CouesWhitetail

This sounds interesting, thought some of you might want to go. For those of you thinking of purchasing a new gun, they will have all the latest models there for you to test out. If you need more info, go to: Shooting showcase link Arizona Game and Fish Department Hunting and Shooting Showcase Shooting Sports News September 25, 2004 An outdoor recreation event for hunting and shooting sports enthusiasts and their families Saturday, November 20, 2004 ? 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, November 21, 2004 ? 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ben Avery Shooting Facility 4044 W. Black Canyon Blvd., Phoenix, Arizona (just west of I-17, north of Carefree Highway) Please join the Arizona Game and Fish Department for this exciting two-day event where outdoor recreation enthusiasts and those who want to learn more about hunting and shooting can enjoy fun, interactive and educational activities. Information for exhibitors - View the Showcase poster [PDF, 51kb] - View the Showcase brochure [PDF, 95kb] Activities for attendees Test the latest firearms Shooting enthusiasts can purchase ammunition for a nominal fee and test the latest firearms from a variety of manufacturers on our firing range. Our line safety officers will provide assistance and ensure a safe, enjoyable experience. Shooting demonstrations Shooting demonstrations will be held twice daily on our shooting range. These may include sharpshooting, quick-draw, clay targets and archery. Workshops Throughout the showcase, workshops and demonstrations will entertain and inform everyone from people who have never tried hunting or shooting, to experienced hunters, to families interested in introducing their children to outdoor recreation. Scheduled events include: Hunting with your kids Secrets of successful quail hunting OHV demo, safety and habitat effects Firearms and hunting safety How to hunt javelina The big-game draw: tips for beating the odds Hunting dog demonstration Telemetry and current wildlife research Wildlife Center animals Snakes n? such Wildlife capture techniques Historic firearms Outdoor Organizations You?ll have a chance to meet with exhibitors and find out more about organizations involved in hunting, shooting and wildlife conservation. Representatives will tell you how to get involved. Meet the Game and Fish Department How does the Arizona Game and Fish Department accomplish its mission? Interactive exhibits will show how the department manages and conserves wildlife resources while providing recreational opportunities to the public. Food and beverages Planning to spend the day? Concessionaires selling food and beverages will be on hand. Parking and admission Admission to the showcase is FREE. Although there is a $5 parking fee per vehicle, drivers receive a coupon for one free visit to the Ben Avery Shooting Facility main range. The parking lot is a short walking distance from the showcase tent, but a free shuttle will be available. Ben Avery Shooting Facility The showcase will be held at the internationally recognized Ben Avery Shooting Facility, a safe, fun venue that provides a quality experience in a family-friendly atmosphere. Exhibitor information Hunting, shooting and outdoor organizations interested in being exhibitors at the showcase can obtain information and application forms by clicking here or by contacting event coordinator Dave Ryder, Corporate Destination Services of Arizona, at (480) 767-9349 or azgfdshowcase@corpdestination.com. Protect wildlife habitat. Stay on roads and trails.

I imagine Scott used the same camera to take all the pics. The reason some are kind of fuzzy is that he must have held the camera up to his optics and took the pic through them. It's called "digiscoping" (taking a digital picture through a scope). It's very difficult to get a good focus when you do that. It can look great through your optics, but your camera may have trouble focusing. The other reason is that it's real hard to hold the camera steady enough to get a crisp pic. Maybe we need to pitch in a buy Scott an adapter to connect his camera to his optics!! I built a little cheap one for my camera, but it takes forever to get it all set right, so lots of times I don't use it. did you take the pic through your monster optics Scott? Amanda

Great buck Chris! Sounds like you did a great job patterning this buck pre-season. Must have been rewarding to see that plan all come through so well. Amanda

I love my win .270. I don't see any need for a .300 win mag. Seems like overkill to me. I think if you know how your load shoots at different ranges, you can do fine with a .270. It's certainly big enough to kill any big game in AZ. Hey, maybe you should think about borrowing a .270 or a .300 win mag from a friend for your hunt. Then you might get a better idea of what you want and wouldn't have to rush into a decision. Amanda

Congratulations! And thanks for sharing your story and photos with us! Sounds like it was a great hunt. Those are some serious optics you are hauling around with you Scott! Hey, I seem to have missed the conclusion of your son's hunt... did he get one? Good luck on your muley hunt! Amanda

463 yards! That's some serious shooting. Hey predator, did you get a tag this year? I didn't, but I will go after them with my bow. Amanda

Good to hear! Hey, get some of those guys to share some of that video! I will post it on the site if it's any good. Amanda

Thanks for posting the picture. When did you get that buck? Amanda

Hey guys, Thought some of you might want to take your kids outside to see the lunar eclipse that is going on right now (wed 27th 6:47 pm). The moon is full tonight but will be completely eclipsed shortly. I think the peak is supposed to be at 7:15 tonight. It will probably be waning after that. One of the newspaper articles I saw said it was supposed to actually get colorful (orange) sometime around 7:30. But it's just black and white out there now. Anyway, might a good excuse to take the family for a night hike around the block or sit out back and watch it. Amanda

Sorry so many of you had cloudy skies. It was beautiful out here. The moon turned a soft orange color. It was great to see. Amanda

I will be going to help out with the unit 36 youth camp. Anyone else going to be there? Anybody here have a kid with a tag for that unit? Amanda

I hope you guys are able to get together. Sounds like a great idea to me. Take some photos of the group if you do! Amanda

Yeah, it was great to have someone pull up and say "hey you on the forum? I am bowsniper". Of course I knew who it was immediately since we had just posted about 24A. Anyway, I always enjoy meeting people who frequent the site, so if you guys ever see me out somewhere, stop and say hello! Even if it's just leaving a note on my car. Amanda

Red Rabbit is right, there is no confirmed case of CWD in AZ as of yet. Hopefully it will stay that way. You can get your deer tested by AGFD by dropping off the head any AGFD office during office hours. I don't think it's crucial to test your deer before eating it, assuming you saw no evidence that it was sick. You don't ever want to eat an animal that seemed to act strangely or looked emaciated. But since you had a sample taken at the butcher's, you can just wait for the results and see how it comes out. The MSNBC link is a good one, I remember when AZ4life posted it awhile back. Here is the article from the AGFD website requesting heads: Help protect deer and elk: provide heads for CWD testing You can play an important role in maintaining the health of Arizona?s deer and elk: bring the head of your recently harvested deer or elk to any Arizona Game and Fish Department office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The department needs 1,800 heads to be tested for the possible presence of chronic wasting disease (CWD), which is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer and elk. CWD has not made its way into Arizona, but it is found in three neighboring states: Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. Arizona Game and Fish Department authorities are concerned that CWD might be introduced in Arizona and has taken steps to minimize the possibility. Early detection is important for launching efforts to prevent the spread of CWD. The department has been conducting surveillance of deer and elk for the possible presence of CWD since 1998, mostly by enlisting the keen eyes of hunters. That process is ongoing. Please call Game and Fish at (800) 352-0700 if you see deer or elk looking sickly, low in weight, with a stumbling gait, drooping ears, rough hair, visible salvation, excessive drinking and loss of fear of humans. In addition to surveillance, the Game and Fish Commission has restricted the importation and movement of all live members of the elk and deer family into and within Arizona. According to the World Health Organization and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there is no evidence that CWD affects humans. However, it is always fatal for deer and elk once they contract the disease. The department recommends hunters take the following steps: - Do not harvest any animal that appears to be sick, is very thin or behaves oddly (but please report such animals). - If you hunt in another state, don?t bring back the brain, intact skull or spinal column. It?s OK to bring back hides and skull plates that have been cleaned of all tissue and washed in bleach. - If you intend to hunt out of state, contact the wildlife agency in the area you intend to hunt. Several states have regulations on carcass movement. - Taxidermied heads, sawed-off antlers and ivory teeth are OK to bring home. For more information, visit azgfd.com/cwd.

My answer to your question is "it depends". In general all wildlife, be it birds, deer, wolves, or whatever, will take the simplest way to get food and water. They need to maximize the energy received in relation to the amount of energy expended toget it. So if they can get water without going 1/2 mile to their usual waterhole, they will. Whether we should call that laziness or just plain smart is another matter... But there are all kinds of examples of animals taking the easy way out if given the choice (bears at dumps, deer in cornfields, turkeys at manure piles, etc). However, deer may go to their usual waterhole even after a rain, if there happens to be good feed there too. So although they may be able to get a drink somewhere else, they may frequent a meadow at the edge of their usual waterhole if the timing is right for good forage there. Safety from predators is another issue. If the deer feel safer watering at a recent puddle rather than their usual waterhole, then they will. But in general I would say that deer won't be frequenting their usual waterholes after a rain. Having new watersources allows them to exploit some forage that they might not have been able to utilize before. Amanda

I have the Tikka model made by Petzl and it's great. It doesn't clip on your hat, but is a headband type. It runs on 3 tiny AAA batteries and lasts a long time. It has three LED lights that put out a soft light that doesn't overwhelm your vision at night. It is very lightweight. It's enough light to walk around at night, but it's not a real bright spotlight type of headlamp. I use a stronger one for my wildlife work at night, but for camping/hiking/hunting, I think this one is great. Amanda

I suggest you try hunting the San Carlos Apache Reservation. I have seen probably a dozen or more lions there without the aid of dogs. The problem is that you will have to pay by the day to hunt them there and it could take awhile to get on one. However, I can't think of a place that has more lions than the San Carlos. They have some guides there that run lions with dogs, you might talk to them about hunting with them or just getting advice on where to go to try without dogs. Personally, I would try the Warm Springs or Salt Creek areas. Link to San Carlos webpage Amanda

Great job! Looks like you both enjoyed the hunt. Amanda

Predator, Where are you from? Is Allen right that you are a dedicated huntress? We need more huntresses on this forum, so keep coming back and definitely let us know how your hunt goes. Take some pics and we can post them. Will this be your first coues deer hunt? And like everyone has said, pack lots of layers of clothing. Temps vary widely. You may be freezing in the morning and in a tshirt by afternoon. Or it may be freezing all day. You just never know. I find one of the best things I take with me is an insulated shirt and also a windproof, warm hat. Sometimes when you are sitting glassing for hours it gets pretty darn cold if it's windy. A windproof jacket is good too. Amanda

Bowsniper, I live in 24A and have spent a fair amount of time hunting around here. There is an excellent density of Coues deer. In fact one of the areas I hunt I call "the deer farm" because I see so many deer. It may not be as high as in the early 90's but it is still doing well. As far as the number of tags available, you should note that 24A only has a Dec rifle hunt for Coues whereas the other units you mentioned have additional hunts in Oct and Nov. I like that 24A is only a Dec hunt and I guess I figured that a wildlife manager set it up that way to preserve some of it's trophy potential, but I don't know the history of why there is only a Dec hunt here. Anyone else know? Amanda

Hope you have a great one! Are you really just turning 15? Just a youngin' Amanda

Well, since this forum software already posted my age along with the birthday announcement (it lists everyone's age in parenthesis after the name when it's their birthday) then I guess it's no secret. I turned 38 this year. So I guess that would make it a campfire wouldn't it Lark? Luckily getting out and chasing Coues deer in the hills keeps me feeling young Amanda

Good luck Scott! Let us know how you do. Amanda

Thanks Ernesto! And your wife chose an excellent time to have her birthday! Wish her Happy Bday for me! Amanda

Yea Lark, next time you do something interesting, get your neighbors to tape it for us. We could start a weekly clip of you doing household chores. Amanda