MULEPACKHUNTER

Ya good luck on the elk hunts, I found some big bulls solo and some smaller guys bachelored up and we heard some good bugles so its going to be perfect timing this year on the rut.

TOTAL PACKED MILES INCLUDES IN AND OUT FOR FEED, MEAT HAUL, ETC AND RIDING DURRING THE HUNT. 7 DAYS IT ADDS UP. WE WERENT THAT FAR FROM THE ROAD TRAILHEAD BUT FOUNDER CAN BE AN ISSUE WITH FAST GROWING GRASS LIKE WE HAVE NOW WITH THE RAIN WE DIDNT HAVE LAST YEAR SO WE PACK ALL FEED FOR THE MULES AND WE NEEDED MULTIPLE TRIPS. ALL YOU BEAR GUYS LOOK FOR THE ACORNS, THEY WERE SHAKING THE TREES LIKE XMAS PRESENTS.

White beards are great fro hunting reindeer. LOL

Man great story and congrats.

They will enforce, I went through this this weekend on my pack trip, at the trailhead 3 greedy turds lets call them had their crap set up at the trailhead I am guessing getting ready for this weekend, they never showed for 7 days and then a tow truck was called in. LOL took 2 trailers out and some gear. I parked right on top of them and had my mules crapping all over camp in hopes they would show up. LOL Everyone deserves to camp where permitted to do so but if you cant get there before me you should camp somewhere else. Not fair to leave your crap and block it from others. I know some friends who leave their trailers and they got tickets 2 weeks ago. Don't know how much the fine was. Just stick to the dam rules and clean up your crap and maybe we will have nice forests in the future. Man this weekend it looked like a mass evacuation heading for payson. Bumper to bumper all the way from Rye to the 260 light in Payson. WOW I came down about 7 pm last night and saw it. CRAZY, I will be at home for sure, way too many mechanical devices headed up there for me to enjoy the peace and quiet of which there will be none.

Well we just got back from 7 days, many many stories and pics to come. Look in the bear section soon for more. Yes Big Bear down and packed out on the mules. I agree on the pack forum, just not enough need here. I will just post up on whatever adventures I have.

What do we think about a Packing Forum on Coues? I would love to learn and pass on info for packing and hunting if there was enough interest? I know there are a few guys here that do the horses? Maybe the forum bosses could look into it?

either everyone is hunting or theres not alot of interest. Oh well its tuff keeping up with all the hunting anyway.

QT it is, I checked this morning on the way to work and they had block, thanks

Where the heck can I get block ice? Anyone purchase lately? Leaving Friday night for deer hunt and 2 places I checked didn't have block? Oh and good luck to all Archery deer guys. 8 days in for me or bust.

I will tell you I have not hunted much with the mules actually with me, usually I do my scouting as pack trips with the mules and then backpack in to hunt. This time I am taking the mules along and in 8 days I think I will try every trick I can. I have hauled ice chests but this time they will stay at the truck for meat if I get something. I have even hauled 2 6 gallon water jugs with the mules so its pretty much whatever you want. In az of course we need to haul feed most of the time as well. So I will pack in and then highline/hobble and hunt on foot or ride right at em or rope em or we will see. The icechest haul is more for midnight rides with the buddies and cooler full of beer.

I love the jug and bottle idea but I just dont have the freezer space. I may do some water bottles and I will have to try some more stores for blocks. Anyone ever get block ice in payson or on the way up there?

Chapstick and water for sure

Tent. Made a pack trip for 4 days ounce and forgot the tent. Lucky it didn't rain. Slept under stars on ground old school 4 days.

Jay scott outdoors has a good one as well for the video.

+2 on caseys in flag, I will go out of my way to take meat there.

I am thinking I would have taken the shot, it was just the way I like it. Off the roads on the mules and I did the work and found them.

Headed up top with the mules and had some close encounters. Hard to photo while in the saddle and hold a pack string but heres one of 20 Turkeys in the area. Lots of goblets. Now for the elk pics This was a big guy and I was still mounted. He moved off and I didnt get a good shot of his antlers but he was 300 plus easy. This guy posed a bit as I waited to get the big bull on film. What do you think on the score for him? 240 maybe? There was one great moment not on film, I had a pack mule and then my wife with me and we rode into the middle of about 50 or more cows and calves and I am still getting chills now. We got right on top of them and then the forest erupted with calls and bodies in all directions. Amazing. For 10 minutes they were all around us talking back and forth so we backed out and then my wife says, why didnt you take pictures? OUCH, I was in shock still, I have never seen something like that. The mules did great and stood still as if they knew we were sneaking or something. LOL

Hey madx are those lamas in your avatar? Very cool I like lamas.

I understand on the score but since I am new to this I was figuring it for comparison. So if its was archery would you shoot that bull? I hope I would pass but I like the saying don't pass something the first day you would shoot on the last day.

How did you learn to take care of animals in the field? I have heard suggestions on learning the fine art of skinning and caping I have a few videos and have seen and used the gutless but does anyone have suggestion on what taxi shops are most open to teaching a guy how to do some butcher work, Trophy prep? I would hate to get scolded by the processor or Taxi.

Ok thanks, I also found the draw odds deal. (hunters trailhead)

Need huge favor, My boss has 15 points for elk and is looking for early rifle bull in unit 1. What is the guaranteed points to get the tag? Or if not that what is that calculator you can buy to figure it out? Thanks a bunch.

Very good work. Why do so many services leave out pricing? Really anoying not to have even rough cost structure.

With all that work I would go with the turret. Did you do your work up with the ladder test theory? I went to this recently and it made a difference for me at long range. Look it up and read, there are a few ideas there but i went with some of both. Uptick is one and accuracy is the other. I like the random load grab myself. Don't forget about time of year you do your testing, hunt time is usually way different in conditions and you would be surprised how that can change your velocity. I love long range but don't agree with hunting past 300 yrds myself, make sure you know whats between you and your target and whats beyond. Just saying.