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Tagged out on my first elk during the late rifle bull hunt. Moved to AZ from Texas back in 2016, hunting western big game has been the most challenging, humbling, and rewarding experience I've had as an outdoorsman.

Thanks Guys. That place is a blast on the late hunt. I was sick going into it , Got lucky and killed first afternoon. Bad cold and Asthma so I couldn't go to far. breathing was tough. Guide picked great spot and we only went 400 yards from truck to a point. We were going to work our way around the point glassing. We saw deer right away. So we never moved except lower as we had tall pines in our way of looking further out. Just as the Sun went over the hill a buck came out,I couldn't tell how good he was as I only took My 10's with me and no pack. Guide immediately said He's a shooter. Hill was steep so I sat my rifle up on His pack on end standing up (the pack standing)He said 250ish in a dark opening thats why I couldn't tell how good He was , so I got ready and One shot Bob came true again . I have been lucky and killed maybee my last 10 animals with one shot.. Easy haul out worked great. I slept all day Sat in camp with My nyquil and felt better on Sunday so I went out to help glass and experience the Bab Got some good hiking in and saw ton of deer and good bucks. Slept all day Monday too butt cold kicked back in. Wanted to stay but didn't want to catch Pnemonia or however You spell. Left after dinner got home at 2 AM. Tues. morn . Worked Wed. then off for 4 more days. Still getting rid of that cold. Allmost gone. I was lucky and happy with my deer , Just wish I could off stayed.Thanks too all that Made it happen.....BOB!

Just in time for Christmas! This was a hand-me-down, so I don't know much about it. Looks to be basically brand new. Package comes with the H&R Handi Rifle in .243, Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40 scope, Harris 12 - 23 bipod, Allen sling with bullet loops, Allen soft case, butt-stock bullet holder & 2 boxes of ammo. This is an ideal setup for youth hunters. Personally, I love the single shot for the kiddos - it's obvious when it's cocked, and they have to focus on making a good first shot. Asking $450OBO $400 OBO (reduced). The extras alone new would be around $400 new ($200 scope, $100 bipod, $30 case, $20 sling, $40 ammo, $8 ammo carrier), but I'm open to offers. I'm in Lakeside, but *might* be in the valley this weekend. If so, I can come through either Globe or Payson.

Good advice. That ram may be north of 170. When stalking him a huge malipi rock broke free and tumbled the shooter. Broke his rifle stock in half, destroyed his Swaro rifle scope....and destroyed his his back. We will regroup and we will be back.

It's one extra point for that draw that does not renew. Whether you draw or not, it goes away. It has nothing to do with wealth, if I have $20 extra to put towards a draw so that makes me wealthy? Come on. This isn't the tag grab for the rich everyone cried about in 2008. When will anyone be happy? The point creep you speak of really wouldn't change any different than we have now if that super point expires every year. It's actually no different than the loyalty point right now. Keep putting in, you keep it the loyalty point. Keep buying the super point, you have it every draw. And once again, this isn't about habitat it's about public education outreach. It's about informing the non-hunting public about the scientific methods of management the AZGFD uses (the North American model of Wildlife Management) and how the AZGFD has the best interest of all wildlife species in mind already and has it under control. Feed the public that info for a few years and they'll believe it, especially because it's true. That way when the animal extremists start pushing their signature petitions based on emotion in everyone's faces, the non-hunting public will just decline to sign them. That's what this is about. Hunters won't donate to that cause, so we have to figure out a way to fund it differently. Super bonus points are it.

i dont have to buy it if i like to bite my nose to spite my face

what percentage of the funds go to administration vs what goes into the education

Unfortunately due to work I never made it back out there. Hopefully those who got drawn was able to get meat for the year. Hopefully I get drawn again next year so I can get some needed redemption. Thanks all for your input 👍🏻

Im sorry but I’m lmao @ not recognizing a picture of yourself and deer

Long story short shot on top of a mountain which we knew packout would suck but what we didnt expect for it to do is go over the mtn to the other side which is dang near a cliff and die. 6 hour packout with 6 people. But job is done.

Well short story. Hunted three hard days. One missed shot opportunity. Had to work 2 days. Watching the clock waiting for the time to get back to my glassing spot. Hoping for redemption. Finally Wednesday morning came and 10 minutes into glassing turned up 3 coues bucks feeding with 2 muley bucks. Range 255. One shot later from the Savage 7MM and patiently/impatiently waiting to make my way across the canyon to retrieve him. Not my biggest coues but a tough fun hunt. One heck of a pack out of the canyon. Big thanks to Josh for dropping everything and helping me with the pack out. Well I just bought a new truck and was waiting to get back on the board with my second coues deer. Does anyone on here know where I can get a coueswhitetail window decal. Thanks.

Well got home late last night.we didn’t tag out but I had lots of fun with all my girls. We hunted hard in a tough unit. Lots of snow and memories were made and lots of new friends like Bob and Joe who came out to helped glass. We came across 8 bulls 7 on the last day. Just couldn’t get close enough to close the deal. We got with in 800 yards of a monster 7x8 on the last day just couldn’t make it happen. One thing I can say is that my girls hunt as hard as anyone and they will have the knowledge to carry on a legacy and show there kids what I have show them. I truly love my girls and they make me a proud father and husband Thanks to all of you guys that lend a hand and gave advise. Hope to see you all next year.

My stepson and his dad knocked down 2 bulls in 8 this year. Stepson shot a spike on 2nd day and his dad took out a respectful 6×6 this morning. Last day last morning..

Go shoot it. If it shoots good….it is a good gun! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Mauser

Ttt

Update on the kids hunt! First off, I want to thank everyone that shared info. Its great knowing there is a community like this one that is willing to provide so much help! Despite the extremely small window of time we had to hunt and the horrible weather encountered, I did manage to find my nephew a bull! The wet weather early made many of the roads I was pointed towards nearly impassable and not worth the risk of getting stuck while solo. The areas I was able to get to for glassing were either so socked in that I couldn't see 50' or loaded with cattle. Saturday night, we made a move to the north end of the unit with the plan to hit the south side of Christopher Mt. But when we got to the rim we were met with blizzard conditions and again, I feared we wouldn't be able to get to where we needed to be by truck. So at this point, we're on about "Plan Z", which was no idea what we were going to do. In a last ditch effort to find something to do, I poured over the maps and found a drainage that had a decent amount of space between roads and threw a hail mary. Turns out it was a good plan after all. Spotted this guy and his buddy as they crossed a burn area and watched them bed down. At that point, it was game on! We had about a mile to cover and with the way the weather was going it was a crap shoot if they would stay bedded. Lucky for us they did! Got across the canyon and after sitting on them for an hour, I decided to give them some help standing up. I threw rocks, broke sticks, but they just didn't care! So in a last ditch effort, I let out a Whoop, Whoop! That did the trick, up they stood, then down he went. One shot, high shoulder, and he the hunt was over. Well, the easy part that is. Thanks again to all that offered up tips,

Just wanted to add ,I was in Duyane Adams camp. Everything as profesional as I thought it would. Every thing was first class . Be hard to beat how they perform in every aspect of the hunt and camp........Thank Mr. Adams......................BOB!

Here is my dink from 12 A west late. I am Happy ,Second choice ,not bad..................BOB!

Not really buying into this statement. My wife's family ranches in upper Eagle Creek unit 27. My mother in law was born on the ranch almost 80 years ago. At that time most of the neighboring ranches were small leases and over the years were purchased to create one fairly large ranch. 400 acres of deeded, around 12,000 acres leased. Over the years we were able to get a few grants and donations from various wildlife groups to help establish better water on the ranch. At this time their are around 26 troughs that hold water due to a very elaborate and costly solar pump and underground water line. The brunt of the expense was paid out of pocket, anything that is erected or established on Federal land becomes Federal property if the lease is revoked. We have a small fortune at risk. Like I said, some of this work was paid for through grants and wildlife groups but the AZGFD was the smallest contributor. No contributed money is used on the private portion which only makes sense. During last years drought because of the extensive work we had the only permanent water for miles and the wildlife prospers. If it wasn't for the daily maintenance this water would not exist. Get rid of the rancher and who is going to maintain all of those troughs and catchments? NOBODY NOBODY NOBODY PERIOD. All hunters will suffer the consequences. I posted pics titled " The power of water ". These pics were taken on un posted private land, the wildlife on the lease was amazing during this same period. I fully agree with the interviewee stating that hunters have gotten more respectful as of late. Vandals with firearms can nearly bankrupt an operation overnight. As a hunter myself I also suffer from five acres of private locking out forest access. I hate it. But because of all the enviro morons the AZGFD can't just push a new road around the outskirts. What is REALLY BS is the private land owner selling access to outfitters through their locked gates to forest service. Running all the ranchers out is a death sentence for hunting.

Told ya they would sell bud

2 down, I’m being picky lol

I think the "rabbit" is just a young pig/javi

Brother, friend, and I headed up to the North end of unit 22 for late October whitetail hunt. Had some great looking bucks on the trail cameras the previous months so we knew they were around. Brother shot his the evening of opening day at about 30 yards. We dressed it out and had to in the ice chest by 7pm. Throughout Friday I heard 10 rifle shots and had seen some ATVs moving around some of the 2 tracks so I knew the bucks would be pushed back up into the thicker Juniper brush and trees along the lower mountain fingers. Saturday morning had me creeping across the mountainside at day break watching for any movement as I crested each rise. Was hunting for a location where I could sit and glass over a few fingers running up the mountainside but the terrain never provided me with more than about 100 yards of distance, hardly worth getting my binos out. Finally after an hour of hiking up and down I found a nice point overlooking 2 draws to the mountain behind me. I could see out a few hundred yards and more importantly, there were several clearings as varying distances. Settled in and began scouring the terrain. After about 7 minutes after taking a seat I see the gray back of a deer climbing the crest of a finger 85 yards directly in front of me on the hillside. As it quietly moved along the trail I got my 6.5 Creedmoor shouldered and figured out an opening it would pass through. As it stepped out of the brush making its way through a 10 yards clearing I could see it was a healthy 2 by 2. Deciding I was going to pass on him, I was surprised to see a second buck step into the clearing as the first buck vanished into the vegetation. Following the exact same path as the first, I settled my cross hairs on him. Another 2 by 2 that looked like an exact copy of the first. Still looking through the scope following the 2nd buck, movement caught my eye to the left and another buck was pushing through the brush and into the clearing. Same 10 x 10 clearing but a slightly different path. As I adjusted my rifle slightly to get a good look at him I saw he was slightly bigger and was at least a 3 by 3. I didn't have much time to make a decision and decided I was going to take him, grunted, and he stopped, giving me a perfect broadside shot. The 143g Hornady Precision Hunter bullet cracked and he jumped, sprinting forward into the tangled brush. The 2 smaller bucks ahead of him doubled back running back down through the clearing and down the draw. A 4th buck, very close in size to the one I had shot, was the last in line and had not made it to the clearing. I saw a good rack on him as he vanished back down the hillside. I sat there for another 10 minutes, radioed my brother and friend to bring me the skinning bag as we had another deer to clean. The whitetail I had shot went about 30 yards and expired due to a double lung shot that left a silver dollar sized exit hole. I easily tracked him from where he was shot right to where he dropped due to the wide blood trail left. No visible entry on the hide. We skinned him out in a short time and packed the meat out. That weekend we saw a total of 7 bucks, and 26 deer total but only those 2 bucks of any size. Once January comes around I'll get an OTC archery tag and see if anything is left up there. 5500' in Unit 22.

Nate picked up this tag during the draw and I grabbed the same tag through leftovers. We put in crazy hours on maps and probably 3000 texts in the past 3 months. We hit up our camping spot on Thursday and did a quick run through of the area, spotted a bear which is always cool. Opening day came and we had passed up 4 decent bucks til this guy came out. As soon as we found him he quickly bedded down. We worked our way over couple draws and got setup at 198 yards. Didn’t have to wait long, bit 40 minutes and buck stood up, Nate shot and it was all over. Congrats to Nate, buck is equal to the amount of time he put down scouting and prepping. We didn’t see much that afternoon just a bunch of does and small bucks. Sat morning our buddy came out to help me fill my tag. We covered ground and had passed up 12 bucks til both Nate and Josh spotted a decent bedded buck at the same time. Worked our way over, again it was a waiting game for him to get up, after an hour the buck got up and bullet flew true at 238 yards. I’m a sucker for g3’s, when I see them longer than 3 inches I wanna shoot.

Buy a bow... you'll never look back. Ed F