Sneaker

My buddies are telling me that a good percentage of the deer made an early move this year and stopped in the very-difficult to hunt and thick mid-elevation level. Last year 100 shots were heard opening morning up top, this year there were like 5.

The online map has most of them but not all. Does not have listed my favorite one for example.

That can’t be legit. Was it a marked vehicle that stopped them? I’ve spent a lot of time on the Hualapai and Supai. I also personally know several of the Game officers(tribe members) and Tribal police officers(not tribe members) from Kingman, I’ll try and contact someone today and ask. But it only costs $30 to trespass to go down to Diamond Creek on their dirt road. Passage on the paved supai road has always been free and I think has to be free since it is a highway. Wasn’t stopped during the rifle bull hunt at all. Maybe the person stopping them was actually trying to tell them/ask/inform that they have to pay the boquillas trespass fee to access the ranch but there was miscommunication?

We had alot of fun while chasing the September Bugles. It was tough for finding big bulls this year however, with the drought during horn growth season. We passed on many herd bulls trying to find something better. We shot the biggest bull we saw, a bull I saw while scouting, minus one tine, on the 4th day of hunting, which happens to be our shared birthday! Getting in position and the final sequence and realization of the accomplishment will be quite the memory for the rest of our lives. My wife and daughter are better shots than myself and most men for some reason. Maybe because they care just a little bit less and that allows them to focus on the task better?

I suggested the department change the general archery deer kill cap in a unit from 20% to 35% to allow for more OTC hunting. They have been using the same cap percentages for like 30 years, and there are far far more archery hunters now, by percentage, than there were back then. Its only fair guys. Its only fair.

Good ol PNF!

They were going pretty good Wednesday evening between Prescott and Seligman, which resulted in nice wall hanger for my buddy and a memorable 12:30am finish pack out for us...

First day shooter for sure!

I'm sure there have been a few dozen killed in the state by now, but the chances of those being a member and having cell service are low lol. Its hot out there. A hot hunt when it has rained so much over the last 2 months that you probably can't hunt water or wallows effectively could make it tough going this year.

I was expecting you to say because you just got done with the worst possible strip archery hunt and have sworn off archery forever, lol. Nice looking setup.

I hate to be the pessimist but I’ve never seen a heat wave of this level on the opener, with its hundreds of people running the woods blowing calls, and the rut be good or bugling stay strong after opening morning. Kingman is supposed to be over 100 degrees for 3 of the first five days of the hunt so I think western units are going to be very slow initially. Was quiet last weekend.

A Park City utah couple was arrested and pled guilty three years ago for doing the same thing: https://www.kpcw.org/post/park-city-couple-accused-stealing-hunting-equipment-enter-plea#stream/0

This happened to me a couple year ago, except I was the guy driving behind the other. It was prelight on a long skinny road to get to the tank I planned to hunt but got stuck behind a duelly of all things at 4:30 in the morning. Well eventually he pulled over and he was planning to go to the exact same spot. I got his number and told him he could sit my blind. I went to plan B and saw 14 bucks before noon and shot a 6x6 muley. He saw one doe. Sometimes it pays to play nice boys and girls

Where are the updates? Haven't seen anyone have any luck on the strip, and not much from the Kaibab yet either... too much water and too warm I presume.