PackerMenges

HUNTnTAT2, Thanks for providing that link! Surprised it hasn't been posted here til now. That guy has some awesome insight and info. It'll be devastating if the entire ranch is closed off, I do think people will still pay the $60 access fee if push comes to shove, but the liability issue is something that has to give the Navajo's pause to implementing that idea. Give em heck!

Tim Bishop out of Tucumcari, http://familyoutfitters.homestead.com/Outfitters.html The website is a little outdated but I would give him a call and see what they're offering.

Hey all, Need some work done to two rifles I picked up. Both are Winchester Model 70, ss, one 300rum and one 7wsm. I know there are various guys here in the Tucson area and I am leaning towards Lawson but I thought I would get some opinions on cwt first. Thanks for taking the time, it is very much appreciated!

Awesome, thanks for the input!

Sorry for getting off topic here everyone, Hey Steve! Yes I am familiar with various types and structures of conservation easements and I think they can ultimately be a great thing to preserve the land if the verbiage is structured right. I think the right land owners with a true appreciation for the land and the vision to foresee the generational benefits of the easement are great to take this proactive approach to conservation. People have to be careful though and make sure the limitations in the easement are balanced and the land owner and the agency should share a similar idea of the vision they each have for working landscape in question. The bundle of rights is tricky and detailed attention needs to be paid to what is limited and what is not. I am in reactive mode to these 40 acre ranchettes though. Quality hunting, ranching, and recreating on these tracts of land has been all but eliminated. I think there could be a potential market out there for this type of buy back program if the people at the helm present a logical approach and fair priced offer. Once the land is acquired a conservation easement could be considered. It would take years to implement and who knows how much money... Probably my own pipe-dream here but I am pretty passionate about this particular subject.

The checkerboarded land pattern plays heck on public access to public lands. Unlike the RO which is a Spanish Land Grant and is basically entirely deeded, the boquillas through the southern portion is made up of townships that are evenly dispersed between deeded and state land. In the middle portion it is predominantly deeded townships, and in the northern portion you have some of both. Corner hopping is unviable in my mind simply due to the vastness of the ranch. You would kill yourself walking it (at least I would) and also eat up so much time that it becomes a pipe-dream to even consider. (at least for me) A possibility is to propose that they continue to allow access to the southern portion of the ranch, they shut down the central part and only allow access to the northern portion by way of the cataract and espee (if that is even possible). This would provide them with an area to charge however much they wanted for hunts while still allowing the public to help manage the herd size. It is a great study and I am interested to see how this all plays out. I also agree with some of the comments above in the sense that as this gets rolling look for the snowball effect to occur on the other checkerboarded ranches throughout northern arizona in which the tribes have bought. I do know one thing, I would rather the tribes buy these ranches than the dang land developers. It makes me sick to see these majestic ranches be torn apart and divided into 40 acre ranchettes. If anyone is interested in a conversation about starting a fund to propose a buy back program of these 40 acre subdivisions let me know. Yes were talking mega money, but anything is possible. I believe in working landscapes, we live in a day of sound science and proven management techniques in which wildlife and cattle can work together and if done right can enhance an ecosystem...which ultimately benefits us all and is simply better for the land.

I think this is a touchy topic. It comes down to private land rights and what those mean to each one of us. It is their right to control access, if they decide to shut it down well that is their choice..just as you have the right on your property to allow on whomever you want or don't want. In my mind, it would be good for the Navajo Nation to realize the opportunity they have here to shine and work with the AZG&F and allow hunters to hunt. At the same time, since this is their business, I wont hold it against them if they get "capitalistic" per-say, and take the RO's or the X-1's approach and capitalize more on their investment. This is America, there are situations in which it seems as if it is the classic big man vs the small man, and when it comes to private property access this is a pretty good case study. It doesn't make sense that they would shut it down due to the fact that the elk herd would simply compound in numbers and the ultimate damage on that particular ranch without wildlife management would be very detrimental to the ecosystem. I am also doubtful there is that much demand in which they will be able to charge 8-10 grand for that many hunters to effectively manage the herd. With that said there might be more at play here, this could be the case that does in fact lead to possible land owner tags, a forcing of the hand...?....these are just thoughts. Arizona has a giant grip of public land that will be accessible no matter what and the public draw system will always first and foremost be for the public lands. It is ultimately a privilege to hunt on someone else's private land and we should always be thankful to those who afford us this opportunity based on a hand shake. I think the ranch cleanup and the other activities done on the diamond a is a great gesture. In the meantime, fight the good fight but move forward with caution due to the fact that private land and access laws effect all of us and in this particular situation it is easy for us to end up arguing with our own individual convictions.

We were fortunate enough to get asked to pack out a ram in 27 this past november after we were done packing bulls. By the time we got to him it was dark so the pictures didnt turn out great. Felt pretty lucky though to pack this out for the gentleman.

agreed

Found these sheds in a new area we were hunting. All were found on one ridge. This one scores 192'' Also, a coues found many years ago during spring works on one of the ranches. Side view

Thanks guys and gals! The ridge we found those elk sheds on was the motherload. Yes, we had that shed officially scored and it is 192'' by itself, pictures dont do it justice, but that is me the picture and im 5'11 195, and it pretty much dwarfs me. We did have the coues scored and he grossed 139''. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Thanks for a great transaction! Merry Christmas to all!