cmc

That should make for a great story when people are looking at your animal on the wall. Congrats on a very nice coues!!!! I'd have been back on that kill site glassing for a lion later that day and the next. That would have been awesome to have both the buck and the lion on the wall. I have dreamed that very scenario so many times in my head it's pathetic. Again sweet deer congrats! cmc

Feel free to apply at the next G&F position opening if you feel you can do better. I don't believe they, the Government, are the savior, but they are tasked with a job. A job that has costs and associated bills that someone has to pay. Last I checked wildlife management isn't a free service that the G&F volunteer to do, then again I know some of them feel that way. The price of material and goods that we use has gone up. Don't for once think that they didn't go up for the G&F too. You can't tell the department that they have to go in the hole every year to manage the wildlife in the State. Ya that's going to last long. I'm not pro-government, I'm just support proactive wildlife management with a understanding of associated costs. In the end... To each their own. cmc

I can't wait for this to go into effect!!! It's about time the OHV's start to pay for the destruction they do. Yes a few bad apples are the ones doing all the damage but I'm sorry... OHV's are going to be the demise of our forest if we don't get a hold of things and soon! I say make it a hefty fee right from the start! cmc

congrats to both dad and son. Fine job guys!!! 7 more years and I hope to have a pic like that with my daughter. cmc

sweet buck... tell him congrats. cmc

Care to explain that line of thinking?

ordered my copy and it was to the house in a day. Awesome video nice work guys. OMG are the some toads in that video. cmc

Here is my brothers first ever deer... was in the making for 5+ years and well worth the dues he paid each year to finally tag a deer. I'd love to have shot an 80 inch'er my first time out. Brother on left me on right...

I'd entertain some road closures in that area, not all though. There are far to many roads and I think it'd be great for the habitat and wildlife in the area.

Anyone here backpack in for their hunts? If so what's your camp setup and gear? Feel free to include all the gory details of packs, foods, tents, sleeping bags ya know the good stuff. Thanks in advance. cmc

can you say... assault charges... I don't know how else to put this lightly but... that's about the dumbest thing one can do. Figure that if that's the tact chosen than you risk jail time, and almost every penny you have in a court of law defending your actions of attacking a person. There is no self defense justification here. Now mind you I would not be that type of a jerk, but if someone took an action I did in the field that serious to physically harm me, well they'll get to know my lawyers officer phone number very well. As well what having charges brought up on them are like. Walk away and walk away quickly before ya do something stupid. That elk isn't worth it one bit. Get over it and move on. cmc

My thinking is I hike to some pretty high elevation from the truck every morning. If I can get up there and stay up there I don't run myself into the ground as fast. I'm not in the shape I was 10 years ago where I could do the 8 miles a day in rugged terrain for 6 days straight, drink beer every night by the gallon and get no sleep or water what so ever. Boy have times changed.... Now I'm good for maybe a day or two of nasty hiking and my night time snack is milk, cookies and Advil. I'm trying to eliminate the wasted hiking in and out each morning and night. I just picked up a Kelty Teton 2 tent and an MSR Pocket Rocket. Now all I need is to make a trip. I'm hoping my buddies deer hunt we give one night a try for packing in. I might sleep outside my trailer one night on my hunt to test all my gear out in the colder country than my back yard. cmc

just what I needed... Now I won't sleep for two nights!!! Awesome job. I can't wait for opening day on Friday!

My thing is this is a national issue and our Gov shouldn't be the one calling the shots. Unless shots is the option he choses to take then by all means load and make ready! I agree I think word will get out that there are a ton of folks out there with rifles and in camo and they'll move elsewhere to cross. I believe the crossing season is starting its annual decline. Harvest have already begun up north and the drug folks have done theres down south. Most we'll see in a few months are the tuck loads going back home to pay bills with American coin they earned here tax free. Mind you all the while on roads that our tax dollars are paying for. Ironic to say the least... cmc

I carry one camp knife, it's my the one I carry daily, and my 'ole trusty' hunting knife that does all the work on the animal. For about 12 years now I've been carrying my A.G. Russel Feather Lite AUS-8 knife. It's same knife i use for all my big game animals from pig up to elk and everything inbetween. Light, strong and holds an edge for a long time. For a razor edge I use at Redi-Edge Tactical (http://www.klawhorn.com/rediedge.htm) that will leave you with a hair shaving edge in seconds. Again one knife to gut, skin and quarter my animals. I process my own meat at home in which I use a fish flaying knife from walmart I bought 10+ years ago for $9+ or so. My daily carry is a CRKT M16-02Z that I use for general purpose stuff in camp and in the field. cmc

ya the skeeters were pretty bad the two days I made it out. Not looking forward to that part of the game. I'm also thinking of packing in on Monday & Tuesday after the deer get pressured up into the nasty country. Still need to get a tent though. cmc

I was out this weekend and man is that grass tall!!!! I needed a weed whacker to trim out in front of me so I could sit and glass. Those little deer hid pretty well, let alone the 75-80deg heat keeping them at bay. Lots of little guys were out and about. 2x2's and 3x3's galore! This heat is going to kill me. A reminder why I dislike the Oct hunt so much. cmc

I'm a bit worried about rattlesnakes in that tall grass!!!! cmc

Make for a good hunt... no. Them little buggers will be able to stand up and move in that tall grass and NEVER get seen. Make for quality animals... yes. If ya can find them. With grass/weeds up over your waist a coues can lay down and never ever be seen. I don't care how much you paid for them 15X56's. Unless they came with a weed whacker it will be tough. I personally think it's going to be a very successful year for hunters. Lost of little coues will be taken but I don't think there will be more mature bucks taken. Good cover and water everywhere means they won't move an inch after opening day. I hope one moves just enough for me to spot it though. cmc

stanley, I'm working on getting that weekend solidified to be at the 36a camp. Will there be room for my 20ft trailer & truck? cmc

The Mountain House Dehydrated food packs are very tasty and easy to fix. Pour in boiling water into the package, wait a few minutes, and eat. All you get dirty is the fork. They cost $5 or 6$, cheaper than fast food, and taste better. Sometimes I'll eat them in my camper, when I'm too tired to do anything else. You can get them at Sportsman's Warehouse or cabelas, or anywhere the web. CAUTION: eating real backpacking food could turn you into a tree hugger! Mark I've had just about all of the brands sold it seems. Mountain House is by far my favorite. I love the mac & cheese, Beef stroganoff and spaghetti. Easy to make, taste almost as good as a home cooked meal and very filling. Well worth the money spent on them. Just a word of advice... get the serves 2 size if you eat a lot like me. You can get them at almost all the outdoor big box stores and Summit Hut. I hear Walmart up north stocks them too.

nice bear and congrats on the first one being a decent AZ bear. uh... well some advice... that line should read.... "G&F, firefighters & taxidermist" Don't forget mandatory check in. Thanks for sharing. cmc

My take.. vote no on both of them. Why no on 106... http://www.azsos.gov/election/2006/Info/Pu...ish/Prop106.htm Quote: 2. "CONSERVATION" MEANS PRESERVING THE NATURAL, CULTURAL, OR HISTORICAL ASSETS OF LAND, SUCH AS OPEN SPACE, SCENIC BEAUTY, GEOLOGY, ARCHAEOLOGY, PROTECTED PLANTS, WILDLIFE, AND ECOLOGICAL VALUES. Then when you use the definition of Conservation as said above in the paragraph below I find that the wording is quite hard to swallow and leaves the doors open to ban access. Quote: A. A CONSERVATION RESERVE OF APPROXIMATELY 694,000 ACRES IS ESTABLISHED CONSISTING OF THOSE EDUCATIONAL RESERVE LANDS, PERMANENT RESERVE LANDS, AND PROVISIONAL RESERVE LANDS THAT ARE SO DESIGNATED IN SECTION 12 OF THIS ARTICLE. LANDS HELD IN THE CONSERVATION RESERVE SHALL BE RESTRICTED AGAINST DEVELOPMENT, SHALL BE MANAGED IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH CONSERVATION AND ARE SUBJECT TO CONVEYANCE, LEASE, REDESIGNATION OR OTHER DISPOSITION ONLY IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, PROVIDED THAT NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PRECLUDE THE CONTINUATION OF ANY LEASE, RIGHT-OF-WAY, OR OTHER USE OF CONSERVATION RESERVE LANDS THAT WAS IN EXISTENCE AS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.

well said Dave. Prop 106 has a definition of conservation = preservation. To sportsman that is not good. That's why the CBD endorses it. Preservation and nothing less. cmc

Single tags you can get printed.... for some reason when you get the combo lic. they can't print them. Just wonderd if Phx was the same way that's all. Thanx cmc