Red Rabbit

Did anyone get lucky and draw a WY antelope tag? In the units I was considering, looks like there was a point creep of about 2 from last year. Perhaps many that were waiting after the '23 winter jumped back in the draw.

Contact information for AZ Senators Kelly and Gallego: https://www.kelly.senate.gov/contact/contact-form/ https://www.gallego.senate.gov/share-your-opinion/

A lot of hunters will be in the upper basin glassing the Coconino Rim. I'd be looking on google earth to find some clearings that a road does not run through. If slowly still hunting ridges, squat down and glass under the PJ

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/newsroom/releases/stage-2-fire-restrictions-begin-wednesday-evening-coconino-national?fbclid=IwY2xjawK_q5RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFwMmFKN2RRRVQ5ZkVJT1BHAR4l8pqHH6yL5HClkcOS6xYpOcZ5gDMZWTSMRH8YF3fPyPUHI_JJUWtGFOccmw_aem_tFeFGqcx-ckgd75kepPARQ No Campfires, No Charcoal, not even in campgrounds. Roads beneath the SF Peaks closed (see map in link) Kaibab- Williams RD https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/kaibab/alerts/stage-2-fire-restrictions-williams-ranger-district

Looks like I got unlucky and drew an either sex prairie dog tag 😒

Looks like it has been over a year since I posted any images. So here is a sampling of what has happened on some Arizona photo trips using the Fuji GFX 100s during the past dozen months.

I was recently able to scratch the Grand Canyon River Trip off my bucket list. I went with a photo tour rather than a regular commercial trip as the photo tour would have us in the right locations at the best time with best light for photography. We had clouds, sun, rain, blue waters, colorful sunsets, canyon glow, dappled light, reflections, waterfalls, and good food. Here is a selection of favorite images, but there is a plethora more on the website. https://www.plateaulightphotography.com/New-Work/Grand-Canyon-River-Trip

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/newsroom/releases/fire-restrictions-begin-friday-coconino-nf "FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., May 28, 2025 — The Coconino National Forest will implement Stage 1 fire and smoking restrictions 8 a.m., Friday, May 30, to help prevent human-caused fires and to limit the potential for catastrophic wildfires during periods of dangerous fire weather conditions. Under Stage 1 restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal, wood stoves and smudge pots are prohibited, except within a developed recreation site. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or an official developed recreation site. Using a device that is solely fueled by pressurized liquid petroleum, propane or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the device. " In the last couple of days, I have seen on WatchDuty.org small fires near Mormon Lake, Dogtown Lake, Marshall Lake, Wing Mtn, Tusayan, North Kaibab.

Thanks all for your comments. Guess I need to come up with another lifetime desire since the bucket list is empty now.

The thought came across the mind this morning that it is about time to see the proposed hunts/permit numbers which the commission will approve at their April Meeting. Well, the email from AZGFD came this evening. https://azgfd-portal-wordpress-pantheon.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/27174631/AZ-Big-Game-Hunt-Recommendations-and-Notes-Fall-2025-Spring-2026-_-March-272025.pdf

Time to change gears at the end of a work week. What's coming out of your speakers?

Did the commission approve the recommendations as given yesterday 4/11, or were some changes made?

Utah is set to double the Nonresident hunt fees this year. https://www.gohunt.com/browse/news-and-updates/hunting-news/alert-utah-to-increase-nonresident-hunting-fees-100-percent-across-the-board?fbclid=IwY2xjawJGxtVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcITiTjlZXyh_UfzRKxK7_2EMO9rXddnRVJZJoKJEfoaTCfzwdB_8xElxQ_aem_bJmSya6kUQmbfkIbwN_BEQ

Per wording in the bill, the NR fees listed are the max, but they may charge less. " Nonresident (All nonresident fees for the Division of Wildlife Resources may not exceed, but may be less than, the amounts stated in the division's fee schedule.)"

I had never hunted deer in Arizona before. I asked my friend how big Coues deer were. He said if you can see antlers, it's a good one. This was about 1985 near Geronimo's Surrender Site.

Have you seen any good Black Friday sales to share? Some pre BFsales at Sportsmans Warehouse and Cabelas, but nothing to garner great attention yet. I noticed that Kryptek has some good discounts. https://kryptek.com/ Kenetrek boots 20-50% off https://kenetrek.com/

What has been your dream hunt? Still dreaming, or did it come to fruition? For me, after I got out of college and started teaching in 1980, the hunting magazines lead my mind up into the northern mountains of the Yukon for a dall sheep hunt. I thought they were beautiful creatures. The hunt was out of my meager budget back then, and now the active geology has made the mountains too tall and steep for my legs.

PM sent

no hits, no runs, no errors

After many years of being due on the second Tuesday, the deadline is indeed sneaky.

Wapiti Wednesday. "Kickstand" says to get those elk applications in by next Tuesday to AZGFD.

Check with Ravenrocks. That is where I purchased my Norma brass. https://ravenrocksprecision.com/rifle-brass/?_bc_fsnf=1&Caliber=270+WSM Powder Valley also has 270 WSM Norma brass in stock. https://www.powdervalley.com/product/norma-brass-270-winchester-short-mag/

Spomer's video showed single digit ES but with data from only 3 shots of one ammo. The AllTerra video was not so rosey with higher ES and SD that equated to poorer long range accuracy. (see the last half of the video.) Sportsmans is showing the ammo prices for 7prc and 7bc being the same at $65 with the Terminal Ascent bullet. The 7bc is using about 55gr powder, which would equate to about 10% less recoil than a 7prc with equal rifle and bullet weight and velocity. We'll see how it shakes out when more factory ammo becomes available and is shot/analyzed.

https://azgfd-portal-wordpress-pantheon.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/06115757/2025-Pronghorn-and-Elk-Regulations_250106.pdf

The GoHunt app should let you see what units you can draw with only 3 points and give unit profiles. wgfd.wyo.gov will do the same. The winter of 2022-23 took a big toll on the deer and antelope in southwest Wyoming. I have 14 points for WY antelope and will see how this winter plays out. It will take a few more mild winters and no droughts for the herds to rebuild.