Leaderboard

Today will be a grateful chore of deboning my first elk, & done with a bow. Lots of time spent prepping for this hunt: Road knowledge, locating concentrated areas of bugles at wee hours of AM, water holes, benches, & how bulls use the line of No Return (Rez border) to evade pursuit. This was a TUFF hunt; mostly due to my learning curve, but locals tell me this was the slowest they have seen in yrs. Seemed like all 125 tag holders brought 5 buddies in the forest, so many dudes buzzing around and sitting water! It was hot, smokey, high winds, & no cows to be seen/heard. I only saw 1 bull killed in the back of a truck. No real rutting activity until day 12!?! Bulls actively bugles from day 1 & called back to challenge bugles… but no interest in cow calls. I don’t call often. I actually don’t like to call until the last 150yrd—for any game. It was obvious when other hunters were near due to cow calls & the over frequency of use. I had my share of “could have been done”, like the 6x6 on Day 2 (narrow shooting lane and killed a tree at 63yrd). My caller granted me 8 days, then returned to the real world. I kept grinding. Hunt sun up to sun down. Trying different areas, different times of AM, different approaches. Even though bugles occurred every day, some days went by without seeing a bull. Then, things changed on day 12. Responsive bulls, yet still no cows (I guess I never found them). Bulls engaging to challenge calls & kept around with soft cow calls. I had activity all day long. I bumped a bull 5:30pm when pursuing his bugle. It ran 73yrd up hill. A scraggly tree 8’ in front of me partially broke up my figure. Quickly counted left side: G4, G5, G6=thinking this was a 6x6. Face to face we stared for “eternity”. He barked several times. Calmed him with meek cow calls. His caution factor overrode desire to breed and he slowly turned to walk away. Ranged at 83yrd, pulled back, broadside, WHACK, punched him with 100gr G5 Montec. Then heard a crash, but not sure of what was really happening due to topo incline changes. Found blood at impact site. Found bull 30yrd away, face down into a rotting tree on a steep slope. Ecstatic rush of achievement! Antlers were actually 5x6 with an earlier broken right G1, but I didn’t care! It was a late night. Had an awesome friend drive up to help pack out. While not a monster, he will be just fine as a memory to the hunt’s high/lows resting over the cabin’s fireplace. Took him to Authentic Taxidermy/Troy Smith yesterday; it was a haul & I passed several taxidermist en route, but Troy did great work on my pronghorn. History has shown me—go with the proven & you won’t regret it. Troy asked if I wanted G1 tine fixed… “Nope, keep him just as I found him”.🏹

Wow. I hate rattlers, kill everyone that I can. Rock, shovel, shotgun, whatever. Wife was taking out the trash the other night (she’s a keeper) and I somehow heard her scream over the TV football game. Sure enough, we had another snake. Turned out there was 3 rattlesnakes within 20 feet of our trash can. Probably the last time she will be taking the trash for a while. Good thing she can mow the yard during daytime.

Up for sale is a lightly used rifle built by Dan Lilja. Threaded 20" (+/-) barrel. Remington action, Lilja barrel of course that is threaded, I need to verify but believe the trigger is a timney or similar, Remington laminated varmint stock, will throw in base and 1" rings. It shoots incredibly well with 40 and 50 gr. VMAX pills. I'll provide load data. It also has a tight neck that requires necks to be turned. It comes with approximately 200 pieces of brass, all turned, some are loaded and resizing die. $750

My old place was on the edge of a large preserve and I took six or so rattlers off of it. Tanned a few, then gave some to a dog trainer. I built a snake pole and left it leaning against my garage, told my neighbor to borrow it whenever he had the need (mighty neighborly, I thought) , he and his mrs, looked at me and said "We call the fire department" to which I responded, you sickos, why do you light the shakes on fire? They explained the local FD will relo the snakes (no fire necessary). So I had to ask, if your kitchen faucet has a drip, what do you do? They said, "call a plumber".....

E-caller donated to a new hunter.

The new Scheels is supposedly a Yoder dealer. You ( and I) can hopefully put our hands one one after they open this weekend. I’m going to wait a few weeks for the initial craze to hopefully die off. Traeger used to be a great unit, but, since they sold and the new investors went to mass marketing and production, their quality has tanked. I sell them, and have a hard time recommending them now due to my own experience with their cutting corners

DELETE

I have taken a deposit, as of now this machine is sold.

.257 weatherby good condition Burris 4.5-14x42 scope Dies and some brass $800obo Queen Creek

Yup, more horses than a Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo. When will they allow thinning of the herd like North Rim Buffalo? 😂 Those prolific horses are like a riding lawn mower, eating everything in it’s path.

Going to check out a camp chief woodwind pro 34 with the side kick . It seems to check all the boxes . It has a fire box ash dump,and a pellet hopper dump . With the side kick I could sear or run as a flat top. Next is the rectec it seems to be another with great reviews . It might need some options to make it perfect. It doesn't have all the extra dump features of the camp chief. And last is a Yoder . I really would have thought the trager was the best option as they sell the crap outa them but they seem to have lots of issues 😕 .I'm definitely going to check these 3 out and go from there .

With the Mesa precision stock on it its really comfortable to shoot. Its also about 8/10 ounces lighter. The stock cost me $625 plus $250 for the bedding job.

I would think the current stock would be a selling point , the factory stock is a down grade

Bump for upcoming squirrel season! Make an offer!

Ruger American 30-06 with Leupold VX-3 3,5-10 scope. This has been a good gun and has 2 elk and 1 antelope to it's credit. Shoots about 1"- 1.25" with good ammo ( I'm not the best shooter either). Just got the Scope back from Leupold having them clean and check everything. Gun stock has a couple scratches but in good shape. Only selling because I upgraded. $550 complete. Call or text John 602-820-6309.

HUGE shout out to @Flingingarrowsbro. Not only did this dude point me in the right direction he let me know my first estimate was too low. Super great dude and we have already done business together. Thanks bro, just found out I got that job! If anyone here ever needs a solid remediation company hit up Bridger at Western Restoration

Great machine. I love mine. And that is a great price with all the added items. If I used mine more I think I would install the Fox shocks but it still rides great with the stock.

Those light bars look cool. This is what I've been using lately. MILWAUKEE Rechargeable 600 lm Max Brightness, 27 hr Max Run Time, 30 m Max Beam Distance

I've heard all you gotta do is take it over to Eagle Pass and just have'm walk it across......................

I bought a Yoder 12 or 13 years ago. I glad I bought when I did because the price has more than doubled since I purchased mine. Still running great. Only thing I have had to do was replace the igniter and it was a quick 5 min change and covered by the warranty. Heats up to 600 and holds temp well. I leave mine unattended all the time.

Congratulations, what a great job on a long, difficult hunt. it has been a tough hunt in 3a3c this year. One of the worst I've ever seen. Lots of horses and almost no cows. Very concerning. You did well.