Capt. Don Martin

It is only my second Arizona mule deer tag in 32 years. Both have been on the Arizona Strip, Unit 13B. I drew this year with 17 bonus points. 15 years ago my friend jay Chan and I drew and he got a nice buck and I passed on 36 different bucks, four of which most I think would have taken. I am very selective and I have no issues with bringing home a quality tag like this. In the past we have guided our our hunters to some awesome bucks. Tony Keller's awesome cactus buck Bill Scott's massive deer antlers I am a fan of Freaks and Geeks and though who wouldn't want a big typical, I'm kinda hoping to see a buck with lots of "junk in the trunk." This will be my last personal tag on the Strip. From now on it will be applying for a Kaibab tag; late and then early. Going up this weekend to set up cameras and look around. Am going with one of my guides, Cody Jalbert, who along with his dad, drew a pair of the archery tags there. Gonna be a fun time for the AWO team this year, but we are still open to help anyone who has been fortunate enough to also draw a tag. You don't have to pay $5-10K to get a great buck on the Strip. Give is a call and let me tell you what we can do for you if you've got an archery or rifle tag this year in Unit 13B. Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Our latest trip! This boyfriend/girlfriend had never caught more than 10 fish in their lives! Yep, they had a good time! Capt. Don Martin Striper Hunters P.S. Got July 29 or 30th open if anyone is interested!

As we start into the second month of striper and cat fishing on Lake Mead, thought I'd show you some photos of the results we have been having. Still got openings for July and first two weeks of August. We can accommodate from two to four anglers. Enjoy a couple of days in northwest Arizona and fill your freezer with striper and catfish filets. Capt. Don Martin Striper Hunters 928-303-9481 info@striperhunters.com

Just got back from the Strip. Saw quite a few bucks, this was without a doubt the most unusual. A 7 X 4... Won't score a lot, but is a neat buck for sure! Got cameras out, will go back in a week or so. No rain up there, tanks are drying up for the most part in the north end. Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

We are looking to assist one, maybe two sportsmen or women who have drawn a late season Kaibab tag this year. Last year, hunting with California resident Duane McIntosh, we looked over 136 bucks before he pulled the trigger on this one! We assisted Oregon resident Tom Peterson to this non-typical mule deer we named "Captain Hook" while on his late west side Kaibab hunt. Make the most of your lucky draw! You don't have to pay $5-6K for a 10 day mule deer hunt. Give me a call and let me tell you what I can do for you this year! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Still giving the stripers and cats a beat down! Here are the results of our latest trips. Capt. Don and Miss Emma after a hard night of striper fishing. Miss Emma got 30 fish, which bested her previous total of 6 fish! Miss Emma was our honor gradfuate from our March , 2016 Hunter Education class in Kingman. We give out 4 trips a year to our students who take Hunter Education. Jerry Weiers, his daughter Chrissy and super striper angler Jay Chan! Jay caught 74 fish! Our group caught 199 fish! Jim Warren from Pinetop with a nice striper! Cliff Cornelius caught this real nice channel cat! Fishing goes until August 15th, then time to start chasing antelope and big Strip deer! Still got a few dates open. Capt. Don Martin Striper Hunters

A basic trip is $450, and this is for two adult anglers. If you have children under 18, they fish for free! No more than 4 anglers total on a trip. Four adults fish for $650 total. A typical trip goes like this. You meet at our Martin's El Campo de Pescado in Meadview between 5-6 p.m. My intern will have dinner ready, then we finish up loading the boat, getting life jackets fitted, bait in the containers, and then we head out. We fish out of South Cove on Lake Mead. We go to our fish spot, anchor up, toss out chum, and start fishing. . Cristi McReynolds with a nice Lake Mead striper! Hyatt Barrett holds his first Lake Mead striper! Then around 5 a.m. we start heading back to South Cove. Once back to the dock we load up and head back to the house in Meadview. Back at the house, we unload everything out of the boat, ice the fish down, and take a nap. When we get up, we sort, weigh and take some Grip N Grin pictures of your trip. Then it's time for me to filet your catch. Capt. Don shows a properly filet striper! You can help in ribbing the filets. Latigo Barrett shows he can handle the ribbing chores. Then we pack the filets in gallon or quart bags and you are ready to go! A gallon bag typically weighs from 7.7 lbs to 8.1 lbs.

A basic trip is $450, and this is for two adult anglers. If you have children under 18, they fish for free! No more than 4 anglers total on a trip. Four adults fish for $650 total. A typical trip goes like this. You meet at our Martin's El Campo de Pescado in Meadview between 5-6 p.m. My intern will have dinner ready, then we finish up loading the boat, getting life jackets fitted, bait in the containers, and then we head out. We fish out of South Cove on Lake Mead. We go to our fish spot, anchor up, toss out chum, and start fishing. . Cristi McReynolds with a nice Lake Mead striper! Hyatt Barrett holds his first Lake Mead striper! Then around 5 a.m. we start heading back to South Cove. Once back to the dock we load up and head back to the house in Meadview. Back at the house, we unload everything out of the boat, ice the fish down, and take a nap. When we get up, we sort, weigh and take some Grip N Grin pictures of your trip. Then it's time for me to filet your catch. Capt. Don shows a properly filet striper! You can help in ribbing the filets. Latigo Barrett shows he can handle the ribbing chores. Then we pack the filets in gallon or quart bags and you are ready to go! A gallon bag typically weighs from 7.7 lbs to 8.1 lbs.

Just wondering how the turkey hunt on the Kaibab went? One buddy has been there a week I think and is hearing birds, but he hasn't taken one yet. Don Martin

Different species, different habitat. We even have these birds (Rio Grande) here in Arizona about a 100 miles from where you were at. Oklahoma Rio Grande longbeards Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

No such thing as an "easy" sheep tag to draw and then to hunt. Unit 15B West USED to be kinda of a sleeper. I had hunters there, both resident and non-resident who drew with just 7 points. Sadly that unit got hammered by pneumonia and you'll see the tags in 15B West ,15C North and 15C South are down to one, and that's probably being generous. NR's are locked out of those units now. 15D North and 15D South have been consolidated this year, now is just 15D. Still lots of rams there, thought the older age class seems to have been more affected by the pneumonia than the younger ones have. Think over your draw strategy very carefully. We hunted in Unit 15B West last year with Jerry Uzyn from Colorado last year, and scouted and hunted many, many days before Jerry took this ram, the oldest and largest one we found. We hunted in Unit 15D North with Jerry Weiers and took this magnificence ram on Day 3. Going to be very tough to find a ram like this one this year. Looks like the pneumonia has hit the older age class rams a lot harder in all these units. Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Here is some information you prospective sheep hunters might be interested in. The sheep in northwest Arizona have been hit with pneumonia and there has been a confirmed die off in all of the units from I-40 North to Temple Bar. Look at the number of tags offered this year in Unit 15B West (1) 15C North (1) 15C South (1) and 15D, which used to be split into two units (15D North and 15D South) it is now combined and had 6 tags. The older rams in these units have definitely took a hit, so sad to say, those that are putting in for 15B West, 15C North and 15C South are gonna find some real slim pickings. Those with a 15D tag, will still see sheep, but they'll have to work very hard to find any really big guys. If you're OK with mid 150's rams, then 15D will be fine. You'll see them. But for the older age class rams like have been getting taken in there the past few years, well, there is no doubt some might still be there, but gonna take a lot of work and effort to find those kinds of rams. I've been guiding here since the late 80's and I think this might be the worse I have ever seen it. Bottom line, might want to change your draw strategy this year and wait to see how this ends. G&F has no idea if and when the die offs will end. These are rams we took in 2015, one in Unit 15B West and one in Unit 15D North. In 15B West this was the largest ram we found in many, many days of scouting and hunting! Jerry Uzyn and his 15B West ram. [ Jerry Weiers and his 15D North ram that we took on Day 3 of the hunt. Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Here is a bull our hunter Randy Hopp, from Newberg Oregon took a few years ago on his hunt in Unit 23N. Randy had taken many bulls in the past, all over the U.S., but had never taken one that had more than 6 points on one side. Whey they saw this guy, it was DONE! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

The winner of the fishing trip raffle offered by the Mohave Arms Collector Association was announced last Thursday night at their monthly meeting. Mohave County Under Sheriff Rodney Head drew the winning ticket out of the box. Jerry Whiteley, of Cottonwood, AZ was the winner! Jerry and a friend will go out this summer for an overnight trip where we'll get after the striped bass and catfish on Lake Mead. The raffle was conducted after I donated a trip to MACA to use as a fund raiser for the organization. The MACA are huge supporters of the Kingman Hunter Education team and they recently donated 10 pairs of new Bushnell 10x50 binoculars to the team. These binoculars will be distributed to deserving young people at the end of classes that are taught in the future. There were just 400 tickets for the raffle, and I'm pleased to say that every ticket was sold. Tickets were sold to sportsmen and women all over America. Matter-of-fact, our first alternate drawn was Mr. Randy Hopp from Newberg, Oregon. Thank you to all out there who supported this fund raising effort. Now the pressure is on me to take them out and catch some fish! If you would like to go on one of these fun fishing trips, give me a call at 928-303-9481 or email me at info@striperhunters.com

Listen, turkey hunting with a bow and arrow is not easy! Tough enough with a shotgun. Just keep after it. Not a lot of gobblers on that mountain, but there are enough to keep things interesting for sure. Good luck! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

We've helped out hunters take some nice bulls in that unit. Don't "SETT:LE" for just a bull, there are indeed some "thumpers" in there! Randy Hopp from Oregon got this bull while hunting with AWO guide Dave Bruns Antlers off of Randy's 9 X 6 23 North bull! My brother Gary and I with the 8 X 6 bull he took in Unit 23North. Good luck and good hunting! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters AS to the camera thieves. I have started putting up cameras to watch my cameras. That way, if someone messes with them, and I get a picture, well you'll see it here on this and all of the other hunting sites. I don't run a bunch, maybe 6 or so, and I don't mess with other people's stuff and I don't want them to mess with mine. Best photo I got in that unit (and neither of the two bulls above were found on trail cameras, both Spot N Stalk) is of a lady who saw the camera and decided to give us a close and personal look at her more than ample bosom! Sorry I can't share the photo...Lol 47862393996(2).zip

Yep, depending on how many tags are issued for a hunt, you can tell if you drew in the 20% bonus point pass for max point holders OR on the second pass draw. On the example of the hunt with 325 tags, the first 65 tags ( 20% of 325 equals 65) would have been issued for those is the max pool. Those with tag numbers 66 through 325, well you drew on the second pass. Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Yes, guides and outfitters can and do purchase the lists of successful applicants (resident and non-resident) from the Arizona Game & Fish Department. The cost is 10 cents a name with a minimum of 1,000 names per species. In some cases like antelope and sheep, it costs $100 for a list, no matter how many names are on it. All you get is the name and address, no personal information such as date of birth or phone numbers. Plus guides/outfitters have to provide a signed and notarized document to AZGFD telling them what the list is going to be used for. In my case it is to "solicit guide service for the successful applicants." For most guides/outfitters this is a low percentage way to obtain clients. I'd say about 1-2% will respond. For me, I maintain a client list and then they call if and when they draw. If I don't have hunters in a particular area I'd like to guide in, or want more clients for my guides, then I'll send out mailers. Pretty expensive though, and like I said, low return on the investment. It is however, the cost of doing business. Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

We all know about the recent issue with the Boquillas Ranch putting up information on their website that they were going to charge hefty access fees for tags that they deemed "High Demand." The fees were going to be $500 for a number of elk and antelope tags, and they were going to limit those with permits to only two assistants. They also raised the price for guides who want to operate there from $300 to $500. Arizona Game & Fish said they had no prior knowledge that this was going to happen, so they said they were going to start negotiations with the Navajo Nation, who actually owns this 750,000 working cattle ranch in northern Arizona. So finally with just a week or so before the application deadline, the Department said they had reached an agreement with the Navajo Nation to reduce the access fees from $500 to $80. Hmm sounds good for us, right? I got a call from a man who said that we as sportsmen needed to know what the Department had agreed to do in exchange for the reduction in fees. In the past, they have done tank clean outs, vegetation manipulation (cutting junipers) and building water catchments. They even used sportsmen dollars to grade roads on the ranch that you and I could not use. So I sent a letter to Director Voyles asking for him to provide the details of this year's agreement. I never got so much as a phone call from him or his underlings, explaining what they had done. Well I wondered, why did he not respond to that simple request? Bottom line is he didn't. So I wrote to each of the Commissioners and told them of my request and of his lack of response. The Director serves at the pleasure of the Commission so I figured that would get me an answer. Guess what? No answer from any of them either. So now this really is causing me to wonder why the secrecy? This is a simple request for a valid question on what the agency has done in regards to the negotiations this year? So what are they hiding? What did they do that they apparently don't want you, the sportsman to know? This is not over I assure you. I have written another formal request (FOIA) for this information and am sending it in. Several of you have asked on another forum why the Department didn't do what they did to the antelope hunt in Unit 19B, when they refused to be strong armed by that land owner and closed down the antelope hunt there. I've been doing a little "math" on the Boquillas situation and I think the answer is simple..it is about money--and lots of it. Just look at how many elk and antelope tags are going to be issued for Unit 10 this year. Figure in the $13 application fee ($15 for non-residents) and YOU do the math. Yep, BIG MONEY. Plus the unit is about 2,300 square miles in land mass. Right now only about a third of that is really open to unfettered public access. So if they closed off the Boquillas and forced the hunters to only go into areas that are open, what would happen to the wildlife populations there? Yep, get hammered real bad. Adjoining ranches would also feel the heat of a huge number of hunters trying to hunt on their lands too. Look I'm not pointing any fingers at anyone, but when the agency refuses to tell us, the folks that are buying licenses, and tags and supports these folks on a daily basis, the answer to this question, well there is just something amiss. I hope that you, like me want to know the answers to the question about what happened this year. We have a right to know, and I'm not stopping til I get some answers.

Hey AZ KILLER, sorry to disappoint, but we had a great hunt! Sorry for the delay in posting, but right after San Carlos I headed to Oklahoma to go on a hunt with my boys and do a little fishing with the grandkids! Priorities you know! Always have a great time in the outdoors. You're not a little envious are you? LOL There were 6 of us that had early tags on the San Carlos. Two guys stayed just a day and a half and saw birds both days, but didn't get any shots.. One of the guys in our group, Maynard Ely, got his very first Merriam's gobbler on Day 1. Eric Hawkinberry and Kensen Lee both bagged gobblers on Day 3. Eric Hawkinberry and his gobbler Kensen Lee with his fine San Carlos gobbler I had a great opportunity on Day 4 but didn't close the deal on a long beard at 36 yards! Then the next day, while using Kensen's 17 HMR, I had a great opportunity on a long beard but found out that a 17 caliber with a 17 grain bullet IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SHOOT TURKEYS WITH! Will never do that rifle again, even though its legal up there. After than encounter I decided to call it good, even though I had a few more days available but I wanted to get home and get ready for my Oklahoma vacation. Then I went to Oklahoma where I assisted my son on bagging his first ever Rio Grande gobbler! His friend's 16-year-old son, Trenton Richmond, also got his first ever Oklahoma turkey Jimmy Martin and his son Jace with Jimmy's first ever Rio Grande gobbler Trenton Richmond and Jimmy Martin show the beards of their gobblers! These were the FIRST Rio Grande gobblers that either have taken! Thanks to Steve Wells for letting us hunt on his property! We also did a little fishing and also cleaned up around the private pond where the boys fished. Jimmy, Jace and Logan are ready to go! Jace and Logan picking up trash and litter. Jace shows the trash and liter we picked up! Never to young to get em started cleaning up property that they are allowed to recreate at. Some good fish in the pond. Logan holds his big bluegill and the one I caught at the same time! 6-year-old Jace holds his FIRST CRAPPIE! Logan caught his first turtle, a red eared slider. Everything was catch and release. Had an awesome time both on San Carlos with my friends and in Oklahoma with my family. So AZKILLER, I Guess both these trips went badly huh; very, very badly! LOL

Dang boys, don't you read? They are finalizing up the Boquillas Ranch deal today I heard, and as soon as that is in hand, "Let the clouds open and tags results start pouring in!"

Just wait till the Department has the signed 2016 Boquillas Ranch access agreement with the Navajo Nation signed and in hand. That's gonna happen this week. Then you'll get your much anticipated draw results.

Can I throw a good one for all "Conspiracy Theorists!" Are you NOT paying attention to the situation on the Biog Boquillas Ranch? Those draw results will NOT be released until after the Department has in their hand a signed agreement with the Navajo Nation! Think about it. Let's assume that they had released the draw results and they ended up with no deal! IF the deals doesn't happen, and I am told it WILL happen sometime this week--G&F would have to call about 1,000-1,100 of you who have tags there and say, "sorry, you can't go!" There would be a bunch of aggravated antelope hunters too. However, as soon as they get the signed agreement so that access is granted to the hunters on the Big Boquillas this year, the flood gates of heaven will open and all you lucky folks will get the good news you've been waiting for! Now I have NOT been told that by G&F, but you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure this out guys. Wouldn't it be smart and prudent as an agency to make sure you have access BEFORE you let out the tags, so you don't have to "recall" them? My gosh, there are 2,200 ELK TAGS in Unit 10! And about 175 antelope tags. There is 2,300 square miles in Unit 10. Only one third of that is open to unfettered hunter access at this point. Most of the critters are on the Boquillas! IF the department doesn't get access for hunters and have to reduce tags in Unit 10 it would cost them at a minimum of $200,000 is lost revenue. So just wait a little longer fellas, and when the 2016 contract is signed, then the tags will come... Believe me...

Just spent 45 minutes reading 16 pages of "conversation" and has that ever been an education!

Yea, really aggravating. Not too many up here have that model of Lead Sled. I've given the range masters at our local range a picture of it. If someone shows up to use, I'll hear about it..Nice thing about a small community...