Swivelhead

I've own a number of the PH 113's. Durable and will handle decent weight. Smooth......... not so much, about 90$ worth. I'd recommend you spend more and get better quality.

Let us know what you think of the 20X glass.

You lookin' for an all cash deal?

I've had my best tasting Javelina by processing the carcass at the kill site. Packing a whole stanking javi back to the truck can be nasty! How I do it: Don't always opt for the biggest hog in the group. Carry a canvas meat bag in the pack as well as some quality rubber gloves plus a few pre-moistened kitchen wipes kept in a ziploc bag. Tag the hog on the lower leg just above the hoof. Take some pictures. Hang the carcass, skin and remove head. Don't worry about the scent gland as it comes off with the hide however minimize contact with the gland and any exposed flesh. Once skinned, stop and clean knives & gloves. Now is the time to remove hair from the carcass. Bone out the hanging carcass (the "gutless" method). Save the tagged foot! Boned out pig is only 10-15 pounds so it's an easy but more importantly, clean pack out. Do a final trim & clean at the house. BBQ, green chili, red chili, chili, all come out good. I've even slapped some straps on the grill and it was decent although somewhat tough. Javelina is best when slow cooked IMO. I recommend this process to those who've been scarred trying to eat RANK javelina.

Nice looking land mines.

This is going to sound borderline insane, but you got me thinking. Maybe I shouldn't waste my points on Goulds and just go straight Rio's. AZ Rios are hybrids. Go for a Goulds here then Texas or Oklahoma for a Rio.

Roads hit high points too .........

Goulds hunts are not over-subscribed like the most spring hunts. Last few times I hunted our national forests for Merriam's, it was a joke, people were everywhere. I like a little serenity when I hunt. I am willing to wait for a great tag.

It would be interesting to drive down & offer to take a couple protesters out to the "slaughter". Call all day and be dang lucky to get a dog in much less take one. It'd also be cool to have one of those really good days too. Point is these people have a problem with their wild side. We are all descended from hunter gatherers. The hunt is in us. It must scare the heck out of them.

I know a few people who were unsuccessful with their Goulds hunt. Not for lack of trying.

Bump for a nice set-up priced right.

The dog did blow out a nice covey.......

Yes, over the phone. Did not know it could be done over the phone. Thx for the tip! Called, got my tag, feeling good! Love that reservation, no quads, the land sees few people except hunting season. I remember when our national forests were like that.

WM stated tag #'s are based on how many class III & IV rams are counted not the overall population. When those numbers rise we should see an additional tag.

I was in unit 21, the sign was there just did not see the quarry. Not getting a javelina is no big deal, I've taken quite a few in my lifetime. I was just surprised I NEVER saw one during all that glassing. Reality is that I was trying to get it done easy (glassing). Needed to get out and beat the weeds to learn their routine in the area. Likely, I'll go back to the same area next year and provided the sign is there I'll do the miles necessary to decipher their core areas. Look forward to doing it.

Here you go: http://www.adbss.org/projects.html

Never did see a javelina this season. Spent 8 days behind the glass. Still a good time.

These are BGAT's?

Purchase pre-owned quality optics and never look back.

I'd recommend you acquire both. No such thing as too many optics. Your questions about spotters: I'd suggest you get a scope with the largest objective you are willing to carry in your pack. Most scopes have variable magnification eyepieces these days so you'll have no issue in that regard. IMO, 65 mm is a minimum for a spotter.

Had a C-130 fly by at low altitude earlier this month in unit 21. What a beautiful sight. C-130 is one the of the finest aircraft ever built. Likely what you saw was a training mission. Always puts a smile on my face when I see my tax dollars spent on something worthwhile.

I've weighed in on the angled/straight debate before. I do agree that a angled scope is easier to look through long term (hours) and have advocated angled scopes for that reason. That being said, all these years I've been using a Swaro AT80 (the old gray version) which is easy to line up on a target as its eyepiece does NOT rise above the barrel of the scope. The AT80 lines up just like a straight scope. The AT80 does not require substantial tripod movement when switching from binoculars to scope. Recently, I acquired a Kowa 663 angled scope. Great scope optically, light and compact, perfect for a ride in the pack. However its eyepiece (ocular) is much higher than the optical tube and I find it difficult to acquire targets. The sight on the side of the scope is useless. Changing from binoculars to scope requires substantial tripod movement. Won't consider another angled scope unless is shares the AT80's "low eyepiece" design. Currently produced angled scopes all seem to have the high eyepiece issue, for that reason I'm switching camps, go straight.

Although I've had a lot of success in the past, this year I've not even seen a pig. I'm in a new area that I have not put the boot leather to. Been relying on glassing. Spent 5 full days scouring a lot of good looking habitat and none seen. Seen some interesting Coues bucks however.

I own and regularly use a Promaster 525 carbon tripod. It is good tripod but not great. I think you'd be happier with the Slik depending on the amount of weight you plan on stacking on the unit. Slik makes a good tripod, I've used them in the past and would buy again. Good value IMO.

Going into the draw with 22 .................... never dreamed it'd take this long.