Swivelhead

Stanley & elkaholic, I too attended the meeting at dept headquarters a few years back. For whatever reason the dept. really wants this Portal to fly.

Explain to me how outdoorsmen "benefit greatly from the money they spend" as it applies to wildlife management.

You're joking, right? Do you know what coercion means? Umm.... Incenting folks to sign-up for the portal and/ or driving traffic to the portal. Yes, but coercing anyone? Too funny... I frankly don't see anything wrong with it, nor do I care. WAY more important things for me to wonder about or speculate over..... I used to wait until close to what ever the published date for 'draw results being mailed' before I could see the results online. Now if I choose to willingly (without anyone strong-arming me or coercing me...), I can sign-up and end the speculation and guessing in my brain a little earlier. If I didn't like the idea of the portal, I would simply not sign-up and wait until the published date. Simple, IMO... S. I guess I did go "black helicopters" with my OP. Still wonder why they are pushing the portal so hard. They could have put results out on all 3 venues (phone, web, portal) and avoided any speculation as to their motives.

Non consumptive users do not fund AZGF game branch. Non game branch gets some Heritage fund money from the AZ lottery. Some money does come to the department from gas taxes (OHV, Marine use). Pittman-Robertson act reimburses Federal money. The bulk of the departments budget comes from hunters & fishermen. General population outnumbers us but their contributions don't fund wildlife management.

I stand corrected, AZGF wildlife water locations are still on the free version. Land ownership (previously free) now requires a $25 annual fee for access.

A week ago, one could get wildlife water locations and land ownership on the free version. Now, if you want these "enhanced services" you will pay for it by becoming a member. They did a takeaway or to put it another way "we got serviced".

Learn the road system in your unit, wear out some boots scouting. Look for last years rubs, it's a good indication where they'll be this September. Congrats on your tag!

Thought it was a great prank pulled on a very good prankster. I say "game on". Figure Lark is dreaming up a "get ahead". His post to Amanda is likely a setup .......... the saga continues.

You only pay once on quality stuff, it's like buying a pair of swaros bro! ^^^^ This. Outdoorsman's gear performs. Customer service is outstanding also.

Thinking about taking up golf ................ sell the big truck, get a Lincoln Towncar .................. nah, never mind, C'mon New Mexico!

Ground: Unethical, however 1 foot in the air is perfectly OK. Is it okay if they're 12 feet in the air setting in a nest? Nesting, nope but 12 feet up with a foot in the air: OK

Ground: Unethical, however 1 foot in the air is perfectly OK.

Game cameras will eventually be banned on public lands, Get used to the idea. It will happen.

Tommy Tutone was a warm up band at a ZZ Top concert I attended @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum on New Years eve 1981 ( I think). Band was booed off the stage. Barely got to perform their only hit.

The lady with the rough voice down at G&F is a sweetheart. I've spoken to her a few times over the years. She has empathy for us. Be nice.

Nice rig. Wish it was a lefty.

Congrats to the young hunter. AZ deer?

Same with fox.

Haven't laughed that hard for a long time! Great post.

BP system is supposed to weight the draw towards people who have not drawn. AZ's system does that. Nevada even more so. Watching the point creep phenomenon that goes with high demand hunts is disconcerting. Even with the 20% pool, a number of people at max or near max will never draw. Don't believe any BP system will eliminate that but squaring BP's would help. Scrapping the BP system is an option. Not popular with those of us who have accumulated points but what about youngsters who are just getting started? They're already 20-30 points behind some of us. They do have a chance to draw but will NEVER attain max points for premium hunts. Bonus pass is prejudiced against anyone who was not applying when the BP system was created. Shortsighted at best. Being cursed by a birth date is unfair too. To the OP, I've got no issue with G&F allowing the purchase of a BP outside the draw cycle. Allow purchase up to the following draw deadline, i.e. Lope/elk BP available for purchase up till the deadline date for the June deer/sheep draw,repeat. More $$$ for AZGF.

Fish on points. This will funnel the cruising fish near your baits. As the water warms, action should pick up. Cats seem to be inactive in cold water.

Had not seen that. Thx for posting.

They are still an NFA regulated item. Game and Fish legalized hunting with suppressors a couple years ago. Thx for the info. Too bad supressors are NFA regulated. No reason for it IMO. As I get older, seems I'm less tolerant of recoil. Cool thread.

Are supressors still a class 3 item? Did game & fish legalize them for hunting?

Bag the gun & ammo. Handle as little as possible. Likely, a forensic gunsmith would need to inspect it (if there is such a thing). Hope your wife is OK.