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AZcoues_addict

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Everything posted by AZcoues_addict

  1. AZcoues_addict

    Kaibab Grouse Trip

    I remember when I just barely missed a grouse with my bow at 25 yards while deer hunting up there. Wish I could have that shot again, but it will probably never happen. Nice pics, thanks for sharing!
  2. AZcoues_addict

    Got my last deer up on the wall!

    Nice bucks! The coues is my favorite though!
  3. AZcoues_addict

    My First Antelope!

    I finally got my first antelope, and archery spot and stalk, the way I like it! Day one and two: I hunted opening weekend trying to locate an extremely big buck named “New WR” that I knew was in the area, but with no luck and I only saw a few does and a couple little bucks. With a day and a half wasted, frustration set in and we finally decided to try another area where I'd scouted multiple (3) very nice bucks and hard early rutting activity. With a little patience, some tricky maneuvering and belly crawling, I’d finally got within my long range pins for a far shot. The buck never knew I was there. I took the shot, and a very quick string-jumping lope got out of the way before the arrow ever got there! Darn, this was starting to remind me of my last antelope hunt where I ate tag soup. The rest of day two was spent belly crawling and laying in the grass out of range, and waiting, hoping for another buck to come within range, while the sun beat down and baked my neck. Day three: we headed to yet another area where a buck with huge prongs that I named “Pointer” was located. I stalked him twice that day, and both times he followed his does to the same secondary meadow, retreating past the same juniper tree. I now had a great game plan for later in the hunt, but needed assistance so I called a buddy come to join the hunt the next weekend. We headed home, empty handed. Day four and five: Was actually days 7-8 of the hunt, but we had to go home for work, etc., etc. We looked for “Pointer” and another huge buck I’d seen while scouting, who had the whole package, but we never found either one. Only saw does without a buck! Strange, time of year for that, but yet more bad days of hunting! Day six: We retreated again to a honey hole, where I’d seen some very nice bucks, and quite a bit more cover for stalking. Early that morning I spotted a nice buck right off the bat, on top of the next ridgeline. I quickly moved through from small bush to bush about every 60-75 yards or so, sneaking through the grass in-between, to try and get ahead of the buck for an ambush. After sneaking for about 300 yards, I then spotted a second buck, which was one of the very large bucks I’d seen in the area and he was just over the ridge top. I changed my course, and now headed for thick cover near the area of the big buck. As I approached, the tall grass and flowers made it nearly impossible to see bedded game. I slowly passed through, and surely jumped the bedded buck at 100 yards, who didn’t leave me a shot as I ducked down in the grass. Now the big buck, the nice buck, and a doe all headed slowly out of sight back toward my original approaching path. They never saw me, but snorted at me a few times and pranced off. I was kicking myself for not moving slower, not seeing the bedded buck’s prongs first, etc.. I then slowly moved toward the skyline and just as I neared the top, all 3 were there feeding just over the hill! The smaller buck saw motion, as I ducked again and waited. All three came back over the ridge top toward me, the large buck and doe headed toward cover and were quickly out of sight, but the small buck stopped and gave me a long shot. I quickly ranged him and let one fly! Of course he jumped the string, and I just missed, again, story of my life. I watched all the antelope head through a small tree-spotted area toward another meadow, where I headed hoping to find them. As I neared the second meadow, I quickly spotted a few bucks cruising through and looking for does. As they fed off, I followed, stalking through the grass and hiding behind whatever small juniper or scrub brush I could find. I finally got under a nice-sized juniper in the shade, and in tall weeds, when a buck came from over the hill and back my way, stopping at 120 yards in the shade of another juniper. He waited there for probably 10 minutes, and I thought he was going to bed. Finally he started walking right toward me and I told myself that if he came within 40 yards and stood there, then I’d have to take a shot, even though I had my sights set a little higher on a bigger buck. Well, he approached to 38 yards broadside so I drew back, and then he turned to face me straight on! I’ve never had that shot before, but was very confident so I aimed carefully right at the center of his chest which seemed like an eternity. As I applied pressure to the release, the arrow flew right on target toward its mark. He ran as fast as I’ve ever seen an antelope run, but only 70 yards so, and then he did a face dive and it was soon all over. My first antelope was down! I center-punched him 1.5 inches off center, and the arrow penetrated just through his diaphragm. It was one of the most deadly shots I’ve ever made. He wasn’t one of the big bucks I’d scouted and spent nearly 500 dollars on gas looking for all summer, but I couldn’t pass such an opportunity and am extremely happy with harvesting my first antelope.
  4. AZcoues_addict

    My First Antelope!

    Thanks for all the comments. Just wanted to say that this buck was #8 of my Arizona Big 10! I'm going to try to get it archery if possible.
  5. AZcoues_addict

    First archery coues

    Awesome trophy buck! Can't say much more, its already been said over, and over! Congrats to your buddy!
  6. AZcoues_addict

    Trail Cameras

    Great topic. Trail cams are a lot of work and for many of the same reasons already stated, I personally prefer using trail cams to flying planes, 10 guides, and the waiting for the call scenario. As far as ethics are concerned, in my mind all are legal forms and therefore perfectly ethical, so I don't feel we should bad talk another person who has more resources to take wildlife. As far as the auction tags go, as long as they don't break the law, so be it. I want to find the game on my own, but if another person wants to pay someone to do their hard work, that is the society in which we live and I accept it as long as they obey the law. I prefer my method, but they can have their legal forms too. In my mind, trail cams don't aid in the taking of wildlife, but only provide information through a picture. Even though it is electronic, it does not assist in the kill. They do help to locate, but I interpret this rule as meaning locate while hunting, as in for locating in real time, right now. Heat sensing devices would be such a device, where one could locate and take game. For this reason I don't think those trail cams that send you pictures through your cell phone should be allowed. They can possibly help you know exactly where game is, at an exact moment in real time, for you to take. Normal trail cams are pics of the past, which one might argue is predictable, but definitely is not guaranteed as in the previous examples. The rangefinder example was one I was thinking of as well, it directly aids. Not to mention those electronic ignitions in your car and for those of you who use quads? If we want consider trail cams a violation under this rule, then I think you better rule out all of these toys as well and any other that help you to "locate". As far as radios are concerned, I always thought that guiding a person directly to an animal through radios was definitely against the fair chase rule. That is why you can use them to communicate and for safety, but not to directly guide a person to game. Hand signals only!
  7. AZcoues_addict

    OK, our archery Antelope hunt!

    Awesome post, great details, congrats! Nice goats!
  8. AZcoues_addict

    Pertinent Trivia Question #5

    #4. Not Ben or Byron, but Sam. I work for the only golf manufacturer in Phx, so this hits home for me and I know a bit about golf (and hunting!).
  9. AZcoues_addict

    Pertinent Trivia Question #3

    The discussion would still be a good one even if I am outgunned, close to PHD in engineering and sciences so I always enjoy a good conversation!
  10. AZcoues_addict

    Pertinent Trivia Question #3

    Don't know, but I'll guess an ignorant or lesser educated person who'd I'd love to sit and have a long chat with. A lot of wording in that quote that I don't care for at all and could really get me going.
  11. AZcoues_addict

    Antelope Hunt

    Oh, I saw 3 rattlers on that hunt as well, two didn't make it to cover fast enough and caught a rock on the head.
  12. AZcoues_addict

    Antelope Hunt

    Matt, great story, you're getting me all excited for my archery lope hunt later this month! Get back out there and tag a buck! That's an exciting hunt, I had the same early hunt last year but ate tag soup. I know what you mean by a near miss, only a slight movement is quite a few inches. I had five near misses last year, but they were jumping the string at long range and by the time the arrow got there the antelope wasn't there any longer! And I'm chronoed at 305 fps! I was using my laser rangefinder though, which took a couple extra seconds and movement, but there's no way I can judge much past 45 yards with my naked eyes, especially in those open flats. Hopefully I'll tag one and have a story later this month, my lope hunt opens the 24th and I can't wait.
  13. I knew this BS archery draw was going to pass. Now I can't apply for my opportunity tag as a second choice and will have to choose between an archery or an overcrowded early rifle hunt. How do we expect to get youth hunters into archery when there is limited opportunity, and I'm sure more units will be added? What a joke, the G&F's motives are two-fold. I warned others, and suggested it to the G&F, going to a separate archery drawing instead of having to choose between archery or rifle, but nobody seemed to like it. Now, I'm sure everyone would like it. In my suggestion you could possess two deer tags the same as now, but each with separate bonus points. It would've been conducted with the elk and antelope draw earlier before the rifle draw.
  14. AZcoues_addict

    Magnus Snuffer SS

    I used one on my archery buck this past Jan at 70 yards, you can see the article and buck under my profile, and you can click on the link in the article for AZOD where I have a picture of the arrow and broadhead. If you're wondering about the bent broadhead, I shot slightly quartered away and uphill so it stuck in bone on the exit side, and the broadhead was bent a little due to the weight of the buck and dragging him. It performed great for me, and they shot very close to my field points at long ranges. I've found them similar to G5 Montec in performance and also close to Wac'ems. Those broadheads are my top 3 choices.
  15. AZcoues_addict

    Scope tube size

    Not sure about the turret accuracy or the rest of your questions, but I've always preferred the 30 mm for light gathering, epecially in low light conditions. I always go with the 30mm if available.
  16. AZcoues_addict

    trailcam security

    I'm with Ron G, it looks great and like a quality security box, so how much for two of them?
  17. AZcoues_addict

    Mountain Lion Rug Border Colors?

    I got my lion in Sept 2006 and just received my tooth information back from the G&F this past month.
  18. AZcoues_addict

    Disapearing trail cam pics?

    Sometimes if you insert the card into a cell phone or another type of camera it will reformat it, as stated. It happened to me with one of my game cams, where I used another camera to try and view the images but they were unnoticeable. That's my guess.
  19. AZcoues_addict

    What Would You Change???

    I agree 100%.
  20. AZcoues_addict

    Mountain Lion Rug Border Colors?

    Lifesize, unless you FOR SURE are going to get a bigger one?
  21. AZcoues_addict

    O lny srmat poelpe can raed tihs.

    That's cool, I think I've read it before somewhere on the net. Im ginog to klil a ppoe and ynoug aletpne bcuk tihs yaer!
  22. AZcoues_addict

    July 2007 Guess the Score Contest

    120 7/8
  23. AZcoues_addict

    Got a Coose mount back!

    Very nice indeed, good looking mount! Thanks for sharing.
  24. AZcoues_addict

    drew a 30A dec. tag NEED HELP

    We have land down there and I've taken a lot of bucks off that mountain. In all, my family probably has taken close to 30 combined, so I know it well. I've had the Dec. tag twice and its tougher than you think. Let's just say that I won't be applying there as my second choice till things turn around, if ever. The rut was almost unnoticeable until the last couple days of the hunt. I'd take Lance's suggestions and scout my butt off, I'd locate at least two shooter bucks before the hunt. Also I wouldn't get hung up on a number like 100 inches since they are seemingly more rare nowadays in that range. I passed up a lot of good bucks trying for that same mark, and should have shot the first nice 85-90 incher I had a chance at. Just my opinion, I know your hopes are high, but hunt where the does are and you'll eventually find the best buck in the area, just he isn't always a 100 incher. Buy a lion tag though, I've seen one taken or heard of one nearly missed almost every year during the rifle hunts for the last 5 years.
  25. AZcoues_addict

    Muzzeloader Question

    Thompson Omega, 50 cal. camo with stainless. I shoot the 240 grain Horady XTP with sabots, and also the Thompson shockwaves in 250 grains sabots. 150 grains of Pyrodex pellets. I'm around 3 inches high at 100 yards, a near 165 yard zero, and around 3 inches low at 200 yards. I can shoot 3 inch groups at 100 yards, and around 5 inch groups at 200. I'm very happy with it and love it! However, the only down side is that I can't use it in some other states for hunting because its an inline and uses a 209 primer.
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