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Man what a blessed week! To have the opportunity to go to desert. Have you guys seen the desert lately? So beautiful! Beautiful weather! And to have the ability to harvest a beautiful buck, man I'm...I have no words, I'm just so thankful! Then I go to one of the metro units and took a javalina with my bow! Wow! Happy Birthday to me I guess! Thank you Lord for the opportunity and the ability!

Coues tag started Dec 15 on Ft. Huachuca and I hadn’t had much time to hunt, so I broke away on 30th for a quick day trip. Hit the road at 3:30 AM, buck down by 8:30, and back home by noon. Glassed all morning, only picking up does and no sign of bucks. I was just about ready to pack up and move when I gave it one last look. Caught a flick of movement that gave him away. He was tucked in perfectly—never saw his head or antlers—but his body size told me he was a buck. He was about 400 yards out with no shot, so I ditched my gear and closed the distance to 225. At first I couldn’t find him and thought he might’ve slipped out, but after slowing down I picked up his legs in the same spot—standing now, still no shot. If he dipped, I was done. Instead, he turned in place and bedded back down, opening up a small 12-inch window through the brush. That was all I needed. He never made it out of his bed. Shout out to all the guys on here that gave me some knowledge and pointers! Thanks a ton! Tried adding more pics, but wouldn’t let me got some reason.

We finally made it up last week for my boy’s elk hunt, and he made it count. His first shot was solid, clipping the heart. Earlier that day I’d told him if the elk was still on its feet after the first shot, don’t hesitate—put another one in her. After that first hit, without a word from me, he sent a second round into the lungs. As the cow turned and started to go down, he followed up with a third shot, again through the lungs. She dropped instantly, clean and quick. Hardly any meat damage, and we came away with just over 100 pounds of ground elk.

Paying for a guided hunt. Guide has no tripod, and uses tasco 10x32s, handheld.

My brother found some rutting

Steve Ward, the founder of your outfitting company, currently has his license revoked for 5 years from azgfd. STFU

It’s been a quite awhile since I’ve posted. Here are the two bucks I’ve killed in southern Arizona. One was 2022 the other was this year.

My uncle came to see me , he has cancer and the Dr.’s are giving him the long face - 😞 so he asked if ide build him , a plain old simple pine box . How do you say No to that ?? Elk antler handles and elk Burr inlay ….. I guess this qualifies for a plain old simple pine box …..

Hey Guys, I didn't want to step on Tomgobblers thread Pine Box, but everyone has their time, and maybe there's some of you like myself that has more days behind you than in front. Any way if you have an honorable discharge, Uncle Sam will set aside a plot and headstone for you. I recently contacted the VA for prior authorization, something you might want to do to save your survivors from doing so. I applied on the VA website in Sept of 25, due to the govt shutdown I received the paperwork yesterday.

Headed to TX Friday AM. Hope I have more than a creosote to hide behind!

Figured id post here to reach the largest audience. If anybody is looking for a sandhill crane guide in the future I strongly discourage using Wards Outfitter, calling themselves a crane guide is bold. I have never used them for other hunts so cant speak to that, but after my experience I wouldn't be booking any hunt with them. When booking a few weeks after being drawn I was told they keep blinds at 4-6 people and hunt over decoys. We paid to stay in his hunter lodging which included dinner, day of we were put in a nearby motel, no dinner. Still not major, but two of us paid, hotel room was half the cost of what we had paid him for lodging, so he made money there. Morning of the hunt we meet where we were told to find 10-12 guys loading up. Thinking maybe we are splitting up everybody, hits the road. Arrive at the spot, everybody is hunting together plus 3 “guides”. At this point its almost light out, they say alright lets hike this way. We walk about 100yrds to a fence line and they say “everybody find a bush to hide in” me and my buddy are looking at each other like are they serious? At this point we might as well be dove hunting. No decoys, no blinds, no calls. We are told to wait until the birds clear the fence to shoot, which puts them nearly vertical. Sun comes up, lots of birds are flying, but about 800yrds to the west and 500yrds to the east. They were avoiding the smoke stacks of the plant that the guides had put us in front of. Guides had us move around after about 45min of watching birds fly by, pretty hard to do w that many guys trying to follow. almost had a few birds fly over, but some young kid in the group shot when they were about 2-300yrds away. for the early afternoon guide brings us to another spot and says the birds sometimes hit this pond, its just a little walk. Sends us in the direction, turns out it was 1.75mi. Sat the tank from 11-2:30, no birds in sight. Get back to the truck about 3:30 to ask what the evening plan is, they dont hunt the evenings, they take everybody dove hunting. So at this point me and my buddy are done and take off. Sorry for the long winded read. But was not quite the sandhill crane experience we thought we were signing up for.

It's a midcentury Old Hickory skinning knife, ordered by Shapleigh to be stamped with their name. Lots of knife makers sold generic knives to butcher suppliers, grinding companies, hardware stores. Dexters, Russells ect... cast iron cookware companies like Wagner/Griswold did the same, to be sold for less. It's not worth a lot of money, might get 20 to 30 bucks. I've sold the couple of Shapleigh knives I've owned with any old hickory or forgecraft. It's worth much more to you as a cool knife to use, easily gets razor sharp. I recently sold about 50 carbon steel knives, extras from my butcher boxes, still the box is full of my more favorite ones. Kent

No. But can I borrow yours so I can kill giants like you do?!?

This system is so gay

Coyotes are murder on Antelope

I love my tascos, the foginess helps me kill smaller animals which are so much more tender.

For the purpose of accuracy and to correct several misstatements, the following facts are provided for the record: 1. Client Count A total of eight (8) clients participated in the hunt, inclusive of you and your companion. 2. Lodging and Meals Ward’s Outfitters covered the cost of your hotel accommodations. Meals, including dinner, were not included in your hunt package. This is expressly stated in your signed contract, which governs the terms of service. 3. Hunting Setup and Conduct During the morning hunt, your position was oriented facing north. Additionally, statements made regarding a 12-year-old hunter allegedly interfering with your hunt are inaccurate and inappropriate. Youth hunters are legally permitted to participate and were in full compliance with all applicable regulations. 4. Blind Configuration and Hunting Method Placing six to eight hunters in a single blind significantly increases the likelihood of confusion regarding harvested birds. For this reason, Ward’s Outfitters exercised professional discretion to hunt using an alternative method that morning. 5. Duration of Hunt On the second day of the hunt, nine (9) sandhill cranes were harvested. You voluntarily elected to book a one-day hunt, thereby limiting your field opportunity. 6. Nature of Sandhill Crane Hunting Sandhill crane movement and behavior are highly variable and unpredictable. Clients are routinely advised to book multiple hunting days to increase success. 7. Season Results During the current season, Ward’s Outfitters clients harvested a total of sixty-eight (68) sandhill cranes. As is customary in guided hunts of this nature, harvest success is not guaranteed, and some clients did not harvest their full legal limit. 8. Communication of Concerns Ward’s Outfitters encourages clients to communicate concerns directly and promptly so they may be addressed in real time. Public complaints made without prior contact do not accurately reflect the opportunity provided. 9. Good-Faith Resolution While Ward’s Outfitters maintains that services were rendered in accordance with the contract, we regret your dissatisfaction. As a good-faith gesture, should you draw again next season, we are willing to provide a complimentary three-day hunt, during which you would have increased opportunity consistent with the nature of sandhill crane hunting. This response is provided to clarify the factual record. Ward’s Outfitters fulfilled all contractual obligations associated with your hunt.

Came across some good deals on parts and decided to put another one of these together. Shooting some paper next week to see how she does. lightly used 7mm 1:8 barrel cut down and rechambered at 19” long and added 5/8 24 4 port Ti brake. Timney trigger 1.4 lbs Rem 700 trued and lapped with .250 lug, scope base and action bedded to MDT chassis with 3 rnd mdt 30/06 mags cip length for those 195 bergers. Weighed in at 11 lbs no scope right where I like em. Planning to test with Can as well putting the over all length under 26in with can.

The boy and I got out in the woods over Christmas break chasing ducks and geese. As usual I didn't take enough pictures but I did snap a few. Anyone have suggestions for 20ga duck loads? Right now he is shooting 3in #4 Faststeel loads and they aren't working as well as I would like. My son is a pretty good shot and doesn't burn through ammo on sketchy shots so I don't mind spending a little extra on some better ammo. Last weekend he knocked the same duck down 2 times and he still got up and flew off. We watched him go down about 150yds into the trees but never found him.

This is a nice looking Stevens 20 ga sxs. It has one set of 28" barrel which I think are Full & Mod. It has a second set of 24" barrels with 410 inserts. So, you can shoot 20ga or 410. The 24" barrels are choked IC. Located south Tempe area $800

Wouldn't tag #1 go to bonus pass?

I was able to get out a few weeks ago and check out a new area I’ve had my eyes on. I almost never find sheds, so this was a nice treat. I glassed up this shed at 700 yards away first thing in the morning. I noted the spot and continued to glass as I didn’t want to waste the prime glassing hours. Late morning I went over and picked up the shed, and just on the other side of the bushes was the match. Big or small, finding sheds always gets me excited, especially if I can find the match. Sorry for the sideways pics. I’d fix it if I knew how 🤦🏼‍♂️

Thank you everyone I apreciate your words! I'm still enjoying the great times and memories. Want to wish all of you and your families a healthy and succesful 2026!May Lord allow us to keep enjoying the outdoors making more beautiful memories!

Made a gumbo today. Shrimp, chicken and andouille sausage with red, green and yellow bell peppers, white onion, shallots, celery, garlic, cajon seasoning, cayenne pepper, old bay, diced tomatoes, dry basil, chicken stock and rice!

No dog in this fight, but I'd also be upset if a guide buried me and a bunch of other dudes in the weeds with no blind, no decoys for a paid, guided crane hunt. Im far from an expert, but every time I've hunted them, we had a great blind and a ton of decoys.