CouesWhitetail

Actually I was thinking of the one with the oars. I have heard lots of people say they LOVE them! Amanda

Congratulations! That's a nice bird. I have yet to get a tom with a bow. Amanda

I agree with Tony!! Float tubes are awesome. They even make the kind now that keep you up higher out of the water in case you don't want the classic type he has in his pic. Amanda

I think the next Extreme Coues is coming out perhaps later this summer (hopefully I am remembering what they told me right!). And, as far as I know there aren't any triplers available yet! I will email him to double check. Deadeye.....I am really sorry to hear you sold all your good cameras! We sure could use a guy like you out there making Coues videos! You did great work! Amanda

Yes, I see it! Still haven't seen one for myself yet this year, so I am jealous. Amanda

I was actually very happy about the extended squirrel season! I took that group of ladies squirrel hunting last year and some wanted to go back, but we couldn't find a time before the end of the season in Nov. I think that's some new opportunity. Amanda

I finally saw a sticker today! It was in globe on a tan truck. It's my first random sticker sighting (as in not at a friends house, or at a AGFD meeting or at the ISE show or wildlife work project). Yippee!! Who was it? You were out by Connies. Amanda

One of the other suggestions brought up at the commission meeting (I believe by McLean) was that since the dept is going to start requiring an email address from anyone who submits an application online, then the dept could email a survey to each hunter who was drawn. That email would make it easy to submit a response, but does nothing to increase honesty of reporting I suppose. Amanda

At the recent commission meeting, Commissioner Hernbrode brought up that he wants more precision in the harvest data (refering to how they figure out how many animals are harvested, ie survey cards). I think that's great, however he then said he did not believe mandatory reporting was necessary. I think all the sportsmen's groups already support mandatory reporting or would if given the opportunity. I know the AZ Deer Association supports it and Dick King of the AZ Bowhunters requested that at the meeting to no avail. And Dick has been arguing for mandatory reporting for years now. It appears that the commission and dept do not support mandatory reporting, but hunters do. Amanda

Whether the commission is receptive or dismissive seems to depend on whether you get up there to agree with them or to disagree with them. I was shocked to see how chairman mcclean treated ABA president Dick King at the meeting. It was very unprofessional in my opinion. However, when other groups like those from Audubon got up to thank the commission for something, they were very well received. I took video of the meeting, so you can can see for yourself. It will take me awhile to get it posted. Amanda

This part of the discussion came as the commissioners were giving guidance to the director as to what his goals should be for 2008. Mr. Hernbrode told the director he wants to see the dept increase deer and elk tags by 10% over the next two years. And Leonard Ordway got up to say he didn't see a problem with making that happen. Mr. Hernbrode also stated that the dept had achieved a 12% increase already in the last two years. And he also told the director that it was ok to fail on the new objective to increase tags by another 10%, but it was not ok to not try and find a way. Amanda

Sorry to be slow reporting back to you guys, but I stayed in PHX for another meeting on Sunday. Pete C. sent out a summary to some folks by email and I will just cut and paste it into here. Basically everything went through as proposed. From Pete: Yesterday at the Commission meeting the only significant change the Commission made to the department hunt recommendations was to reduce the number of permits in 13B. We had asked them to reduce the rifle permits to a total of 45 (-20) and establish the new archery hunt at no more than 30 (-15). Commissioner Martin made that recommendation and the vote was unanimous. The ABA did get the Commission to leave the hunt recommendations the same a last year in unit 3B and the 15 units. This involved some tinkering to make everything fit, minor stuff. Other that the deer recommendations went just as the department wanted. Most interesting was the effort by Commissioners Hernbrode and Martin to remove all of the multiple bag units for mountain lions. Another part of that same motion was for all units (statewide) to have the 9 month lion season instead of a year long season that the multiple bas units had. The motion failed 3 - 2 and the departments recommendation passed as presented. We are razor thin on this issue. It appears, if confirmed, Norman Freeman's position on lions will be a determining vote on future lion issues.

This past weekend I was up in Prescott teaching classes at the Becoming an Outdoorswoman workshop. We hold three of those workshops every year and the one in Prescott generally gets about 100 women per weekend. Classes include a huge variety of outdoor activities like flyfishing, hunting, birding, kayaking, rapelling, dutch oven cooking, and tons more. Anyway, one of the classes I taught was big game hunting and the ladies mentioned several things to me that I thought you guys should be aware of. Two of the ladies said they had the "hunting fever" for years and yet didn't have anyone to teach them about hunting. one said she got the "fever" from listening to guys at an archery shop talk about their hunting adventures. One lady grew up in a hunting family in Minnesota, but the guys in the family said hunting was NOT for women and they wouldn't take her out. Another lady said she once overheard some guys saying how they didn't want their wives to go along with them, so she was worried about asking other men about taking her hunting. I assured her that most male hunters are interested in helping others learn the sport and that includes women. So please, don't make me a liar and refuse to take a woman hunting. If you see a woman showing any interest, please, please do what you can to teach her about hunting. Can you imagine having the "fever" for years and not being able to go hunting because no one would help you? I know I wouldn't be the hunter I am today if a couple male friends of mine hadn't been nice enough to invite me along AND to make me feel welcome. For women who don't marry men who hunt, or don't grow up in a hunting family, there can be a huge barrier to get into the sport. I just saw an article in the paper (Republic?) saying that women hunters are growing fast in numbers. Please keep this going. Many of the women in my classes wanted to learn hunting so they could teach their children. Some of you might remember last fall when I took several women squirrel hunting. Some had never hunted at all and yet they were successful and LOVED it and want to go again this coming fall. So again...I plead with all you experienced hunters out there...if you know a woman who might be interested in hunting, invite her along! Amanda Photo of a nonhunter who became a hunter last fall and wants to teach her boys about hunting:

What are the dates of the trip? Perhaps you should combine it with the CW.com camping trip at Marshall Lake June 20-21? Amanda

From what I hear from guys that fish both lakes a lot, that is normal. San Carlos peaks before Roosevelt. I don't fish either enough to know for sure though. Amanda

Congrats Gino!! Glad you got to use your bow! That's awesome! Amanda

I will be there! Hope some others from here attend as well. It's worth it just to see how things operate and to view the attitude of the commission. Amanda

Congratulations Dewey!! Awesome job calling them in without a call!! Hey, I just realized I don't know your nickname....are you going to share that with us? Amanda

Loved that!! Thanks for posting that. Amanda

At least the new truck has a great sticker on it!! Amanda

(see attached word document for complete schedule of the weekend) Arizona Trappers Association Annual Convention Gila County Fairgrounds August 1st – 3rd , 2008 For More Info: Convention Chairman Shawna Yeary 928-713-1085 ATA Line: 928-300-8684 Annual Fur Sale Gila County Fairgrounds January 31st 2009 For More Info: Fur Managers Bill Strauss 480-375-1183 Rick VanHorn 928-757-3860 ATA Line: 928-300-8684 Also enclosed is letter to add if possible: OH BOY! It's that time of year again....one of my favorite times!! The 2008 Arizona Trappers Association Annual Convention!! The convention will run from Friday, August 1st thru Sunday, August 3rd at the Globe Fairgrounds. Mark this one on your calendar folks...it's going to be a HOOT!! This year's guest speakers are Joel Blakeslee and John Henry...aka...Coyote God!! I, personally, cannot wait to hear the knowledge that will be coming from these two men. I hope all of you will attend to learn a thing or two....or even to refresh what you might already know. Along with our speakers, we will have raffles, games....which I LOVE!!!, booths, and don't forget about our live and silent auctions. I picked up some wonderful things at last years event. Of course I cannot forget about my lil buddies. We will have games and crafts...I have some cool ones planned... and the Annual Kids' Scavenger Hunt. Bring the whole family and campout at the campgrounds adjacent to the building. I want to thank AJI SPORTING GOODS for the new hatchet to go with our Bobbitt Game. For all of you that were at last years event, you know how much fun the Pie Eating Contest was....F.Y.I....I plan on winning it again this year...so bring it on!! If you need a booth at this years event, please feel free to contact me at ATASECRETARY@YAHOO.COM or at (928) 713-1085. Are you wondering about your membership or need to take a Trappers Education Class? I will have the membership booth set up and will periodically be attending to it while in the midst of other things. Last year was my first year in the A.T.A., so, of course that means it was my first convention...did I mention I had a wonderful time?....and what made it so memorable for me is because I volunteered. Some of the things that I volunteered for took little to no time at all. I made friends and learned a few things that go into an organized event. If you would like to help at this years event....just ask...I am sure we can point you in the right direction. As for the Trappers Education Course, the wonderful and intelligent Kurt Bonnewell will be giving the course on Sunday, August 3rd. Are you a new member or just need a refresher? Kurt is always willing to answer any question you might have....please sign up on Friday or Saturday if you would like to take the course. For $10.00, you get a lot of information and of course a certificate of completion at the end. Remember to mark your calendars folks !!! I am looking forward to seeing the old faces I have come to adore and to meet the new faces of our new members. Lets show the newbies how the " 'ol timers" have fun!! Until next time I bid you adieu, Shawna Yeary Arizona_Trappers_2008_Schedule.doc

Good stuff here Bill. here are some more: stock - verb. variation on "stalk" - to actively pursue game stick and string - noun. refers to archery equipment fling - verb. to propel arrows at a critter.

Oh man....I feel for you younghunter. Maybe the family will change their minds when they see you moping (sp?) around.... Looks like a great vehicle. Amanda