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Lots of scouting, long drives, and it all came together opening morning. We found several groups of sheep and 7 rams. My buddy got it done with 1 shot at 392yds. When I glassed him up I knew we was a shooter. He is a 9yo ram.

Jeff you can get a raw rifle sling Leather kit from Tandy leather for about $20 bring it over and I’ll stamp his name and a deer head emblem in it .

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.

I'm not the boss of classified nor do I run the site, but I try to help when I can. Eddie

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.

Brand New, never opened. Box still has plastic seal on it. Great Binoculars with the built in Rangefinder works out to 5,000 yards. Comes with Vortex Bino Harness too. $700 OBO. Call/Text 480-518-0702 for more photos and info.

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.

H&R Sportsman 9 shot revolver, mfg in 1940, 6" barrel, checkered walnut target grips, adj. rear sight. Excellent condition for 80+ year old gun. Much better quality than newer H&Rs. $495 Now $400

My dad had a bunch of cans. Can't remember exactly what he has. Headed there on Wed. I'll let you know.

We were doing the rail for D Backs games. Some days it was fine, others it was wall to wall packed. We drove to a suns game 2 weeks ago and parked south of case field for a reasonable price. Plus the kids liked walking by chase field with all the world series banners.

SPF

you might check out taking the rail system. https://www.valleymetro.org/fares/railride

It’s trick photography, it’s a stupid black house cat. People are dumb and believe whatever they hear on the news. The fact that game and fish officials can’t see it is hilarious.

Im just gonna keep following him around and pick up his trophies for myself.

After a 3 year Hiatus of not drawing general hunts I typically would draw almost every year, I finally got to chase desert bucks with my rifle again. I drew a unit I have only stepped foot into a few times; and never personally hunted for myself, so I knew it would be a challenge trying to pick apart areas to focus my time on. I had help from some buddies who knew the unit but the dry conditions proved to be challenging, where a lot of young bucks would show themselves in the first few days along with dozens of predators. After day 2 I was given some info/tips and with a game plan in mind, I made the drive into some new country. Right before day light of day 3, I spotted this buck bedded down a few hundred yards away. I had my partner keep eyes on him while I scanned the rest of the what we could see from the glassing point quickly and to wait for the sun to pop out to get a better look. After waiting a bit,I decided he was good enough to wrap my tag around and laid down at 384 yards to take my shot. First shot was a touch high on him and he jumped up confused/hurt and I quickly chambered another round and he had moved about 10 yards from his bed before the second shot connected and put him down. It was a quick morning but I am extremely happy with him and how it all played out. Venturing into new country is always an adventure in itself but having a good network of friends willing to help out, ultimately made me successful and for that I am forever grateful. Best of luck to everyone the rest of the year!

I got my first elk this year since my dad passed 2 years ago. I know the feeling. He taught me everything I know to this day. I wish he would of been with me in person but I know he was there in spirit.

Good for you. The few times I got to hunt with my dad are some of my favorite memories.

I'm sure you know he was right there with you the whole time. From a fathers perspective I am always there watching over my grown children.

Sorry about your loss. But I can't think of a better way to honor his memory. Congrats on a successful hunt.

Still a few decent bucks in there. Buck my son took on the jr Hunt this year.

My non-resident buddy drew a late coues tag in here, I'll be helping and we're hunting last 5 days. I'd be happy to share any info if we see a good muley to anyone who is hunting at that time. PM me and perhaps we can at least get each other's #'s.

SO- There are coues I've seen as far south as Gavilan Peak. One jumped my Ranger hood last week - and they're heavy in New River Mesa/ Magazine Canyon. I've seen Mule Deer in 21 that made my jaw drop- and I have the tag for Nov for Mulies, but I'm not seeing them consistently. It's like it's 50 to 1 coues to Muley. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong spots- I dunno. I was thinking Bloody Basin Road.

I have hunted unit 21 since I was a little kid. A 150 to 160 inch 4x4 should not be a problem on this hunt. Pm me if you want some scouting info. But in my opinion unit 21 has a whitetail population now that is ridiculous. The whitetails are all the way down to new river now.

2011 Coues buck. My grandpa drew the december rifle hunt and we got this one the first day by 10 a.m.