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The wife and I moved to Colorado a couple of years ago now, but we are back in Arizona—and for a pretty special reason. My buddy drew his first elk tag! It’s something we’ve both been looking forward to for a long time. We packed up the little ones and made the trip south over the past few days to help him out. We spent last night talking strategy and catching up with his family. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, its times like these that I am very thankful for. It’s nice to be “home”. This morning we were out early to finalize some scouting before the holiday cooking began. We checked out a few new spots, glassed some ridges, and got a feel for how the elk are moving. It was nice being back in a familiar unit, getting boots on the ground before opening day tomorrow. For those who have seen me post over the years, it’s been somewhat of a tradition for me to do a semi-live hunting thread whenever we’ve gotten drawn. I’m excited to do another and share our experiences as we get started on this year’s late hunt! Happy Thanksgiving to all, and I’ll be updating this thread daily. Thanks for following along!

Thanks for the fun, the deals, and the hard times in fun. You people are the Best!!!!! Please enjoy these holidays and your hunts. Stay safe!! And may all of your ventures be successful!!

My boy did great in the draw this year drawing elk, deer, javelina, crane. He was on fall break, and I had the time off so we loaded up and headed to camp on Wednesday. My buddies parents were there so we hung out, enjoyed the weather and waited for the rest of the crew. Everyone got there and we waited..... for the rain. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. We stayed in my buddies dad's tent and got absolutely soaked. I was legit worried about my son. We ran the wood stove all day and night and eventually got stuff decently dry. With some borrowed bags, we survived. Threw a tarp over the tent and all was good. The mud was absolutely insane. We got atleast 4 inches and the roads were insane. We didnt hunt much the first couple days, but did help a friend's son pack one out. Sunday morning heading out, the voltage regulator got caked in mud in my rzr and absolutely fried. No luck Sunday morning but had to tow it back to camp. Sunday evening we walked from camp (truck batteries are dead too). Walked out from camp, the wind was bad but was hoping we could see something on either side get the wind right and circle. We got to as far was we were going to go then circled with the wind in our faces to slowly hunt back to camp. Glassing as we went, I immediately found a cow. As I was carrying the rifle, I extended the bipod legs and jacked one in. Levi asked me "dad what are you doing?" "There are elk up here buddy, and atleast one is a cow!" We got behind cover and snuck up about 100 yards. Peaked around a bush and saw the bull, a really nice 6x6 let out a bugle. Put eyes on his cows and got back behind cover and closed another 40-50 yards. We peek out and there is a lone cow, broadside shining in the sun. I range her, 281 yards. Turn the dial on the scope and tell Levi to get on her. Hes on her. Im ready. "Let her have it buddy, squeeze that trigger." He lets one rip. THUMP. "Good shot buddy, you hit her. Reload hit her again." My boy racks another round like a seasoned vet and lets it rip. "You rushed that shot, reload hit her again." THUMP. Great shot buddy! I put two more in his gun. She steps out. "She's still standing, hit her again!" THUMP. She lays down right there. I can hear her labored breaths. "Reload buddy, stay on her but dont shoot unless she gets up!" Needless to say she doesn't. She made it about 10 yards. Three shots in the boiler room. The supressor absolutely made the difference as they had no idea where we were or what was going on. Money well spent. I can not put in to words how proud I am of this kid. Hes persevered hunts with no luck. Lots of rain. Being cold. Not seeing much (these were the first elk we had seen). And then, during crunch time he handled his rifle like an experienced hunter. Not to mention trying to control blood sugar through all this. Writing this up and reflecting brings tears to my eyes. Rifle info: Bergara B14 in 7/08 shooting 120 TTSX, all 3 rounds blew through.

Another old ranch gun. It's in a little better shape than the other gun I posted and in harder to find caliber. Made in the early 1900s. The bore looks fairly good with good rifling but its a little fuzzy looking. I don't have a proper cleaning kit for the 25 caliber so I can't do much to clean it better. I haven't fired it and I don't seem to have any 25-35 ammo to cycle through it. Located south Tempe area. $800

Custom Ruger #1 .270. Custom wood, case colored frame, lever, quarter rib, rings. Checkered steel grip cap and butt plate. Accurized and custom trigger. Shoots great - sub 1-inch groups with several factory loads. $3700 for local sale. In Queen Creek area. Was told it would cost $6000+ to do it again. Scope not included. Many more pics available Hate to part with it but divorce requires you to do stupid things...

Happy Thanksgiving!

I don't know for sure but thinking they're not legal in the late season. Checking regs now........ they are legal!

I've asked the same question to 4 different WMs and gotten 5 different answers before. Interpretation of some of the regs is all over the place. Some will tell you using your vehicle as a rifle rest is not considered using a vehicle in the aid of taking game, while others have a very strict interpretation that using your vehicle as a rest absolutely is considered using a vehicle in the taking of game. One thing I've gotten consistent answers regarding is picking up deadheads as long as there is no fresh meat/hide. Picking them up whitewashed or with obviously mummified fur/meat has always been ok with every WM I've ever spoken to.

We were near Arivaca Lake also and saw a ton of deer, but all does that I could see. I think a few of the deer I saw were bucks but could not see their heads. Some probably had headgear on them, but we did not get a good view of those.

We're hunting near arivaca lake. Joined a friend who has hunted the area for several years. It appears they haven't had much rain here.

More pics...

https://pearsonmoving.com/