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Not cheap but one of the very best in Arizona and the US. Jose Valencia. http://josevalenciastudio.com/

Thank you to all the ticket buyers in our latest raffle. The WINNER is Jeremy Plain from Payson and he will be getting a new pair of Swarovski 15 X 56 Binos just in time for hunting season. We stopped by the new Sportsman's Warehouse store at McDowell and 103rd Ave to have them help with the drawing.

The AES is accepting any big game tags, does not need to only be elk. Only those tags from the last draw are eligible for Point Guard, you had to purchase the Point Guard at the time you put in. The elk draw Point Guard will be available for next year. The system was not in place for the 2016 hunts. If you purchased the Point Guard for your deer tag you will be able to get your points back if you donate your tag for Hunts for Heroes. If you are donating an elk tag you will not get your points back this year. We do accept tags at any time but the more notice we have the better so we can get help, guides and hunters lined up. So far this year we have 30+ hunts scheduled. Last year we did 37 hunts. This is by far the most rewarding program that the AES and Dave Holbrook have ever done, the letters and comments from the warriors are awesome. Please take a minute and watch the video on the program from some of last years hunters - https://youtu.be/mlJCs_eT7jM Thank you very much.

Arizona Elk Society Hunts for Heroes, wounded Arizona veterans. https://www.arizonaelksociety.org/hunts-for-heroes - Please watch the video! Call Dave Holbrook for info 928-300-3937. Over 37 hunts last year alone free to disabled veterans here in AZ.

Below is some of the comments that the Arizona Elk Society, AZGFD and other groups sent in during the comment period on this issue. The Tonto National Forest (TNF) provides excellent hunting and fishing opportunities for deer, elk, bighorn sheep, javalina, quail, and warm and cold water fish. These species are economically and socially important to local and neighboring communities and the many sportsmen who depend on the Tonto NF for a quality hunting and fishing experience. The quality of the hunting and fishing experience depends on a number of factors including the availability of quality fish and wildlife habitat, reasonable access, and dispersed camping opportunities. Please consider the following comments and objections to the June 2016 draft Record of Decision (ROD) and final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) related to Travel Management on the TNF. The Forest Service did not provide an analysis or reasonable solution regarding the proposed closure of three existing routes that were found to be partially within established Wilderness Areas. Route #203 (Cherry Creek Road in Sierra Ancha Wilderness, 10.05 miles of road in wilderness). This is an important access road to the east side of the Sierra Ancha Mountains for hunters, hikers, OHV users, and other recreationists as it provides important access points to Cherry Creek and the Sierra Ancha Wilderness. Route #487/487A/487B (Aztec Peak/Workman Creek Road) - This is an important road to recreational access to the top of the Sierra Ancha Mountains. FR487 provides access to a parcel of private property (Murphy Ranch), wilderness trailheads, and a fire lookout tower. This closure would primarily affect hikers, OHV users, big and small game hunters. Route #393 (Powerline road at south end of Mazatzal Wilderness, 0.64 miles of road in wilderness). The portion of the route within wilderness was proposed to be “Administrative Use Only” in Alternative C on Page 128 of DEIS. This would primarily affect OHV users, big and small game hunters. We recognize that motorized vehicle travel is prohibited in designated Wilderness Areas. However, conflict between the 3 routes with Wilderness Area boundaries has been wildly recognized for years and appears to be the result of administrative or survey error. As a result, we recommend that the final ROD indicate that the Forest Service will actively investigate reasonable solutions to keep these road open, including pursuing legislation to adjust the boundaries of the Wilderness Areas. The 3 routes identified above should remain open until a permanent solution is found. Finally, the decision to close or decommission these routes represents a significant change from the draft EIS. These closures will be controversial. As such, additional opportunities for public comment on this decisions should be provided. The Forest Service plans to eliminate 123 dispersed camp sites because of concerns that they are negatively affecting threatened and endangered species (T&E species) or their critical habitat. (T&E species addressed include the narrow headed garter snake, Mexican garter snake, southwest willow flycatcher, and the yellow-billed cuckoo). The dispersed camping sites that are proposed for closure are frequently used by the public and very popular for fishing and camping. We request that previously disturbed campsites and the spur roads leading to them remain open as inventoried and presented in Alternative C of the FEIS. We base this recommendation on our conclusion that motorized dispersed camping, which has been occurring in these areas for many years, does not appear to be having a population effect on these species or impeding their recovery. Rather than close these sites, we recommend that increased emphasis be placed on signage, public education and enforcement of existing rules related to OHV use, camp fire restriction, etc. as a means of avoiding impacts to T&E species. Finally, the loss of access to these dispersed camping sites represents a significant change from the Draft EIS and will be very controversial. As such, additional opportunities for public comment on this decision should be provided. We appreciated that the FEIS and the Draft ROD provides for motorized retrieval for elk and bear. However, the Forest Service did not allow for motorized retrieval for deer in the preferred alternative of the FEIS or Draft ROD. The final EIS is lacking credible data regarding the adverse effects of motorized big game retrievals (MBGR) on natural resources. The total number of MGBR’s including deer, is estimated to be less than 550 trips per year. MBGR is restricted to one trip in and out for retrieval of a large animal within one mile of a designated route. We recommend that the Forest Service should conduct a more thorough and realistic analysis of the impacts of MGBR and that the final ROD provide for motorized retrieval of deer in addition to bear and elk.

Thanks for the perspective Gary, if you weigh the abundance of raffles with the amount of great work, especially water projects, it is a huge win for wildlife and sportsmen. Arizona is a dry state, there are many hundreds of Forest service water catchments that led to distribution of wildlife in our state and the Forest Service has cut their budgets and haven't maintained them in many years. If not for the groups like Arizona Elk Society these would still be dry. AES has restored over 150 water catchments and dug out over 50 dirt tanks for Elk in the last few years with many more to come. If not for these raffles some of this work would not be done. Find a group that is doing good things and help them $10 at a time. Thanks to all that have bought raffle tickets.

The AES stopped by Ross Outdoors today and Josiah helped draw the winners on the latest Canyon Coolers raffle. 8 winners. Congratulations and thank you to all the ticket buyers. The winners are 103qt - Rob Schrafel & Joe Hoover, 75qt - John Marriott & David Pettijohn, 35qt - Jerry Douthit & Ken Kaiser, 22qt - Greg Islas & Jerry Barron.

The Arizona Elk Society will be holding a large wildlife habitat restoration project on June 11-12. This project is in Unit 5A SE of Clint Wells. Lots of great work to do including riparian restoration and much more. Get out of the heat and let the AES cook all your meals. Great time and family friendly. More info and sign up at www.arizonaelksociety.org

The Arizona Elk Society will be holding a large wildlife habitat restoration project on June 11-12. This project is in Unit 5A SE of Clint Wells. Lots of great work to do including riparian restoration and much more. Get out of the heat and let the AES cook all your meals. Great time and family friendly. More info and sign up at www.arizonaelksociety.org

Dave and the Arizona Elk Society are in touch with the guides for the Antelope tag that Jeff donated. We have asked them to also help Jeff's daughter. They are checking with the team and area landowners to see if they can help. We should know pretty soon if they will be able to help Jeff's daughter. In the mean time if anyone can also help feel free to let us know. Thanks Steve

Dave and the Arizona Elk Society are in touch with the guides for the Antelope tag that Jeff donated. We have asked them to also help Jeff's daughter. They are checking with the team and area landowners to see if they can help. We should know pretty soon if they will be able to help Jeff's daughter. In the mean time if anyone can also help feel free to let us know. Thanks Steve

Today we drew the winner for our latest raffle. The winner may choose between a pair of Swarovski 15 X 56 HD Binos or a STS 65mm HD Scope with 20 - 60 eyepiece. Laynie from Sportsman's Warehouse did the drawing and Jason Pettijohn was the winner. Jason had a very memorable phone call and was very excited to win. Thank you to Jason and all the ticket buyers.

The Arizona Elk Society uses a bunch of fitting for our Water for Wildlife projects. We are rebuilding 50+ water catchments a year and use pvc for all the plumbing. We would be glad to accept them and make a donation to CWT. Steve Clark 602-885-0835 stevec@arizonaelksociety.org Check out the projects at https://www.facebook.com/groups/842724975789038/

Josiah from Ross Outdoors picked 8 lucky winners of the AES Canyon Cooler Raffle. we have called all the winners. Lucky new cooler owners include Joe, Tom, Julia, John B., John A., Verne, Robert and Michael. Thank you to all the winners and ticket buyers for your support.

Joe from Wickenburg is the latest winner of the Swarovski Binoculars. Thanks to all the ticket buyers. Arizona's wildlife benefit with more dependable water sources throughout elk range.

Thank you to all the ticket buyers. These are great rangefinders. The winners are Eddie Nixon and Greg Ciasca. Thank you

The AES/NWTF Youth Turkey Camp is on the Border of 3C, we have many kids that hunt 3C in camp. https://www.arizonaelksociety.org/PDF%20Documents/youth_turkey_hunt_2016_web.pdf

I will take both of them. Let me know how much with shipping. Steve 602-885-0835

Thanks again to all the ticket buyers, our water crews have been at work for weeks checking drinkers and getting ready for a continuation of the 72 drinkers we have been restoring in Unit 23. ***The Winner is Bruce Bence*** from the valley.

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Ike, I read this that you two of these NIB. I will take both. Will pm my number. Steve

Emily from Cabela's drew the name of a lucky winner for our most current Swarovski Raffle. Grant from Globe was the winner. He was very excited, thank you Grant and all the ticket buyers. I see that Grant posted above.

I will take it, Left a message on your phone. Thanks, Steve

Had that happen many years ago with a 9MM. Cause was determined to be a double charge. If you go the lawyer route, like the guys above said bag all the ammo you have left in the box and any other in your possession. The lawyer, and yourself can research to see if it has happened to someone else with their ammo. Very harrowing experience to have a gun blow up in your hand, kinda the last thing you expect.

Tickets are on sale and selling. Get yours now. Individual tickets $75, also reserved and corporate tables available. https://www.arizonaelksociety.org/