bwp22

She only went about 40 yards or so. I was able to watch exactly where she went and piled under a bush. As I was giving her some time to expire, the rest of the herd returned and began feeding again! I have taken javelina with my rifle before, but this is WAY more fun with the bow!

Thats my conspiracy theory. Someone with max points and a fat wallet. There will be a 440" bull shot with a muzzleloader this year in unit 9 and a commisioner driving around in a brand new BMW.

While checking tanks for bow season the other day I came across several fresh mule deer scrapes. Do mule deer differ from whitetails in their behavior with scrapes? For example, back east the whitetail would generally make their scrapes at night and check them in the morning. They would also return right after a rain to freshen the scrapes. Has anyone had any luck hunting over scrapes after a rain? These are the first fresh mule deer scrapes I have come across and am not sure how much attention to give them. Thanks in advance for any input!

Here's an update on the scrapes I found. They are indeed from mule deer and they have been showing up a few times a week. They usually will get a drink from the adjacent tank and then do their thing at the scrapes located about 50 yards away. I have only had the chance to sit the blind a few times over the past few weeks due to family vacations and the holidays, but on the second day I had a decent 3x3 come in to about 30 yards. He went behind a large bush just prior to stepping out in the clearing. I tried to get to full draw as he walked behind the bush but for whatever reason I couldn't get drawn! I dont know if it was the 3 hours in 25 degree weather, buck fever, or both. Anyway I finally got drawn and he must have seen the movement as he came out from behind the bush. All I could see was his head, front legs, and about the first 6 inches of his body. And he was staring a hole through me. I figured he was about to bolt so I put my 30 pin just behind his shoulder and let it fly. Unfortunately the shot went a few inches left and hit him right in the shoulder blade. I got nearly zero penatration and watched in disbelief as he ran away with 27 of the 29 inches of my arrow sticking out of him. He jumped a fence and tripped, breaking off the majority of the arrow. What a sickening feeling. I was able to track him for about a half a mile by following his tracks and never saw a drop of blood. Somewhere out there is a pissed off mule deer with an Ulmer Edge and 3" of Carbon Express stuck in his shoulder. The camera I put on the scrapes went haywire and stopped working 12 hours after I put it out there, so I lost almost two weeks of potential pictures. The pictures below are the scrapes, some pics from late november, and some recent pictures from a different camera. I'll be back out there in a few days!

I have used them. Performance wise they shot great out of my bow. I noticed quite an improvement in my groups over the 1 degree offset vanes I was shooting before, especially at longer distances.They were also very easy to put on. My only complaint was they were very fragile. I split two of them the first time out when they were nicked by another arrow. Part of that was my own fault for shooting three arrow groups at only 20 yards. The other downside is they are kinda pricey. For about the same money, I would have your arrows helically fletched. I now shoot helical fletched Blazer vanes and love them. Long range accuracy and durability.

I put a camera on them yesterday, I'll be sure to post my findings. I am 99% sure they are from mule deer based on the size of the track. Also, all the deer I have had on camera in the area have been mule deer. I agree spot and stalk is more fun and you will see more deer. I only began bowhuniting here in AZ last year, so my stalking skills are still a work in progress! Plus, my son has recently taken an interest in hunting and its good father son time together in the blind. Thanks again for the input!

Hard to believe it's been a year already. I knew Dan from work, he was a great person. I always enjoyed talking about coues hunting with him.

I dont think it would have hurt you, heck it doesn't even have a head!

Bump with price drop.

Quail season is right around the corner and its time to get the dogs tuned up! I am looking to find a new home for: Two manual bird launchers. These are brand new, never been used. They are large enough for pigeon, quail or chukar. Each has a 50ft pull cord that I put on. $70 each or buy both for $130 and ill throw in the trap for free! Homemade pigeon trap/bird transport cage. Approximately 3ft x 1ft. $20. Im located in Sahuarita (Tucson area). Id be happy to answer any questions or send additional pics.

I will be out opening weekend for sure! I rarely take the dog out before November, other than for training. Even though he's snakebroke, I still worry about the snakes he cant see or smell. Plus in the hot mornings, hes only good for a few hours. I have found that for Gambels, I usually make out better without the dogs. For scaled or mearns, I wont go without my dog. There's nothing like the whirring sound of a flushing quail on a glorious fall morning! Good luck to all!

I am cleaning out the garage and looking to help fund some new glass. Here's what I would like to find a new home for: Marine issue ILBE internal frame pack. Pack is in very good condition with no rips, tears, and good zippers. It has the lid, but no waist belt ( I found waist belts on ebay for around $25 but never got around to ordering one). $80 Older ALICE external frame pack. Good condition but does show some wearing. Good starter pack for kids or to haul out javelina so you dont contaminate your good pack! $30 Two surplus duffle bags. Very good condition. Use for storing gear, bug out bags, use your imagination! $20 each. Surplus sleeping pad. Not going to lie, this sucks to sleep on. But it makes a good shooting mat or a lightweight pad to make hours long glassing sessions more bearable. $10 I will be more than happy to answer any questions or send additional pics. I am located in Sahuarita (Tucson area).

Like a feline Chuck Norris!

I had a 4a late rifle tag a few years ago and used Millers Southwestern Processing for 2 of our 3 bulls. I was very happy with the product and service. As another member stated, they will have a refrigerated trailer staged at Forest Lakes off 260. The guys brother also does taxidermy so it was pretty convenient to drop off the meat and head at one spot. They also delivered all the frozen meat and euro mounts to Tucson for an extra $30 (well worth it!).

Awesome! You, sir, are a BEAST!

Well done!

Congratulations! Thats still a nice bull and the memories with family are priceless.

Awesome, good luck! What unit are you going to? We are planning a high country archery mule deer hunt next year up there, probably in 70 or 74.

We just got back from hunting mule deer and turkey in unit 1. These past few days the bulls have been very active bugeling. Also noticed some of the bigger bulls starting to run with cows. The first few days we only saw some spikes and raghorns with cows, but the last few days we saw 5-6 herds that had a 300-340" (and one pushing 360" ish) bull with them. It was cool watching the big bull for a while as he was pretty fired up and was thrashing a small tree for about 20 minutes. To only have a unit 1 tag this year.......

So I have been lurking for while and recently joined this fantastic forum. A bit about myself. I moved to southern AZ about 8 years ago from Ohio. Since moving out west, I have rekindled my passion for hunting. I have found that western hunting is much more challenging, yet more rewarding than back east. I primarily archery hunt, but will never pass on a rifle or muzzleloader tag! I didnt draw anything from AZ or NM this year, so here I sit with only a handful of OTC tags and a desire to hunt. My question is regarding the west end archery cow/spike tags on the White Mountain Apache Tribe Reservation. With only 70 tags, are these tough to draw since they switched from first come first served? Has anyone done this hunt before and, if so, what was your experience like? $380 is a somewhat bitter pill to swallow, but my expectations would be to possibly fill the freezer, see some nice elk, and gain some more experience hunting elk in general. If nothing else, it will be good practice for when I draw my unit 9 early archery tag next year! Any exerience or input would be greatly appreciated.

I recently had a new string installed at the Tucson location and the guys there were fantastic. Great service and very knowledgeable.

It's been locked indefinitely by the ranch who owns the property. You can go around it by staying on the north split at Batamote Ranch, this turns into San Juan Ranch Rd. This road will turn west and parallel the Sierrita Mountains. Take the first left after the road turns west and that will lead you back to Batamote on the west side of the ranch. You can also take Rancho Seco (MP 9 Arivaca Rd) north to Batamote and come from the west.

Congratulations on a fine deer! Great story and lesson on patience and perseverance.

+1 on the extended turkey choke tube. If you are able to, I would get a box of #4 and #5's. Set up a piece of cardboard at 40 yds and shoot both of them to see which patterns better for your particular gun. Every gun/choke combination is unique and will pattern differently. I switched to the Winchester Longbeard XR shells last year and have been very happy with the patterns they shoot from my gun. I am not sure if they are offered in 2 3/4".

I agree that the success rates are skewed ar best. Are they based entirely on the option hunter survey that is mailed out? On a side note, NM is now requiring hunters to complete their surveys online or they are not allowed to apply for a draw or license the following year.