TLH

You should have a phone number for that ranch--give them a call and let them know you will be hunting their ranch--also, make sure you thank them for participating in the landowner tag program. I also wrote the WM for the unit i have and he wrote back--give that guy a try.

Hey man, how the heck have ya been? Yea, i know that area very well--in fact, i will be over there in Sept. guiding for Tony and Eli Grimmett. Do you know what ranch she has yet?? I have found that there are more bigger bucks in that area than most areas in New Mexico and i was hoping to get one of the ranches to the south but it didn't happen--might be a good thing though--i like checking new areas out. Come on back to AZOD once in a while.

I like to hunt them. I would like to get a buck that is at least 82" or bigger. I probably won't shoot a little, in fact i know i won't. Do you know what the country looks like in there?? Rolling hills?, brush, tree's?? I know it has to be way different than Carazozo and Socorro.

Sounds more like anti's to me--they only took something that a hunter would cherish and left behind the heads for the hunter to see. Left the place open for animals to take residence in--this says they feel the cabin should belong to the animals that was there before he built the place--nope, not kids--someone with purpose and intent. They knew exactly what they were doing. If they were kids they would have taken the guns for sure--being anti's they have no use for guns so they didn't take them. Remember, where that cabin is now is becoming greenies paradise. Hey, they have blown up places, stuck spikes in the road during hunts and they go around shooting guns in the air during hunting seasons--do you think maybe they could have done this? I do. Man, that really sucks Josh and i bet they never find the antlers. If i know how these idiots work they probably had some type of service for the dead and buried them.

Just head n/w where you see the Totem Pole--many buck in that place--all you have to do is find the Totem Pole!!

I saw Josh and his Pop's up north Friday--not sure how long they planned on being up there but they might still be there.

Dan, i got it Saturday--still no tag though--just the assignment!! Almost as much fun as waiting for draw as it is waiting to see what ranch you get. I am not familiar with that area but at least it is only about 5.5 hours away--could run up there on a Saturday and check the ranch out on Sunday and be home before 10 on Sunday.

Is the Hoyt a lefty too?? Doesn't say, either that or i am blind!! If it's a righty i know a person who will buy it.

Yup, it's a rifle tag--second choice--i put in for the muzzy tag first choice and didn't get that one. Sorry to tell ya that i have only put in 2 years and drew that tag. I can't wait to get over there and look that ranch over!

What is the model of this muzzy??

PS- Wildcats Suck! My blood runs Maroon and Gold! I knew i liked Chris for some reason!! Now i know what that reason is--besides he is a really great person who does a ton of chit for all kinds of orgs!! When you have worn the Maroon and Gold you know why you love the colors so much. By the way, congrats to those Cat's! They did a great job.

I lightened it up and it looks like a puff of dirt? It also could have been an owl or some type of bird that flew through the picture and left the ghost impression??

John, Email Blake Lanoue over at AZOD--he is looking for a pair of Minox.

I like my Outdoorsman tripod--it is the tall one and my Jim White head--put them all together and you have one stud of a system!

Don't skimp on the tripod and head mount! That is almost as important as your glass.

Terry, I noticed your response failed to answer some of my questions. As you are a professional guide I can see and understand your opinion. If I was in your shoes I would want as much money going to investing and protecting the resource I rely on to support myself. I no doubt agree that the money is put to good use. I only question whether the Super Raffle's primary purpose is to generate money. If it is than they are doing the right thing. If it is not than I think the people in charge of the raffle should revisit how they are administering it. You are correct in that your ticket had just as much chance as the other peoples. You personally did not have just as much chance as someone else who maybe purchased 2 or 3 tickets. Once again, I do not know how my post was taken as being "slighted". I most certainly do not feel that way. I am surprised at your response about NM, WY or UT hunters. All you have to do is go back and look at posts in the Hunting NM forum and you will find numerous comments about NM hunters questioning the number of non residents hunting in their state. Specifically, why they allow 22% to go to non residents while AZ only allows 10%. They can thank USO for that one. I personally had a cousin in UT who didn't talk to me for several months because he was so ticked when I drew and antelope tag on my third year of applying when he had been applying for many more years than that. I guess one of my last points and questions is if AZ has deemed it appropriate for the max number of non resident hunters to DRAW tags is 10%, why is it okay for 55% of the raffle tags to go to non residents? Sun Devil, Being a guide has absolutely nothing to do with how i feel. I guide most of the time in New Mexico for someone else and when I guide here it is usually for the Hunt of a Lifetime. The fact is money is money and the animals don't care where it comes from--in fact, an elk or a Coues deer wouldn't know the difference between the New Mexico border and the AZ border. Do you feel the same about the Lotto we have here in AZ? I don't see a lot of AZ folks winning that thing yet the money is put to good use here in our state. Your post above does sound as if you think you are being slighted--it sounds like your bitter and upset that some out of state folks are coming here and spending a ton of money to do it. I don't think your crying or bellyaching but i do read irritation in your post--nothing more, nothing less. You have every right to ask the question, after all if you can't do that then we might as well fold our cards and go home. I would like to see how much money the non-res put in to this super raffle compared to AZ folks--wouldn't you? Lastly, my Dad has not been drawn in AZ for an antelope tag for over 20 years--never has had the chance to hunt them here in our own state but i took him to Wyoming and got to hunt them there. The people in Wyoming welcome out of state hunters with open arms and open cash registers--that is business and that is how the super raffle has been ran. Dad gets mad every time he hears someone get drawn for antelope here but he keeps putting in--what i am trying to say is that it is all a matter of luck to get drawn--nothing else. I spent enough on the super raffle to have bought an elk tag in New Mexico and have the gas money to drive there and back 4 times--i do not feel bad i didn't win because it is the animals that win with this and it is the animals that needs it more than you or i need a tag to hunt them.

One of my buddy's got the bear tag and he is so excited i think he will hyperventilate!!

I have both and love them both the same. Do i think the Swaro's are worth that much more that Minox--nope, i don't. I also have the Leica Geovid 10x42's with the rangefinder in it--the glass in all three are great--the swaro's have a different coating and it will seem brighter and they probably are a little bit. If you have the bucks to spend on the Swaro's then get them--if you have a little less--like say a grand, then get the Minox. Either way you won't go wrong.

i think you missed a couple questions: The first question i would ask is how many auction tags went to non-resident hunters--the answer to that would be unfair to you. The second question i would ask is why is it any different that a non-res pay for a chance as anyone else? To answer a few of your questions--yes, it is ALL about money. Money that is used on habitat and specie specific projects--all of the money goes to the specie that the raffle tickets were sold from. The Super Raffle generated a ton of money and that is what it is for. I see nothing wrong in how this was done and i hope they continue to run it the same. My ticket had just as much chance as the other peoples--i just wasn't lucky enough to be drawn. Now, i have one question for you and anyone else that would like to answer it: Why is it just Arizona hunters that feel they are being slighted when something like this happens--i never hear a New Mexico resident complain about an Arizona hunter getting a tag and they didn't. I never hear a Wyoming hunter complain, or a Utah hunter--so what makes Arizona hunters so much more important than the rest of the west?? Flawed, no, i think it is as fair as our own draw to be honest with you--in fact, the odds were better last year.

Nothing yet Marshall--

I have had a 1996 Bronco--260,000 miles, traded it for my 2001 F250 4x4 and i got antsy to buy a new F250 and traded it in with 180,000--i have only had two bad trucks--one was a 85 Jimmy (bought brand new) had to replace three trannys on that one--traded it in on a Forerunner--put 200,000 miles on that and traded it in on the bronco i mentioned before. The other crappy truck i bought was used--Ford f250--took me less than 3 months to trade it in. I do not agree that the American trucks will not last as long as the Toyota's===maybe 20 years ago but not today.

I like the Sportsman Warehouse--i have always had a good experience with all of the people there. Sure, these people are not guru's in what they do but they certainly are not all the names that Lark called them. I have had some bad experiences with places and i usually have given them the chance to fix the problem--which they always did. Here is the best part about the SW--they have donated thousands of dollars to groups in this state for the betterment of wildlife and conservation, they are a class act and they have always outdone Cabela's and so far Bass Pro Shop. Don't get me wrong the folks at Cabela's are super folks too and they have helped the groups but SW has outdone them by a long shot--Bass Pro Shop has not been in the mix yet but i doubt they will compare to SW. Too bad about the poor service and the bad situation Lark, i know how it is to be frustrated with stores. My suggestion is to contact Bruce Gibson at the Phoenix store and let him know about the problem--he will take care of you.

Either me or my Dad was drawn for antelope--they hit me for the whole amount. I hope it is Dad--he will have a blast if he gets a tag!

Jason, I think the Glock is valued at $100.00 and the youth .870 is about $50.00 and i just happen to have $150.00 in my pocket!! Happy Father's Day by the way--isn't this your first?

Garth, Absolutely beautiful buddy. Thanks for allowing me to be privy to such an awesome post.