Capt. Don Martin

Well my hunt starts in a few days..headed up tomorrow to see if there are any left! Pictures will hopefully follow! Don Martin

I went up with four of my friends for the early hunt on the San Carlos. Bought a camping permit and tagged along to see how things were going. Birds were gobbling...Saw/heard from 4 to 10 gobblers a day! By Tuesday morning all four had taken longbeards! One of the guys got a huge gobbler with an 11 inch beard, my buddy Eric Hawkinberry got a gobbler with a 10 inch beard, (picture attached) and of the other two guys got birds with 9 inch beards. Hope they are still going strong when i go back up on the 25th for my hunt! It was really, really dry up there. Little ponds were mostly dried up. Saw one HUGE bear track at a pond but didn't see any. Don Martin

Thanks guys! I'm in Kingman, so closest big box is in Vegas (Bass Pro). I'm more than willing to buy this brass guys, I just want to get it to them in Oklahoma so he can get that young man shooting! My grandson is a little guy, so I got a fiberglass stock for the gun and sent it along with the original wood stock. My son took him (grandson) to a gunsmith in Oklahoma City who measured him and then cut the fiberglass stock and put a decelerator recoil pad on for him. He also moved the scope up, so I hope it is set to go. Email me at info@arizonawildlifeoutfitters.com about the brass and we'll get it going. Thanks guys! Don Martin

Here are a couple of photos of this Colt M4 AR and the box it came in.

Congratulations on the awesome bear and a supper good looking mount! Getting a bear is on my bucket list! Don Martin

You don't loose your bonus point if you applied for a spring tag. I'm at 11 points for Gould's and counting! Love those birds; so much fun to work. They are not call shy and will really put on a show! I can't even draw antlerless elk tag so I guess I shouldn't hold my breath for a Gould's tag! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

A couple of you guys on here have nailed it when it comes to the comments on the 10% NR cap (not a guarantee) and what tags COULD go to NR's in the 20% max bonus point pool draw! The fact is that on PREMIUM hunts where there are lots of NR's in the max pool, they hit the 10% cap before it ever gets to the regular draw. That's why G&F is changing the rule. NR's who didn't have a lot of bonus points finally figured it out that they would NEVER draw a premium tag, so many started to drop out. By changing the rule to only 5% of the tags COULD go in the max bonus point draw, there is an opportunity for any NR to draw a tag in the second draw. That keeps everyone in the game, as then ALL NR's will have a crack at some of those premium tags even though they don't have a lot of bonus points. Is this not a "slap in the face" the guys/gals who have been in the game the longest;? I figure those folks have paid their dues and have kept applying for a decade or even two and now the rules change...hmm On the other hand I see the Dept's position on this by giving others who haven't been in as long a CHANCE to draw, thereby keeping them in the game. That being said I wonder when that rule takes effect, if you'll see some different draw strategies start with those in the max pool.. I'm thinking that the "old guys" like me (60+) who have been applying only for Unit 13B will start applying for 13A and the 12A West late hunts. If memory serves me correct there are about 30 tags a year issued to NR's in the max point deer pool. But about that number are going into the max pool because they (those that were just one point behind and needed only the AZ Hunter ED class) are finally taking AZ Hunter Education so they refill that max deer pool. So instead of 30 tags going out each year, there will be only 15 or so. Doesn't sound good for the "old NR guys" does it? As a resident with 15 points though, unless I croak in the next few years, I'll eventually get a 13B tag. A benefit of being a life long resident of the Grand Canyon state! Just some things to ponder... Don Martin

Tough place to find turkeys in my opinion. First year we drew tags there my lady friend sat waters with a decoy spread in front of her while I wandered around. She got a huge gobbler (11 inch beard) on Day 2 and I got one out of a flock of 6 gobblers that were chasing a single hen. That bird had a 9 1/2 inch beard. That also was on Day 2. Went back the second year and called in one hen..didn't see or hear a gobble the entire time we were there! Don't know what happened and have never been back. Collecting bonus points for Gould's now and hunting turkeys on San Carlos where there are actually a lot of birds! Call Darren, the WM for that area, he may be able to help. Good luck, Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Got several friends that are going up Thursday/Friday to San Carlos. They may be camping at Point of Pines. I got to believe that the early season hunters are going to have a super hunt. As for those of us that have late season tags--not so sure! Think the dry spring will get the birds going early. I'm going up Sunday to camp with them and scout for a week. Don Martin

Well one would think that with over $4,000 in charges on my Cabelas card that I would have SOMETHING! But nope, nothing, nada.. Oh well, I had to buy and engine for my Arctic Cat (that's why the card is so high) so guess it is a good thing I didn't draw and elk or antelope tag! Yea, right! Another thing, I just read the entire 22 pages of these posts and a large number of folks are saying things like "I wonder what my bull is doing right now?" I know that we are all optimists when it comes to hunting and bagging a critter. But... The bottom line is that statistically MANY that have drawn these tags will NOT wrap them on an elk or antelope this year! Sorry, just the way it works. I'd like to see how many will post in October after the elk and antelope hunts are over, IF they DON'T get that bull or cow elk, or that big buck antelope? Sorry, I'm just spewing sour milk as neither I or my lady friend didn't draw a Unit 10 antlerless elk tag this year! Congrats to all those that have and/or will be drawn. I mean what should I expect? I drew tag #2 for the HAM javelina hunt in February so how lucky can a fella be? A man can't expect to draw premium tags ALL the time, right? Good hunting! Don Martin

Thanks for the info! I'm going to order some of that new Winchester Long Beard ammo (#6 shot) and test it on the patterning board at 40-50-60 yards! Going to California near the end of the month to hunt on some private property. The owner said they got 12 gobblers on opening day so maybe there will be a blind, dumb and horny gobbler that I can call in! Good luck and that is a neat mount! Don Martin

71 yards! What shotgun/shell combo did you use to make that shot? I use a Remington Mag 10 with full choke and 2 1/4 ounces of copper #6 and my personal best with that set up is exactly 60 yards! Bought me a "new" used Remington 3 inch Mag 1100 a month ago. Has a Hasting 26 inch "wad lock" barrel and it came with a bunch of chokes that I'm going to take to the range to try out. Need some ideas of what kind of shells to try as I may use that for my upcoming San Carlos hunt this year! Was up there last year with my friend Eric and we got lucky on a pair of long beards; though a bear got Eric's that night after we hung them in a tree NEXT to our wall tent! My 2013 San Carlos bird Eric Hawkinberry with his 2013 San Carlos bird We got them at the same time! They were following some hens towards a roost we knew about and we were set up to intercept them. Set out a couple of decoys and when they came over to check 'em out, we whacked them at 40 yards! Don Martin

I had the pleasure of meeting Jim just one time. We were on a Unit 10 antelope hunt. When folks found out in camp who our visitor was, they surrounded him and like the gentleman he was, he stuck around till all the questions were answered, and stories told. Great guy for sure! God bless his family! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Well the final results of the Annual Arizona Wildlife Outfitters 2014 Big Pig contest are in. I hold this contest every year for friends, family and clients of AWO. We weigh only pigs taken in Unit 18B. Hunters must be pre-registered in order to participate! If they had two tags they could enter TWICE, but had to pay a separate fee for each entry. The "contest" was open to to archery hunters, HAM hunters, Juniors hunters, and general rifle hunters. ALL PIGS MUST BE FIELD DRESSED, NO HEART, LUNGS OR KIDNEYS! ALL PIGS MUST BE WEIGHED ON THE OFFICIAL RAPALA 50 LB SCALE! We had 29 participants this year and paid out 6 places. 12 pigs were weighed in. It was interesting to note that Jay, Ryan and Alan Chan all had TWO tags and they filled them all! Those boys know where they pigs are and how to field judge them! 1) 42 lbs 15 oz. Sow Unit 18B Alan Chan (general hunt) 2) 42 lbs 5 oz Boar Unit 18B Ryan Chan (HAM hunt) 3) 42 lbs 2 oz Sow Unit 18B Christian Overhulser (Juniors only hunt) 4) 40 lbs 2 oz Boar Unit 18B Gary Martin (HAM hunt) 5) 38 lbs 9 oz Boar Unit 18B Jay Chan (general rifle) 6) 36 lbs 13 oz Sow Unit 18B Cole Bruns (Juniors only hunt) Now I know that these weights are not comparable to pigs taken further south, but are average field dressed adult pig in this unit is about 32 pounds. If you hunt 18B and want to get in our contest next year, just stop by camp and register BEFORE you go hunting! Lot of fun! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters This is our third place winner, Christian Overhulser

great ram Jay! Hey who scored the ram for you? Don Martin

I assume that weight was BEFORE it was field dressed? Still an awesome experience and great pig! We need to keep our youth in the field! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

The Juniors pig hunts in Unit 18B turned out pretty good this year. I got to hunt with 16-year-old Cole Bruns and his dad, Dave on the opener of the spring hunt. As things worked out we got on pigs right away early on Friday morning. Dave, who is an awesome glasser found not one, but TWO different groups of pigs! Cole was using a Weatherby Mark 5 in 257 Weatherby Mag caliber, topped with a Zeiss 6.5 X 20 Conquest scope. They got as close as they could from a herd of about 8 pigs that were way up near the top of a very steep canyon. We of course, were at the bottom when Dave found them. With the range at just over 400 yards and almost straight up; Cole got ready while Dave served as his spotter. I videotaped the action from over 600 yards away. Finally after about 30 minutes of getting the shot set up, Cole fired a shot. The first bullet hit just to the left of his target. Second shot went right over the top of the pig. Then a larger pig jumped up onto a boulder and started looking around. Third shot was perfect; right behind the shoulder, and the old sow toppled off the rock! She weighed field dressed, 36 lbs 13 oz. THE BRUNS BOYZ- STYLING AT PIG CAMP! I had the pleasure and honor of hunting with another young hunter from California who was on his very first javelina hunt. Zach is 11 years old and has had some serious medical issues in his life. He is developmentally disabled, but likes to hunt. On the second day of his hunt, with the help of his "javelina team" he got on to two different herds of pigs. Unfortunately, the first group of pigs gave Zach and his team the slip. Buit the hunt wasn't over! Later on in the day one of my friends who was helping out, Jay Chan spotted a herd of 13 pigs. Zach's dad got him set up with on a Caldwell shooting pod, and young Zach got three shots between 95 and 113 yards. He didn't bring home the bacon, but he had a good time! Randall Schopper-Page McDonald-Zach-Cole Bruns-Dave Bruns-Jay Chan Lastly good friend Ryan Chan brought up his nephew Christian Overhulser on the second Saturday of the hunt. Just before dark that evening, Ryan spotted a good group of pigs and the stalk was on. Christian made a good shot on one of the largest pigs in the group. His pig weighed, field dressed, 42 lbs 2 oz and he is currently the leader in the annual Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Big Pig contest. Next week with the start of the HAM hunt in Unit 18B, we've got about 7 of us with tags. Got about the same on the upcoming rifle hunt too. Ought to be a lot of fun! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

I have found a number of "dead heads" in the field. Key is that there is no hair/meat and that it not a wounding loss. One year during the Antelope Eaters predator hunt, I found a dead head elk way up north. Entire skeleton was there. I took video and GPS coordinates and brought back to check in, in the back of my truck. Officer Pender (now retired) came over and told me he had to take the head pending an investigation into the cause of death. I gave him the GPS location and a month or so later he called and said to come and pick up the head. No problems, no fuss. Had the same issue in 23N on a dead head elk a number of years ago. Called G&F got the WM, he came out with a medal detector checked it out and it was mine. Never had a problem. Many years ago we were guiding a deer hunt in Unit 13A when we found two bucks that had locked antlers and died. One buck (the smaller) had a broken neck, the other dragged him to a pond and slipped and fell in and drowned. Both were still hooked up. We called G&F and Luke Thompson came out to investigate. Determined it was a "Natural Event" and the lady hunter got BOTH deer! Don't be afraid to call the Dept. on these kinds of issues. Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters P.S. Oh, I once found a big 5 X 5 elk in Unit 6A on a late rifle hunt that obviously had been dead for a while. It still had an arrow in the ribs. Called G&F in Region 2, they came out took the head but let me keep the arrow. Lost it cause it was in fact a wounding loss...I fully understood but didn't want to see such a neat rack go to waste.

I probably will be accused of "cheating" but I have taken a number of pigs with my Savage Striker bolt action pistol in 22-250 caliber. Longest shot was 169 yards. One of friends/clients Ken Pierce uses the same gun but in 243 caliber. Here are a couple pigs he's taken. His longest one shot take was 175 yards! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

I want to share with you the experiences of a 16-year-old young lady from Maryland who had an awesome combination mule deer/javelina hunt in Unit 18B last month! Allison Kilroy is a bubbly young lady who lives on the East coast and as such doesn't get to hunt there, but she has become very partial to hunting in Arizona. Her father, Ron Kilroy lives in Las Vegas, and he fully supports his daughter's desire to hunt deer and javelina in the Grtand Canyon state. Even though Allison is a junior, she is still limited to not more than 10% of the tags for deer/javelina, she has been lucky in the past. On her first big game hunt, she was paired up with Mike Cobb of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and depsite some ugly weather, she bagged her very first big game animal on the first day she was out with Mike. A couple of years later, she drew both a deer and javelina tag, and while she got herself a big javelina, she never got the chance to squeeze the trigger on an Arizona mule deer. Undaunted, she kept applying and this year hit the jackpot drawing both a deer and a javelina tag. Her guide for this hunt would be AWO's own Tad Levandowski. This mountain of a man knows this unit very well, and has in the past assisted a number of young hunters take mule deer and javelina there. There was a twist to Allison's hunt. Due to Allison's school schedule, she would miss the first week of the hunt and would actually fly into Las Vegas the night before Thanksgiving Day. She would have just four days to hunt. Allison and her dad would drive to Kingman and meet up with Levandowski and head into the sticks on Thanksgiving Day. Turkey dinner would just have to wait! As it turned out the timing was great! On her first morning just after daylight, Levandowski saw a big mature buck feeding by himself near a thicket of turbinella oak. As Tad and Allison moved in, Ron stayed back about 300 yards to try and keep and eye on the big buck. However before Tad and Allison made it to where the buck had last been seen, he seemingly disappeared. But Tad knew the buck had to be there, somewhere. He started glassing and soon picked up just the antler tip of the big buck's rack. He got Allison to within 80 yards of the unsuspecting buck and got her set up. Their patience was rewarded when the big buck stood up and started to stretch. "You on em Allison?" Tad whispered. "Yes" was the soft reply and the young hunter slipped off the safety of her trusty 243 rifle and took deliberate aim. At the shot, the mighty buck literally dropped in his tracks! He never knew he had been in the sights of a now very happy young lady! Tad said it wasn't until they reached the buck that he realized what she had just taken. "The buck was HUGE!" Tad said. "He had to weigh over 200 pounds (live weight) and his rack was heavy with points all over it!" He was right. The buck sported a rack that was just under 26 inches wide! Plus there were eight scoreable points on one side and seven on the other! Later on Levandowski would learn that the buck green scored (gross) just over 200 inches! How many of us have ever taken a buck like that? Not many... But the young ladies hunt wasn't over. She still had an unfilled javelina tag. On the last morning she could hunt Levandowski relocated a herd of pigs they had previously seen, and Allison took her javelina at 50 yards! It had been a perfect hunt and I wondered what she was going to do for an encore. Then her dad called me, "Allison wants to go elk hunting," he said. Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Thanks! Don Martin AWO

I am looking for a Remington Model 1100 12 ga. 3" MAGNUM shotgun with vent rib. Will buy for cash.! OR Will trade a brand new, in the box, never fired TRISTAR 20 ga. 3" magnum Over/Under with factory installed recoil pad and 5 factory chokes! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

It figures....I'll check it out. Thanks! Don Martin

Friend of mine today called and he and his buddy both got pigs near Kingman using a Circe jackrabbit call. They got em out of two separate herds. I use a J-13 that I ordered from Allpredatorcalls.com and it works great. Two years ago I called in a herd and got my biggest boar to date with my 22-250 Savage Striker pistol. Hunting in Unit 18B. My friend Ken Pierce got another big boar with his Striker in Unit 18B! Got another HAM this year but I think I'm going to use the charcoal burner just to be different. Calling pigs is fun--and very productive! Don Martin Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

I got emails from 5 different guys that went out today around Kingman. Heard from just one guy saw pigs, and he missed! Keep after it, sooner or later you'll find them. Don Martin AWO