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Drew a late archery elk tag and was excited because anytime hunting elk in AZ is exciting. Well found out I had the stupid covid shoot after 4 tests the day before I left due to hacking up a lung non stop.figured what better way to quarantine than go camp solo in northern Az. Long story short busted Friday trying to find a camp spot getting stuck in the mud and what not. Changed plans found a nice spot in the lower country and started hunting. Found tons of deer and antelope but not many elk. Saturday evening found a herd of bulls from rags to one big 370 type bull. Plan Sunday morning go relocate bull. Got to glassing and never found said bull but found this bull. Bailed off the glassing hill and cut the distance. Got to the herd from 40-60 yards. They either herd me or wind switched and ran. Bull stopped. Ranged him ar 103 and sent it. Arrow found the mark and he piled up. Not bad for a solo late hunt. 6th AZ archery bull in the freezer.

Well both of my kids harvested their first elk last week. We were in screaming elk everyday. My daughter shot her elk opening day and my son on the forth day. Want to give some thanks to a family member and a good buddy for directing me to a few spots. Sorry for the sideways pic.

My son was able to harvest this pretty buck here in NM this this past weekend.

Casey, if your son loves to be outside, play in the dirt, is curious about lizards-birds-frogs, and gets excited when he sees a simple coyote... ...You should have no problems with helping him have a good time. That's what it's about. Hunting IS fun, especially if Dad helps make it so. From hiking, to off-roading, to camping and campfires - it's a young boys dream. Get him familiar with the activity. Don't expect him to get it on his first run as It may take 3-5 hunts to get him on track. If he loses interest, then it's all over. I know this isn't what you asked, but I've seen time & time again where Dads are heartbroken because their kids don't want to be in the hills with them. Almost every time, it was Dad's fault by applying too much pressure.

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.

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

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.

I'm ready for my HAM tag

And this is where I am going to struggle. I lack patience sometimes. Few years ago I bought him some Mavens for Christmas. First day out, with binos on a tripod, "Levi be careful don't knock your binos and tripod over." literally 30 seconds later he knocked them over. I chewed on him pretty good... Had to realize they weren't broken and it was an accident. Made it up to him, and am more cognizant of situations like that.

Congratulations! I'm helping a buddy with his elk in 10 days or so (rifle hunt) and we'd be happy with a bull like yours.

Alot of grown men these days aren't a good comparison. Some hire guides for cow elk hunts, lol. Being 100 successful is too often the goal for alot of people now days. Instant gratification. I get we want our kids to be succesful but they also need to learn even if it means coming home empty handed sometmes. Get him in closer (as has been mentioned) and hunt down to his level until he fills out more and gets a little more experience. He'll do just fine

Thanks for everyone's replies. I was able to find a spot.

Little late but absolutely thank you for everyone who's has served and currently serving! I'm Grateful for my Freedom!!!

Casey you are on the right track. Take him out shooting every weekend with a 22 walking around the desert. Shoot lizards, butterflies, leafs etc while looking for rabbits, tweety birds etc. Take an orange. While you are out tell him you are going to have him turnaround then you will toss it and you will tell him to turn around, find it and he has five seconds to shoot it. THrow it like 40' away. If you need .22 ammo let me know I have plenty. Do this so he gets the basics down, over and over again. When you finally let him shoot the 257 make sure the first 50 rounds are done standing up so he can understand the relationship between getting a good cheek weld and being able get close enough to the scope so he has a full view. Keep the target big and close. Think cantelopes at 50 yards, make it easy to build his confidence. A 223 or 22-250 is close to a 257 with a break but less recoil and way less loud.

Get starlink.... everything else will soon be obsolete. Ed F

Well it was an interesting year and stressful year. Rewind 3 weeks before hunt. People that know me know that I shoot long distance quite a bit even have my own course I shoot by my house. I started shooting suppressed last year and to be honest not sure if it contributed to my issues last year but we missed alot of animals, too close that i'm use to. For elk and deer. Before the suppressor we were 18 for 18 on deer on my 300 win mag from 400-800 yds. With suppressor we missed quite a few. It really messed my head up. Well i headed to the range just to check and make sure i have a perfect zero and first shot i blew my suppressor off my rifle 50 yards down the range. I was extremely happy my son and I were not harmed. See the suppressor in the pic. Well here we are short time before hunt and now i have to re-zero, re-chrono, Check long range on the mtn again. What a mess. Well I was able to get this close as possible for my hunt and hoped for the best. Day 1 on the hunt and its flat out cold. Its my 2 kids and by neighbor who is a Pilot at Luke. Good guy. We found some deer but no bucks today. Day 2 and my oldest boy finds a buck at 840 yds and its a go. We set up and 1 shot he hammers the buck and its down. My 2 boys head over to get the deer and my neighbor and I stay and keep glassing. Well I glass over to the ridge over and I see a giant Mtn lion, and its going right where the deer is junior just shot. I jump on my 300 and my neighbor ranges 500. I have severe buck fever and am shaking. I take a shot and just below. He continues to walk slow and is under a tree at 540. I take my time and BOOM he takes hit (i believe) and hunches and jumps and straight down the hill where my sons deer is. Long story short, never find the lion. Day 3. No bucks in the moring. Later in the evening Junior and neighbor go out on there own and make a nice 330 yd shot. Long night for them Now day 4 with 1 more tag to fill. My youngest son. During the day we come across this bear two times. Click on the Bear Video Link Bear Video.MOV Last light I glass the buck up at 740 yds. My son jumps on the 300 and our scope is 5-25 power. At 25 power you couldnt see at all so we had to move down to 15. I said Dylan can you make a good shot that a long shot at 15 power. He said Dad I'm good and steady. I said OK let her rip. 1 shot and the deer rolled down the mtn. Was a great trip with my boys again. Late night that day and we had Green chile and Fresh deer backstrap when back. f

Process time

I have a brand new ARCALOCK clamp for sale. It came on a ballhead I bought and I went with a different clamp. These are $85 new. Yours for $60. Located in East Mesa.

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.

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.. 👍😃

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!

Thanks everyone, Both shoot a 7mm-08 and our daughters was 183 yards and my sons was 136 yards.

Our friends from Texas traveled here last week for their 11 year old daughters first elk hunt in 3A/3C. Opening morning was the type of experience you hope a first time elk hunter gets to be a part of. Multiple bulls screaming leading you into a herd. Unfortunately, the fog rolled in so thick that we could not ever get a good opportunity but knew where they bedded. That afternoon we hiked down a ridge that allowed us to look south into the canyon they were in. Not 30 minutes in and the bull had them up and moving giving Isla a 294 yard shot with her 6.5 creedmore. One well placed shot through the shoulder and she had her first elk. Man these youth hunts are so fun to help on!

I put a camera on everything! Currently running over 900 cams!

Randy Newberg bought the entire state out and then sold them to HUSH… he used G$F money to buy them all.