MT_Sourdough

"No Hunting" sign

Wow!

I do not know what other Arizona elk units are like, but Unit 8 was like a friggin KOA for opening weekend. Some of them camps are bigger than some towns I have lived in.

By Jack butt tank? How appropriate. Blame the guy who named the tank/knoll. I left my camp down on the flats off Perkinsville Rd in 8 in a condition that wasn't cool, but the mess wasn't from me. Previous camp left about 50 keystone light cans in the fire pit and other garbage scattered around the firepit. I was intending on cleaning up the mess when I packed up, but I didn't have garbage bags when I tore down my camp. Partially, the disturbance I feel for having left the camp like that, is that other's may associate me with that mess and that ticks me off. I normally clean other's messes when I camp, so I am not normally in a position of feeling bothered. Another gripe is that the person who left that mess there probably feels no regrets, nothing, and will continue to do the same thing. Seems there is something about that Keystone light brand that seems to be responsible for making people into slobs, because that is by far the brand preferred by slobs in 8.

if you are fat like me, than normal cots don't work. No support and you sink in and can't move and it's hard to get out. If cot has bars, than you are laying on top of those bars. Ouch. This Cabelas cot creates a tension that supports fat people and it doesn't swallow the person. https://www.cabelas.com/product/camping/camp-bedding/cots/pc/104795280/c/104712480/sc/104280480/cabelas-outfitter-cot/1752509.uts?slotId=0 Then when it'd cold or I just want more comfort, than I add https://www.cabelas.com/product/camping/camp-bedding/sleeping-pads/pc/104795280/c/104712480/sc/104484780/null/2436884.uts?slotId=9

I'd check out the low rider clubs/ forums. Sounds wild.

I am well divorced. Kids in a different state. I bet I spend over 100 days in the field, but most of those days are only a few hours. Living in Chino Valley allows for lots of partial days, but ultimately costs beaucoup dineros in truck repair from all the thousands of miles on these dirt roads. I am still lousy at sealing the deal, especially here in AZ, time and money spent I'm a 7 or 8 . Judged by success a 2 or a 3.

FREE ANTELOPE CAPE? WHAT A RIP OFF!!! Just goof',n. Serious now, I think the colors on that cape look great. I hope somebody can use it.

I hate people crying about cameras and nobody seems to care that hunters are setting their camps right on top of tanks, This morning I went into one of my areas and found a camp set right next to the tank. I have yet to see one of those camera infested areas, but every year I see people camping on the waterholes. I do not know if my experiences are that different than what other hunters are experiencing. There is a real world reason why the law exists. If azgfd won't enforce the law and people break the law willfully knowing azgfd is pathetic and not enforcing the laws, than what good are the laws and why does azgfd exist? I don't have an elk archery tag so it isn't directly affecting me right now, but when my hunt comes, do I hurry up and set my camp on the tank before somebody else does? If azgfd will not enforce the laws, what laws do we follow?

In 8, I haven't heard them open up into full out bugles. Lotsa other vocalization. Wallows stinking mightily. I stalked in on one elk just using my nose. Found him and got within 40 yards of him. He was standing under a juniper with his head held low watching me. The antlers were up in the juniper and not visible, but he looked very healthy, just super stinky. Last night, I spent most of the night and morning in a blind. Partially because it is the last day of deer archery, but I haven't seen much Muleys in this particular area. What I did know, I'd be in the center of the rut. Well, they were fighting. Boy were they fighting. Sounded like vehicles flying off an interstate into the trees. I listened to them fighting and tearing stuff up for hours, but not a single bugle. I had one collared 6x6 come in to my blind and stood less than 10 feet from me staring at me, but can't see me through the no-see-um mesh. After a couple minutes he walked back up the hill to rejoin the fight. Fighting lasted until about 9 am.

There are Coues all the way down to Daisey Mountain. I've seen elk on Brooklin peak. Muleys have more competition in the area, based on peoples accounts of area's history. In the winter, some big muley wintering herds form on the South Perry Mesa.

I was putting in my best effort to stalk in on a huge muley in a group of three this morning. Ground was too loud and they blew out from only 20-30 yards away, but before I saw them. All I get is a quick view of them as they cross windows in the Junipers. This happened two times, but I got a good look at him when at a distance and I am here to say, seeing something that big messes with your mind. It seems like it can't be real. One thing that is real, these old bucks sure know how to use use those junipers and they can turn you like a corkscrew.

I went into 8 to sit a blind, but when I got to where I have been parking my truck, there was a herd of elk right in the very spot. Nice 6x6 running the herd. I never heard him bugle, but he was making a frequent barking sound. There were so many elk along the road at sunrise that I had to keep telling myself "slow down" because at any moment one these elk could step out on front of me and ruin my day.

Too many roads in this state. Number One. Number Two. He destroyed a good Stealth Cam and left the Wildgame Nation Camera alone? What a Jerk. Number three. It's good to see heritage being passed down from one generation to the next. That'd as high as I can count.

I heard about those stolen in the north end of 19A. I have some in the same general area, but mine haven't been messed with. I did have one stolen in 19A a couple of years ago. Some others on this forum lost theirs in 19A around the same time/area. There is a history of somebody with bolt cutters in 19A stealing cams. 4th of July weekend seems to be one of the thieves active times.

I heard about those stolen in the north end of 19A. I have some in the same general area, but mine haven't been messed with. I did have one stolen in 19A a couple of years ago. Some others on this forum lost theirs in 19A around the same time/area. There is a history of somebody with bolt cutters in 19A stealing cams. 4th of July weekend seems to be one of the thieves active times. Oops, posted this in wrong thread.

That there's my bull. Hands Off !!! Just Josh'n ya. Good luck! Go get 'em.

Lotsa practice maybe?

I am not the one conflating two separate issues. Game cameras and selling gps locations are two different things. While I agree with you about selling coordinates. I think it should be illegal. The problem is, it is only marginally different than what outfitters/guides do. How to enforce selling that kind of information becomes fuzzy.

Cameras at water holes show people where the deer were. I guess looking at tracks on the ground is just fake news. The only thing cams tell me that tracks don't is what the headbone looks like. Good glass is more of an advantage to actually killing an animal than cameras are. Cameras may tell me a deer was at a certain spot at some duration in the past. Glassing shows you where they are at right now. Until arrows or bullets can move through time, advantage real time. I've witnessed on two separate incidents, people using their ATVs tactically to kill deer with their bows. A few years ago, I was camping above the Yolo ranch on archery deer opening day. I got to sit in my camp and watch people hunt. What I saw was hunters riding ATVs with their bows. No problemo. They spot a buck, so they drive into some cover. One shuts his ATV down and gets off with his bow. The other hunter drives ahead aways then stops leaving his ATV running. The hunter on foot takes advantage of fact that deers attention was on the other ATV rider. The sound of ATV provides sound masking for the hunter making his stalk. It worked. It was a scenario that played out in front of me twice in one day. Clever, I'd agree. Fair chase? hmmm How about, before Azgfd, makes more laws, how about they enforce those already in place. Like No Camping within !/4 mile of water holes. Saw multiple violations in unit 8 today.

Here we GO!!! Woohoo

Until recently, the areas I have cameras haven't had Mulies since March. Now, since the rains, I have some bucks on cams at different sites, but all are babies. So I go out glassing and still not seeing much. This evening I start glassing some elk as they feed into some Junipers, As I am watching the elk clustered up in some Junipers, I see a tail flipping side to side. Not sure if my eyes were playing with me, but a few minutes later I see a Muley buck step out. Nothing very big, but the first mature buck that I have seen in months. By the way, bull elk was about 90% rubbed off. All I plan to do is sit a blind for starters. Good luck to those going.

With all these young people getting dumber everyday, it's good to see some things never change. Old people are going to act like grumpy old jackwagons complaining about youth. You wanna see dense? Look at all those cotton tops at the Geek Squad. It's funny as long as your not in line behind them while some young twenty something computer wizard/ social misfit tries to teach a clueless old person how to use their computer. The Cardinals offense is going to be strong. Go Cardinals.

Well, looks like I drew a Nov-Dec cow bison tag for the house rock herd. I have no idea of what to expect, because of the cull hunts that'll be happening. At least as far as I know. From what I have heard, they expect that'll push them out of the park for higher success rates outside the park. I am somewhat apprehensive, but excited. I know I have a lot to learn. So, any other fall bison hunters want to chime in? i

I spend most of my time in unit 8 in the southern half of the unit. Until things change, I'd stay focused on and above the rim and in the canyons. The drought cleared elk out of the lower flats. I saw my first elk, since spring, down on the lower flats on Wednesday. There is much more food up high while things are just starting to green down low, so I doubt they'll drop down to the lower flats any time soon. On the other hand, if we get hit with snow come rifle season, those elk will drop down and it is good to know the area a little bit in advance. A good place to look right now are view points along the many canyon rims.