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I tried to upload pics this morning, but I didn't have enough service. We cleaned the fan up when we got home a little bit ago.

Spending the last few evenings processing my bull has been a lot of work , but something I always look forward to . Teaching my son to take pride in your blessings , along with teaching him skills that I hope he will carry on to his son. Having my father there this time to see me pass on the passion of hunting and the outdoors the way he instilled them in me is something I will hold tight for the rest of my life. This has been my favorite part of this hunt.

filtered-8A9852EC-EE26-4B4F-B340-FFBB8A530C00.mov Got word from my son a little while ago that Mikey brought out his dogs and the dogs were able to stay on the trail for about a mile past last blood but eventually lost trail. Was a long shot. Amazing how people on this site are always willing to help each other. I guess 1 good thing my son said he found out he’s way out of shape trying to keep up with the dogs.

We caught up to a group of hens yesterday afternoon, and my older son got a decent Tom yesterday evening. First turkey for both of us. His Tom death flopped into a tank we shot it on and got wet. We cleaned up the fan when we got home and I think it will turn out well. My son's are posed with my hen by the rocks, and my younger son is with it on the tailgate.

I was able to take this absolute behemoth of a bear this morning. I typically hunt the spring but due to the shortened season, late winter moisture and cool temps, I was not able to turn a bear up. I had hesitations about hunting higher elevations in the oaks due the great crop of prickly pear not far away at lower elevation. Well I'm glad I stuck with my original plan.

My 11yr old son harvested a nice tom turkey yesterday. This was his first turkey and first big game harvest. When he dumped it, it death flopped into the water tank we were sitting and got muddy. It wasn't pretty for pictures, but it was a nice bird. He was super excited and so was his little brother, and of course I was probably more excited then both of them for him!

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”.🏹

28 ga Rizzini O/U 29” barrels, BR 110small frame, 4 chokes awesome condition.$2200 Jeff 602-670-2787

Selling this for a friend that does not shoot it anymore. Blueing is in great shape, comes with three magazines and is currently in an old S&W box. Pistol shoots great and comes with two holsters. Asking $1200.00

I just got back from target practice with two enthusiastic, twelve-year-old deer hunters! Man, these kids can shoot! 300 yards? No problem! And with them being fortunate enough to have the full ten-day window to hunt, I'll issue this final warning to all mature mule deer in their hunt area; You'd better find a really good hiding spot ASAP, or they might be seeing you on their dinner plates next month... Like this one last year:

28” 12 ga silver pigeon with recoil reducer 7 beretta extended chokes $2300 602-670-2787

Right On Harley. Glad it all came together.

Awesome!

I went the other day. I didn't see anything that looked like it was on sale that I couldn't resist. Reminded me of a big Dick's Sporting Goods. I wasn't impressed. Although I had two five year old boys with me so that may of had something to do with it.

He's a 3x4. Still in the velvet.

Keep us posted on this

Successful and satisfying are two different things. You can have a satisfying enjoyable once in a lifetime can’t wait to to back hunt that was unsuccessful.

Sexy.

And that is how point creep is put into overdrive for one of the easiest to draw early tags.

That is certainly a fact. This guy could have done everything within his ability to execute and something happened. My experience with being a part of over 20 elk kills is people rushing the opportunity instead of being patient and letting it happen or passing a marginal opportunity for a better one. I just came back from early archery hunt with 4 tags in our camp. We killed 4 bulls in 5 days…furthest shot 30 yards. All of us in camp can shoot our broadheads consistently in baseball size groups at 60 but I discouraged everyone in camp from shooting over 40. A target doesn’t move…elk do. I called over 20 bulls in for these guys and had them pass long shots and it allowed us to get chip shots. Archery hunting is a game of inches 👍

F2, margin for my horrible shooting.

You guys gave me a mini panic attack. I’ve been planning out youth hunt for the 13th lol I though for a min I had the opening dates mixed up

Agree to disagree.

I was able to take my son on his second youth turkey hunt this past weekend (last year being the first). After several close calls on the first day of the hunt with no shots fired he was able to connect on this tom on the second morning. The birds threw us a curve ball on the first evening and roosted in a different location several ridges away. From hunting this location in years past I knew where I wanted to get before first light and set up. The birds ended up being roosted a little farther than what I had thought but I still liked my chances and setup. There were several toms gobbling off the roost but you could hear the hens show up to pick them up. They were out of sight over a ridge or two. It sounded like they were starting to head the other way but luckily the boss hen was talkative and we got into a nice argument. After about 5 minutes of back and forth she decided to come kick my butt. And guess who she brought with her a strutting gobbling tom. My son made a great one shot kill to the head. I love it when a plan comes together. It is so fun and exciting to be able to share these experiences with my son, some of my favorite hunting memories.

I'm in show low. I go through Payson biweekly when I have to make an appearance at my office. You are an electrician right? I can even buy you lunch and call it a work expense.