Red Rabbit

You can have him caped and salted, and keep it until you have the funds to mount him. Or roll the cape up, vacuum seal it, and store in your deep freeze (not the kitchen freezer that goes though the defrost cycles). A European mount on an angled plaque would look good until then. I like the memories provoked by seeing a mount on the wall or pedestal rather than the photos in an album that rarely gets opened.

Cardawg, the 270 will be fine to those longer yards. I would suggest you determine your range by being able to consistently hit a kill-zone sized target from your field conditions rest (whether that be bipod, pack, or knees), and not off the bench. Use a 10" Shoot-n-C target on a big blank cardboard face to see where you hits and misses are. If you do not have target turrets, mil-dots, or BDC reticle on your scope, you are severely handicapped, imo.

270 Winchester with your best 130 grain load.

You could still apply for the crossbow permit and see what AZGFD decides.

Hey Peg, happy birthday to ya from Rica and me.

Congrats to you and your dad on what can be a tough trophy hunt for the early season. Doug~RR

From the plethora of posts, there seems to be plenty of success during the October rifle hunt. Congrats to you if you got to expose the sticky on your tag . Just a reminder to enter the coues buck contest if you feel inclined . Even if your buck may not be the biggest, there will be a random draw for a nice prize from all non-winning entrants . Also, if you took a good Spirit of the Hunt photo, please submit it. One does not have to kill a coues to submit their photo essay either. Good luck also to those with the Nov 4 hunt this weekend. To enter, email redrabbit at dkoepsel@aol.com with your link to your forum post, gross score, and field/spirit photo. http://www.coueswhitetail.com/Coues_Buck_Contest_2011/coues_buck_contest_2011-12.htm

Pretty nice pair of bucks for you and your dad. Congrats! How do you like the Savage in 6.5x284? Accuracy, handling, pluses and minuses?

From an email I received back from AZGFD after inquiring, crossbows or bows with a "draw-lock" would NOT be allowed in any "archery only" season under the proposed rule changes (unless one has the 90% disability crossbow permit as allowed under R12-4-216).

Have a great hunt for your first CO elk journey. Bring some foam earplugs in case someone snores loudly.

Is it that the weather got the bucks moving, or that the snow made them more visible?

All very nice bucks, but I'm liking the third one especially. Good luck to you Allen.

For a light head, I like the Bogen/Manfrotto 700RC2. You might remove the foam grip, cut down the handle length, and reinstall the grip. http://www.cameralandny.com/tripods/bogen.pl?page=bogen700rc2

Another consideration for top tier level 15x binos would be the Leica 10+15x50 Duovids. If your eyes are more closely spaced, you may find the Duovids or Vortex Kaibabs more friendly than the Swaro 15x.

A couple of places through Amazon have it for $229 and free shipping http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B003Z2MAQ2/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new

Here are the proposed amendments: http://www.azgfd.gov/inside_azgfd/rules/documents/R12-4-304NERM.pdf For Crossbows, looks like the requirement for a crossbow permit for those with permanent disabilities is being eliminated for most species, hence making it legal to use a crossbow if not disabled . I did not see a change to allow crossbows during archery deer season by a change to R12-4-216 The use of lights at night for predators would not allow a light attached to or used from a vehicle. See D-6. For Deer, Crossbows are currently legal in the general and muzzleloader seasons without the disability permit. A disability permit would still be needed for the archery season (as I read it). HOWEVER, what I see if I read correctly is allowing crossbows in archery elk seasons, for example. Right now, I see crossbows allowed in only archery seasons with the disability permit under R12-4-216. But the proposed amendment is striking out the wording "For individuals holding a crossbow permit issued under R12-4-216," which to me would appear to make crossbows legal in archery elk seasons. The R12-4-216 wording is struck in other other species too. Wonder if the goal of AZGFD is to ultimately allow crossbows in archery season for all species? If so,I would be opposed to this. Now one would be able to have the bow/crossbow drawn and locked for any period of time, and not have to worry about having the draw motion seen by the game, or having to let down because one cannot hold the draw forever. Kind of defeats archery as being a limited weapon, imo. Also, I see the draw and increased accuracy potentially increasing harvest, and as a result decreasing the archery permit numbers. If this is to add clarity to the regs, I am still muddled. How is one to submit comments if the intended results and legality of crossbow use is not stated. Doug~RR

Draw Process <<<<< Click here for explanation on AZGFD Basically, there are 3 steps: #1 20% Bonus Pass- in this part, 20% of permits of each hunt number are drawn by those with the most bonus points. The applicants first and second choices are looked at. Beware that if you have just a few BP and put in a very easy draw second choice (like 36B Nov), you can draw this second in the 20% pass and not have a chance at your first choice. #2 1-2 Pass. New random numbers are assigned, and the applicants first two choices are looked at. #3 3-4-5 pass. New random numbers are assigned and the applicants third through fifth choices are looked at. If drawn in any pass, your bonus points are used (excluding the hunter ed and loyalty points). The 10% Non-resident cap on permits applies to all passes, so if you apply with a NR for a premium hunt (like 33 Dec), you may not draw if the 10% NR permits are issued in the 20% pass.

Congrats to you Doug. Aside from the laxative effect, chocolate doughnuts are great before the sugar crash.

The end of October is when the maples of West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon turn vibrant yellow and red. There is a long pool about two hours up the canyon that I wanted to take a sunrise image. Spent about an hour taking various compositions, and then explored the rest of the canyon through evening before hiking out by headlamp again. The maples are at peak color right now. More West Fork images are posted in the Sedona gallery should you like to visit. http://www.plateaulightphotography.com/Landscapes/Sedona/11290567_shCCPw#1545705571_nb3BSZz Doug

Phil, Hope that you are out on a mountain celebrating. HBD.

If inches matter, that buck could be a good goal for the rest of the hunt.

Many of you may like to get out with the family and see the fall colors. I made a quick recon drive to Snow Bowl this evening to check out the status of the aspens. They are still rather green, especially the large groves across from the lower ski run. Aspen corner had a start of change in the smaller trees, but the larger were still green. I would give it another week. Here are some quick snapshots to give you an idea of the colors.

Forget the idea of colorful aspens in Locket Meadow this weekend of 10/22. Just a few remaining and the green groves up the valley are now barren. Went there for sunrise this Friday morning. I did try a few star shots reflection off the tank before the sun rose. Ilene, I hope you still had some leaves if you made it to Lockett this week.

Putting the boned meat in a couple of trash compactor bags (thicker that regular trash bags) will keep any blood off your gear and pack when hiking out, as opposed to using game bags or pillow cases. Take the meat out of the trash compactor bags when at camp and get on ice. Using frozen jugs of water will keep the meat dry rather than loose ice (if you are concerned about wet meat).

Fossil Creek Road from Strawberry: Please be advised that there was a rock slide Oct. 7th on FR 708 above Fossil Creek. The rock slide has completely blocked the road at the last switchback on the Strawberry side. So Fossil Creek is inaccessible from Strawberry but you can still reach the Fossil Springs Trailhead from Strawberry. Fossil Creek and Childs are accessible from Hwy 260 (General Crook Trail). The road could remain blocked for several weeks. (From CNF)