az_shooter

Tipping is always based on YOUR experience, and the price of the hunt YOU paid for. it's not a desert sheep hunt in Mexico for a 180" ram, so don't get carried away and start tipping 1000 dollars. Also, the guides can tell who can tip what and who should tip more. If your like me and not made of money then they should know not to expect a 300 dollar tip, unless you have more than one person with a tag, then maybe it needs to be more. But, don't be afraid to ask people at the ranch or where ever it is you're going. Tell them you are new to this and want to tip accordingly and someone will tell you what range of tips are appropriate.

Everyone knows the importance of cleaning and maintaining their hunting rifles. But I've found out that a lot of people don't know how to properly clean their rifles and don't realize the damage that could come with not cleaning or even improperly cleaning a rifle. So I decided to start a thread and state a few basic cleaning do's and dont's and anyone who maybe had any further questions or other tips and tricks to add could do so. One of the most important item to have and in my opinion, no rifle should be cleaned without one is a bore guide or throat guard. This is an important piece because it keeps the cleaning rod sraight and helps protect the throat of the rifle from excessive rubbing and prevents the rod from bending and coming in contact with the rifling in the barrel and it also helps keep fluids and solvents from leaking into the action of the rifle and even into the trigger and bedding of the stock. Now there are many different kinds of bore guides, some are caliber specific and some are the one size fits all type. Either way, it is my personal opinion that they are a very important piece of rifle cleaning and should be used to prolong the life of the rifle. Second, is your choice of cleaning rod. Now there are many different types of cleaning rods and everyone has their preferred type of rod. The rod I use is a one piece rod that is nylon coated. I find this important because if the rod does come in contact with the throat or the rifling, there will be no metal on metal contact between the rod and the rifle. Now when it comes to cleaning tools and solvents, there are a million different combinations that you can use but I think every cleaning kit should contain these basic tools. A good brass brush that is caliber specific to your rifle. A brush too small obviously won't be sufficient enough to clean copper and residue out of your barrel and a brush too large for your bore could scratch and pit your barrel and that would just make more crevices for carbon and copper to foul into. Second is a good mop, or something you can use to push patches through the bore. Some of them can have eyelets like a sewing needle that you can stick the patches in so you can push them through the bore, while others have points on them so they just pierce and hold the patch as its pushed through the bore. I personally feel that this tool should also be caliber specific to ensure proper cleaning and maximum effectiveness. Third is a good solvent or gun cleaner. Something to help breakdown and remove the fouling in the bore. there are many types of solvents and gun cleaners and a good all around cleaner in my opinion is the Hoppe's Elite gun cleaner. that is just my opinion and there are many others out there to choose from so just do some research and find one that works for you. Another big question I have been asked and even asked a few people myself is what order or what steps should be taken when cleaning the rifle. I feel that this is all up to the users discretion and can be done many different ways as long as you keep these basics in mind. Always clean from the action out to the end of the barrel. You never want to start from the end of the barrel because then you would just be pushing all the debris into the throat and action of the gun and you could also take the risk of damaging the crown of the barrel which would have a huge impact on the accuracy of the rifle. Also, when you are using the brush, never go halfway and then try and pull the brush back through the bore. This will cause pitting and scarring inside the bore and could result in diminishing the life of your barrel. So always push the brush completely through the bore and out the end of the barrel before pulling back through. It is also important to completely dry the bore after cleaning. I do this like most people by running 3 or more dry patches through the bore at the end of the cleaning process to remove all left over residue and solvents that still remain in the bore. It is not good to leave moisture or chemicals inside the bore that could cause damage. Another big thing is oiling, oiling can be good and bad inside a gun. Someone once told me that oiling is only inviting dirt into places it normally wouldn't go. So I say if you do oil, do so very conservatively and wipe up all oil the is showing. A lot of you may consider this as second nature or common knowledge, but I think it is a good subject to bring up as there are a lot of people who don't know this or who are just getting started out and is looking for a little help.

Where is El Trofeo Outfitters located? I could only find a Facebook page and I don't use Facebook, do they not have a website?

You have two good votes above and I was going to say if it were my choice, I would not get the KYB struts. Not that they are horrible but there are better options like the two stated above.

I tried to look it up online but I couldn't find anything, guess I'll just have to wait for it to play on tv again.

I saw previews for that episode and in the commercial you could see her holding her face right up to the scope. I thought the same thing, I'll have to check it out now. Haha

Riggs is usually always good trout fishing, sounds fun.

Awesome, congrats!

My tag says 24 and that's all that matters.

Yup, that would handle all these problems for sure.

That was the first time I've seen episode 4, haha, good stuff.

Guy on a buffalo is a classic! Get outta here kitty cat!

I'm a fan of burning whatever is dead. Pine, oak, mesquite, whatever. If it's dead take it out or use it up, stops help the spread of wildfires and when wildfires do happen they are less catastrophic is there is less fuel loading. Show no discrimination, burn 'em all.

Ok, I have stepped off the pedestal and retrieved my dunce hat. I made comments about hunting from blinds and tree stands even though I don't like to use them down here, I cannot speak on the use and methods of them back east because I don't know anything about hunting back east. To wdenike, you are correct, I was speaking solely on what I've seen on tv and the few stories I've heard from friends who have lived back east or gone and hunted back east. I do not consider myself a better hunter than anyone else, I was speaking on my thoughts of the use of blinds and stands here in AZ but I see that I should have just inserted foot into mouth before speaking about something I was completely unfamiliar with.

That's really cool, awesome to hear.

Ok, I don't want to measure d+cks over a computer screen, I made some bold comments about the use of ground blinds and I stand by them. I cannot argue that they are just another useful tool in the toolbox of hunting, I guess it's just not one of my tools. Maybe because I've not used them a whole lot and haven't fully learned the "technique". Maybe I should take oneshot up on his offer to see for myself. So oneshot, how much does it cost to get out there and hunt? If you're serious about your comment then I guess I should at least try.

I agree 100%, it is a lot harder than shooting a deer with a rifle from a distance where he doesn't even know your there, but I'm not talking about that. Being able to get close to a deer in a blind is not the same as getting in close by stalking, not even an arguable comparison. How many times have you been busted while sitting in a blind? How many times have you been busted while trying to sneak in close to a Coues? Bet I know what answer is higher, unless you just have never done spot and stalk bow hunting for Coues. Nothing against your hunting techniques 100%DIY, but there is no way a good argument can be made when comparing spot and stalk versus ground blind/tree stand hunting down south here.

I actually agree with you, I was asking 300 why he thought that to build off my comment made in the post about spot and stalk or blind and tree stand sitting. I say that because it takes absolutely zero skill set to sit on your a$$ in a ground blind or in a tree stand over water and kill something. Someone actually tried to say that it's not easy finding a spot to put a ground blind or tree stand, any numb skull could figure out to set it next to water or near a large game trail. Anyways, I agree, back east "hunting" isn't really hunting. It's waiting and killing. My favorite part is when they get dressed up in all the camo and all the scent cover sprays and then go sit in an elevated blind over a corn field with windows and a heater. Go get 'em! Haha

What makes you say that?

Agreed, great video! But he forgot one thing, and I don't care what kind of hunter you are, meat or trophy it doesn't matter. But, he forgot to mention the excitement one feels when they see a set of giant antlers through their binos or through the brush. It doesn't matter who you are, if you're a hunter, that sight will always have some kind of positive effect on you.

Just a joke, I wouldn't do that to ya.

I thought that was a fake photo until I realized that was Jamie in the picture. to heck with that, never seen one in a tree and don't think I need to.

I dont understand?? d763451822 I'm reporting these glasses stollen and I'm gonna tell the cops you have them now that I got the serial number!

What if we don't use Facebook?

No! Just use the license you have now and when January 1 comes around buy a new license. No need to buy a 2015 license now just use the one you got to put in for the spring hunts and make sure when January comes around, you have a valid license for the hunt.