HEADACHE

I got this from one of my buddies: America’s Top 20 Trophy Elk Counties MISSOULA, Mont.—America’s top 20 trophy elk counties have produced a combined 602 record-book bulls, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has invested millions to keep habitat in those counties in top condition. Elk Foundation projects in trophy counties have included prescribed burns, treating noxious weeds and thinning overgrown forests to enhance forage for elk and other wildlife, restoring riparian zones, constructing wildlife drinkers, brokering land deals that improve public access, many kinds of research, public and youth education, and more “all funded primarily through our network of volunteers and system of fundraising events,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. Of course, RMEF funds identical projects all across elk country, not just top trophy counties. Nationwide, at a cost of over $448 million, RMEF has completed 6,371 projects that have protected or enhanced more than 5.6 million acres. The effort has helped U.S. elk populations grow by over 40 percent since 1984. Trophy statistics below were compiled from Boone and Crockett Club (B&C) records. The club recognizes four categories of elk records. Those categories, along with their respective minimum scores for inclusion in B&C all-time records, are: American typical elk—375, American non-typical elk—385, Roosevelt’s elk—290, and tule elk—285. Here are America’s top 20 trophy elk counties with RMEF conservation activities*: 1. Coconino County, Ariz.—61 bulls in B&C records including 44 typical and 17 non-typical entries for American elk. Since 1987, RMEF has spent $1,741,848 on 158 projects that conserved or enhanced 126,393 acres of habitat in and around Coconino County. 2. Apache County, Ariz.—59 bulls in B&C records including 37 typical and 22 non-typical entries for American elk. Since 1987, RMEF has spent $766,703 on 65 projects that conserved or enhanced 87,505 acres of habitat in and around Apache County. 3. Clatsop County, Ore.—40 bulls in B&C records, all Roosevelt’s elk. Typical versus non-typical records not kept. Since 1991, RMEF has spent $47,177 on 11 projects that conserved or enhanced 693 acres of habitat in and around Clatsop County. 4. Navajo County, Ariz.—39 bulls in B&C records including 23 typical and 16 non-typical entries for American elk. Since 1987, RMEF has spent $532,902 on 55 projects that conserved or enhanced 59,153 acres of habitat in and around Navajo County. 5. White Pine County, Nev.—36 bulls in B&C records including 26 typical and 10 non-typical entries for American elk. Since 1988, RMEF has spent $1,570,832 on 62 projects that conserved or enhanced 109,260 acres of habitat in and around White Pine County. 6. Columbia County, Ore.—31 bulls in B&C records, all Roosevelt’s elk. Typical versus non-typical records not kept. RMEF has not yet launched a project in Columbia County. 7. Humboldt County, Calif.—30 bulls in B&C records, all Roosevelt’s elk. Typical versus non-typical records not kept. Since 1995, RMEF has spent $148,945 on 13 projects focused on habitat inventories and elk population surveys in and around Humboldt County. 8. Catron County, N.M.—29 bulls in B&C records including 22 typical and 7 non-typical entries for American elk. Since 1988, RMEF has spent $331,188 on 51 projects that conserved or enhanced 200,808 acres of habitat in and around Catron County. 9. Clallam County, Wash.—28 bulls in B&C records, all Roosevelt’s elk. Typical versus non-typical records not kept. Since 1993, RMEF has spent $101,728 on 13 projects that conserved or enhanced 577 acres of habitat in and around Clallam County. 10. Garfield County, Utah—27 bulls in B&C records including 20 typical and 7 non-typical entries for American elk. Since 1988, RMEF has spent $284,158 on 36 projects that conserved or enhanced 73,023 acres of habitat in and around Garfield County. 11. Jefferson County, Wash.—26 bulls in B&C records, all Roosevelt’s elk. Typical versus non-typical records not kept. Since 1989, RMEF has spent $141,961 on 16 projects that conserved or enhanced 6,323 acres of habitat in and around Jefferson County. 12. Park County, Wyo.—26 bulls in B&C records, all typical American elk. Since 1988, RMEF has spent $939,328 on 39 projects that conserved or enhanced 68,450 acres of habitat in and around Park County. 13. Gila County, Ariz.—25 bulls in B&C records including 16 typical and 9 non-typical entries for American elk. Since 1987, RMEF has spent $182,398 on 29 projects that conserved or enhanced 37,502 acres of habitat in and around Gila County. 14. Coos County, Ore.—23 bulls in B&C records, all Roosevelt’s elk. Typical versus non-typical records not kept. Since 1989, RMEF has spent $75,794 on 8 projects that conserved or enhanced 6,423 acres of habitat in and around Coos County. 15. Tillamook County, Ore.—23 bulls in B&C records, all Roosevelt’s elk. Typical versus non-typical records not kept. Since 1992, RMEF has spent $70,911 on 25 projects that conserved or enhanced 2,874 acres of habitat in and around Tillamook County. 16. Del Norte County, Calif.—21 bulls in B&C records, all Roosevelt’s elk. Typical versus non-typical records not kept. Since 1995, RMEF has spent $161,023 on 11 projects focused on elk habitat inventories and research in and around Del Norte County. 17. Park County, Mont.—21 bulls in B&C records including 18 typical and 3 non-typical entries for American elk. Since 1985, RMEF has spent $136,550 on 51 projects that conserved or enhanced 103,679 acres of habitat in and around Park County. 18. Elko County, Nev.—19 bulls in B&C records including 16 typical and 3 non-typical entries for American elk. Since 1991, RMEF has spent $594,314 on 41 projects that conserved or enhanced 37,654 acres of habitat in and around Elko County. 19. Millard County, Utah—19 bulls in B&C records, all typical American elk. Since 1988, RMEF has spent $75,359 on 11 projects that conserved or enhanced 34,130 acres in and around Millard County. 20. Solano County, Calif.—19 bulls in B&C records, all tule elk. Typical versus non-typical records not kept. Since 1998, RMEF has spent $27,088 on 6 projects that conserved or enhanced 450 acres of habitat in and around Solano County.

Good killin bro!

Spent the morning in the dentist office. . . spent half the afternoon out in the wind callin dogs. Set up for a total of six stands, on two stands I saw nothing on two stands I had dogs come in run downwind with no shot on two stands I killed a dog a piece All by my lonesome with my new "Mojo Critter" . . . I think I am impressed with it. The second dog caught a headshot @ 175 yds. thats all he would give me. I was Shooting my Ruger M77 paddle stock in 243 today with some handloaded HP's only now it has a bipod.

I love it bro! takes a lot of time but looks great. here's a peak at a few of my rattle can jobs

Bought my first trail cam. . . wanted to try it out. Set this up and left it on my front porch all evening and night. It took this picture for some reason . . . . does anyone notice the problem?

That Nyquil story made me pee a little. . . . And the snake in the cooler too! These stories are stinkin hilarious! One time four of us were archery deer hunting. We had been hunting all day long for 4 straight days. We were all Tired, beat up, and whooped. As we bounced along this old back road on our way back to camp I saw two does walking into a small bowl that we couldn't see from the road. I yelled "Buck" and promptly bolted from the bed of the truck while it was still moving . . . running over 200 yards to about 30 yards from this small bowl, I looked back to see all 3 friends hanging over the side of the truck watching me in their binos. I acted excited as I made my hands look like "BIG BUCK" over my head. . . . they all perked up and started really focussing on me! I stalked around a few trees and pulled my rangefinder up and clicked it . . . . slowly drew my bow and stepped out from a tree. . . .Took careful aim and shot! I jumped in the air yelling "I GOT HIM!" and dropped my bow and took off sprinting toward the stump down into the bowl!!!! I watched the two does run out, (as they were the only deer in that bowl) and then I layed in the bottom of that bowl laughing hysterically and EAGERLY awaiting the arrival of all three friends who had dropped their stuff and sprinted all the way to that bowl to find me laying there laughing my arse off. . . . They were all winded and pissed off . . . . . It was a good one! They have never forgiven me.

ha ha ha Yeah what gives with that?!?!?!? 158 stinkin degrees! I saw one that read 162 just as I was deleting it too! Might be that hot inside. . .. maybe it just reads a little off? Just thought it was funny.

saving deer and pronghorn lives one lead poisoned dog at a time! Hooah dude! Nice shootin.

371 gross

Cool man, I really appreciate the time you are offering to this site. These are some really good people here. Welcome aboard!

If they have large pistol primers and some 45 bullets I'll drive out there whatever it costs. . . . where is it?

Congrats bro! You just saved 52 deer this year! I would be willing to bet that Lion had been tracking you. . . . scary thought huh? Thats a nice trophy with your bow!

Congrats! I wish you two well and may the Lord bless you in all that you do.

Thats actually how I met Josh ha ha I found a super sized set of whitey sheds so I thought, took them to him, and he laughed ha ha I learned alot that day eh Joshy?

Holy Cow thats one huge and unique speedgoat! Congrats!

It belonged to one of natures most beautiful beasts: Odocoileus hemionus or as we affectionately call it, The Mule Deer.

Kill em all, I understand the pronghorn pop is declining around the peaks cuz of all the yotes.

I had that model Leupy for a while, nice scope and I loved the B&C reticle, but I did notice a bit of parallax issue around 800-900 yards. I switched to a Falcon Menace First Focal Plane (ffp) and have never been happier. My 7mm loves it! Falcon @ great price here

We have a lot of old ppl walkin their dogs on my street, they tell me all the time about how the coyotes walk right behind em just waitin for that little dog to get a little too far away from granpa with his cane. . . . all the time.

I second that! Thirds over here!

I thought varmits were year round as well ha ha ha. . . So I went and looked it up: Predatory and Fur-bearing Mammals: Commission Order 13 (continued) General Predatory and Fur -bearing Mammals Open Areas do not include any area closed to hunting under A.R.S. Sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-301, R12-4-801, R12-4-802 and R12-4-803. Season Dates Notes Open Areas Legal Wildlife Jul 1, 2009 - Jun 30, 2010 (1,8,11,12) Open areas Statewide (including Walnut Canyon enclosure in Unit 22; excluding National Wildlife Refuges, Mohave County Park Lands, and Units 11M, 25M, 26M, 38M, and 47M) Coyote and skunks Apr 1 - May 31, 2010 (2) Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge Coyote and skunks Oct 9, 2009 - Feb 7, 2010 (2) Kofa and Imperial National Wildlife Refuges Coyote and foxes Aug 1, 2009 - Mar 31, 2010 (1,3,4,8,11,12) Open areas Statewide (including Walnut Canyon enclosure in Unit 22; excluding National Wildlife Refuges, Mohave County Park Lands, and Units 11M, 25M, 26M, 38M, and 47M) Raccoon, bobcat, foxes, ringtail, weasel and badger

+1

four legged torpedo ha ha ha #1. if he's worth shootin once, he's worth shootin twice! #2. 223 is fun, 243 is better, 7mm they don't get up ha ha ha. (and btw a 450 Marlin makes one into two) Ha ha those little guys are tough sometimes. . . . its like they are too wild and crazy sometimes to understand they've been shot! I have seen similar things from them. . . walk over to the downed corpse and they spring to life Like a jolt of lightning jumped thru their bodies! Off they go . . . and off hand, . . . after seeing that, its hard to bring em back down again ha ha ha. . .

Congrats! There is nothing better than sharings memories in the field with your children.

Thats a Dandy buck! Congratulations!