Str8Shot

Nothing wrong with the Pics... Good write-up on what sounds like an excellent time regardless of the unfilled tags.

here is a closeup just for you of the elk tacos sprinkled with garlic salt. Taco night during our hunts has sort of become a tradition! Yum! Now that is just rubbing it in ... Seriously since seeing the pics I have gotten some Elk thawing so I can make up a batch of my Elk Red Chili to enjoy... have to make a double batch so I can take some on my upcoming hunt.

Sounds like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing the pictures especially the last one, there is nothing better than some good Elk Tacos ..... and now I am Hungry

We will have to agree to disagree. My only point here is that hunters who disagree with baiting usually use the "fair chase" arguement. From a bowhunters stand point (I am a bowhunter exclusively), one person's fair chase is another man's easy way out (ie, long range rifles). In other words, I see you using a rifle at 400 yds as an easy way to hunt. You see me as using salt as an easy way out with a bow. Either way, we both are using advantages to fill our tag in each others eyes. To those who spot and stalk with a bow in the desert.... my hat's off to you, because I have done it and it is impossible. While I do have a rife that allows me to reach out past 400 years. I find it more exciting to close the gap at least close to 200 yards or less. I am not stating, that my view of baiting being less ethical is based on fair chase, it is based on the fact it is a tactic of conditioning big game. Many of the states that have passed rules against baiting have done so because of how the practice on private lands have impacted the behaviors and drawn a good numbers of big game from the surrounding public lands. I would not argue that your complete process is not as demanding. You have to work hard to keep your spot full of candy in order to condition those animals. However, bait is not a tool of hunting. Your tools probably consist of the latest Bow technology, range finder (for taking an ethical shot even though many archers shoot way beyond what many say is ethical), stands and or blinds, the best arrows and broad-heads, and whatever gear helps make you invisible to the game. All those tools effect your behavior as a hunter but none condition or change the behaviors or practices of the animal. This is why you bait, you do the hard work to bring them to you so your hunt is easier with a higher probability for success. If you are trying for trophy fish you might as well be fishing on a fish farm so you already know there are plenty there. Baiting is altering the habitat to condition that is my issue with baiting, but as I stated it is legal and you have a right to enjoy your process does not mean hunters as an entire group have to accept your practices just because the legality. I know plenty of successful Bow hunters who use no stands, blinds, or bait. Very few of these guys do not sit water and prefer to spot and stalk for the thrill of the hunt. It is no big deal to Kill something that thinks they are coming to the dinner table for a treat, but you can validate your methodology how ever you want. Myself and many others will forever feel it is on the razors edge of hunting ethics and is only embraced by those who use the Law as their moral compass. As one Hunting writer stated "legality describes the outside boundaries within which ethical choices are made." Just because something is legal does not make it the most ethical practice. I do believe Americans can embrace this ideal after what has been done to this Country by banks and Corporate America hiding behind the legality of it all.

As long as it is not dueling Banjos and some guy calling out "Squeal like a pig!" I will make sure to stop and say Hi.

I say go do what you want, and have fun doing it YOUR way. Don't worry what other people think. I'm sure a lot of the same people who stick their nose up to baiting also sit on water holes, use 15x Swaro's, 2 way radios, rifles that shoot 700 yards, plastic elk bugles - and then they preach fair chase... My point is, sometimes "baiting" is more than throwing down a salt block. Isn't water bait? Elk bugles during the rut? bait? Turkey calls? Waterfoul/Turkey decoys? Scent attractant? Do whatever is legal and have a blast doing it! Anyone who says that shooting a deer they glassed on a ridge 400 yds away is any more "fair chase" than shooting one out of a tree stand at 10yds away with a bow and arrow and a salt block laying on the ground will have a tough arguement I think. That deer has NO chance or seeing or winding you. Really, what is the difference between bringing a bull elk in with "bait", or bringing one in with a Primos elk bugle? You are still changing their behavior by artificial means. Really, WHAT is the difference? There is no difference other than the people who use those things don't want to admit they bait because they are "real" hunters! Just my $.02 Baiting is legal, and that is the bottom line. I don't agree with it, but I am sick of guys trying to compare tools like long range rifles and binos or even calling to baiting. Baiting is adding something tangible to the habitat that did not exist before in order to condition the game to change habits beyond their traditional practices. What these guys, whom bait, use as bait is equivalent to candy and treats for game. Bugles and calls may take advantage to a behavior, but calling is not conditioning. That conditioning is imprinted and is as random as the number of bulls ranging the hills. Sitting man made water holes would be the easiest stretch for these guys to make but even in Arizona the majority(that means not all folks) of man made water holes were put in place for cattle. For those who choose to bait, enjoy doing your thing, but quit trying to validate your practice by comparing baiting to the use of more advanced tools of hunting.

Good luck to you as well Win Mag ... We are planning to be down at least through the 9th ....

Nice buck... way to get it done. By the looks of it she has it made, not only her own personal guide but luxury accommodations as well.

That there is a STUD ... I am sure there are a few smaller guys that won't be sad to not have him busting them from all the does during the Rut. Awesome Deer, Awesome country ( looks familiar) ;)

Unless they have changed anything since last year, the number I was given for the area of 36b is (520)761-2565. It is always good to talk to the agents when entering as well as in the field as they will keep you updated on whats been going on. Expect with cooler temperatures there to be an increase in activity in. In the early mornings it is not uncommon to see them huddled up under trees like a herd of javelina. We have seen many over the last few years but not even close to the numbers we seen the 2 years previous. Make sure not to assist them. If you find some on the road clearly ready to give up, Call or find a BP agents. P.S. even if you don't have signal, try to way point the GPS cords. and share with them as soon as possible. They will follow up on the information.

That is an awesome Buck. Those big bodied ones can be fun, my buddy had his a couple years ago weighed in over 100 lbs minus head, hide, and legs below the knees, and he fought all the way back to the truck

I have been very happy with what I have seen from the BP down there the last 5 years. They have responded to 5 different reports of drug mules we called in and gave gps locations for. It is cool to see a bird fly in minutes after calling the number and circling them up. 3 times groups of 3 and 4 agents in full on night tact gear set out from our camps and twice returned with their prey. I have seen a big difference since our first year to last year on the numbers we have seen.

Great Buck! way to get it done

This is a stupid question ! Why not ask why G&F can harass herds pushing with helicopters and netting or tranquilizing some to collar? They are tasked with managing our resources so guys and gals that love hunting and fishing can do so. Are you really going to try and compare them doing their job to you enjoying your recreation, and then cry foul because they are granted certain freedoms to perform their jobs better. G&F can net and shock a lake to do fish studies, maybe everyone should be able to fish that way as well.

Well to answer your question I know for sure my fathers elk was dead. The hit he placed on his bull was square in the scenter of the liver. The blood in the bulls bed was all dried up and there was no new fresh blood anywhere. Same for mine this year other than my hit was low and at the base of the liver. The gut pile was in his bed with no new fresh blood. If these elk were still alive when the perps found them then I should have seen fresh blood and there should have been another wound in the vitals left behind. No one would have shot the bull in the head with archery equipment. Sure they could have cut his throat, hit a artery in the neck or hind quarters but then there should have been fresh blood. One other thing, our trucks were parked not a quarter mile from where these guys drug the bull out to the main road. If they wanted to find the rightfull hunter they wouldn't have to look far. No these guys got out of the area as fast as they could. I can see where couesfanatic is coming from here and I do believe the majority of hunters would call in G&F when locating an expired animal, but I must say some things don't add up and it seems that there is a big assumption that this elk was stolen versus finally laid to rest by another hunters arrow. You claim to feel that your shot was fatal but after 8 hours the elk had to much go for you to even get back on him and watch him bed a second time. You claim he was gutted where he bedded but you state he got away from you 8 hours after hit and mention nothing about watching him bed down and knowing the location, this seems validated by the fact that you state it was crows that led you to the remains. You claim you bumped him at 3 p.m. which gave almost 3 and half hours of hunting light to still relocate the bull a fatally wounded bull which would have most likely been dropping down and looking to bed again if so was the the degree of damage. Knowing that many elk hunters focus on the fist and last hours of light and that you had seen other hunters you had to wave off in the area I do not see how withdrawing was the smart thing to do. I am sure your CSI skills in field proved the worse from your perception, but there are numerous shots that could have been enough to expire an already wounded bull that may not have include the vitals. And it would seem that it is possible and plausible that another evening hunter found him, probably in a depleted state but possibly up, and put another arrow him that finally put him down. With all those emotions I am sure you had going through you, and the actions you stated you took to go find the thief, it would be easy to assume you did not waste much time circling back out much of a distance looking for another blood trail, possibly from a second shot. It is extremely sad you lost a good bull, but on the high side took another to go with the ones your dad and bro took. However, as much as it does suck, I have the respect for the sport and my fellow hunters to believe that it was a missed opportunity and the majority of guys and gals would do the right thing (contacting G&F and trying to locate the hunter) versus stoop to such pathetic scumbag levels as tagging another hunters game as their own. There is a big grey area of what if's and assumptions that often seem to point at the worst possible scenario as the actual facts. In my opinion this tarnishes our sport and does little to influence and teach newer less fortunate generations of hunters to have the same respect for the sport as those of us who learned the "old School ways" from our fathers and Grandfathers. The sport is changing and has become more of a competition for many (even this site promotes this through the contests), and this is unfortunate. Yet, I only stick to one assumption, that the majority of fellow hunters share the love of hunting for the right reasons. We may all have different beliefs in the methods and how we hunt, but at the end of the day majority of the hunters I have ever crossed in the field are stand up people doing something they love. If your assumptions were right I would not include the person or persons in this group of fellow hunters. I agree with you and stated they could have shot the elk in a place other than the vitals left behind. If this was the case I am just out of luck. However, I did look around for a second blood trail which was not there nor was there any blood in the area indicating someone else shot this elk where he laid. CSI I don't claim to be but I have been doing this long enough to be able to tell what probably happened. This being said even if I were to shoot an elk and later determine it had previously been mortally shot, I would try my best to find the hunter who had placed the first shot. I don't feel by shooting an animal who was physically disabled due to a previous shot is my trophy to take. This is the same reason I would never hunt behind a high fence. I also agree most hunters think the same way, unfortunetely there are a growing number of what I call "green" hunters who don't. I also agree it is due to the idealistic thought process out there that a successful hunt must end with a record book entry. Last year I didn't tag an elk but I had a truely memorable hunt with my father and brother. One I will never forget due to the good times we had. I agree with there being a growing number of green hunters, as you call them, and that many stretch the ideals of respecting the type of hunting ethics that the Majority of hunters have been taught (I do believe that the Majority of hunters in the field are not so green). None the less, it is an unfortunate situation but still a bit grey, and I believe more can be learned by green hunters who frequent forums by using your story to show how decisions effect the outcome of a hunt both good and bad. Calling out the worst case scenario, in my opinion, does not benefit the hunters or the sport. These green hunters, as you call them, are also the type of hunters who may leave a bull wandering wounded after losing a blood trail, and deciding to move on to kill or wound another. As hunters we need to make the right decision for preserving our sport and our herds and trusting right decisions are made, and a humane veteran hunter should feel driven to expire an animal that is found wounded when no other hunters are found in the area. I agree that in such instances that every attempt to find the original hunter should (and often are) be made. I may be naive to think in more positive terms, but this is based on the many more positive experiences I have had versus negatives.

Well to answer your question I know for sure my fathers elk was dead. The hit he placed on his bull was square in the scenter of the liver. The blood in the bulls bed was all dried up and there was no new fresh blood anywhere. Same for mine this year other than my hit was low and at the base of the liver. The gut pile was in his bed with no new fresh blood. If these elk were still alive when the perps found them then I should have seen fresh blood and there should have been another wound in the vitals left behind. No one would have shot the bull in the head with archery equipment. Sure they could have cut his throat, hit a artery in the neck or hind quarters but then there should have been fresh blood. One other thing, our trucks were parked not a quarter mile from where these guys drug the bull out to the main road. If they wanted to find the rightfull hunter they wouldn't have to look far. No these guys got out of the area as fast as they could. I can see where couesfanatic is coming from here and I do believe the majority of hunters would call in G&F when locating an expired animal, but I must say some things don't add up and it seems that there is a big assumption that this elk was stolen versus finally laid to rest by another hunters arrow. You claim to feel that your shot was fatal but after 8 hours the elk had to much go for you to even get back on him and watch him bed a second time. You claim he was gutted where he bedded but you state he got away from you 8 hours after hit and mention nothing about watching him bed down and knowing the location, this seems validated by the fact that you state it was crows that led you to the remains. You claim you bumped him at 3 p.m. which gave almost 3 and half hours of hunting light to still relocate the bull a fatally wounded bull which would have most likely been dropping down and looking to bed again if so was the the degree of damage. Knowing that many elk hunters focus on the fist and last hours of light and that you had seen other hunters you had to wave off in the area I do not see how withdrawing was the smart thing to do. I am sure your CSI skills in field proved the worse from your perception, but there are numerous shots that could have been enough to expire an already wounded bull that may not have include the vitals. And it would seem that it is possible and plausible that another evening hunter found him, probably in a depleted state but possibly up, and put another arrow him that finally put him down. With all those emotions I am sure you had going through you, and the actions you stated you took to go find the thief, it would be easy to assume you did not waste much time circling back out much of a distance looking for another blood trail, possibly from a second shot. It is extremely sad you lost a good bull, but on the high side took another to go with the ones your dad and bro took. However, as much as it does suck, I have the respect for the sport and my fellow hunters to believe that it was a missed opportunity and the majority of guys and gals would do the right thing (contacting G&F and trying to locate the hunter) versus stoop to such pathetic scumbag levels as tagging another hunters game as their own. There is a big grey area of what if's and assumptions that often seem to point at the worst possible scenario as the actual facts. In my opinion this tarnishes our sport and does little to influence and teach newer less fortunate generations of hunters to have the same respect for the sport as those of us who learned the "old School ways" from our fathers and Grandfathers. The sport is changing and has become more of a competition for many (even this site promotes this through the contests), and this is unfortunate. Yet, I only stick to one assumption, that the majority of fellow hunters share the love of hunting for the right reasons. We may all have different beliefs in the methods and how we hunt, but at the end of the day majority of the hunters I have ever crossed in the field are stand up people doing something they love. If your assumptions were right I would not include the person or persons in this group of fellow hunters.

AWESOME !!!

What about these poor kids ? http://youtu.be/nwUor9--4to

Sounds like if they do not gain control this is one fire that will throw a monkey wrench into some of the upcoming hunts (plan B and C may be needed) ... Hope they get control of the situation soon

It is not always about the size of the Bull but the size of the experience... Sounds like it will be hard to top the experience... And still an Awesome bull! p.s. my daughter would love that pink stock

It's my opinion that you traded a disguise for stolen cameras from the Cornbagger! Now that is some funny chit right there ... The disguise looks similar to the Road Warrior one you have in your pic ... CornBagger is that you ?

I hear the Corn Bagger has changed his look and now wears a disguise when taking trail cams to add to his collection... As to all those Master Baiters still out there ... it may not be lazy but what your doing is far from hunting ... your Baiting and shooting, but keep telling yourselves what ever it takes to make you happy. This of course is just my opinion, and though it may be shared my many others, I will refrain from trying to speak for anyone but myself.

As it was with everyone else..... the thought of the recent poaching of the 2 big horn sheep at canyon lake sickened me and pissed me off .... Over the last year and 5 overnight trips sleeping on the lake with my son there has not been a morning that we had awakened and not seen a couple of these Rams Standing and sky lining the early morning sunlight on the tops of the ridges .... This Saturday again we found ourselves out on the water of canyon lake over night, and every time I gazed to the tops of the jagged cliffs that so often stood as a throne for many of these Majestic animals I could not get this incident out of my mind and wonder to myself if the next sunlight would bring another sighting.... As the sun rose in the early AM on Sunday I found myself looking in the usual spots without any luck at seeing the local residents at top their cliffs .... The early morning bite was not taking off so it was time to move.... Boat motor problems found us making our way back to the next fishing hole and we decided to call it a trip and take it slow on the way back .... Moving at a snails crawl I catch movement over my shoulder and tell my Dad to stop ... There they were a herd of Big Horn sheep making their way up the rough cuts and a thankful sight for sore eyes as I counted the 8 sheep that browsed the trees on their way up the rocks .... One big Ram 3 Ewe's and 4 young ones hopped and played , browsed and sunned for everyone to see and be amazed at how they can so easily trek up this impossible looking hill side .... After 30 minutes of watching these guys and sharing this viewing with my Dad, Son, nephew , best friend and his son I said Now that made this trip all worth it ... and we continued back on our slow trip back to the Boat ramp..... All I can say is I still hope this guy gets the Max on every penalty that can be thrown at him, but I can say that seeing these guy's doing their morning ritual gives me hope that they will not be going anywhere and they will recover from the loss of the 2 Sheep taken by that poacher ...

Message sent on spotting scope

According to BP Illegal activity is down about 70 % in the 36b corridors... Now that does not mean that there is no activity ... We seen a few this past year, while I was helping the guys out on the early hunt... The closed portion( to all including law enforcement) is in 36b is south of Antelope Dr. traveling east out of Sasabe toward the Tres Balleros road, this road will connect to the tres bellatos road and run out to Ruby road ... This is a huge transition area for both Coues and Mule deer ( according to locals I have spoke with in the past) ... This corridor sees a little higher traffic according to BP .... We always go in a good size party and for the last 3 years have had no major incidents ( came close once though) I am sure the roads may be spelled a little wrong forgive me