Leaderboard

So I wanted to wrap up this thread, I hate a thread with no ending. I wound up getting Covid in September and so did my wife. She actually spent 11 days in the hospital including 6 in ICU (I stayed with her for the last 9) and got out the last week of September. I had decided to not come to the Kaibab as she came home on oxygen and was still weak. Well we have two adult daughters at home, and she said bull-sh&#, you are going. You might never get this tag again. So Tuesday afternoon, 2100 miles later, I landed in Jacob Lake in my maroon Ridgeline with the white cap. Several members were kind enough to offer some advice and one even tried to go along with me for a couple days, but it just didn't work out. I spent a few days driving, scouting, glassing and talking to some other guys. Friday AM found me high in the burn along with what seemed like the other 374 tagholders. I saw some smaller bucks on Friday and a ton of people. Saturday was more of the same, and by Sunday I was pretty discouraged. The burn was producing a lot of hunters but based on the shooting, not many bucks. I had continued to check in with one other AZ hunter I had met on Tuesday and he wound up tagging out Sunday afternoon. With weather on the menu for for Monday night, I was feeling a little discouraged but my new friend offered to help see if we could find a buck on Monday with his friends who were glassing for him. I jumped at the opportunity. We checked out several places, found a few bucks, but still hadn't connected until I got an opportunity with this guy mid afternoon. My first mule deer, and I was tickled! We all went to the Inn for dinner afterward the I spent the night in the tent before heading home Tuesday. I made it home today. A few comments for other nonresidents - first, I way underestimated this hunt. I was too one dimensional, thinking only of the burn. What else was there? While I did see bucks there and up high, there are deer in the whole unit, and my deer did not come from the burn. Without my AZ posse, I would have been completely lost (and probably still there). Second, mule deer are huge. I'm 6'5" and 280. The buck I got was huge bodied, at least 50-75# bigger than me or the biggest IA whitetail I've taken - the pic speaks for itself. Third, as is always preached, be prepared for anything weather-wise. Fourth, bring extra gas cans for sure - unless you want to spend all your time running for gas. I camped close to Jacob Lake to get cell service so I could check in on my wife, and I put on a lot of miles every day. AZ hospitality was really nice - as a NR, I never felt like I was out of place, didn't belong, or was looked down upon. My AZ posse was just so welcoming. Helped me glass, extract, cut up, etc. It was like we were friends who hadn't seen each other in 25 years, not guys who only knew each other for 5 days. In the end, I had a great time, and thanks to the posse and all the CW members who helped me.

Jealous? You don't know him. He and I have been discussing a new rifle for a while, and .280AI has been on the very short list. Who DOESN'T buy components BEFORE building a rifle these days? I know of several guys that built rifles, and now can't get components. So they can't shoot their new toys. I have 3 rifles that are not built yet, but have had components stocked up waiting for them for up to 10 months already. Guess you can throw me on the list of "why we can't have nice things" too, or better yet, "Glad I got components ahead of time so I can shoot when my nice things are ready". And "twice the limit" would be ordering 10 boxes of 50 each. Or.....wait for it....ONE bulk pack of 500........😉 Considering his daughter has a .280AI that uses Peterson brass, I think this was a smart buy.

Wife killed this stud this past weekend, made a perfect shot at 550 yrds. What do you guys think he scores? This bruiser finally came home from Mogollon Taxidermy, unfortunately we didn't make the 110" mark, if he had longer eye guards we would have been there. 104 2/8 was the net score. Thanks to everyone and their kind words, going to be a tough one for the wife to beat!!! Thanks Clay for another beautiful mount.

Decided to burn 1 point and hunt a unit with very little access to see how hard Wyoming antelope hunting can be. Took 2 hrs in the field in two different units to fill my tags. Helped a couple buddies on day 2 fill their doe tags as well. I’m officially hooked and can’t wait to burn the wife’s points next year!

easily my favorite piece of gear. It never leaves my pack!!!!! Biggest game changer in glassing.

We saw two groups of illegals in 36b. A group of 8 and a group of 6. All were wearing dark green outfits and carrying largish backpacks. None of them appeared to be armed. Both instances, we called border patrol to report them.

Well, not much of a story on this buck. Didn’t have time to scout much this year and didn’t really see anything when i did. My brother took a friend on the youth hunt a couple weeks ago and kicked this buck up in one of our old honeyholes. Went in this morning and killed him at first light then spent the next several hours packing him out. Lots of mass, blades and stickers on this one. He was an old dude

Got drawn for the 1st general WT hunt in 33, had two locations I was tossing back and forth that hold deer. Well I went to the Redington location and it paid off. Started glassing at 0600 and by 7:15 had 3 bucks at 792 yds. Closed the distance to 438 yds and tag filled. Kind of sad that it’s over so quickly, but looking forward to WGP’s chorizo and snack sticks!!!!

Wish you were in the east valley instead of Tucson! GLWS

Congrats! Gotta love Wyoming!!!!

I just ordered 500 I guess I know what the next build is going to be

Thanks for spending my money for me Lance. I just backordered 100 a couple days ago. And you just convinced me that I need another 100. 🤣

Crown King to Cleator is all a zoo of side by sides racing around, You cant get away from them in that area. That was my javelina tag this year and it sucked.

Hope yall are still holding/investing in Crypto....

I drew my second Gould's tag with 6 points. Magic can happen. 😎

I think we’re supposed to blame YouTube and randy newberg.

Seen one during August and one the other day that didn't make it across the road

Seen this guy in 33 a few weeks ago

I’ve seen one a year so far for about 5 years in a row. Last weekend

My son has killed a couple mule deer but this year he killed his 1st Coues. Due to his school schedule he wasnt able to scout with me. I scouted 3 different weekends and with it shaping up to be a tough hunt we decided to hunt this buck. I actually figured he was smaller than he is. We were both happy as we walked up to him. We started our hike at 2am and made it to where he was by 6:15. Shot shortly after. Good scouting and a good plan worked out perfectly. Made an absolute perfect shot in front right shoulder/heart at 380yards. Bonus Rams during scouting

This is kind of a strange one to me. I’ve seen him on multiple videos with guys and it seemed like they were all very actively promoting coming to Az to hunt. I can’t understand what else he thought was going to happen?! I do completely agree with him in that it sucks to not be able to get drawn to hunt here every year now though…

He's Newberg's buddy. Seems to relish camera time, podcast time, and how smart he is. I do think he's good as a biologist though but he owes himself significant self reflection. Everything in life has consequences. Only liberals feel that they are owed something. Hilariously naive and ironic statement by him.

Jim is a top notch biologist and I think we are lucky to have him here. But I guess he will just have to go share a camp with Randy Newberg or those Hush guys or some other YouTube celebrity that AZGFD has pandered to.

That’s pretty cool. Saw one in 20c. A fewa ago