Outdoor Writer

I don't think timber rattlesnakes inhabit AZ, and from the photo it is hard to tell what subspecies it is. Here are the choices of those in the state, though. I'm guessing black-tailed, which is found throughout much of the state. Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) Mohave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchelli) Twin-spotted Rattlesnake (Crotalus pricei) Tiger Rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris) Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi) Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) Arizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus) Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus)

Good video. Enjoy. The Challenge

Thanks for the cerviche process.

Chef, Kindly give a rundown on preparing the cerviche!

Tiger Does Vegas

Sorry, TJ. Didn't mean to scramble your brains.

The term "ungulate" has nothing to do with the digestive system but merely indicates the presence of hooves. Thus all of the African antelope, pigs and horses are included. Perhaps you're thinking of the term "ruminant," which describes the critters with a 4-section tummy. All ungulates have hooves but all ungulates are not ruminants.

A perversion of sorts, actually.

I killed my first AZ lope in 19B during the 1960s, and my son killed one in that unit -- his first big-game animal -- when he was 11. He's now 48, and 19B was our first choice for this year again, as it has been for many past years. Anyway, here's the release from G&F: Faced with the loss of access, Arizona Game and Fish Commission eliminates pronghorn hunts in 19B for 2011 March 24, 2011 PHOENIX – Faced with the loss of public access to a vast area of Game Management Unit 19B north of Prescott, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission on March 23 decided to cancel the pronghorn antelope hunt there prior to the big game draw for the 2011 season. The commission’s decision affects the hunting prospects for 65 hunters who would have received allocated tags. Commission Chairman Robert Woodhouse said, “There have been closures of other hunt units for a season or more based on biological reasons such as severe winter die offs, loss of habitat due to fires, etc. ... but this was the first time a decision was made to eliminate hunt tags due to public access closures. This was a difficult decision made only after extensive staff input and a long discussion by the commission.” During the discussion, commissioners pointed out that this was a “no-win situation” for the commission, the department, and for the hunters who applied for the general and archery pronghorn antelope hunts in Unit 19B this fall, but the commission was compelled to do what was most fair to all concerned. Late last week, the property manager for the Chino Grande Ranch, which is a checkerboard of private and state trust land parcels, verbally notified the department that the ranch is now closed to public access, due to a proposed renewable energy project. Access to other portions of the unit has also become restricted, with some private lands being closed entirely and other ranches allowing access by payment of “trespass” fees. The Chino Grande Ranch contains a significant portion of the available pronghorn habitat in 19B, and its lands also hold the greatest density of pronghorn numbers in the unit. The deadline to apply for the upcoming draw was Feb. 8 and the draw results are pending, giving the commission only days to modify the affected hunts without affecting thousands of other hunters. There are 4,780 people who applied for the 65 pronghorn antelope hunt permits in the two hunts (one general hunt and one archery hunt) scheduled for 19B. Game Branch Chief Brian Wakeling said “the antelope hunts in 19B are some of the most coveted in the state.” The commission also considered reducing the number of permits in the hunt but after significant discussion, the members felt that option would do a disservice to those who applied, as the area left open for 2011 would differ substantially from that available when hunters applied in February. With the elimination of these two hunts, the draw program will treat any choice where these hunts were selected as if all tags had been issued and move to the applicant’s next choice. The draw examines first and second choices primarily and then third, fourth, and fifth choices secondarily. The majority of the commissioners felt that to be the most equitable approach. The commission also expressed its desire to open up a dialogue on the whole land access and wildlife availability issue with land management agencies, county governments and stakeholders to include hunters, anglers and other recreationists. At issue is access to public lands and state trust lands and the management of public resources, such as wildlife and fish.

My condolences. I can relate to your loss really, really well since my Lab suddenly died in the middle of the night a few weeks ago. It's tough dealing with it at first, but it will become somewhat easier as time passes.

Since Blair Worldwide Hunting is located here in AZ, anyone thinking of booking a hunt with him, might want to read this thread first. http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3411043/m/3471078051

As stated above, it would also eliminate the Rocky Mt. elk and Rocky Mt. bighorns here in AZ, both of which are introduced critters.

TJ, Perhaps I misunderstood what you wish to do. When you wrote "35mm photos," I assumed you meant slides or negs. If you meant the PRINTS from 35mm slides or negs, it is quite a bit easier to scan them. Any flatbed scanner will do a decent job, albeit at a lesser quality from scanning the original slide or neg, and the learning curve isn't quite as steep.

TJ, Unless you're willing to put in LOTS of time on learning how to scan 35mm slides/negs and use a photo editing program to fix some of the usual glitches (such as all of the dust specs on the scan above), you'll be better off selecting a bunch of the best pix and getting them done to a CD by someone. That said, it is indeed possible to do good scans from 35mm slides. I have a dedicated 35mm Minolta Dimage scanner that works well. Here are a few samples in LOW-res. files of the originals:

Maybe you can teach the rabbit to retrieve???

So does she also come with a nice basboat and good bird dog?? Congrats and many happy years ahead.

I could be wrong, but I don't think IL has any FREE-RANGING elk, as in the other states I and others listed. I believe they are only available there on fenced properties. As for many of the other states, elk, which once were animals of the Plains, were NATIVE at one time. AND...if one applied the "native habitat" deal to all game, it would include Rocky Mt. elk and bighorn sheep in AZ, all or certain subspecies of wild turkey in many states where they now exist and several other species or subspecies of game. The oodles of fish species and subspecies that have been introduced all over the country into non-native habitats is too long to list, but we could begin with every trout in AZ except the Gila and Apache.

If you can't find someone to provide a home to Madison, PLEASE contact the Arizona Labrador & Giant Breed Rescue group. They do a great job of finding good homes for the dogs they take in. Before they allow an adoption to take place, they will either spay or neuter the dog and provide full vet services tyo correct any physical problems. Either e-mail intakes@azlabsandgiants.org or call 602-307-LABS (5227) I adopted my now deceased Lab, Sasha, from ALGB. She was a super gal. So if anyone else is looking for a canine companion, please consider adopting one from ALGB.

Arizona Senate confirms Robert Mansell as newest member of Arizona Game and Fish Commission March 8, 2011 PHOENIX - The Arizona Senate today confirmed Governor Jan Brewer's appointment of Robert E. Mansell to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Mr. Mansell, from Winslow, was one of three candidates submitted to Governor Brewer in November 2010 by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board. The governor appointed him to the commission in December to replace Jennifer Martin, whose term expired this year. Mr. Mansell is a lifelong Arizona resident and outdoorsman, hunter, angler, boater, pilot and community leader. He had a long and distinguished career in public school administration, including service as superintendent of the Winslow Unified School District from 2003-2009. He has been active in the community, including past service on the Winslow City Council, the Winslow Memorial Hospital Board, and the Winslow Rotary Club. He is a life member of the National Rifle Association. Mr. Mansell’s father and uncle, both now deceased, served as fish hatchery superintendents at the Canyon Creek and Tonto Creek hatcheries, respectively. “I look forward to serving on the commission and working for the interests of wildlife and Arizona’s citizens,” said Mr. Mansell. “I grew up knowing biologists and game rangers, so I have a unique perspective on the management and conservation of fish and wildlife in Arizona.” The Arizona Game and Fish Commission makes rules and regulations for managing, conserving, and protecting wildlife and fisheries resources, and safe and regulated watercraft and off-highway vehicle operations for the benefit of the citizens of Arizona. The commission is composed of five members appointed by the governor pursuant to ARS 38-211. The commission appoints the director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the director serves as secretary to the commission. No more than one commissioner may be from any one county. No more than three may be from the same political party. Each commissioner serves a five-year term, staggered. For more information on the commission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.

Most guys use dollar bills.

I have at least 6-10 full size PU truck loads of clean fill dirt (no rocks) that is FREE for the taking. It will have to be wheelbarrowed out from the backyard and then loaded into a truck or trailer. Located near 67th Ave. & Camelback. PM if interested.

Add Nebraska, Michigan, Kansas, Oklahoma and Kentucky to the list. Texas also has free-ranging elk now, but they are still classified as livestock, not game.

Lewis & Clark's Air Rifle

I can't take credit for finding it since I received the link via e-mail from a friend in Maryland. Ironically, I recently had signed up for a Netflix account, and the day before I got the link, I had watched a streaming National Geographic documentary on Netflix about Lewis & Clark's journey. It was an excellent show with great scenic views. As a result of watching it, I quickly picked up on an erroneous statement in the air gun video when the narrator mentioned that the headwaters of the Potomac River were in the Cascade Mts. The correct reference should have been the Columbia River since the Potomac is on the east coast.

Nice binocs!!!