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This all started with my best friend and business partner Waldo wanting to take a black bear for most of his life! After my daughter Tessa had taken a giant bear a few years ago as well as myself taking a several bears in the past.... we purchased a bear hunt at a mule deer banquet put on by Terry Herndon. The hunt was offered by Travis the owner of OCHD. We made arrangements and determined we would meet in Klondyke on Thursday the day before the hunt was opening. Just a few of the honorable mentions or perks of this hunt where: 1) Travis had a big nice fifth wheel trailer for us to stay in! 2) several of Travis's close friends came just to insure our successful outcome. 3) After a GREAT dinner and a few cocktails on Thursday night we made plans on what we were going to do for opening morning! Early open morning Friday, as per our previous night of solid planning we found ourselves glassing from a great vantage point! We immediately glassed up a really nice bear. Waldo decided that the bear was worthy of his tag. After a short hike he was able to shoot and harvest his FIRST ever Arizona black bear! Waldo decided to have a life size mount recreated... in my opinion there is nobody I trust more for this special trophy than Wes with Western Taxidermy. Wes has been my go to taxidermy for many, many mounts and each and everyone of them have all turned out great! The bottom line is we would highly recommend Travis for over the top knowledge of this business as well as the excellent accommodations provided. Thanks again!

Grandson Ryan had a 34a youth tag this year. We missed opening morning because of his job. Got to the Gardner canyon area around noon, set up camp and got out for the evening. Saw one doe. Sat morning I glassed up 2 bucks and 3 does. The bigger buck bedded down at 300 yards at 7:30 , while the others went over a ridge. A few minutes later a doe walked by the tree where we saw the buck was bedded. She stared into the tree where he was, and as luck would have it, he got up and followed her up the ridge. When the buck stopped at 350, I told him to hold 2 in. over his back. At the shot, he staggered a few steps, and went down. He was super excited to say the least, but the pack out took most of that away. 4 hours after boning the deer out and packing back to camp, all was good. That deer lived in the steepest , nastiest canyon possible…or so it seemed to this 72 year old, while huffing and puffing him out. Beautiful country though. The grasshoppers down there are HUGE, and they eat meat!

Alright so I got lucky and drew unit 10 early archery with 7 points and have never hunted this unit ever for anything! I had no idea where to start. After purchasing a unit map I realized just how large this unit is, at the same time I realized half of the unit is privately owned “ 700,000 acres just in the Boquilla’s, which after the fees you can gain access to. After many hours staring at maps and going back and forth we opted to start out in the Big Bo not knowing what to expect. First day Wednesday-went to seligman access point and drove about 8 to 10 miles back picked a campsite.Thursday Scouting- Not a single elk to be seen , no cows, no bulls, no nothing not even other hunters! Thursday night- packed our shoot and decided to move to new area lol! Midnight Thursday- set up camp and three out some cow calls for the heck of it , and we get an instant response! We call a bull literally into camp! Which was exciting to say the least. Friday opening day- Shafer access point- get out to sign in and threw out another cow call and a bull screams out 100 yds from the gate! We decide to go after him. He was a nice 6x6 we decide was a shooter! He screamed at every cow call but never committed just eventually headed away. As we walked back to the truck we called once more and to our surprise another bull 300 yds away answered. After 45 min of chasing this bull he also wouldn’t fully commit. So we went to him and got within 80 yds and then cow called , that got his attention and He came right in 60 yds and stood there! 6x6 , I drew back and wanted this bull, when I did my more experienced hunting buddy said he’s not the one, don’t shoot! So I filmed him instead with my phone! So to speed this up 6 more days go by with bad positions, other hunters messing things up , and I start to regret passing on day 1. Day 7- we find 10 to 15 bulls bugling during the middle of the day back and forth but not moving So we decide to stay out and see how things okay out . Just before sunset 2 bulls start just bugling non stop at each other , one is on our side of the ridge and the other is on the east side of another ridge, when all of a sudden the one in the east side comes running across without stopping with 8 cows ahead of him and he is a Beast, huge 6x7 runs straight at the other bull and they’re in a full on fight! At that moment I ran as fast as I could to close the distance before sun went down as I was 5 minutes to late. Next morning- we get to same spot early before sunrise and wait like most hunters would do right? Well as there was just enough light to see across the flats , we see a bunch of cows and all of a sudden he steps out and it’s the same big 6x7 from night before And he’s cows are leading him right to us. As we wait we see a white Dodge Ram road hunting and stop right in between us and the elk . Completely screwed our hunt. We watch as they try to make a move on them and end up pushing them away. 2 hours later after chasing other bulls at that point, we’re back at our truck and decide we’re gonna make a move on those bulls where I think they’re bedded. I cow call and sure enough he’s 100 yds away where they had pushed them. We get within 50 yds in thick juniper and I here a guys voice trying to get us off these bulls! Well I keep calling anyway and the satellite bull walks 25 yds behind some bushes and can’t get a shot off . We end up pushing all the elk from this heard across the canyon where I watch them bed . The other 2 hunters never saw this happen and they think the the bulls are still on this side haha. Evening hunt now- we get set up 1 pm same spot - we see these assholes 4 hours later park 5 ft from out truck , same white Dodge Ram with firefighter stickers in the back and walk up the same area where they chased them in the morning. All of a sudden 2 bulls start going at it again and they’re heading for a fight right now! We rush to get in position and see the bull with all the cows and it’s him !!! The heard bull from earlier . He’s 80 yds and closing fast , we opt to stay quite and let them go at it. 40 yds his cows stop and I start to draw back and my release malfunctions and my arrow flys 10 ft , wtf, and spoons the cows. My heart pounding because the bull is seconds from stepping out where they were . All of a sudden there he is oblivious to me just screaming at this other bull and I draw back aim at his lower shoulder area and release! So much adrenaline running through me I didn’t know if , or where I hit.. we look for blood and we have specks only and I’m dying !! Suns going down and we have hardly any blood. We track for 40 yds when we find him standing against a tree. I went to put another arrow in him but I’m shaking so bad I can’t draw my bow back! Adrenaline is dumping and I have the shakes LOL. The shot ended up double lung and all the blood was inside the cavity. Had a great time with friends and family , frustrating at times but that’s what makes the memories!

That is probably my son that you are referring to who does the euros. Shoot me a PM and we can talk details. In the mean time, please (for whoever you take it to), keep it cold or frozen so it does not start to rot. Crazy how much that has become an issue this year. Thanks

Nice job Brittani!! Mom of the year stuff right there

Not sure where to post this, but found a desert tortoise while out scouting for my kids upcoming hunt in 22. I’ve never seen one still in the shell thought I’d share.

Finally caught him !

Well I went and checked a camera and sadly, two of our bigger bucks haven’t watered at this drinker since I changed the batteries last. I did get a new buck on camera though that got my attention. Not the best photos because I just snapped a shot of my computer screen but you get the idea. Solid 4x4 with a small point on one side that isn’t big enough to count as a kicker.

BIG bear, congrats to all.

Huge congrats! Thanks for the story.

Awesome bear!

Cornbagger! if anyone remembers him.

Should I be ashamed I am thinking of putting a S&B 1-8x24 Short Dot CC on an AR? Or the NF ATACR 1-8x24 F1? At the very low end, maybe a Vortex Razor Gen III 1-10x24? Plus a Red Dot on the 45* right side. Yes, I have a problem.

Contrary to these coues deer hunting charlatans, mature desert mule deer are much smarter and harder to find. Especially in the central AZ units

Public land in AZ has as good or better quality than 75-80% of Mexico. Unless the ranch you are hunting has a long proven track record, anything over 105" should be seriously considered. Most want to kill 110+ and in the end shoot something under 100". The benefits of Mexico include 1. Limited to no hunting pressure 2. Food 3. Most of the time limited cell service 4. Good friends

After missing at first light on opening day and spending Saturday jockeying with other hunters, my son punched his tag Sunday morning. Second cow tag he’s filled and he turns 12 Wednesday. Aside from the tag being filled, it was a great hunt. He got to see bulls sparring and we were right in a lot of bugling still. He’s able to handle most of the gates finally which was a huge plus for me. I hiked him up and down some steep stuff and into and out of some thick nasty stuff, and he packed out a front quarter even that was probably half his body weight. Beyond proud. Now the processing fun begins. Huge thanks to Dave and all the ADA volunteers for a great camp. You do an amazing job. sorry for the sideways pic

I am so proud of my boys, even my 6 year old. They really put in the work to have an amazing hunt. Their tag was in 5bs/6A we signed up for the youth camp that the Elk Society was putting on there. They really do a great job with all of the youth camps. They teach the kids so much and everyone there is always so happy for the kids and willing to help. We also stayed in one of the bunk houses that they have there and the kids thought that was really cool. We got into them right away my oldest got his down around 10am and my middle son got his around 5:30pm. We hiked altogether about 12 miles. It was a long day but well worth it. They were really rutting hard, a few times we were on a herd the bulls were surrounding the cows so I was nervous for them to shoot, but it all worked out. It was really fun experience it as a family. We live in queen creek and luckily Miller's Southwestern Processing was there. They are nice and very efficient. (It wouldn't let me upload all of the family pictures for some reason)

I know. but surely by now you have learned the election was stolen

Couple still in velvet last week

I’d shoot it from a box id shoot it with a fox id shoot it here or there id shoot that buck anywhere I’d shoot it from a plane id shoot it from a train id shoot it from a car id shoot it from a far id shoot that buck sam I am id shoot that buck with green eggs and ham.

Super pumped while out scouting for my buddies daughters juniors hunt and also hunting at the same time we came across this unique buck and he was plenty good enough for me to put my tag on and the cool thing is I haven’t hunted with fix bladed Broadhead in a long time and I found one that I absolutely love and it did the job and I recommend this head to anyone out there it also flies really well at long distances. Magnus Black Hornet!! I got them at Robinsons Archery in Tucson and will probably be my go to broad head from here on out!!

I did 10 miles today, not a single shed was found. Placed one cam. saw this guy

@PRDATR are you wanting to make an offer ?

I think mandatory reporting will happen with the institution of electronic tags they will be going to.