MULEPACKHUNTER

I would call it mild

Inciweb started off early stating human caused at Woodbury trailhead. Later it was changed to unknown. Human means just that, any human. I've met more solid hiking humans than some other folks so I would lean toward tweakers out late in some stolen car lighting fireworks. The roads will be taken care of , way too much history and sightseers using that place not to. I see more cars on that road than anything else. Apache is my favorite lake in az.

Ya we were a little surprised as this was a premium tag, just bad timing I think. With all the rain the mules had some tender feet so we had to change plans and we struggled with the new areas. Everything I scouted was off limits without the mules.

My partner drew an early tag while deployed and we started to plan by encrypted message. Between the military and his work the scouting was up to me and range time would be tough, leave it to Brian to have a new bow shipped overseas so he would be ready. Bowtec had the bow all set and ready to shoot with arrows and release. Great company, they sent the release and arrows on their own. We hit the mountain a week early and did some OTC deer and bear while scouting around our main camp. Had an exciting full draw moment on a good bear but just couldn't get a clear shot. Only made one stalk on a deer but it was a two hour show through the binos so that was fun. Bulls were talking only in the evenings and they were pretty spread out and seemed to be alone and in the thick stuff. We packed the mules "thanks Tim for loaning me his mule" and made a remote camp way up the mountain. 5 days of really good although butt kicking high country elk hunting had Brian at full draw a few times but no shots. Next up was 30 hours of rain and some cabin fever followed by silence,,,,yep no more bugles and we kept running into hunters. Other than the first few days this was one tough slow hunt, we ground out the entire hunt to the last day and only had one more opportunity on a bull, of course a quad came rolling in and blew him out. Really happy to have spent 3 weeks in the hills but man was this a tough hunt.

A little unsettling to have a lightning started forest fire near camp. The 30 hour straight rain took care of it a few days later.

Anyone have a camp heading up for the youth hunt in 3c ? We are going up Tuesday for the general cow hunt that follows, If anyone needs anything hit me up. I'll have mules in camp and just scouting a little before Friday. Good luck

Downed logs was the main obstacle on the pack out, the kids did great finding the way.

Sling shots worked great, had the kids do the dirty work.

Nice guys congrats. That's a lot of work isn't it? I just went through that and I'm not sure I would repeat it on purpose, haha

Well we fought off the horses and I put up panels around my trailer to keep my animals in. That helped plus some other camps moved in and we decided to stay put. As luck would have it the kids doubled down last night on two cows. Both their first and my daughters first elk tag. Did I mention she is a vegetarian!!!! she must really love me to provide like that. So we broke down both and hung the meat and had a nasty hike back to the truck where we got turned around and made 1.1 miles into 3.1 headed out with the packers now, picks soon. Thanks for letting me whine a little, still chasing off horses some but nothing like earlier

Round 3 and 4 last night. Had to dive out of my bunk twice to chase off two different herds right in camp. One was just in camp trying to get my hay and the other had a stallion that was charging my mules in their pen. This is a very cool spot but looks like we will be moving and not coming back here with animals. Going to waste a whole day of hunting with the kids over these worthless dumb wild animals. Funny how none of the real wild animals are bothering us.

Will do, so far only spikes.

Round two with the same stallion, looks like this band just walks down the road we are camped on each day. He is super aggressive toward our animals, really hate to move camp but I hate to leave the wife to go hunt and have something go down. This sucks.

Going ok so far. Camped just south west of the lake entrance. I will say I am no longer on the fence as far as wild horses go. We had to fight off a band in camp last night with a stallion charging my animals and me. With gun in hand I decided they are nothing more than a bad deal for the area. I don't like them. Good looking animals though. Besides that scouting has been good, found elk both trips out and about 100 does with 3 or 4 spikes sparring. The elk I saw were in small 3 animal groups and spread out.

First choice is near black canyon lake if there's room for us. Don't have a definite spot yet.

10 days in brine and I pulled the roast this morning, after a good rinse and dry it was smothered in whole grain mustard. Next came the dry rub and then into the smoker for 2 hours at 250. At this point internal temp was about 150 and it was time to wrap tight in foil and back on the smoker at 300 for another 2 hours. Final temp before pulling was 199 degrees. To keep the story short after resting the roast was carved and sandwiches made, fresh rolls with Swiss and homemade Krout. Fresh thousand island dip and some steak fries and maybe a cold beer finished off dinner.

I bought stock in two company's because this is just what some people want , nothing wrong with it. My portfolio is up for the moment.

Worth that long wait man congrats

Really nice deer man, congrats.

Love this story, maybe old Biden was right. Time to Give up my guns and buy a shotgun.

Very nice congrats

Wow , I would have emptied whatever weapon I had by now on that group. Enjoy every minute.

Anyone making their own strings? Built this jig this morning to get started with this process. Still need to figure out stretching without spending a lot.

If it's a recurve 10.00 bucks. Do some research on what material you prefer so I can order it. Swing by for a whiskey and we can knock it out in a few hours. I have room for test shots as well and a few different materials.