CouesWhitetail

Mark Bool, a fellow board member of the AZ Deer Association, recently found out his son was killed in a terrible car accident. His son, Mike, was traveling home from the Grand Canyon with his girlfriend. The vehicle rolled several times and they were both ejected from the car. Mike did not survive and his girlfriend is in critical condition. Please pray for Mark and his family as well as Vicky (the girlfriend) and her family as they go through this horrible time. And please remember that life is fleeting and to make the most of the time we have. Back in 2005, Mike Bool did a backpack hunt with his father. He killed a great buck. Here is a link to his hunt story and photo. I didn't know Mike well, but he was always helping out with the AZ Deer Association and he was always smiling when I saw him. If any of you know him well, perhaps you can post a good memory you have of him. Amanda

From AGFD: Volunteer opportunities for hunters By Les Bell, volunteer coordinator, Arizona Game and Fish Department The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s volunteer program provides opportunities for volunteers to participate firsthand in managing Arizona’s wildlife resources. Our goal is to provide you with a congenial and cooperative atmosphere where you can build relationships with staff and other volunteers, as well as gain knowledge about Arizona wildlife and wildlife management. We recognize that your time is important and strive to provide rewarding and educational volunteer experiences. We’ve listed some opportunities in which you may have an interest. To learn about other opportunities or to submit information about a project that would benefit from our volunteers, check our volunteer page at www.azgfd.gov/volunteer. March 15 Reclaim of Wildcat Road near Yellowjacket Creek The Arizona Antelope Foundation is coordinating this project and will provide a free steak dinner to all volunteers on Saturday night. This project will involve moving rocks, signing, spreading juniper limbs, digging, and whatever else we can do to cut off two ends of a wildcat road that was started a number of years ago. Folks may want to bring a pick and shovel if they have them. For more information please visit: www.azantelope.org or contact Scott Anderson at (480) 213-1611. March 15 & 16 Tres Rios Nature and Earth Festival The event focuses on the rich diversity of wildlife, habitat, history and culture of the Gila River drainage. Volunteers are needed for information booth, hospitality, educational area, parking lot, fishing clinic, canoe clinic, clean up and nature trail. For more information contact: Angela Vasiloff, Volunteer Coordinator (623) 204-2130 or angela_duleno@hotmail.com. www.tresriosnaturefestival.com March 20-24 Black-footed ferret spring spotlighting project The Black-footed Ferret Project is planning another large spotlighting effort. Spotlighting involves the use of high-powered lights to locate black-footed ferrets, for capture, tagging, health check and re-releasing for management purposes of this endangered species. To register and for more details, contact: azferret@azgfd.gov March - immediate Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center Volunteers needed to assist 5 hours a week minimum with general office, typing, filing, data entry, organization of paperwork and supplies. Work will be done indoors, mostly sitting with some standing and walking. Contact: ktharp@azgfd.gov or (623) 236-7238 March - Immediate Shotgun instructors and range safety officers for women’s classes Instructors will assist women of all ages in shotgun shooting sports. Range safety officers will watch over the range and ensure safety among all participants. Applicants must be at least 21 years old and participate in a free-of-charge Shotgun Instructor Certification process (two-day class). It is desirable, but not necessary, that instructors have shooting experience, basic knowledge of firearms and firearms safety, and some teaching/public speaking experience. For more information, contact: (623) 582-8313 March – Year round Ben Avery Shooting Facility - Range safety officers needed Responsibilities include checking the safe condition of customer firearms, observing participants while they are shooting on the range, maintaining safe operation of the shooting line, and providing superior customer service by answering customer questions about firearms. Volunteers shoot for free Contact Volunteer Coordinator Les Bell at (623) 236-7680. April 1 – October 31 Summer Host - Tonto Creek Hatchery, Payson Wildlife area host live on site, assist with facility maintenance and interact with visitors. Additional duties include providing change for feed machines, cleaning visitor restrooms, and other duties as needed. Hosts are on duty from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and on weekdays when there are large groups of visitors. Host should have good communication and interpersonal skills, enjoy talking with different types of people, be able to provide excellent customer service, and accept and follow supervision/instruction from hatchery employees. Accommodations along with fresh water, electrical, propane and septic are provided. To provide references and be interviewed via phone, contact Les Bell at (623) 236-7680 or lbell@azgfd.gov. Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Page Springs Wildlife Area Trail Maintenance Volunteers assist with trail maintenance, using hand tools such as rakes, shovels and clippers. This is a cooperative project with the Northern Audubon Society. For more information, contact Les Bell at: lbell@azgfd.gov or (623) 236-7680.

Neat photo! Must have been great to be out there in the stillness with all that new snow and the moon! Amanda

Like that fence pic Doug! Amanda

Get out and see the lunar eclipse if you can. I think the partial eclipse starts sometime around 7:15 and is total by 7:50 pm (at least that is what the newspaper had a week or two ago). But I think the link below shows slightly different times. http://uanews.org/node/18290 Anyway, if you can, check it out. Supposed to be one of the best lunar eclipse for years to come. "One of best lunar eclipses we'll see for years takes place during the evening of Feb. 20. The earliest stage starts before the moon rises for Arizonans, but by the time the good part begins, the moon will be visible - weather permitting - everywhere in the state. " http://www.azcentral.com/travel/arizona/fe...ywatch0125.html Amanda

Nice pics Brian! Thanks for posting those! Amanda

Sky was clear until about 6:30 pm, then it got all cloudy. Now it's lightning, thunder and rain. I hope at least someone else got to see the eclipse! Amanda

Sounds like a very interesting man Tony. Sorry to hear about his passing. Thanks for posting his obituary. Amanda

For those that are interested: The service is going to be on Friday Feb. 22nd at 3pm at Living Streams Church. Living Streams Church 7000 N. Central Ave. Phoenix Arizona 85020 The Bool family is asking that instead of flowers, if people desire they may make a donation to Young Life. If you write a check, in the memo portion please write “AZ 20 Memorial for Michael Bool”. Please send all donations to 107 East Kathleen Road, Phoenix AZ 85022.

We are working on getting it all organized before we post everything. Give us another week or so to get everything settled. We just have a few odds and ends to take care of first. When it's all done, I will post a link to a results page that will have a list of winners, photos and the prizes. Amanda

I believe you can get them at WASCO or VanDykes taxidermy supply. I think VanDykes sells a variety of sizes for their WT skull replicas. Check on the websites for those companies or Taxidermy.net forums for more info. Amanda

I will be there. I will be spending most of my time in Jim White's booth. He will be displaying tripods and adapters. I will also be bringing CouesWhitetail.com shirts to sell. And probably some DVDs as well. I will also be spending some time at the AZ Deer Association booth. So, swing by and introduce yourself if you see me around! Perhaps we can set a time and place for some of us to meet up? Like Sat at 2 pm at Jim White's booth or something like that? Amanda

Yes, I remember. I didn't remember the specific units, but the impression I got was that it was that overall archery success has increased to a point that AGFD was concerned about the impact to the deer populations. Banning hunting over salt and feed is all in step with the dept trying to lower hunt success and increase the number of permits for many of the deer and elk hunts (e.g., shifting permits away from Dec WT hunts and Sept elk hunts). Amanda

Beautiful Doug! I am jealous, that's some very nice country you were in. Love those oak grasslands. And great sighting on those long-eared owls. I have never even seen one of them yet! Great pic! Well, quail season may be over, but my dog Julie never reads the regs and chased lots of quail today on our walk. She loves to run full blast at the birds. (obviously not a trained bird dog, but still LOVES birds!) At least your Rica had some great hunts this year! Amanda

Wow, great story!! Congratulations on your buck! Amanda

Very nice! Love the mass! Don't forget, that if you want your photos added to the photogallery on the main website, you need to email them to me with all the appropriate info (hunter name, score, etc). Amanda

Outstanding pics as usual Jim!! Wow, exciting day! Amanda

Welcome to CouesWhitetail.com!! Thanks for sharing your story and pics. Sounds like a great hunt and a fine buck! Congratulations! Don't forget that if you want me to post them in the main photogallery, you need to email them to me with your name and all the details. amanda@coueswhitetail.com Amanda

Buffelgrass Volunteers Needed at Saguaro National Park. Help save the saguaros and Sonoran Desert from buffelgrass invasion. Saguaro National Park has many opportunities for volunteers to contribute their skills and talents to the county-wide effort to control buffelgrass. Opportunities for volunteers include: 1) systematic mapping of buffelgrass in the lower elevations of the park 2) development of buffelgrass outreach and education materials 3) presentation to staff, volunteers, and community 4) buffelgrass removal - "Weed Free Trails" 5) seed germination trials and more! For more information or if you are interested in volunteering please contact Bethany Hontz at 520-733-518 (bethany_hontz) or Dana Backer at 520-733-5179 (danabacker@nps.gov) Don't forget, the second Saturday of every month is buffelgrass pull day at Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park . (contact: bethanyhontz@nps.gov). The third Saturday of every month buffelgrass is pulled from Tuscon Mountain Park . (contact: mfhanson@comcast.com). Dana Backer, Ecologist Saguaro National Park 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail Tucson, AZ 85730 Phone: 520-733-5179

Hi All, The AZ Deer Association annual fundraising banquet is May 10 and I am heading up the silent auction this year. We are seeking donations for both the silent and the live auctions to help make this our best fundraiser yet. If you own an outfitting business, perhaps you would consider donating a guided hunt? Or if you have a friend with a fishing or hunting business in some other state, maybe you can hit him up for a donation? Those types of donations tend to go in the live auction. Or if you have some good hunting equipment or even artwork that you would like to donate to the silent auction, let me know. Items must be in excellent condition, but don't necessarily have to be brand new. Perhaps you have an old bow you aren't using? Or you have some equipment you bought but haven't used? Or you have some artwork that you don't have room for anymore? Or maybe you (or a friend) are a taxidermist that wants to donate a shoulder mount? Maybe you have some hunting related books you think other hunters would enjoy? Give it some thought and if you think you might have something to donate, send me a PM or email. If you need more info on the AZ Deer Association, please visit their website. Thanks! Amanda

someone just graciously posted this info in another thread: http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/in...amp;#entry93246 Amanda

I called and checked..... ..... "any game branch office 'til 7:00 pm Tuesday." Looks like dinner at the Olive Garden in Flag on Tuesday night!!! Sounds like a good place for a CW.com gathering! There have to be other CW.com'ers dropping off apps that night. Amanda

Gino, I believe that is the case, but it never hurts to call and double check. text from AGFD website: The department has indefinitely suspended the option to apply for big game hunt permit-tags online and to purchase hunting and fishing licenses online or by telephone. Paper applications must be submitted by mail or dropped off at a department office for all big game hunt permit-tag draws. Amanda

Just a reminder again! Tomorrow is the deadline for applications. You can't do them online, but you can download the application and regs and then hand deliver to AGFD. I think the Wildlife Conserv. Council was hoping to set up to serve hunters hotdogs and drinks at AGFD for those that come in at the last minute to drop off their applications. Amanda

here is a link with some info on buffelgrass. As with many of the non-native grasses, they increase the threat of fire in the desert. And since desert plants didn't evolve with fire, a fire has a devasting impact on the native plants. http://www.desertmuseum.org/invaders/invad...buffelgrass.htm