Snapshot

Serious ground shrinkage?

Vey nice bucks.!

Got my refunds today. I would gladly give them quadruple the amount of refund for a tag this year, maybe the New Mexico draw will be good to me, then I will end up paying quadruple.

By April 30th, or sooner. Last year I downloaded them on April 27th.

My limited turkey hunting experience is up in unit 27 where PJ and ponderosa play a big part on habitat, I was curious as to what habitat they prefer most in the Santa Rita's, so when I look around maybe I can find some birds and get some pic's for the collection. You are right about the oaks, There is alot more oaks than PJ in the Santa Ritas, at least on the North end of things, and once you get to the Ponderosa things are getting steep pretty quickly.

What elevation are you guys typically seeing these birds at? Is it down in the PJ or above the Ponderosa level? Just curious!

I spend a fair amount of time in the Northern end of the Santa Ritas, since I live in Sahuarita, but I have yet to see a turkey. In September 2006, I saw a very large bear in the cactus less than a mile from Helvetia. What part of the unit did he see the birds?

I am extremely paranoid of snake encounters. I have had many close calls over the years, including a rattler that struck and missed my hand by two inches. Always look under that last board in the wood pile before you pick it up. I have knee high snake boots for the warm weather. If you want to see me jump three feet in the air and do a back flip to get out of the way, lay a stick on the trail that looks like a snake.

You all have some very nice trophies and photos. Thanks for sharing !

This was last Septembers trophy. A few of my others are on film and need to be scanned. Some of my best trophys are hunts where I did not even bag an animal.

I will just bring Rosie O'Donnel with me!

Hey Tony, I liked that Monica Liewinski button that you posted. I was thinking of having that printed on a t-shirt and showing up to a Hillary Clinton rally, or maybe just send it to her as a gift !

Less than 50% return rate is not very good. I have sent my card in faithfully for more years then I can remember. They should make it mandatory like New Mexico, if you don't complete the online hunter survey you will not be eligible for the next draw.

The regs are supposed to be online by the end of this month and in print by mid May.

My first choice !

There are two types of people in the draw. The lucky ones that draw good tags on a regular basis , and people like me that do not have an ounce of luck and have to wait many years to get a tag. It took me 10 years for my last elk tag. The draw and bonus point system has always been a "arguing point" for many, and the stance we take is based on "our luck" in the draw. If I drew good tags every year or two then I would certainly not complain about it. But myself and many others without luck on our side do not like the bonus point system or random draw. Preference points puts everyone on equal ground. You get drawn, and you have to start over by standing in the back of the line to gain enough points to get drawn again. I don't like seeing guys ( and not just myself ) waiting 12-15 years to draw an elk tag while a guy who has never put in before gets a premium tag with the first try. Luck of the draw? Certainly. There are many people who share my opinion, and many that do not, And I certainly don't want to start another heated debate on the issue. I just feel that with more hunters entering the draw each year there has to be a way to cycle the draw on a more even basis.

The elk hunt I applied for and the Coues hunt I want to apply for, are within 2 weeks of each other, and I could not take that much time off so close together.So if I drew elk, I would choose a different deer hunt. but Since I did not draw for elk, I am just hoping for that Coues tag.

Nothing for me Congrats to all you guys/gals that drew!

This is just too entertaining!

Tuesday, April 1st, 2:00 p.m. The little draw Ferry told me so.

Patience Danielson!

I can only imagine that someone in the Cabela's TAGS department will probably be losing their job. Using a private courier the day before the deadline is folly. How many times has FEDEX screwed up and delivered next day parcels late? I have experienced that a couple times myself from Cabela's, paid for next day air and got it 3 days later They made a big gamble with 568 applications and paid the price! Now they have alot of angry customers to deal with.

I am hoping to be there on Sunday.

Even though I am not much of a shed hunter, unless I happen to stumble across something, I do have a quad. I use it to take me into scouting areas, ends of roads and trails, exploring etc., but I keep it on the legal trails and roads and not offroad. It is the people that make up their own rules and have no respect for the land and laws that will eventually ruin it for those of us that are repsonsible riders. The only time I would take my quad off road is to retrieve downed game, and only if it was allowed, and not during a wet time, so as not to make deep tracks or ruts. I have seen what irresponsible ohv riders have done to meadows and cienegas and such and it is pretty sad !

Does anyone remember when the draw results for Elk/Antelope came out last year? I have been kicking around some ideas for the New Mexico and Colorado draw, and I can't remember if AZ results came out before April 1st last year.