rossislider

Maybe they move it up because of the paper apps deadline getting moved up? I hope so. Makes sense.

My buddy's dad had one of these moments last year on an elk hunt. We had hiked up to the top of a hill and had been looking over 20-30 cows and and a half dozen bulls. Not finding a bull we were looking for, we loaded the packs back up and headed back down to the truck. As my buddy's dad walked out a head of me I noticed his new 15x56 Swaros sitting on the ground. I started to shout out to him, but changed my mind and decided to have a little fun with him instead. I quickly scooped up his binos and buried them in my pack. As we hiked back to the truck I let my buddy in on my little secret. We agreed that we should keep our mouths shut. We made it back to the truck, then the highway, and then to the gas station (probably about an hour and a half later). My buddy was out at the pump filling up with his dad while I was in the gas station getting a soda. The story that I was told was that while pumping gas, a very concerned expression crossed the dad's face and he started frantically going through his pack. After a couple of minutes of panic my buddy let him off the hook and told him I had the binos. His dad then came in the station, insisted on buying my drink, and we had a good laugh.

For this exact reason I took my daughter to the range on Monday after striking out Sunday at Four Peaks where it was INSANE busy! Too dangerous so I took her to the range with the same issues you posted. I hate getting placed next to the one guy who just came straight from the store with his first ever gun purchase (matching ARs for his old lady and him) or the other guy, the one shooting the extremely large caliber and blowing me off the table every 10 seconds he lets one off. Hard to concentrate in that war zone. Yeah, I am one of those guys shooting the 300 RUM with a brake. But I do try to give the guys next to me a heads up warning. Also, I very rarely shoot more than 3 rounds out of any one rifle (most of the others are much tamer) during any given shooting round. When I'm at the range I try to simulate normal hunting conditions. Any more than 3 rounds without a break and the barrel heats up to much to simulate a normal hunting cold barrel situation.

I will say this for the range officers at Rio Salado, they seem to have mellowed and become more friendly in recent years. In the past I always felt they were looking down on me giving me the evil eye and just waiting for an opportunity to pounce and humiliate me. The last couple of years they have been very friendly and conversational.

I go out to the Rio Salado Sportsman's Club more and more for these reasons. I don't particularly enjoy paying the range fees, the wait times during and between rounds can be a pain, and the range masters can be a little intense. But it beats the alternatives of driving at least an hour outside of the valley or dealing with all of the idiots who have no common sense, respect for other shooters, and the outdoors where they leave all of their crap behind when they are done.

Hey Andrew, Draysen and I want to help out again this year. I don't think I can make the meeting tonight.

That's the fashionable thing in today's world. The deer are just a little late getting on board.

I don't know if I would say it is quick and easy, but they are designed to come on and off so you can switch backs. There are a couple of videos on it. The tactical frame (versus the hunting frame) is a thicker stronger material. I spoke with several representatives at Kifaru as I was on leaning towards the tactical for strength reasons. But each reasured me that the only reason I would want the tactical frame was if I carried extremely heavy weights on a daily basis, like guys who use the back every day for work. But they said that the hunting frame is ideal for the hunter because it is a better frame for what we do (usually light loads of sub 100 pounds, but still does great for the occasional 100+ pound pack out). Seemed like pretty much all of the employees prefer the hunting frame and most of those guys are hard core backwoods hunters.

I see your points. A lot of my concern relates a lot to what we see in long range shooting anymore. Someone can hit a target with a rifle at a range at 100 yards, so he thinks he only needs to turn the turrets on their scope a bit and they are good to go at 1000 yards. I see this potentially doing the same thing. Some guy shoots the weekend before his hunt in his backyard at 20 yards, and because this device, assumes he is now good to take ridiculous shots he has never practiced.

I have mixed feelings. It looks cool and would hopefully improve random arrow flinging. But, and I am sure my comments will likely offend people (any snowflakes in here?), I think this may just be another tool to enable the lazy jackwagons, who don't want to get off their rears to put in time practicing with their bow, learning their equipment, etc., until the weekend before their hunt.

Good luck Ammon! I still need to get with you for one. Still have those cranes for Draysen? Sorry, it totally slipped my mind.

Craigslist is usually littered with them.

Also, the right Kifaru belt size to order can be a bit confusing for those between size guys like myself. I'm normally a 36-38 in pants, but at the moment am really pushing that 38 and need to drop 20 pounds! I run a size medium Kifaru belt and despite what Kifaru says (they say medium will work for size 34-38) I wouldn't go with a large belt unless you are at least a size 40 if not 42. Unless you are 40+, you probably won't be able to get the large to cinch down as tight as you would like.

I’m like several others on here and tried quite a few different packs and configurations over the years, but never found something that seemed quite right. Finally, last fall, I bit the bullet and bought a Kifaru pack with Reckoning bag. I’ll try to address some of the questions people seem to have about packs and specifically Kifaru’s packs from my perspective. First, it was very expensive compared to other packs. But not compared to how much I spent on all the other packs trying to find the ideal less expensive option. I should have just bit the bullet and bought a Kifaru to start, it would have been a lot cheaper. Several people have brought up the lack or organizing pockets. I shared this concern initially until I realized that this is intentional as it allows you to customize your pack with side pouches, pullouts, etc. I will include several pictures below showing how I have my pack set up. If you aren’t ever planning on carrying heavy loads, you probably don’t need a Kifaru pack. But if you are, there probably isn’t a better pack for it. I currently have my pack set up on stand by in a day pack mode for a light weight high speed chase over a lot of ground. I don't plan to take my spotter and tripod for this, but through them in there for the sake of these pictures. This picture shows the front. I have the guide lid, but don't normally keep it on and would probably only use it for multi day hunts. The pack cinches down small and tight. It probably cinches tighter and is lighter than my old day pack (Badlands 2200). I have 3 belt pouches around the back. A large on either side with a medium in the middle. The large on the right has a couple of extra water bottles, protein bars, and snacks. In the middle is my traditional knife (the Havalon is in the kill kit), headlamp, and extra batteries. The left bough has some cold weather gear (neck gaiter, beanie, gloves, etc.) This side pocket is where I keep my tripod. It is pretty big (I have my tripod in there with my trekking poles) but cinches down tight. On this side of my waist belt I have my ammo pouch and the Kifaru Gun Bearer. The Gun Bearer if the best carry system I have used. Much better that than a strap pulling at and rubbing my neck all day, and it moves the weight to my hips. I used with my other packs well before I switched to Kifaru. This side pocket holds my 85mm spotter and could hold something much larger. Again, it cinches down pretty tight. I also keep my Nalgene water bottle on the waist of this side. For internal organization, I really like the Kifari pullouts. They are a little pricey and other things might work just as good, but they were a great Christmas present from my wife a year ago. The ones in the picture and that are currently in my pack are my "Kill-Kit", my first aid kit (including leukotape, if you don't know what it is, Google it. It is probably the best thing ever made for preventing blisters) and I'm sure you can figure out what the other items are for. Everything else I need handy and that I never want to be separated from goes in my AGC bino pouch. Main pouch of course has my binos. Back pocket has tags, licenses, and a pen. Front pocket has my range finder. Bottom pocket has a backup electronics battery, cable, and Phoneskope adapters. Right side has earplugs, matches, a couple of bandaids, and individual pain reliever packets. Left side has game calls. Sorry for the length, but I figured some might find this helpful.

I've never trust it with any brand. I always run through the sizing die, trim every piece to the minimum case length, chamfer, deburr, and then load. I want to make sure ever case/round is as close to identical as possible. I have yet to buy new brass where every piece was as identical as I like it to be. But I'm also a little OCD about these things.

Haven't seen them in stores, but I have a 723-cf and 823-cf if you want to check them out. I am in Queen Creek.

Interesting idea. Check out this old girl my son cleaned up yesterday. Probably seen over 100 pigs come through here over the past year. This old girl was by far the gnarliest.

Who did you find?

Stan in the archery department at Bass Pro is an official scorer.

Anyone in the fear east valley who shoots archery, or wants to shoot archery needs to be sure to swing by Timber Mesa's shop in Queen Creek. I busted the slide on my bow while shooting this afternoon and swung by to get a new one. Since I was going, I took Draysen (my 13 year old son) and his bow down with me. He has had his current bow for a couple of years and in that time has probably grown at least a foot. As always, Junior set what he was doing aside to take care of us and took the necessary time to get Draysen squared away. Draysen is right at the edge of outgrowing his current bow. But unlike a lot of guys at other shops, he didn't push us into a new bow we weren't prepared to buy and helped get the current one set up to last him a bit longer. Great service and a good guy. make sure you stop in and see Junior.

Show off!

This guy (Todd Rice) is bad news and has been discussed on here in the past a lot. This as a good thing. http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/46823-beware-of-sonoran-outfitters/?hl=%2Btodd+%2Brice

Sounds like we are all going to be having a big birthday party! See you guys there. This will be our third year. It is usually my wife, Draysen, and I. But the younger two are getting to the age where I am thinking about maybe bringing them as well. We should get there early and grab a table or two together. Mark - Will there be more tickets/seating with the bigger venue this year? For any who may be thinking of going, this is a great event, especially if you want to take the family and youngsters. It doesn't tend to go as late as a lot of other banquets and they do a great job of getting the kids involved in the activities.

You bring up a good point that I struggled with for a while. I used to randomly pack up for hunts (pack, pouches, pockets, etc) randomly filling space. A few years ago I decided to start designating pockets for certain things and do not deviate from it. For example, X pocket always has ear plugs, pocket knife, etc. Y pocket always has the range finder, calls, etc. This has made a big difference for me, I'm no longer searching though various pockets, pouches, etc when I need something since I know it is always in the same place. It takes a little discipline, but it has helped me a ton.

Shoot, if you will be traveling through Phoenix (I am in the far south east valley in Queen Creek, but work right by the Phoenix airport), I'd be more than happy to take the coues meat off your hands. I'd also be happy to store your javelina meat in my chest freezer till you are headed out of town.