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So the past year has been a real roller coaster. Last year my daughter was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and it has been super tough on my daughter and family in general. We struck out on all youth tags, but picked up a 3rd choice general hunt coues tag. I wasn't sure my daughter was ready or could handle the challenge. Long story short, I'd like to thank Kev for his help. He found this buck for us opening morning, in a location my daughter would be capable to make a decent shot, and we were able to make it happen. Seeing my daughter being herself again made this one of the most memorable hunts I'll have.

If it went to a draw the same number of permits would be issued for nr. Some units will be hunted harder than others but that’s what the quota is for. Remember the quota doesn’t reset in January. It resets in august. So a few units are closed right now that won’t affect your hunt in august. I don’t see how it’s going to take away opportunity away from residents. If your fav unit went to a draw for nonresident they would take those deer away from the resident quota. This way residents have the opportunity to fill the quota as fast as a nonresident would. Which is the same opportunity.

Sorry but I hope this is a very short-lived solution. We live in a state with a very limited number of deer that is not increasing. At best, some units are stable. Compound that with a human population that has already grown over 6 million people over last 40 years and is predicted to grow by another 1.4 million people this decade. All this and then add on the 20+ year drought we have been experiencing. The last thing we should be offering is OTC opportunities to non-residents when we can't meet the needs/wants of the residents. What other western state offers OTC deer (especially mule deer) opportunities to NR's during the very best times to hunt them during the rut? This is crazy I have no facts to support this assumption, but I only know what I have observed and read. I believe NR's are more successful per capita than resident hunters. When they travel from out of state to hunt, they tend to hunt harder and longer than most resident OTC archery deer hunters. Because of this they tend to be more successful. A NR is more likely to hire a guide/outfitter as well which adds to their success Game fish should have just issued NR's a very limited # of tags for each unit and made them apply and draw the tag. I am not anti- NR but I am pro Arizona wildlife and hunters. With the quota system in place now all this new NR's solution is going to do is take opportunity away from residents. The faster quotas fill, the sooner hunts close. If I'm wrong, I am wrong. Nothing would make me happier.

So as I mentioned in another thread, we bought some llamas this year in hopes of making a small side business out of it. I'm a horseman by heart, but llamas have grown in appeal to me over the years. We've done some camp trips over the summer, I took them Mule deer hunting in Colorado, but we didn't use them much. Last month a friend and I went into the backcountry to try our hand at some Colorado Elk. We took 3 llamas, 2 of which were rookies. We went a few days early to scout. We found the elk the night before opener, but due to the terrain, we decided to pack up the llamas and move closer. On the second day of the hunt, my buddy was able to harvest his first Elk. We packed half the meat out to our spike camp. We went up the next morning and a bear ate a whole hind quarter that we failed to hang high enough in the meat tree. Overall, we spent 7 days in the backcountry and packed the llamas over 22 miles of the roughest country Id care to take stock. They did phenomenal. Definitely one for the books.

Due to school and work my oldest son could only hunt today. We boogied out to Remington to where I shot my deer last year. Past a lot of vehicles and camps and heading out to our destination. I was thinking to myself that it was going to be tough hunt due to all the activity and being the 3rd hunt so far. We get set up and start glassing, about an hour into it I see movement near the top of a hill. I see a deer, small spike…but there is movement behind it and it’s the big one I saw 2 years ago with a palmation left side. I range them at 380 yds. Very doable!!! Jake stays on them while I get into position. While I’m dialing scope in for the shot Jake says it’s moving back over this ridge. I quickly find him and he disappeared. I asked Jake if he wanted to take the spike. He said, why not. As we were watching him feed he says “dad, there’s another deer in the bush next to him.” I glass that area and there’s another buck, I could see antlers and tell him to get on it. I range it at 375 yds and I dial my rifle in for that range and hand it over to him, I take his rifle and get ready for sloppy seconds. For about 15 minutes it is milling around eating behind some Ocotillos. I hear him taking some deep breaths trying to calm his nerves while I watch him. A few minutes go by and the buck turns broadside. I tell him ready when you are, a few seconds go by and “boom”, deer drops and tag punched. His biggest deer to date. We high five and look for other deer movement, he keeps telling me “ dad, I’m shaking too much to keep my binos still”, I know the feeling all to well I tell him. We pack up and head that direction. I leave him with the deer to clean while I look for the bigger one. No luck for me. He started to drag it, but kept getting hung up on the prickly pears and Ocotillos. I tell him it might be easier to drape it over your shoulders and carry out. Sure wish I was 19 again!!!! Mile and half hike out, carried out without any issues or complaints. Very proud of him. Dropped off at butcher for more burger and steaks and a real nice Euro mount.

Had an awesome hunt for whitetail this year and got to double down on a couple of Lions with my son. Not everyday you get to do that. There were actually 3 lions total in the area.

Buck scord 96 5/8. The best part, we tried to bag a spike before making it to this buck. We weren't horn hunting by any means, but it just happen to work out with a dandy. Unfortunately, its just not a feel good thing for her when it comes to gluten. A sandwich can put her in bed for a week. Its been rough but she's been a trooper.

Just a proud post. Wife has killed 3 bucks in a row from 97”-99” she finally held out. Wife and I had a rough 4 days with wind and weather. Looking for 2 specific bucks I had found on my previous hunt that were substantially bigger. Found 12-15 bucks over the first 3 days with her turning down a high 90s” but turned him down on the 3rd day. With no luck we were about to call it quits on the last day when I glassed up this guy. Wife was okay with him so we made our move and she made a great shot at 169 yards. No long range needed with her stalking skills. She is a real trooper and loves her some Coues bucks. She finally broke her 100” goal.

My buddy got him yesterday evening

That was a freaking blast man. I thought he was mid to high 70s from the truck. Always cool when they get bigger on the ground. Congrats again to her, she's a trooper!

It is difficult to say "no" to the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. Seems that each year, Utah and the eastern Sierras make voices heard, but Colorado shouts louder. So again, I pointed the truck northeast from Flagstaff and spent the first week of October around Durango, Ouray and Telluride. The aspen colors seemed to be a week behind the usual time frame, perhaps due to the rainfall and warmer temperatures. Still, pockets of color could be found to oggle the eyes and point the lens at. Here is a link to the gallery of Colorado fall images for your perusal. https://www.plateaulightphotography.com/New-Work/Colorado-Fall-2022/

Was an awesome hunt and awesome memories with my dad and my daughter

I have two old Smith and Wesson pistols for sale. 455 Webley. Also 32 Winchester Smith. $600.00 for the Webley and $400.00 for the 32 Winchester. Text me a message I can send more pictures. 520-603-8987. Located in Tucson.

Pretty stoked..drew a 22 rifle tag..which means I will be hunting in my neighborhood so to speak...sleep in my own bed...I am getting me one...Will have the time...God willing...

Your love is ordained from the Heaven's...definitely a sign...congratulations..

Wow that seems incredibly rare to double up like that on one group. Pretty much the only scenario I could think of is a mother with young ones or the young ones stuck together after mom cut out (which was already mentioned). Congratulations to you and your son! Super exciting and memorable for sure. And thanks for sharing the video—that was cool too

F GandF they are only into stuff if they profit

People always mention our 20 year drought. Yes this has been part of the problem but a much bigger part of the problem that most people forget is the trapping ban that went in 30 years ago. This has had a HUGE impact on our wildlife. Never forget.

We glassed him up from about a mile away and got to 100 yards for the shot.

Both Dad and Kevin need father of the year awards.. good job to you both.. And for the young lady that smile and that buck are big rewards for Everyone.. Good job to All.. And hope She continues to stay strong and healthy.. 👍😃

Here is the Coues deer I was able take with my statewide tag with the help of Kory and Bobby of A3 . There knowledge of the area and with the deer was truly amazing. Once we found this deer they spent hours breaking it down. It was decided that we would try and harvest this deer. We had to relocate to find him again and after 8 hours of waiting he finally reappeared just before dark . Now he was with another buck of similar size but was a typical 3x3 with amazing eye guards. To be able to have two 130 inch bucks standing next to each other I thought I was seeing things. Now I had to make a decision it was an easy one for me. I like em trashy . After we ranged him at 600 yards I let my Axis works 280 AI do the rest. It was now almost dark Kory and I hiked down to the deer When I put eyes on him I was speechless it was bigger than we had thought . I told Kory I was going to do a life size mount so he was very careful field dressing the deer. He then proceeded to load the deer into his pack whole it’s a pack that he has designed and just now starting to sale it was his smaller one about 3200 CI it was amazing all of the room it had not to mention it’s the best built pack I have ever seen I am getting one. His company name is Desert Mountain Outdoors Well after many miles of packing we got back to camp about midnight what an epic day. Still in shock of being able to take a deer like this thanks to A3 and there amazing guides Kory and Bobby.

We had a doe and fawn blow out below us about 150 yards and the doe kept blowing for at least ten minutes. She kept looking back in our direction but we knew that they didn’t wind us ( wind blowing pretty good in our face). I told my son to get his rifle ready and I would skirt the hill to see what was below us. He said he heard something growling. I proceeded to walk over to the saddle to glass back to where he was sitting and he was getting prone. Next thing I see is him shooting down from where we were glassing. He shoots throws his hands up in excitement and is frantically waving for me to get back over there. I run back and he said he just smoked a lion and there were 2 more with it. I get set up on his rifle and the second cat was sitting under a juniper above his cat. I take the shot and my cat bails off into the cut. Then a 3rd lion pops out and proceeds to sniff around my sons lion then ended up disappearing into the cut mine went into. It killed around for about 15 minutes. My oldest son was supposed to be with us but wouldn’t call out sick from work. Needless to say he was bummed. We could have had a Trifecta. IMG_1190.MOV

Just got word that my buddy's son smoked a nice strutting tom this morning! The kid is now cursed to hunt turkey the rest of his life.

What happen with Chad and Russ anyway? Weren't they partners at one time? Was TLO running the salts up there before Russ? I'll just keep getting bonus points until this mess clears up.