Coues79

If you happen to have some time, here is the live feed to watch the commission meeting today. I checked in at about 10 AM and there were 19 of us hunters using this thread of technology to be part of the meeting. Seems rather bleak when we have 10's of thousands wanting to hunt every year. Anyways, here is the link. http://www.azgfd.gov/inside_azgfd/CommissionCam.shtml

Yes Amanda, I agree that its great. It shows that the AZGFD is willing to do their part to let the people and hunters know what is going on. I liked being able to watch and hear what was going on. The draw director gave some pretty interesting information relating to the amounts of hits the website and phone system recieved the particular weekend the results came out. It was crazy. Something like 2.2 hits per second for a few hours, then shot up to 3+ per second later on. He also mentioned this was the first time the draw processing and results have been handled internally. Could be a reason why they took so long to come up. I personally thought that once they came up, the time to find out was relatively short this time. The bandwidth was sufficient to handle the amount of traffic coming in and I had the results come up rather quickly. Another note that I had always wondered about, I guess they have 24 landlines that handle the results once they come up on the phone system. With the amount of lines available, it is no wonder that so many folks had troubles for days on end obtaining results when the Mid-Winter draw results were posted.

They are just covering this very question as I type this response. The commission recommended to the draw director to "FIX" this very problem, either manually or mechanically in the future. The draw director then said they have a meeting this Monday to fix this problem. There is a live streaming feed going on right now for this meeting. http://www.azgfd.gov/inside_azgfd/CommissionCam.shtml

I have the Bushnell Elite 1500 with ARC and it has worked well for me. Quickly ranges out to 800+ on almost anything. Takes a few seconds longer past 1000. With the size of the Leica CRF, it woud be hard to pass up if you have the funds for it. It looks pretty slick and easily accessible from a shirt or pants pocket.

Awesome pictures and experience for you I'm sure. My first will be old enough to do some stuff like that in about a year or so. After reading and lookin' at pics, I can't wait. Thanks for sharing with us!

Good looking pictures there Singleshot. Thanks for sharing them. Hope to stick one this Fall! Jeff

Amanda pretty much nailed it right on. I love not having to worry about a ton of people in the field. I also love being able to be in the sunlight and have it tolerable. Personally, there is nothing worse than sweating when I am trying to glass, I don't care for it one bit. Another note, the deer are definitely more active and it makes for an easier time pickin' em' up. Add the luck of a couple inches of fresh snow and those lil' coues deer stick out like a sore thumb. I would 100% rather have a December hunt over any other for deer; its always a first choice usually followed by a November hunt, but this year I decided to put in for 2 December choices. Good thing I did. I just may start doing this from now on too.

I'd call it a 3 point. That's the way I was growed up learning. Regardless, thats a really nice buck.

Surprised and glad to see you know what a laptop is

This is a good frame of thought. December coues tags are way too hard to come by anymore. I remember back a good bit ago, one could get a December coues tag with combined units. Matter of fact, I just pulled a mount off my wall as to the last time I had a December tag (other than this year!!!). Tag was back in 1996, Units 31 and 32. They don't come around that often anymore. If you are one that hunts for trophy deer, make it a monster if you take one during the archery hunt. Good luck either way!

OH MAN. That buck could get pretty interesting with a few more weeks. He is already a toad, but if those G2's and 3's get some length on them, he is gonna be a flat out STUD! Nice little kickers and character to him too. Thanks for posting and keep us updated.

It is hard to beat the satisfaction of arrowing a buck. It would be difficult to beat the satisfaction of seeing your son tag a monster on the December late hunt too. I would personally take a good buck with your bow, given the opportunity and sign that sucker over to your son. Set a mark on what you would be satisfied with in regards to a bow kill, and wait for that opportunity to present itself. How long has it been since you've drawn a late hunt? How many in your life? Does your son already have a tag? All good questions to consider.

Shooting a bull in that country even 2 or 3 miles from the nearest road creates a tremendous chore in getting him out before any meat spoilage occurs. It can take one man, 2 days or more, of hardwork to pack out an elk in that country depending on distance. No doubt this is a true statement. The hardwork is an understatement if the elk is a couple of deep canyons in. I would be interested to know prices. If you have any idea, post em' up, or, send me a pm.

I'd be interested and probably a good idea. Have you thought of or have any idea at a price? Or is the knowledge of where we took our game the $$$$$$

What reticle does the scope have?

Man cool pics. You and a couple buddies need to take out a few of those deer killin' machines!

I was 10. It was a muley buck, 4 x 3 with eyegaurds. I was plum tickled with it.

Access is just one of the things we need to address, though. Predation, disease, drought, and a dozen other things may or may not be factors in the poor survival rate of deer here, and all need to be addressed. Worrying whether longtime residents should get extra bonus points is like putting Band-aids on our problem. Bill has some very good ideas and I believe is looking into the future. As a new father, I worry about the future of hunting, access, permit increases, etc. My biggest concern is being able to have this sport accessible and enjoyable for my son and God willing more children, when the time comes for them. I am not so concerned about long time residents acquiring more points, but rather ensuring that my children will be given at least the opportunity to develop a love and passion for this great sport. As Bill said, there are other problems that need to be addressed, every hunter with his/her own ideas of what is important. The bonus point system is never going to satisfy 100% of the people 100% of the time, neither will a change to the system.

I would like to think that it will fall this year, with my December tag that I have waited for for 13 years I also would like to think that I will be the hunter

Nice pics, thanks for sharing

This buck is 105 and some change, forget exactly what he scores. Taken on my last December hunt, 13 years ago. Could get a new mount. All bucks are rifle. This buck is 100 and a little change. I forget exactly what he scored. Never scored this buck but estimate him in the low 90's. I need a Booner for the wall with my December tag this year!! Once every 13 years..... It is time.

Let's say a person gets drawn for an early bull tag in a unit that has only 25 permits. Most Early Bull hunts have a ton of applicants (as do all prime hunts) so if there was a 3 year waiting period, there are only going to be 75 fewer people after the 3rd year of the system and each following year that could potentially put in for that unit or hunt. If we were to take the number of all the early bull hunts and discount those who drew for the next 3 years, it is still a very minimal amount of hunters. There is still competition with 1000's of people for a very limited amount of tags. With December whitetail tags being significantly reduced, the same would apply to them, just as mentioned above. Still a minute amount of people being sidelined for a few years. The draw odds do not go up substantially just the satisfaction of some, knowing that the guy that drew last year has no odds of getting the tag again for the next three years. It may be significant enough for elk hunts, if a person draws a bull tag, they are exempt from drawing another bull tag for 3 years. This may help odds a bit more. However, for Antelope and deer it would be difficult to put a dent in the odds. For antelope, there are just too few permits available . I don't think it would be a good idea for recruitment or retention to exempt thousands of people for three years just because they drew a deer tag, as they are all for antlered game

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Man I hope this don't jinx me 'cause I have been fairly lucky in the draws and I don't mind the current system but here is my opinion. I think the fairest way personally is to have a percentage set aside for non-residents, whatever that percentage may be. There, non-residents done. Residents have no preference, no bonus points, neither do non-residents, its strictly the luck of the draw. Pull the name out of the hat, its done. If you draw, you draw, if you don't you don't. Isn't this New Mexico's system?

For those that have a fall hunt that might have higher temperatures, cabelas is having a good sale on Kings Pro Hunter camo right now. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...&id=0057321