Str8Shot

I can tell you one thing that is for sure .. make sure those teen boys with out a DL or helmets do not go to pick up a girl on just an OHV quad ... They got every ticket thrown at them that was possible.. they were fortunate that it did have Insurance ... a lot of $$$$ were cut to a few hundred $$$ plus community service ... lets just say that making them pay taught them the proper lesson...

I have a friend that always used rolled foam.. when looking to replace last time he went with this and swears he has never slept better ... http://www.amazon.com/Extra-Large-Orthopedic-Memory-Camping/dp/B003WCOLQM/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1433520407&sr=1-1&keywords=memory+foam+mattress+camping

Sounds like it may be staying wet most of the next 7 days with a small break on Monday and Tuesday ....

I have had 2 nephews in the last 3 years get pulled over and given a slew of tickets taking out the only OHV not street legal quad... This quad is not on DOT tires and in neither case was their a citation for the tires ... For over 6 years, I have seen people claim there is a Mysterious Statute that does not seem to be in the revised State statutes or any official publication that defines making your OHV street legal... In all these years and after being on many Forums both Hunting and offroad/OHV sites I have yet to see anyone be able to share a citation statute violation code for non DOT tires ... I see nothing wrong with having DOT tires and for those who spend as much time on paved and hard-packed maintained roads as they do the more rugged stuff I would recommend them. But until I see an actual statue - official publication or at least a citation with the violation code ( so the validity can be researched through the laws ) I am not buying the DOT thing as being something more than what Tire retailers are selling to the public to make more $$$$$

As stated many times before trphy.. NO .. I do not work for G&F, but usually with a little searching on the old website you see the documentation and proposals for something like this .. this does not seem like a small scale fish survey in the least... That is why I asked if anyone has seen or heard anything specific... since trying to see what is up after reading this thread I have seen numbers from mid 1400's to 2600 small mouth shocked and dumped ... If that is the case I think everyone deserves and explaination !

The bass in Willow Springs and even the few that pop up in Woods canyon from time to time have not been there for generations ... They were transplanted illegally over the last several decades... I can tell you one thing the Trout fishing the last 10 years versus what it was in the 80's and 90's does not even compare... back then you would fill a stringer of qualiy trout in less than an hour almost amytime you went and catch maybe one or two small bass... now you can spend half a day catch a ton of Pecker Sized Small Mouth, a couple decent small mouth and if you are lucky a few stocked trout... I have mixed feelings on if what they are trying to do is wrong or right and feel if it is about the money they stop stocking trout and make it exclusively a northern bass location ... I hate the idea that the Bass being taken are not being moved to lakes that could benefit from the population increases such as Apache or Pleasant ... Never the less this is one G&F plan that seems poorly thought out and poorly executed to this point ... Does anyone have any offical documents on what the actual plan is or is everything going by word of mouth ... I had not seen anything nor heard anything about this until this thread.

I have not had any issues with the MSR sweetwater but am hearing good things about the Platypus Gravity Works and thinking of trying one

Come on Phil ... With how expensive it is to go to the movies anymore, some of us like getting a full day or two of entertainment for free ... actually I appreciate your effort and concern but based on past experience there will be plenty of Pissing and Moaning come Tuesday June 10 !

100% agree .. better be ready to make a couple trips .. maybe bring the Mule back with you on the last one...

I like the list ... Some suggestions from the few I have done in the past... A good water filter and knowing what sources you have in the area makes for more versatility in what you can pack out. Hiking in some water caches prior to hunt is also beneficial.. as water is always your most weight. We always had a base camp a few miles away - usually because there were always a couple guys in group that did not want to hike in so far... By doing this we were able to have more food options from.. vacuum sealed meals easy to boil up and eat versus dehydrated... we ate well only doing one trip back half way through on day 4 ... things I would add to the list ... A good steel to keep blades sharp, zip ties (4 small and 4 medium) can come in as handy as that duct tape, some game bags, my fist aid is a bit more extensive and has full survival kit as well I keep it as a separate as possible and can be put on any of my packs ( http://www.amazon.com/Condor-Rip-Away-EMT-Pouch-Black/dp/B003TPNG5E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1433434887&sr=8-1&keywords=Condor+Rip-Away+EMT+Pouch ) ... I would not trade my GPS for anything .. I use a rino 655 ... no need for additional watch, or camera plus most of our group uses rinos for easy polling and locations... that being said still keep a reliable compass in the first aid/ survival kit... at the end of the day it is figuring out what works best for you ... a lot of making your pack lighter will also make your wallet lighter in the process but IMO it is worth it.

Awesome way to get away and catch some small mouth!!!

As I said not trying to be in a pissing match ... But to be ticketed you must be in violation of a state statute and I have yet to see any statute to date that mentions DOT tires to make an OHV street legal ... If you know someone who got a ticket I would love to know the statute and violation they were cited for since to date I am not aware of any that exists ... The statutes are pretty clear all the way up to DOT helmets required for anyone under the age of 18... I am not saying I am right and Murphy is wrong , but until I see a state statute revision that states otherwise I am not buying it ... http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.asp?Title=28

You will not find it in any Arizona state statute or the official literature that describes the laws and what is required to be street legal ... You can find it all here ... http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/outdoor_recreation/ohv/atv_brochure.pdf Of course a retail site is going to try and sell the DOT tires and make buyers feel they have to have them but the reality is that in 2014 the National Center For Highway Safety put out a report and recommendation for all states to outlaw the USE of OHV's on pave public highways and roads.. one of their big complaints was the fact that only a few states require DOT highway approved tires, and of course most OHV tires suck on pavement/asphalt when the surface is wet. Every state is different in Arizona there is no part of the the law that requires it. p.s. nor am I trying to get into a pissing match .. only passing on accurate information.

Murphy you have brought this up a couple times, but the way the law is written, Highway tires are not a requirement to making street legal an OHV .... If you can show a change to the statute or any current official public publication that confirms this it would be helpful... I am not sure how big of an issue this would be the last few time I got tires most I looked at were DOT approved on-road/off-road anyway.

Yes ... and have seen and know many others that have. Easier to make it street legal and not have to worry !

nice Bronze Backs too ... Congrats on your catch and final weight !

Very nice finds and must agree with 6aNut that is great looking well trained lab...

LOL .... did a cut and paste when I realized I was in the quote box and it made it look that way .... Went back and fixed it

I have seen too many years in the last 10 where on all the various hunting forums Archery hunters were complaining of how hard the hunts were and that they should move the dates back a week or two in order to more coincide with the RUT... So they want first crack at the best bulls and the benefits of more Rut activity... With out game and fish trying to compensate for the effect pushing the hunts back would create on the other hunts? That also makes no Sense. The Bows and Muzzle loaders of today are a far cry from what they were 20 - 30 years ago and IMO are far from the idea of what primitive once was. The effective range and accuracy is easily double of what it was 20 years ago when you rarely heard of guys taking shot of over 50 - 60 yards with a bow and over 100 yards with a muzzle loader. If archery hunters want to be moved back a week or two in hopes of having more rut activity, I see no issue with letting some of the muzzle loader hunts go before them... General Rifle hunts IMO should not be put first period. If They do offer a limited number of tags for such an early rifle hunt, you can bet that it is an agenda being lobbied for by guys with $$$$$ and outfitters who want to sooner or later create premier Hunts at higher cost in order to use income as a way to increase opportunity for the more wealthy.

Timing can be everything .. Still better than being at work like some of Us .. Have a fun safe weekend !

Better than a day at work ... What you using for bait? Sunrise can be a tough lake for shore fishing and is one of those lakes where heavier line a more weight to get out further and deeper can be your best bet ... way back an old-timer from Greer showed us a way that has always produced on that lake from shore using Power bait and inflated night crawlers ... either work great on a single hook behind 1 - 2 oz barrel weights ... Or do a double hook rig using power bait on a short leader up front and trailing an inflated night crawler a couple feet back ... get it out there far and in no time you can fill a stringer of those football Rainbows!

I believe every day is a day to thank Veterans and Active Military alike when you have the chance and This weekend is no different than any other. So a big thanks goes out to all and any Men and Women who have served or are serving in our Military ... This weekend, I raise my Glass and toast the Men, Women,Friends, and Families of all who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives to protect our freedoms and way of life. To those who can no longer be honored face to face... May your Sacrifice never be forgotten and Never Be taken for Granted ! Cheers and Thank You !

I said that is my personal opinion ... so what the heck does it matter to you the why I feel that way. You are right about one thing a lot more can go wrong trying to close the distance to under 30 yards ... things that for most ethical hunters would keep then from even letting the arrow fly ... I have on 2 occasions seen game( Elk and Mule Deer) injured and flee by hunters that took over 80 yard shots that were not even paying enough attention to see that in both cases there was another hunter one in a stand and one in a blind that where waiting for the animal to give them a better shot while being half the distance or more closer. On 2 almost 3 occasions I have had 1000 yard rifle shooters sling lead over my head taking several shots each blowing up the hill side, on one of them a buck was hit , unfortunately for the guy slinging lead a wounded buck that was never found became his campfire story for the remainder of the hunt. I doubt he even talks about to those who were not there. I am allowed my opinion ... I have no issue with the OP making his choice and taking a heck of a nice buck... IMO when people start throwing out long range distances in a public forum it is to try and achieve an atta boy , but not everyone is going to agree. I can tell you one thing ... None of these guys are going to post on a Hunting forum the times they let an arrow fly at long range only to find the shot not be true and being unable to retrieve a wounded animal.

Nice Buck anyway you look at it ... As far as distances I give props to any out there that spend the time and dedication and have the confidence to take a long range shot be it with a Bow or Rifle. That being said I do think things like distance are best kept among your group of friends .. Once it goes out on the Net not only does it look a little like bragging but it encourages some that will end up not having the same type of success. I am always more envious of those stories where the hunter got close than took a long range shot ... getting within 20 yards of Rutting Buck with does and getting a kill shot IMO is a far greater accomplishment than defeating the odds of what could go wrong taking a 100 yard shot ... same goes for those 1000 yard shooters that have slung lead over my head while I tried to close the distance on a Buck.

It is becoming way more necessary to be able to get your own bait ... I would throw out a craw trap too ... nothing better than using live craws to catch Smallies , just remember they have to be caught in the body of water you are using them !