Swivelhead

Got an wildlife newsletter via email from G&F this afternoon. Copied and pasted from that newsletter: An Online Club for Hunters? Changes are coming to www.azgfd.gov The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is proposing a fee-based, online club providing unique services for hunters. Membership benefits may include: The ability to give back your tag to get your bonus points back Priority opportunity for surrendered tags Early access to draw results AGFD apparel What will membership cost? What services would it include? Join the conversation! Attend an upcoming public meeting and make your opinion known. If you can’t attend a meeting, e-mail ideas to portal@azgfd.gov. I realize this is in the dream phase but I'd like to think with the exception of AGFD apparel, why should anybody have to be a member of a club for these benefits? Personally, I find this ludicrous.

meat bags, I prefer 20"X30" size. Usually carry 1-3 depending on the quarry

Hoyt CRX 35, easy to shoot.

UA owns the cup for the next year, us Devil fans will be eating dirt for a whole year. I can handle it.

I own both 10x50 and 15x56 SLC's. The 10x50's see a lot more use than the 15's. Bump for great glass at a good price.

You guys get it done. Unbelievable ram, congrats to all.

Tough night for you Cat fans. That was a spankin' of EPIC proportions. Wish the Cats could have "backed up" the two wins over Oregon. Duck fans are even more obnoxious than Cat fans.

Beautiful ram. Thanks for sharing your hunt with us.

Cats got to have some offense NOW.

125 grain Thunderhead or 135 grain Zwickey Delta.

I am always impressed when a person in an authority position reaches out to our young people. GO DEVILS!!!!

Actually, I never tried the ph-111 head in the field. Seemed like a decent lightweight two way pan head. I attached it to my trusty old Sprint Pro II and gave the set up to my brother for his birthday. He likes it a lot. Me, I've been using a Vanguard PH-113 on a promaster 525 carbon tripod. I'd own another aluminum tripod in a heartbeat, carbon is overrated IMO.

Won't be long and you'll be able to rent drone time, capable of thermal imaging, gps markers, etc. All date stamped and sent to your tablet before you head out the door on to I-10. Having a tough hunt? Can't find that big ol' buck that you had on your archaic old fashioned trail cam? No problem, call a drone service and give them some coordinates to sweep, watch it as it happens in real time downloaded your tablet while sitting in camp. Ooohh, can't wait. Amazes me how quickly hunting technology is evolving. When I first started hunting our deserts, a rifle, a few shells, some cheap 7X35 binos on the neck, candy bars, knife, rope, matches and a canteen or two described the well equipped hunter. For most of us, the animal we hoped to take lived in our imaginations as it had not been seen. Good areas had legendary bucks seen by only a few lucky hunters. Big tracks, pressed deep into the dirt were the "trail cams" of old. I do miss the simplicity of the old ways.

Congrats! Which unit did you draw? 1st hunt in unit 31 Also got the 1st and 2nd hunt on the SCAR, going to be busy this spring.

Although I own a panning ball head I prefer two-way pan heads. I put a Vanguard PH-111 on a Slik Sprint Pro 2 (wish Slik would sell the Sprint Pro II legs w/out a head). Very nice lightweight set up. Handles most optics well, the exception would be a spotter in the wind. Tripod is not quite beefy enough for that task. Your set up (sprint pro 2 and a panning ball head) is an excellent lightweight option.

I've got Promaster ball head that's rated for 13 lbs. It pans fine but the panning feature will not "lock down" without serious effort. The ball head part is flawless. Head will easily lock down a heavy load even when seriously out of balance. Thx for the report.

Finally drew a Goulds tag, took 14 points. Look forward to the opportunity.

How was the interaction between hunters on your hunt? I've run into some negative experiences on that late hunt.

No doubt, ball heads that have a panning feature are superior to those that don't. Panning ball heads do fit nicely in a pack. Does the panning feature "lock down" securely? When panning, is it fluid enough to "nose" right & left easily without much effort?

Not sure what G&F is up to. They are definitely late this go round.

Cats did themselves proud @ Utah. Should be a wild one next Friday.

I think there is a lot more to this unprecedented delay than we all realize. #1 - Could be they are going through with their "hunt club" concept, i.e. pay for early results or being unshaven and unwashed, wait till the permit shows up. #2 - Should G&F choose to break 30+ years of letting us know early, August 7th 2015 will be the "in the mail" day for hunts that will start 8/21 (early archery deer). It will be deemed unfair that hunters have less than 2 weeks to prepare for a strip hunt. August archery deer draw hunts will be moved to the elk/antelope drawing period. This will create an opportunity for many to purchase an additional deer BP each year. G&F could rake in a million+ easy with this subtle change. #3 - Both #1 and #2. #4 - G&F IS po'd at us and is flexing it's muscles. Me, I think it's #1 and #2.

7mm RM is a great cartridge. I agree with this post, start to finish.

Adhering to the posted notification date(s) will make the G&F a lot of money.

It is good that you are anxious. All your senses will be heightened. Hunt as hard as you can. Likely, you'll be rewarded for your efforts.