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I don't even load up the truck the night before. All camping equipment in the garage. All glass and weapons in the house . No greater way to ruin you hunt is to load it up and wake up to everything gone. Sucks this happen

Well, had a really tough hunt this year. Turns out I wasn't the only one that knew about my target bucks. After dealing with people shelling off artillery rounds at the bucks from over 1000 yards every morning i decided to back out of the area for a couple of days and let the pressure die down. I snuck back into my perch on Tuesday evening and was able to knock this buck down. He was about my "plan D" buck but I'm happy with him. I've always wanted a big two-point and i think this one qualifies. He's a really old troll of a deer and was the dominant buck in the area. A good one to get out of the gene pool. Sorry for the disgusting decapitation photos. He was a long ways from a road and didn't get to him until well after dark. The field photos were terrible.

We went out opening morning and saw a few small bucks that she decided to pass on. We got set up on a hill to glass for the evening and the wife glassed up a coyote and then 2 bucks not to far off the coyote. After looking at the bucks with the spotter we made a game plan to get in range of the deer. Once we were close to where we had referenced the bucks we jumped them up at less than 80 yards. They trotted off over into the next small wash. We hustled over to try and locate them and saw them walking through the trees. I set her up and she made a perfect 210 yard shot and dropped this buck. She is super happy being her 2nd ever deer. I think I was more excited than she was haha. And of course the kids were excited to see moms deer they had to get pictures with it too.

I even worry about loading just my side by side and leaving it attached to my truck overnight.

Man I sure miss those days where Mom went grocery shopping with my sisters while my Dad would eat breakfast in the dining area of the store and my brother and I would be dreaming in the sporting goods section looking at guns and ammo in the dadgum grocery store of all places!! Good times back then, simpler, safer, more honest and down to earth.

Cousin went out solo today since wind finally went away for one more chance. Found this little guy. 275 yd shot. What a buck

Posted a pic in the buffalo thread but let’s see what others have hanging on the wall.

Opening day I was able to tag out by 8:00 on this deer I had been seeing on my cameras since August. He was a very heavy bodied buck. I was luck to have a Buddy watching in the glass to give me a hand down off the hill.

Just to keep long form story telling alive. Lets try this again with Elk. I think G&F wanted me to break one of the seven deadly sins (bible reference for Seeker) this year with the amount of tags given to me and my family, Gluttony. My hunting year will end for the most part with the completion of what was my favorite elk tag in the state, Unit 1 late archery. From what I have seen during September(helping my brother on his archery hunt) and a couple days of scouting the age class that made unit 1 great is gone. (tag allocation and long range shooting is my theory for another thread). So with that being said and my serious lack of vacation time from the aforementioned way to many tags this year, my standards are much lower than they would be usually. The first mature six point if I am using my compound or any bull with my recurve will get alot of attention. First day of scouting, (Friday the week before the hunt) all I see are million turkeys, antelope and Deer road hunters. Day 2 Scouting I was losing my confidence and went up high to one of my goto spots. I see a no-brainer opening morning shooter (not pictured) the only catch is he is in a herd of about 200 elk so getting close will be a challenge. BTW they are still bugling. For you duck lovers out there. Crescent lake has a few. From this distance they look like coots, but they werent. Also Geese are on the shore Tomorrow Ill check out the north side of the unit again.

I found a range finder while hunting in 33 over the weekend. If anyone lost one let me know. It probably wasn’t lost during the rifle hunt as we didn’t see anyone in this canyon but possibly during archery. Let me know what kind and area and I would be happy to get it back to its owner. Andy

Best post I have seen in months!!!!

Dano562, he identifies as a female. Come get him. He is still available.

All different cats in a month, had even more too in a month on some other cams

I read these stories all the time and it boggles my mind that people leave their valuable hunting stuff in their trucks and trailers...

Thieves really suck. I hate to hear that. But my optics and gun/bow go into the house as soon as I get home.

Well, I got it done! Opening day around 3pm we spotted this guy across the canyon. Super pleased with my first AZ Coues Deer. I'm no pro, but per my calculation, he was 88 1/8"

2019 continues to be a pretty fantastic year for our clan. Part 3 of our fall story brings us to my little girl’s (Kembria) unit 33 youth whitetail hunt. Some of you may recall that last year she shot a beautiful 170+ inch muley buck a couple weeks after turning 10. She then followed that up with a javelina in January. Little by little, my girl is getting better and better and having a blast doing it. I have found taking Kembria out and teaching her to be an entirely different experience than the first go around with Draysen. She loves the hunt and everything that goes along with it, but isn’t picking it up quite a quickly as Draysen. Her deer hunt last year may have been a little too easy, because javelina hunting with her was rough, but I learned some lessons in patience and being a good understanding dad that I hope to never forget. Kembria is a great shot and steady as a rock on the rifle. The challenge is getting her to that point. I think we have finally overcome her difficulties in properly shouldering the rifle and using the correct eye. Her biggest remaining obstacle is target acquisition in the scope. Like a lot of new hunters, finding the target in the scope is challenging for her. We have practiced shooting hundreds of rounds and she is improving, but she is impatient and gets flustered very quickly when things aren’t going her way. In the days leading up to the hunt it dawned on me to set up my Phone Skope “Skoped Vision”. This would allow me to see what she was looking at and give her a little extra help. This helped tremendously, and I highly recommend it if your youngsters are struggling with target acquisition. We were going to hunt an area in 33 that Draysen and I have hunted many times before. It tends to hold a lot of deer, but it is a transitional area where they are traveling at a decent pace, so you have to be fairly quick on the trigger. I knew this might be a challenge for us. Kembria is a bit of a social butterfly, so when I noticed that the Arizona Mule Deer Organization Region 5 was holding a youth camp in the unit, I decided that this would be a fun opportunity for her to get to meet and hang out with other youth hunters, and add to her overall experience. We headed out around 4:00 PM Thursday evening for the camp. Draysen had a football game that night, but I was anxious to get to camp and set up before dark. So my wife offered to drive him down to meet up with us on the mountain early the following morning. We arrived, set up camp, got Kembria checked in with AMDO and crashed. It was a cold night. We woke up the following morning around 4:30 to 42 degree temperatures. We were hunting on a full moon, so I knew the deer would be headed to their beds early after the sun was up, and wanted to be in position well before it got light. For Draysen and me, it is normally about a 25-30 minute hike into our area. Kembria’s little legs don’t move quite as quick. To date, this was probably her longest steepest trek. But we made the moonlight hike in about 45-50 minutes and managed to avoid the cactus and rattlesnakes that have been a problem for us in the past. We got into position with just a couple of minutes left before glassable light. Within our first 10 minutes we were watching a number of does sidehill the canyon across from us, and waited for a buck to show. Leading up to the hunt, I had talked with Kembria about deer expectations, knowing the shots she might have to take could be challenging. We both felt good that for her first Coues deer, she would shoot the first buck that gave her a good shot. About 30 minutes in I glassed up a spike side-hilling in the same direction the does had gone. Unfortunately, I also noticed a couple of other hunters (a dad and his son) on the same hill as the deer. They were working their way to the top of the mountain, were about 500 yards from our buck, and were slowly closing the distance. I knew they were oblivious to the buck. Having hunted this spot many times in that past, I have seen this play out in this very spot before. These other hunters had failed to get in position before it was light. They were headed up the hill in broad daylight on the east facing side of the hill. They obviously could not see the deer below them during their hike to the top. Worst of all, they were minutes away from blowing our buck out of the area. I knew we had had to move quick before our buck bolted, so I threw the rifle up on the tripod and had her jump in the rifle. She did well and found the buck pretty quickly at 350 yards. I adjusted her turret, and flipped the safety. We just needed a few more seconds, then it happened. The buck noticed the oncoming hunters and bolted down into the canyon bottom below and out of our lives. Flustered we watched the hunters blow the does out as well. Eventually they took up a position at the top of the adjacent hill from us skylining themselves. At this point, once they hunkered down to glass and stopped moving, I wasn’t overly concerned about them. They hadn’t done their homework, and they were out of position until much later that afternoon, if at all. As long as they didn’t make a ruckus, they wouldn’t be a problem. I was confident this buck was just the first of what would be multiple opportunities that morning. I made a quick call to my wife and Draysen. They were now about 30 minutes away. I instructed Draysen to head up to a different canyon several hundred yards away once my wife dropped him off and to keep me updated on what he saw. It wasn’t long (maybe 45 minute) before we had another opportunity. Kembria had decided to take a break from her binoculars and play on her tablet. At her age, I just want her to have fun, so don’t push her to stay in the binos. I had walked about 20 yard up the hill to get a different angle and spotted a buck moving almost straight down the hill across from us at about 300 yards. I rushed back and again got her in the rifle. But as expected the buck was traveling to his bed and dropped too far below us before she could acquire him in the scope. I gave Draysen a call. He had seen a couple of does, but no bucks and wanted to join us, so I told him to hike over and up the backside of the hill. I was also anxious for him to join us to have the second set of eyes watching the deer as I was working with Kembria on the rifle. About 20 minutes later, we found our third buck of the morning. This one was traveling sidehill, but moving VERY fast. As I was watching him Draysen showed up and got him in the binos. Unfortunately, this buck covered about 500 yards in a couple of minutes and despite our best efforts, Kembria couldn’t track him in the scope as fast as he was moving. Eventually, he dropped out of sight and I could tell Kembria was started to get upset. Draysen decided he would walk 100 yards down the ridge to watch a spot where we had killed a buck on a past hunt. I noticed a tear coming down Kembria’s cheek as he walked off and asked her what was the matter? She said, “Daddy, they are moving too fast, I don’t think I am going to be able to shoot one.” I put my arm around her and assured her there would be plenty of opportunities, we just needed the right one. After reassuring her and taking a couple of minutes to have a candy break with her, I got back into my binos. First thing I saw was two bucks walking up hill SLOWLY, directly across from us at 250 yards. Again, I threw the rifle on the tripod, got her in the rifle, and within seconds, could see on my phone screen through the “Skoped Vision” that she was on one of the bucks. I encouraged her to shoot as soon as she was ready, but after a few seconds, no shot. I asked why she wasn’t shooting. She said. “I am waiting for him to turn.” She has been taught to take broadside shots and the buck she was on was facing uphill straight away. But he was giving us the break we needed. He had paused momentarily to eat some fruit off the top of a barrel cactus. I said, don’t wait for him to turn, he may start moving fast and not give us a shot. His whole spine was exposed to us at the steep angle, so I told her to shoot for the middle of his back between the front shoulders. Seconds later “BANG”, followed shortly by the unmistakable thump of a bullet impacting flesh. Her buck flopped and rolled downhill till it stopped rolling at a bush. Draysen came running up as we were hugging and high fiving. We showed him where the buck had rolled. You could just make his head out to the side of the bush. He was still moving, but was clearly not going anywhere. We were going to have a pretty decent and steep hike down the mountain and up the next to the deer, only to be flowed by the reverse hike back. So we stashed all non-essential gear under a bush to pick up on the return trip and left Draysen to guide us into the deer if needed. As we hiked down we found a nice 3 point shed and eventually made it to the deer. Kembria had blown his spine out, but he was going to need another shot to finish him. She put a round in his chest at close range and it was over. As Draysen made the hike over to us, I tried to find a good spot for pictures, but everything was too steep, so I dragged him down to the bottom where hundreds of pictures where taken. Draysen, eager to learn, asked if he could quarter out and get all the meat off the buck himself. So with a little coaching, big brother broke down Kembria’s deer, I piled all the meat in my pack, and we headed back for the truck, stopping to pick up our gear on the way out. We had decided to stick around for the rest of that day and the next. Draysen has a unit 33 whitetail tag for the end of December, so we turned the rest of the trip into a scouting trip to expand our knowledge into additional areas of the unit. Poor Kembria wasn’t used to the level of hiking we were doing, so asked us to keep the long steep treks to a minimum. It was her hunt and making sure she had a great time was the top priority, so we never strayed to far from the truck and also managed to make lots of stops at convenience stores for treats. Saturday afternoon we broke camp so we could head home after dinner. Tim from AMDO told us that they were going to be raffling off some prizes for the kids after dinner, so of course Kembria and Draysen wanted to stick around. I am glad we did, both kids scored big time. Draysen took home a pair of Nikon binos and Kembria took home a camp chair, a rifle shoulder harness, and the grand prize, a new rifle! It was a pretty great weekend. I want to give a big thanks to the Arizona Mule Deer Organization group from region 5. They put on a great camp for the kids! They fed us excellent food, made sure that any kids needing help had mentors, and all the kids took home goodies. Stay tuned for part 4 of our fall adventure. I head up to 3A3C this weekend for my mule deer hunt!!! Here is a look at the "Skoped Vision" setup. It was a bit cumbersome, but helped a lot! Kembria's Coues Hunt Camp Setup Night 1, getting ready for bed. Who doesn't need a break from the binos at times. Post kill shot. Her buck is on the hill in the background, just before we hiked over. The victory shot! Kembria's crew. Big brother processing his sister's deer. Picture break on the hike out. Little afternoon nap after getting back to camp. Draysen wouldn't be happy about this picture being posted!!!😂 Bedtime on night 2. Scouting for new spots. As usual, dad does all the work!🙄 Time to break down camp. Dessert just before the raffle. Getting our money's worth out of the grinder this year. The new raffle rifle.

3 girls 3 junior elk tags 3 days to hunt 3 shots fired 3 elk at the meat locker = Happy dude(dad) Once again we were blessed to get 3 junior elks tags for our daughters in 23. So we loaded up Thursday and headed up. I kept telling myself this was going to be a lot of work but we had Abbey(15) Becca (12) Elizabeth (12) (twins) Cousin, Nephew, Brother, son, wife so I felt the help was there but still a lot of work. Opening morning Abbey chose to go with Josh and my wife and I was to take the twins. Bottom line if Josh is guiding you will get opportunity guaranteed. Well it happened early Abbey Shot her cow 250 yards by 7 am. I was so excited when I got the text but just as sad that I was standing next to her when she shot. In the end I'm happy for her although I'm selfish in my thoughts. So we headed back to the ranch to celebrate and take the rest of the day off and enjoy the time. Saturday we took the twins out , I found the elk again but there was a lot of pressure although nobody was banging away in that area there was a lot of people driving the roads. So we opted to go to another spot and low and behold on the way over their 5 cows crossed the road in front of us and we were able to get ahead of them pull over and make are way out in front of them and Elizabeth made her shot and the party was over. 100 yards at 7 am, so we took the rest of the day off to celebrate and just relax we did look in the evening but as far as I was concerned the pressure was off we had 2 elk down until those puppy eyes came to me and said Dad I sure hope I get a chance at one. I said challenge accepted. Sunday morning Abbey found the elk right by the house so Becca and I slipped in to them and they had back doored us down a thick haired over canyon so I blew 1 soft cow call and the bull responded right away so we had to move around to get the shot and was able to get set up fast and Becca sent one , although I had ear protection on I heard the thump but it didn't look like a great shot so we backed out for about 1.5 hours and came back in with help. I looked long and hard and could not find blood and Becca was really taking it hard then all of a sudden I smelled the smell of elk and I pulled a lighter out lit it up started following the scent and there she laid about 60 yards from the shot. 6:45 am 265 yards. I let out a yell that would curl your hair. Becca was very proud of her first elk heck all my girls were happy. But I have to tell you honestly there is nothing better for me to see it in their eyes. Passion just like me. I'm far from mister kill everything maybe 30 years ago I was But now to be able to take the kids out and watch them light up like a Christmas tree when they harvest makes all of it worth it. My wife and I are truly blessed and thank are lucky stars for the blessing's bestowed upon us all 4 of them. Thanks for the read and good luck out there, Pete

Tagged out on the early rifle hunt. It was a rough hunt this year was super windy almost every day. After spending the majority of the hunt looking for my target buck I decided to go ahead and shoot this wide buck. I was watching my target buck and this guy run together all summer through velvet and even into hard horn a week before the hunt. I had high hopes of shooting my target buck at first light opening morning but he proved me wrong. I still cant figure out why or where he disappeared to with zero human pressure in there. Oh well I am super happy taking this buck. Gonna have to put in the work and try and get my target buck this January time to start shooting the bow.

No, I’m an amateur compared to the Hatch’s. I try real hard, but the Deer always see me and run.

Here’s another!! Started off as a 200gr XTP from a 10mm... then met a great Texas whitetail on our low fence lease! 183.0gr weight retention, 27 yard shot, deer dropped in its tracks-

a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away Mikey was 10 or 11 and we were taking the smallbores-and the roberts 'course- up to st johns for some doggie and dog shootin'. this came on kslx just as we hit the beeline. that 440 had the beast really shakin' when we passed 4 peaks turnoff-had to reel it back in some. will never forget that. lee

I live in Cochise and I don't know if the numbers are down but I have seen just as many as I always do. I don't have a dog to chase them but I know a few areas the tend to be here is a picture from a few years ago one gambles scaled and mearns. I am always ready to chase quail

Shoot that barrel until it is toast (500-800 rounds), then replace. Repeat.