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It sure does suck and really takes the steam out of a hunt. At least it did for me. I had a very good kill ratio when hunting with a bow and arrow for my first 30 years. Only lost one javelina over that time. I made a couple bad shots on elk but I was able to find them. Over the last 10 years I have hit 4 different animals and lost them. One of them, an antelope, I found the next morning but the coyotes got to him before I did. I put my tag on it and my hunt was over. In 2009 or 10 I had a 5B archery antelope tag and it was the first time I ever saw a guy hunt with a crossbow in AZ. We were pretty much hunting the same 60-70 antelope that had a total of 9 bucks in the area. Over time we would cross paths in the field and talk. He told me he shot 5 different bucks and he was finally able to retrieve the 5th one. I asked him why he was hunting with a crossbow because I didn't ever see anything that was disabling about him. He showed me two fingers that we loosely taped together and said it may not look bad but he cant pull his bow back. He was almost apologetic. One of the bucks he shot out from under me during one of my stalks. 114 yard shot and I couldn't figure out what made them all run. That was my first encounter with him. He claimed he didn't see me stalking them. I think the loss of animals for me has taken away a lot of my drive to kill things. I love hunting as much as I ever did but the candle definitely does not burn as bright for killing stuff. A lot of this is personal and I think every hunter has to deal with it the best they see fit.

So you broke your leg, were still able to go and hunt and arrow a bull, but the recovery was the problem? No one could help you recover it? How tf were you capable of shooting one with a broken leg but not recovering it? I think the problem with opening up tag returns for generalized reasons would open up a can of worms. What qualifies? For how long? How long before the hunt does it have to have happened? Etc. Countless variations of things that can happen to people. And just about every one of them could get a doctor note from somewhere saying they weren't capable of hunting, the same way everyone was getting doctors notes for crossbows. So to make it simple the answer was no to everyone. Point guard is a good mixture of one get out of jail free card. You have your no questions asked bail out but you only get one.

Very similar knothead, but 20 instead of 30 years so far. I chickened out on my sheep hunt. While practicing and shooting the greatest archery of my life, I intentionally left my bow in the truck and grabbed a rifle the day (2) I went after my target ram. He ended up coming below me 80 yards as scouting predicted he may. Shooting him with a rifle that close was bittersweet. I will never know if I'm a chump or if my decision was commendable, but I was terrified of wounding a true trophy animal and having him lost or run on inaccessible (YPG) lands. I'll try to stay off a high horse but I hate seeing wounded animals and wish shooting and as much real-world prep for the shot as possible was trendy. Critter numbers are declining behind my upgrading optics and experience.

Made ahi tuna poke for lunch, red cabbage base with 4 types of micro greens, cucumber, edamame, yellow amd orange bell peppers, avacado and the tuna!!!!!

Smoked chicken quarters last night with corn on the cob and the wife’s baked beans.

Healy is outstanding. https://healyarms.com/

Chicken thighs last night

I didn’t think there was a limit on AR’s lol you need more than 2 so you have options 😂

Somehow with only 6 bonus points, I drew an early rifle bull tag in Unit 9. I figured I would be hunting antelope in Wyoming this fall, so I only put in for the long-shot early bull hunt in 9. Guess I should have bought a lottery ticket too.

In April 2024, I was fortunate to draw an off-range oryx tag for March 2025. I’ve had a whirlwind year since drawing and timing couldn’t have been better for the hunt. With that said, we encountered severe winds with no sign of letting up, which made things challenging. With the wind gusts, everything was bedded. Due to the flat terrain, glassing for extended periods was unproductive. We would glass and go, glass and go, constantly moving. The wind gusts were so brutal that any tracks on the ground were erased, making it easier to gauge a fresh track. So we changed plans and drove roads looking to cut tracks which we eventually did. We found a group of three at about 400 yards and they had us pegged. This happened twice more with the ranges increasing each time. They eventually had enough of us and bolted. Fast-forward to the late evening, and we were able to find the same group again at 1000 yards. They had picked up another oryx, and they were now four, with only one being unbroken. A long stalk later and I had my oryx. Five minutes later, it was pitch dark. Good luck to everyone on the upcoming NM draw!

I went through Healy's without a Trust. Really simple process.

I know there are people on here who help others and I'm sure they are great, I just don't know them personally. I got my 2nd suppressor from EVT (east valley tactical) that used to be Mr Silencer many years ago. I went down last month and picked up two more. It took about 10 minutes, and 2 weeks later they came in, these two were not in a trust though just individuals. I've had great success with EVT.

SPF

maybe we need a CWT Petes Fish n Chips meet up one day.

Petes Fish n Chips, hits a craving and you eat and its gone. I hit them up few times a year.

Yeah, we eat the heck outta thighs...

Bought a Bergara B-14 Hunter last year for the kids to use. Only shot factory cheap Hornady Whitetail 139gr and it shoots fantastic so far. Got all the stuff to reload for it especially now my youngest has an elk hunt in September. I bought some 140 grain Nosler Accubonds and some H4350 but started thinking of maybe getting some Ramshot BigGame after reading about it. Need to start soon as late Sept will be here before we know it.

I dont mind buying poke bowls, but for sure making it fresh is best. I just ended up ordering 20 more ahi steaks

Sorry, Im not a serious guy… check regs or proposals.. it’s all there. Annual renewal, no weed MD to sign off, real orthopedists I believe..there will still be abuse . I need a shoulder replacement at this point,but sold my xbow, and resigned my self to gun hunts. Xbows weren’t my thing after almost 50 years of recurves and compounds. JMO

I don’t have a live scope… guess I’m screwed. I’ll go boating. so if trail cameras are illegal for hunting, why are live scopes ok for fishing? Asking for a friend…

I agree with you guys, the numbers of mature bucks definitely seem to be down across the Southern part of the state. I hunted 9 days this January with my brother and we only saw a couple of bucks I would consider mature. I ended up arrowing a nice 4x4 but my brother went home with a deer tag in his pocket and a Javalina in the cooler.

This. I’ve never even considered using the previous years hunt number. heck when you scroll down it says the unit next to the number.

I was pretty excited when I saw that $135 charge as I knew I had only applied for hunt #3004. Wyoming antelope will have to wait until next year. Now to work up some new handloads for the 30-06 and 300 WSM. Will try some Hammer Hunters and Terminal Ascents. I used the Hammer Hunters out of my 6.5 WSM on the last two cow elk tags. Already have 180 grain Nosler Accubond and Swift Scirocco loads for the 300 WSM, but tis fun to experiment with different bullets.

Had an awesome time my son got his first kill hopefully hooked for life