MT_Sourdough

A person doesn't need to be the tough guy (or gal). When people know your willing to stand up for yourself you won't get in many fights, unless you're wanting to. Yea, you may lose a fight, but if you fight hard, bullies look elsewhere for people to target. When I was a correctional officer, I knew inmates that were huge dudes, but total cowards. We'd be like "Hey, I would never admit telling you this, but if you do not hit them back, it's never gonna stop". They'd say they knew it, but just could never muster the courage to throw back. Big dudes spending most of their time in solitary confinement of some sort because they never had it in them to hit back despite being giants.

Midway USA has two great deals with Badlands Packs on clearance sale. One is a quiet minimalist pack for $70 (1/2 price) and the other is a smart mid sized all day pack for $133. Both are free of shipping and taxes, so you can get both for a little over $200. I ordered the Ascent mid sized pack, but I am becoming the Imelda Marcos of backpacks. I probably have close to 20 different packs altogether.

On the north side of Squaw Peak looking towards Mingus?

Some nice pickers in there. That's impressive.

We are getting primo conditions between storms and warm spells such that there is good vegetative growth and lots of holding water. In the Juniper/chaparral country is still showing the damages from the last drought, but the valley floors and the conifer areas are looking exceptionally well set for healthy critters. Of course, I am speaking of the 19a, 19b, and 8 areas.

688 tags for an area with 50 head. C'mon... who can resist that opportunity. Oh yea, it takes a whole day just to get there. Yippee!

Unit 8 is looking very good this year. Plenty of water and food. The elk are looking fat and happy. I just got done erasing thousands of pics of elk herds camping out at salt sites, but I won't be in 8 this year. The antelope in 8 and 19a/ 19b are looking healthier than they have for a couple years. The foothills in the northeast side of 19a ( Woodchute to the Verde) conditions are just all right. Not as well off as 8. Tanks hold water, but not full. Some areas in 19a foothills, the vegetation is still recovering from the drought last year.

Huh? That assumption is a bit misdirected in my regard. I put in for the limited opportunity hunts and I drew one of them there lowly valued limited opportunity hunts (archery, cow tag during rut). Not lots of elk, but not lots of other hunters. So, I'm stoked. Aside from me getting a little defensive, I actually agree with you. Lots of Arizona hunters want to have that opportunity to chase elk where huge trophy bulls are screaming everywhere. Who blames them. That's the dream. Some of these hunts in Arizona are truly amazing opportunities for average working folk who won't/can't ever pay the many thousands of dollars it takes for access to exclusive private land hunts. This state offers some opportunities for hunts where elk densities are extreme and trophy quality is second to none on public land/access. I do not know of another state that compares, but that is why it takes almost a lifetime to draw one of them there tags. I'll make this comparison. Montana is the best state for meat hunters. Arizona is the best state for trophies. For me, though, I am happy to except the challenge to go after them where they are few and far between as long as other hunter are just as scarce.

I'd make sure no rain water collects around cam or mud swallowing it up. Water height on the banks of a tank can change dramatically with one rain. I have thought about doing similar. I hope it works.

Do you honestly think there will be leftovers? Maybe. I dunno, so I am asking. I am getting the impression that leftover tags for elk are a thing for the history books in Arizona.

That is why I put in for these tags. Last year I had rifle bull in 8 and i am thinking I will have a better time this year. Way less people.

I scraped the bottom of the barrel for my tag. Don't care, I'm stoked! I drew archery antlerless elk limited opportunity in the multi unit.

I had to look at Limestone, Maine on Google Earth. Yikes. Montana has the advantage of being an arid environment. By feel, Maine I suspect is much harsher at a given temp than it would be in Montana. This is when you'll hear the good ol' Montana Joke. 1st guy. "Hey, did you hear about that new California wine?" 2nd guy "No". 1st guy Wraps his arms around himself, squeezes and shivers and says with a shivering voice "It's cold up here!".

Way to go. That's plenty of color from a little taste. I imagine you'll find some bigger stuff in the area.

You run that through a box first?

This is the time of the year that I am most appreciative of where I live today. Yea. we got almost 2 feet of snow here in Chino Valley, but it is all gone in less than a week. Yippee! In Butte. Montana, where I am from, it not only got the snow but it was followed up by a temp of 46 degrees below zero (not wind chill factor, but an honest 46 below). In the mountains of Montana, this is the time of the year that really weighs on a person. Winter started in the September-October (counting from the time you gotta start firing up the wood stove to heat the house) , so you are in your 5th month of winter and everybody is longing to see the snow melt and feel a warm sunshine. When temps are that cold in the middle of a sunny day, you can look up into the sky and see a bunch of dazzling sparkling light. The moisture remaining in the air crystallizes and just hangs in the air reflecting light. At times it can be quite magnificent.

Huuhhh? My portal has not been updated with results. Do other folk on here have portals that have already been updated with 2019 elk/antelope draw results? I was charged for an elk tag so I know I drew, but my portal just says pending at the moment.

I have drawn limited opportunity tags with my 4th choice. I have not had more than 2 bp, but those are limited opportunity tags, so it is like I am snagging tags that would otherwise be leftover tags.

Is there any hope for the Cardinals this year? Probably a better year for hunting than following the local team I suppose. Works for me, 'cuz I done got me another elk tag. Maybe they keep giving me elk tags because my success rate is worse than the Cardinals. Can't wait to find out where I got drawn fer.

Another tag with just two points. Either Archery bull in 8 or one of the limited opportunity hunts in 17a, 17b, 18b, 19b, and 20a. Bottom line is I am hunting elk again. I wasn't expecting to have another chance at elk this year, so I am stoked.

It seems to me that if we are to be honest about making reparations for what one demographic did to another in the founding of this great nation, then they, me and almost all of us need to load our happy butts back up on the boats that brought us here. There are no parts of this country's history that is free of racism and exploitation. Events of the past can't be undone. No amount of $$$ will change that. Heck, go to the most Reservations and ask them how much those Uncle Sam checks fixed everything. “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” John Adams

melt off is already happening here in Chino Valley. It'll be gone soon.

critters in these parts were looking exceptionally well before this storm. I do not expect the snow to last long enough to have much of an impact, Things are probably tougher on critters that are holding up at 7000 feet or higher.

I gotta keep washing the snow off of my satellite dish

We got close to 18" total till this morning. It is staring up again right now. - Chino Valley