Red Rabbit

Thanks Larry. I will pick it up this week. Doug

Yes, you can apply for a BP on the regular deer draw application due in June. The hunt number to put on the app will something like 1000.

PM, VM sent

Last weekend was the second annual hot air balloon event at Monument Valley. They were able to launch Friday and Saturday mornings, but it was too windy Sunday. Over a dozen balloons were in the air for about two hours each morning. It must be a nice perspective to float over the valley. Colors against Rain God Mesa Going over the top Sand dune against a mesa The high winds made for dusty air, which produced a nice late afternoon light for the Three Sisters Last light on the Totem Pole Sunday Sunrise behind the Mittens and Merrick Butte Doug~RR

Larry, Stan and TJ- Thanks. I sometimes see balloons over Sedona. Wonder if they have an event there?

Thanks. I think it would be a nice experience to go up in one of the balloons over Monument Valley. Can't think of too many other places that would be so scenic.

(as told by Pete, aka ishudbhuntin) My grandson Jackson turned 11 during the summer and was hoping to draw a unit 33 juniors tag but was unsuccessful in doing so. He did draw an October regular season whitetail tag though. Jackson had killed his first Coues’ deer in 2010 and was learning to love hunting Coues’ along with his dad, my son-in-law. His dad was not as lucky and did not draw a tag this year. Knowing good and well that hunting Coues means you sometimes have opportunities but they are usually longer shots than most people practice at. In 2010 for his first hunt we made several trips to the local range and shooting at 100 and 200 yards off a bipod. We even made a few trips to Three Points Rifle range where he could practice out to 500 meters. His mother and Aunt were on a junior shooting team at the ages of 12 and 10 and I knew firsthand that with practice and the correct rifle a youngster can shoot quite accurately out to 500 yards. After a couple more trips to the range this year I knew he was ready. We set up camp the day before season and were busy glassing Thursday evening hoping to find a buck we might be able to find the following day. Seeing only does, we decided to get up really early opening morning and hike in by flashlight to another canyon where we could glass a little more remote area. After about an hour hike by flashlight Jackson, his dad and I finished our climb to the top of a hill just as the sky was beginning to get light. As the sun rose so did our anticipation of finding a decent buck but the few deer we were finding were does. Around 9:30 we finally glassed up a small two by. It was quite a ways off and farther than camp so we decided to pass and let him go. Besides, we had 3 days to find a better buck. A little after noon my son-in-law thought we ought to go back to camp and just spend the evening glassing from nearby so we wouldn’t be faced with a long hike back by flashlight. The day has quite warm and sitting on top of the hill glassing half a day without any shade was taking it’s toll. I thought a cold Gatorade and snack would refresh all of us and out spirits as well. After the long hike we reached camp around 3:30 and took a well deserved break in the shade of a canopy. Around 4 and feeling quite refreshed we grabbed our binoculars, tripods, rangefinder and rifle and walked about 100 yards from camp to a small vantage point where we could glass from for the evening. I even took my lounge chair to be really comfortable. Shortly after we began we were seeing does in a couple different locations coming out to feed but nothing with head gear. Finally around 4:30 I happened to look quite a ways off, on top of a small hill past the main ridge we were glassing and saw what appeared to be a head with a large set of antlers sky lined but with an ocotillo between us. Studying it further, I realized I was looking at a very nice buck that was bedded in the shade between an ocotillo and an oak tree with just his head and antlers visible to us. After my son-in-law located it I asked him to stay there and notify us if the buck had moved or not while Jackson and I made out way to the top of the ridge about 750 yards away. We hurried as much as we could but the last 350 yards was quite a steep climb and it took us longer than I had hoped. As we approached the top and out of breath I turned back to look at my son-in-law far below land he signaled the buck was still there bedded. We slowly climbed to the top of the ridge scanning the next hill for the oak tree and the buck’s location. We soon found it and he was still there. I set up my binoculars on the tripod to get a better look and decide what to do. The buck was bedded about 125 yards away and looking in the opposite direction. We quickly found a spot my grandson could lay down to shoot from. I crawled ahead breaking off grass stalks so the barrel of the rifle had a clear unobstructed view of the buck. Backing up even with Jackson I told him to find the tip of the buck’s ear which was sticking up with a sunny patch of grass behind it. I told him to come straight down into the gray area between the two ocotillo branches which seemed to frame the bucks vitals perfectly. I told him to let me know before he shoots but to go ahead as soon as he was ready. He said, “I see it and am ready, here goes”. When shot cracked, the buck tried to get up but he never made it to his feet and fell over immediately. One shot through both lungs with the 87 grain Hornady V Max and it was all over. We radio’d back to his dad the buck was down. His dad said he was watching the whole thing and saw the start to get up then fall over, he then heard the report of the rifle. It was almost dark by the time his dad made it up to us with the backpacks and camera. We took a couple pictures and then quartered, boned and caped it for mounting before heading back to camp for the evening. Our packs didn’t seem quite as heavy as they did in morning. Sitting around camp after dinner and recapping the days events was really enjoyable. Sharing times like these with loved ones, it just doesn’t get much better. The buck green gross was 109 2/8 and net’s somewhere between 101 and 102. They are having the buck mounted as I told them it could possible be quite a while before he takes another animal as magnificent as this one.

Looks like the poppies on Peridot are fuller/more plentiful than on Peach. Wonder how flowers are along the Apache Trail?

There are some shoots listed on the ABA website. http://www.arizonabowhunters.org/ Rim Country Bowhunters/Cottonwood has a few shoots listed. http://www.rimcountrybowhunters.org/events.htm I did not see any shoot listings on bowsite or archerytalk

I finally went out and photographed for the first time this year. Tuesday night saw snow descending into Oak Creek Canyon above Sedona. I had often wanted to photograph the area around Cave Springs Campground when snow was fresh and clouds were wafting around the peaks. Wednesday morning was that opportunity. Here are a few from the morning, and I have placed some more in my gallery (see link). Please feel free to say which in the gallery you like most, or don't like, to help "thin the herd". http://www.plateaulightphotography.com/Landscapes/Oak-Creek-Canyon/21498212_Z4gcph#!i=1713812232&k=DQfq3ND Doug~RR

Brent and Phil- when it comes time to high-grade the images, it is sometimes difficult to cull. When I put together the "best of 2011" I was wanting to get to the top 10, but got stuck at the 20 or so seen in the gallery. To me, last year was pretty productive. Kathi- I know what you mean about "stuff". I sure enjoyed that morning much more than work I was missing, reading the news, or even some forum posts. One just needs to concern oneself about "stuff" they can change.

They heard you had a 6.5 Have a great hunt this fall.

Yep, definitely "at the earliest"

Stan, HBD to you. Did you get out bird hunting with your GSP this past season? Doug~RR

All of my elk rifle hunts have been with either a 300 Win Mag or 300 WSM handloaded with 180 or 200 grain Sciroccos or Accubonds. Guess the 300 WSM has been my most used chambering for elk.

I can't see why having the tag auctioned in UT will make a difference. Those with the money wanting to hunt the strip will likely have their guide/outfitter pre-chosen and have their bids submitted over the phone. If the tag auction is held at a smaller AZ banquet, it should conceivably go for the same amount as only the same select few are making the final bids. jmo.

The person with 22 BP should apply by himself for unit 10. Seems the only way to be drawn is being in the max point 20% pass. If he combines with the others, it will likely not happen and will be waiting several more years to hunt. I'm sure the ones with 16&18 will want their buddy to hunt antelope in 10. The others with 16&18BP might apply together. Look at the draw odds here by clicking on the chosen state on the map http://www.hunterstrailhead.com/index.php?ID=1&XID=1:0:0:0:0

The deadline to enter the annual Coues Buck Contest is February 15. If you have not submitted your entry yet, please take a few minutes to email your stuff (photo, gross score, story link) to me. Also, I am still needing "spirit of the hunt" photos that you may have taken while on a coues hunt this year. http://www.coueswhitetail.com/Coues_Buck_Contest_2011/coues_buck_contest_2011-12.htm Thanks, Doug/Red Rabbit dkoepsel at aol.com

The deadline to enter the annual Coues Buck Contest is February 15. If you have not submitted your entry yet, please take a few minutes to email your stuff (photo, gross score, story link) to me. Also, I am still needing "spirit of the hunt" photos that you may have taken while on a coues hunt this year. http://www.coueswhitetail.com/Coues_Buck_Contest_2011/coues_buck_contest_2011-12.htm Thanks, Doug/Red Rabbit dkoepsel at aol.com

The deadline to enter the annual Coues Buck Contest is February 15. If you have not submitted your entry yet, please take a few minutes to email your stuff (photo, gross score, story link) to me. Also, I am still needing "spirit of the hunt" photos that you may have taken while on a coues hunt this year. http://www.coueswhitetail.com/Coues_Buck_Contest_2011/coues_buck_contest_2011-12.htm Thanks, Doug/Red Rabbit dkoepsel at aol.com

The deadline to enter the annual Coues Buck Contest is February 15. If you have not submitted your entry yet, please take a few minutes to email your stuff (photo, gross score, story link) to me. Also, I am still needing "spirit of the hunt" photos that you may have taken while on a coues hunt this year. http://www.coueswhitetail.com/Coues_Buck_Contest_2011/coues_buck_contest_2011-12.htm Thanks, Doug/Red Rabbit dkoepsel at aol.com

The deadline to enter the annual Coues Buck Contest is February 15. If you have not submitted your entry yet, please take a few minutes to email your stuff (photo, gross score, story link) to me. Also, I am still needing "spirit of the hunt" photos that you may have taken while on a coues hunt this year. http://www.coueswhitetail.com/Coues_Buck_Contest_2011/coues_buck_contest_2011-12.htm Thanks, Doug/Red Rabbit dkoepsel at aol.com

The deadline to enter the annual Coues Buck Contest is February 15. If you have not submitted your entry yet, please take a few minutes to email your stuff (photo, gross score, story link) to me. Also, I am still needing "spirit of the hunt" photos that you may have taken while on a coues hunt this year. http://www.coueswhitetail.com/Coues_Buck_Contest_2011/coues_buck_contest_2011-12.htm Thanks, Doug/Red Rabbit dkoepsel at aol.com

Happy Birthday to you sir. I hope your corner of NM is treating you well today. Doug~RR

So who was behind this ammendment proposed by Gowan to silence the commission?