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Some great stories in this thread, great topic. 2015 was my first year putting in for the draw at 13 years old, drew my first choice and shot a doe on the kaibab road hunting. 2016 I didn’t draw, 2017 I drew a yth hunt on the border but I could only go for 1 day cause my dad had to work that weekend. We saw some does but no bucks. By 2018 I was getting to be a better pig hunter than deer hunter, and every year I went pig hunting we would see nice Muley bucks in the desert unit we hunted. Of course, yth pig season is in January every year which is why we always saw good bucks. So I put in for the yth deer tag in that unit and drew it. There was certain little bowl that we always jumped deer out of on our hike into our pig hunting area, so we headed there first. Well, of course, our first time not spooking deer out of that bowl was when we were hunting deer and not pigs. We kept hiking up the hill and glassed down the other side from the top for a while, and at about 8 am I turned around and glassed back down the way we had came in, looking right into that bowl. I was basically glassing right into the sun, but I instantly picked up 2 or 3 deer at just 400 yards, making their way into some thick mesquite thickets. I called my buddy over and he broke out his spotting scope. We found 4 deer total, one of which was a little 2x2 Buck. I wasn’t comfortable shooting at that distance yet, and by the time I decided I was going to take him they had moved off into the trees. We knew the general area where they were though, so we started our stalk down the hill into the thickets. I had my gun loaded and ready as we headed into the trees, and sure enough, as soon as we got to the spot we had last seen them, we had a doe staring us down at 40 yards. As I was racking a round in my 243 getting ready the other 3 deer stood up and they all began to bound away. At about 80 yards they stopped and looked back at us for a few seconds but I couldn’t see antlers. One of the deer was noticeably bigger than the rest, but, and I still don’t know why to this day, I couldn’t make out the horns on his head. My buddy kept whisper-shouting at me “shoot the buck, shoot the buck!” I had him in my scope, and was almost certain it was the Buck, but since I couldn’t make out the antlers, for fear of accidentally shooting a doe I never pulled the trigger and they all bounded away into the desert. I was devastated. After a few minutes of arguing about which one was the Buck and kicking myself for not being able to see the antlers, we took off in the general direction it seemed they had run, but we were in the flats at this point and didn’t know where to go. We got up on a little knoll and glassed from there for a few hours in hopes we would pick them again, but we didn’t. So, we decided to head back to the bowl we had originally glassed them up in, where we always jump them with pig hunting. This time, right as we got to the edge of the bowl, sure enough, we heard the sound of rocks slipping and sliding, and looking down into the bowl, we saw 4 deer making their way up the other side, and this time, I could see the little rack on the 4th deer in line. I got my gun set up on a boulder and followed him in my scope as he trotted up and right when they got to the top of the other side, they all stopped broadside and looked back at us at 150 yards. I took a shot at the Buck and missed right over his back. He spun around and ran about more 10 yards to the right, as I quickly racked another round. The does began to bound over the ridge, and just as he was beginning to follow them, I shot again, and he fell over backwards! It was all woohoos and hi fives and hugs as we made our way over to the buck and skinned him out. We ate backstrap tacos in camp that afternoon. I had seen much bigger bucks in that area before but I was just so excited to have bagged a deer I didn’t care about the antlers. I was 16

Lots of foreigners don’t know how to use an American toilet. I don’t see a problem with 2 of those as long as the crap goes in the bowl. LoL

The big pain in the arse is having to deal with the citation . Send those overachievers over to New River road to cleanup the squatters

My first mule deer buck, since this is posted in mule deer hunting, was about 6 years ago Dec otc archery. Was a Sunday and I work early on Monday. I got up over a puddle of water thinking things will surely come in after feeding. At about 3pm I woke up to a couple does and fawns coming in, nothing with horns following. With my little bit of action I had hopes things would pick up. Wrong, so before dark I think to myself, let's get outta here, relax a bit and be ready for my 3 am wake-up for work. On my hike out I top a ridge and take a look. Deer everywhere in that canyon! Only a couple of small bucks and they're towards the truck but no cover and eyes everywhere. F it I hike straight line towards em, after all I don't even really wanna kill anything at this point anyway. Just wanna get home and kick it. After hiking straight across an open rocky slope the smallest buck and a couple does are still standing there looking at me. He's broadside at 55 yards. This is also my first deer kill with a bow. So I think to myself, man, do you really wanna deal with this right now for a dinner buck? I'll just draw and see how it feels. We'll I also released that arrow and that buck ran about 50 more yards toward the truck. I wasnt a long way from the truck but I'm pretty sure I was worthless at work the next day. Small mule fork tasted good. My first and only archery deer kill. My first buck was 1995 in 36b...December, little 3x2 with eye guards chasing a doe. Shot em in the flank on the trot. He disappeared in a little draw for a second but followed exactly where the doe came out. 275 yards was my uncles estimate. Hit him in the neck right where it connected to the skull. I was aiming for heart and lungs

Sounds like you were blessed to have a great dad.

Missed a 100" coues buck down by Patagonia when I was 10 yrs. old in 1974. I was shaking like a leaf. My dad didn't show it, but I know he was kind of bummed. Ended up killing a little forkie. Man those were the good old days.

1993 highway 260 heading up the rim Ford Taurus SHO

Selling this for my dad who built it over 10 years ago. It has less than 100 rounds through it. He never sells guns and didn’t think he’d sell this one but he also thought he’d shoot it much more. It has a 24 inch DPMS heavy bull barrel, DPMS nickel boron bcg, Midwest industries hand guard, milspec lower parts, unsure on receiver make, magpul grip and stock, Weaver articulating bipod. The scope is a Millet 6-25x56 and its nothing fancy but it does have some decent features like locking turrets and illumination and surprisingly good glass for the price point. Comes with one 10rd PMAG. He’s got about $2200 in it, asking $1500. He would consider trades for an AK-47, a stainless/synthetic 22-250, or possibly other firearms of equal value. Please DM with questions, located in Buckeye but can meet within reason. Must have valid AZ drivers license and would prefer to see a CCW or tax stamp.

Is slices still open. Oh man, that place was great when I was trashed

Leave an orange hat or laminate a sign says hunting next to hat. As longs I have been inside the State Trust Land area, never had issue. Probably not going to mess with trucks, but a prius next to the sign deserves a ticket regardless.

1973 almost on the US/Mexico border south of Ruby AZ. My Dad and Uncle and my Uncles ranching partner had been hunting this area for decades past. 1972 at 50 years old my Dad shot his last buck, I caught up with him in time to help carry it back to camp. 1973 the next year and my second year hunting I was on a flat ridge top watching, mainly keeping an eye on a saddle I expected game to come through. Sure enough a couple does and a small buck came through the saddle and traversed the ridge under me, I could not get a good shot so I backed off the ridge to set an ambush at the point of the ridge. The little buck came around the point maybe 40 yards in front of me and the Sierra 150 grain Spitzer, out of a 1903 Springfield from before WWII topped with a Lyman scope made before I was born, smacked him on the shoulder and DRT.

1985, Western NY i was 16 at the time, first year I could hunt big game. was walking back to the truck for lunch from hunting all morning. as I walked dead center through a farmers cut hay field a small 4pt (eastern count) whitetail starting into the field with me. he was as surprised as I was, was hunting with a single shot shotgun. shot him at 65 yds, bunch of guys on the road near dads truck were all chatting with him when they heard the shot, they all came running to see what I shot and they grabbed my prize and drug him to the truck for me. that left a lasting impression on comradery amongst fellow hunters. I’ll never forget it. and I still have the dinky rack. Lol

Mid 30's just north of Saguaro Lake off Cottonwood Creek. Drove in off of Four Peaks Rd down to where an old ranch used to be and slept in the bed of my truck. Got up in the morning and walked the wash toward the lake and about 200 yards in I came around a bend and there stood two spikes sparing. As I reached for my Contender they stopped and looked at me so I pulled up my 06 and shot one at about 75'. They both ran over the bank of the wash and disappeared. I followed and found blood and tracked it a short way and it came back across the wash twice and about 50 yards down the wash it died. I had some rope in my pack so I dragged it over to a Palo Verde and was able to get it somewhat upright enough to gut it. I managed to throw him up across my shoulders and hiked back to the truck and with my free hand dropped the tailgate on the old 72 2WD Chevy Truck and plopped him down in the bed. A hour later I was home and while the wife was at work I butchered it up on the kitchen table. This was maybe 1984 or 85. I had bought the rifle new at Walk-In Auto in Tempe for $269. It was a Winchester Featherweight and kicked like a mule and gave it to one of my brothers a few years later complete with Tasco scope. The Contender had a 10" octagon 44 barrel with a 1.5X Thompson Scope I bought from a friend for $100. It was an early production model with a mid 13K serial number. Later I put a 14" 223 barrel on it and Dave Van Horn tightened up the frame with an aftermarket pin. You could cover the groups with a dime. H322 was the most accurate powder and at the time was $4.99 from Pistol Parlour in Mesa and marked as Mil Surplus. The contender was sold around 1989 or 90 to fund an XP-100.

46B West for sheep 😁

i think best pizza in phoenix is Cibo, second fabio on fire in peoria, and grimaldi is great for NY style pizza.

Ray's pizza Raintree and the 101

Pizza on a brick is key, conveyor never will be as good. fast yes, but I like Biancos, Florencia Pizza Bistro in Ahwahtukee, Grimaldis, Vero/Buddys (butter crust thick). Like mine cooked a tad crispy too. Old school cheese or pepperoni, but a nice sausage, onion and garlic hits the spot.

Chef, Glad you are doing well my friend. Couple of spots I go to in Phoenix/Scottsdale are 1. Pizzeria Bianco, Lamp Pizza, and Grimaldi's. All Brick Oven Pizza I hope you are getting some use out of those shooting bags. Good Luck this season....

This was my last buck not my first. This one is actually a 2x3 but has a big fork frame. I have some old pics of that little buck somewhere but nothing handy to post. Posted it on AZOD back in day.

gonna get addicted!!!!!! 6 pack on a 48-52 ft fisher is awesome. Stick with overnight to 1.5 or 2.5 day trips. The day trip for 12 hours IMO isnt worth it. Kick in a few extra bucks and go at least overnight. I have done quite a few 6 pack trips and have stuck with Coblat (Fishermans Landing) or Sauerfish (Point Loma Landing). They have all the gear and food ready for you, just show up. I'm partial to Sauerfish as they have beer included. I just did an overnight on Cobalt and going in mid Sept. First of Oct, going on Sauerfish again. Let me know if you have questions. Andrew

Also Western NY outside of Rochester. { Bristol Mountains} Ithaca Model 37 pump. About a 6 in. spike. Good eating !

Go to goodwill/thrift stores, look in the long sleeve shirt section, may not have any everytime you look but after a year you will have a bag full of merino wool pullovers. I don't like the V neck ones, a couple are turtlenecks which are nice for really cold weather. I started with smartwool and such, but why pay that when you can accumulate plenty at 5 to 10 bucks a pop. Kent

We got tags in unit 10 for mule deer, not real familiar with this unit. One thing for sure, hunting with my three brothers Red, Bill and Claude will be great!

I was lucky enough to obtain a governors tag that starts August 15 with all the early rain it should make for an amazing season

I would advise educating yourself on how the AZ system works, there are lots of YouTube videos to help. If you have bonus points you are also eligible for the random 80% as well.