choose the 25-06. And in a magnum, the 257 Roy. RR

Dan, I noticed on the proposed '05-'06 hunt guidelines, that an October coues hunt is listed for unit 23, but not for 6a,b, 8, 21, 22, 24. Are the WM's for those units getting feedback to propose an October hunt in those units like you are? I interpret the dates of various meetings such that these hunts could be proposed and approved for this fall's hunts, even though they are not on the current hunt guideline; correct? Another item I noticed is that 2% of the deer tags are to be for juniors. Seems kinda low to me. Has there been a proposal to increase this %? Considering that we should be trying to recruit new hunters, get the youth involved before they choose other activities, and bolster the hunting tradition, and youth hunts have drastically worse draw odds than regular hunts, it seems a shift of permits is in order. Doug~Red Rabbit

Brian, I know how you feel. They could be using your truck to haul around my ATV and trailer somewhere in Mexico. A past girlfriend's brother had his new Ford pickup stolen in Bisbee some years ago. He located it - it was being driven by the sheriff of Agua Prieta, Mex. As Stanley said; Doug~Red Rabbit

Amanda, congratulations on a successful adventure. Looks like you have some good burritos in the making. Did you enjoy you experience with the TC as opposed to a regular handgun? Hope the new Jeep is treating you well. It looks almost unreal with all that green in the pictures, almost like it's not in Arizona (especially since I've seen a lot of white this winter). All the greenery should be good for fawn embryo development (and my dog Rica says quaily birds too). Yes, sleeping next to a gurgling steam is nice-kinda like white noise for sleep. Doug~Red Rabbit

Hey Dan, good to hear from you. It looks like 6A has been about a 35% success hunt, on average, the last few years. That means the 250 hunters take about 88 bucks. If the number of hunters is reduced to 150, and assuming the same success rate, they would take 52 deer, leaving 35 deer out of the 88 harvest objective to be taken in the October hunt. If we assume about half the success in October, 17%, (roughly based on southern unit rates), you could have 205 hunters to achieve that harvest. If G&F wants to limit it to 150 permits, how about the other 55 being designated as junior tags? Is this reallocation being considered for other units like 21 & 23 that have only a December whitetail hunt? How many mule deer hunters have you and past 6A GM's observed along the rim, that the extra coues hunters would provide overcrowding and their decrease their hunt enjoyment? Doug Koepsel~Red Rabbit

270 WSM. It's chambered using a short action, rifles are inexpensive for some models like the Winchester Shadow at WalMart, ammo is diverse and plentiful, and it's a flat shooter for coues (almost to 270 Weatherby velocities) and will work well on that upcoming elk hunt with appropriate bullets. Doug~Red Rabbit

Newbee, What will the uses of the rifle be? What chamberings do you already have? Do you handload? Are you recoil sensitive? Do you handload? Are you limiting yourself to these two headstamps only? Budget constraints? Doug~Red Rabbit

Kevin, I do not have a Sendero, but from the reports I've heard, it is more accurate than the average Remington. Should have the stock made by HS Precision with the aluminum bedding block. The extra 2" of barrel might not get you to 300RUM velocities, but only 50-60 fps than in a 24" barrel. The extra weight of the gun will help with the 300 mag recoil. You'll have to judge if the rifle's size and weight is what you would want to carry up and down the coues mountains. I believe that Remington discontinued the Sendero this year. Doug~ Red Rabbit

I saw Sunday's episode of Bass Pro Shop's Outdoor World-Hunting where half the show aired had a coues hunt near Hermosillo, Mexico. I could not find if and when it would be re-aired. Hope some of you got to catch it. Does anyone know if any other Outdoor Channel program has any coues hunts in the works? Doug/RedRabbit

Scott, Thanks for the heads up. I added the men's channel #218 to my list of favorites. Doug~Red Rabbit

Ernesto, Sounds like you had a great and memorable hunt with you wife alongside. Were you more excited about relocating the big buck or seeing the lion? What are the regulations about hunting/shooting lions in Mexico? Doug ~ RedRabbit

Ernesto, How did the range day go for checking out the rifle? any problems? What did the gunsmith say he did to fix the problem? I would spend an evening in front of the boob tube (crt TV for you younger guys with LCD/plasma screens) and work that action and safety and slam the butt against the floor to see if you can get a misfire. Doug~Red Rabbit

I purchased a Scott Mongoose with the velcro strap about 13 years ago. I shot about 200 days a year for 10 of those years, and have not had a problem with the release or velcro. Last year, I got a Scott Itty-Bitty Goose with the NCS system and velcro strap. I like the lighter weight and strap attachment to the release head. Doug~Red Rabbit

25-06 Congrats on the young GSP. If the rain continues to early summer, the quail crop next year should be a much better one, with more young birds to find in the field. Have fun training Tug. This has been my second season with a German wire hair pointer for me, and I have had fun finding the few birds we've found. We went out yesterday near Sedona and busted a small covey of 5, got one. Sure is fun to watch your dog get birdy and go on point. Doug/RedRabbit

Chris, Yep, "she"'s all urine, I mean yours. Think maybe you've been hanging out in the wrong bars. What's with the "smashed a trail cam lately???" on your byline? Doug/RedRabbit