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For years I had been saving points for an archery AZ Strip hunt. I already had a decent mule deer on my wall, but I wanted a true monster. In early 2023, I began to hear stories of how much more difficult the hunts were becoming without the use of trail cams on the strip. Additionally, I also heard that the Kaibab had seen some great antler growth in 2022. Although the forecast for 2023 was slight lower, antler growth was still expected to be well above average. I ultimately decided to bail on the Strip (which was still a few years away for me with point creep) and go all-in on an early Kaibab rifle hunt. After finding out that I had indeed drawn a tag for the hunt, I spent four days up on the west side of the Kaibab in July just to re-familiarize myself with the roads, watering sources, etc. I didn't see many deer, but still considered the scouting trip well worth the effort. By the end of my second scouting trip, I was gradually coming to realize that finding bucks would not be a problem. But finding a true 180+" trophy was going to be more about luck than preparation. After some late nights and serious soul-searching, I decided to raid my Big Horn Sheep fund and hire a outfitter. It was a tough decision to make, but even with 32 points I knew that statistically I was still several years away from drawing a sheep tag in a 'second tier' unit. On the other hand, the Kaibab tag was in my hand and the prospect of a giant was very real. I did a lot of searching on line and asking questions of everyone I new about some of the better-known outfitters on the Kaibab plateau. Although I was able to narrow it down to four outfitters, the name "Shadow Valley Outfitters" (SVO) kept floating to the top. I ended up having a great six-week-long dialog with Pat McCarty, one of the owners of SVO. Their focus on the client and depth of bench when it came to guides finally tipped the scales in their favor. I could spend pages describing the hunt, but that is best left for another time. The hunt itself was an epic adventure filled with emotional highs and lows. Travis Lyons was assigned to be my guide for the week-long hunt. What I learned from him alone about deer behavior and migration movement on the Kaibab was worth the price of the hunt. By the end of day two, I had become convinced that had forgotten more knowledge about finding and hunting deer than I had accumulated in my lifetime. He could spot deer so much more quickly than I could and his ability to judge racks was incredible. We had several close encounters with some 180+" bucks, but we either couldn't get a shot opportunity or mother nature was working against us. On the second morning of the hunt, I had a 180+" buck in my scope at about 410 yds. How Travis ever spotted this guy in a dense stand of jack pines was beyond me. The problems I encounted with the shot were: 1) the sun was just peaking over the hill and was directly in my eyes, so I could only make out his head and top line of his back through my scope; 2) there was a tree trunk covering his vitals; and 3) there was a full value wind gusting from right to left at 15-20 mph. We elected to pass on that shot, thinking we could move around and get better position on the buck's vitals. The buck didn't care for that plan and took off at a dead run away from us. That one will haunt me for the rest of my life. On the final day of my hunt, I told Travis that my expectations for a buck had dimished considerably. I told him I would take any buck with a gross score of 160 or better. We had planned on going back to the same valley where we had seen that 180+" buck, but didn't even get to the spot. As we were driving in, Travis spotted some does with a buck hiding out way in the back. I could only catch glimpses of him, while Travis was describing his rack in great detail. Travis felt very confident he would go at least 160". After some discussion and agonizing decision making on my part, I went with the old "bird in th hand' analogy and the stalk was on. The buck gave us the slip and did a large buttonhook run to reunite with his does. It was thick forest, but Travis found him back with his does in the opposite direction from where we were first looking. He was standing broadside at a mere 80 yds, but once again - an obstruction was covering his vitals. All I had was a neck shot, but unike last time, there was no hesitation. He dropped at the shot from the 160 gr. Matrix bullet out of my 6.5 PRC. As we hiked over to him, Travis smiled at me a said "I think you're gonna like this buck". After skinning and quartering the buck, Travis again told me that the buck was definitely going to score in the mid 160's. When several of the guides finally put a tape to him, he ended up with a gross green score of 170 & 3/8". Not bad for a last day consolation buck. I couldn't be happier with the hunt, the trophy and with SVO.

I glassed up what looked like a bone white tine, and to the left I could see a spine. right after that I move my binos and glassed up a lion at last light. First one I’ve ever seen. went back the next morning for the head and I found about a 105” on the way to it.

Found a tripod on the side of a hill near a nasty road in 35a. Would like to find the owner.

Several years ago, I started buying WY antelope points for myself and my son. I was able to draw back in 2019, but my son couldn't make the trip so I just kept buying points for him. Fast forward to earlier this year when I learned that WY would be instituting some changes to their non-resident draw program which would have a substantial negative impact on all non-resident point holders beginning in 2024. Even though the WY antelope heard had a substantial winter die-off the previous year. it just made sense to cash in his points and then get out of Dodge. My son drew a buck antelope tag for Unit 75, which is located roughly in the center of WY. We arrived late Thursday night after a 17 hour drive. Friday was spent scouting the unit as best we could. There were planty of buck antelope, but none came close to the trophy we were looking for. We finally located two bucks in different locations later Friday afternoon/evening. Although all the bucks we were seeing had short tops, these two had the most to offer in length above the prong. Buck A was located on leased land that did not allow hunting. Still, he was a decent prospect and we thought we might be able to pressure him off the oil lease land. Buck B was mostly on BLM land and tended to hang near a well-traveled dirt road. My son elected to go after Buck A as we both felt Buck B was an easy target and would be pursued by most other hunters at first light. Opening morning found ourselves glassing the heard of antelope on the oil lease. As it turned out, a couple of other hunters had the same idea. We used each other to try and pressure Buck A into moving off the lease, but that old buck seemed to know the score and hung tight in the middle of the valley. After an hour or so, we left him to go try our luck in an area we had not been able to visit the night before. We found another decent buck, but as soon as he would see our truck, he would leave his does and run like a bolt of lightning in the opposite direction. After three failed attempts on him, we decided to see what had become of Buck B near the dirt roadway. We looked high and low for any sign of him, but he was nowhere to be found. After driving back and forth on the road a couple of times and seeing no gut pile or scavenger birds, we felt he must still be alive and had moved up into one of several arroyos that came down to intersect with the road. We drove to a drilling site / gravel pit that had some elevation and began to glass. After 20 minutes or so of glassing without success, we decided to park the truck and start still hunting each arroyo until we located him. I pulled a quick u-turn to park the truck and just happened to look up. There across the gravel pit stood my son's target buck at 175 yds. He had found this gravel pit and was using it as his hidey-hole. He was by himself and was somewhat startled to see us. My son made a great shot and the rest was history. Although his tops were weak, he is still a great first antelope trophy for my son.

Power and baseline has one that actually works.

Looks.like.a.hybrid

My dad passed away in July and this was my first outing since his passing. He and I started hunting together in the late 1970s. Like most of us, our dad’s taught us the skills needed to be successful, the appreciation for everything we harvest and how to take care of the meat from field to table. In his memory I used his favorite rifle and I was able to hunt our favorite unit. Over the years, we have harvested many deer, bulls and cows from this unit. I am thankful to have had a successful hunt and relive over 40 years of memories.

My wife and I got tags together this year for the same hunt for the first time. We were real excited for this hunt, more than usual. Opening day I spotted her buck 2100 yards out and figured he was a mid 80’s buck. We kept an eye on him every 5 minutes to see where he beds down. While keeping tabs on him we saw 10 other bucks but nothing worth chasing after. Once her buck bedded down under a tree, we marked the spot and started the stalk. We snuck into 330 yards and the rest is history. The buck had a bigger body than we thought and scored right at 90. We had a long pack-out back to the ranger and feeling the aches and soreness today. Over the next few days we looked over 30 bucks or so. I was looking for a 4+ year old buck (secretly trying to beat my wifes buck!) I didn’t have any luck. Monday morning came and I spotted a big 2x2 buck that we have seen maybe 8 times and never gave chase to him. He bedded down during grey light and the wife and I took off. We snuck into 380 yards and waited about an hour for him to stand up and the hunt was done. My buddy Christian showed up to help out with the morning Monday hunt, he carried out some weight which was nice! Thanks amigo! Overall deer movement was phenomenal even with the full moon. The freezer is full with our bucks and my sons junior buck. We’ll definitely put in together again next year.

Sig 320 X-5 Legion: I have about 300rds thru this gun and its in excellent condition. I am willing remove light or optic from gun to adjust the price if need be. Details: Sig 320 X-5 Legion 9mm Grey Guns Flat Trigger Holosun 507c Surefire 300 1x 17 rd mag Sig Sauer mag well Pricing; Just Gun with no optic or light, will install factory iron sights. $900 Gun with 507c and Surefire Light $1400 If you are interested about other configuration pricing please let me know and we can discuss options. Please let me know if you have any questions. Feel free to text 602-571-5962 (Ryan)

We have two male AKC English Creme Golden Retriever puppies available. Genetic clear. We own both parents. Great well vet check. Puppy shots started. In home raised and loved. 6026953644

I'd go 140 TSX for deer.

I have loaded 120 gr nosler ballistic tips over a generous dose of Varget in 5 different 7-08s. They are have all been accurate and deadly on multiple deer, javelina, and cow elk.

Gilbert and Juniper by the circle k

$165 shipped tyd. PayPal or Venmo . .019 pins

Colorado land voucher tag, this ended up being the biggest buck we saw! Only had two days to get it done and wasn’t disappointed!!!

Ill take it if you dont mind hanging on to it for a bit I'm in Springerville.

Great deal for someone. If I lived closer it'd be gone by now.

For me yeah it really was a dream day. I love finding stuff. My dad was out there with me he got to see the lion as well.

Where are these forum rules you speak of? Its a free for all here.

Awesome, I'm looking forward to my hunt this next year in 1. Ive been putting in for goulds for the last 15 years and finally drew a year ago. So just regular ol merriams now.

Received my spring draw turkey tag in the mail today. Looking forward to the hunt! Any negative comments will result in hearing about what I had for dinner last night, lol. 😉

Went back out today and got 5 more quail. Still tons of birds just terrible shooting today 😂😂🤣😅. I also posted a pic of the prickly pear slime they were munching on.

Thanks to all that offered some pointers. Saw tons of deer just nothing with size so when this guy stepped out it was a no brainer. My buddies 76 year old dad made a great shot at 140 yards and ol boy was piled up. Good luck and shoot strait to everyone with hunts still coming up.

Took my son out to check some petroglyphs I found the other day and happened to see some tines hanging above us. Can you spot the antler?