mattys281

Was it public land? There's a good chance he was killed by someone who's just not into the interweb. I've known some guys who are deer killing machines, but can't even turn on a pc let alone post pics up on a forum.

Az is not the only state flipping them the bird. I think Texas was probably the first & they're still going strong with the sentiment. http://www.daviddewhurst.com/blog/tell-obama-to-leave-our-guns-alone

Having never killed an elk, I'd say.... maybe. Maybe because I may have already killed a spike bull earlier.

There is a political forum on this site for a reason: political discussions. If someone doesn't like them, they are welcome to stay in the hunting forums & not open them. Snapshot is very emotional on the topic, but he brings up some good points. The republican picks in 08 were a joke. The dems were out to snatch up votes by 'making history' with either a woman or a black. The republicans tried to counter by 'making history' w/ a woman. IN the end, the whole thing was like watching a very bad episode of American Idol (bad being a relative term, since I think they all suck). Neither party presented a viable candidate but the dems got minorities & the progressive/it's hip to be pc college age kids (18-25) out in record numbers. I don't know if they won the election or not, but they definetely won the 'show' in our hero-worshipping, cultureless country.

I bowhiked for about 5 years before I finally lucked into my first kill with stick & string when I was 19 years old. Didn't kill another thing with my bow until I was 28 or 29. Suddenly started dropping rabbits like flies, then killed another javi, a couple deer, another javi another deer.... Currently, I haven't put an arrow into an animal since Jan, 2011. I'm not sure about your situation, but I know exactly what my problem has always been: I get wrapped up in work & family & end up not scouting or hunting. During the last 12 months I've spent a total of 10 days hunting. Hard to complain about not killing when I don't spend much time trying. Keep positive bud, & put as many hours in as you can. That's about all you can really do. If you have a little extra cash, I think it's worth the drive to go plug an exotic on a ranch in Texas or Ca. I shot a nice looking sheep at one over in Ca a few years ago. It's certainly not the same as killing a deer in the forest, but it's a good practice/confidence builder. Kinda like hitting the batting cages before playing in a big ball game.

But apparently it is still legal to make salt licks?

"Tolerance is the last virtue of a dying culture" - Aristotle. He got it centuries ago, but people are too damned ignorant to see it today. I honestly think there is no saving this country, as there is nothing that unifies it. No common values, no shared sense of morality, etc. We gave all those away in the name of political correctness over the last 50 years.

I know there's folks on here from all walks of life and/or career fields, so it's worth posting. I work for an aerospace shop in Tempe, Az. We are looking for experienced machinists & hand finishers (deburr hands). We are also taking resumes for a facility maintenance person, which is a good entry level job for someone interested in manufacturing as a career or even studying engineering (many of our machinists & other shop employees are 'home grown'). Resumes can be emailed to me at m.stevens@jrthunt.com or faxed to (480) 967-5929. A little bit about us, we are a world class supplier to Honeywell & other firms, with annual sales over $7 million. Currently, we are negotiating contracts with a couple new customers & anticipating substantial growth this year. It is still a rather small company, around 40 employees, & is pretty casual. Great bunch of guys, real easy to get along with. As for benefits, we have paid vacation & the company pays 100% of the cost for health & dental insurance for our employees, with additional vision insurance availbe for a small cost. Thanks. Matt Stevens

This sounds just like a comment I would have made before I'd ever killed an desert deer with my bow. Lots of ethics (excuses), no successes, but that was just me. Now that I've killed a few of them, I leave the ethics calls to the guy with the tag taking the shot. Congrats on a great muley! I've got a deer on the wall from a similar shot angle. Way to get it done. The deer I just shot in January was actually a similar shot angle (archery desert buck down) when I grunted at him to stop in my lane he stopped broadside then quartered to me, I took the shot and don't regret it one bit. These desert deer are hard to come by you have to take what's given to you. I've lost one deer in my life and when I shot him he was perfectly broadside and I thought I pinwheeled him at 34 yards. Go figure. That's me too. The deer I shot at 50, on the wall. The one I shot at 80, on the wall. The little button buck I pegged at 32 yards (broadside), jumped the string, took it in the guts & died out in the desert some where. Nothing is certain in bowhunting, but luck definetely favors the persistent, not the picky. Again, just my .02.

That's some pretty awesome scenery. Thanks for sharing.

This sounds just like a comment I would have made before I'd ever killed an desert deer with my bow. Lots of ethics (excuses), no successes, but that was just me. Now that I've killed a few of them, I leave the ethics calls to the guy with the tag taking the shot. Congrats on a great muley! I've got a deer on the wall from a similar shot angle. Way to get it done.

Az, Texas, Utah & several others are already flipping the bird to the over-reach of Obama & his cronies. The states DO have the power to protect the people from the Fed & it is fantastic to see them doing it.

Apparently one of the guys I work with has somewhat of a checkered past. He has a felony, not sure what kind, on his record from about 25 years ago. At the time, he was sentenced to 3 years, suspended & the charge was supposed to be expunged from his record after 10 years if he was a good boy. He never followed up on it to make sure it was expunged. ABout 6 months ago, he goes into a gun store out in Mesa some where & tries to buy a 12 gauge. Fills out all the paper work & it comes back as 'on hold'. 3 days later the gun store calls him & tells him everything is fine & he can come pick up the shotgun. Fast forward 6 months to yesterday & he gets a phone call from an ATF agent asking if he did purchase the shotgun, so he says yes, he did. They arranged for him to bring it to work & meet him in the parking lot to verify the correct serial number. Well, they took it away from him. My boss & I watched it go down through the front office window. I don't really know what to make of that. What the heck good is a background check if they just change their mind & come & take a gun you already paid for? It doesn't seem right that you can pass a check & then they can change their minds later, after the purchase. Personally, if I was in the market for any firearms, I think I'd just buy used from now on.

That's what I told him. Call a criminal lawyer & at least get a consultation.

I've been seeing a lot lately about county sheriffs sending the white house letters very respectfully stating that while they sympathize with the shooting victims, they will not let a horrific criminal act be used as a step ladder for the destruction of the 2nd amendment & they will not let such unconstitutional laws be enforced within their county, by federal agents or any others. I sure hope Sheriff Joe & the other Az sheriff's follow suit.

Pack is almost brand new. I got it for my birthday last July & have only used it 2 or 3 times. I'm wanting to buy a new tripod & Jim White head, but the boss said I have to clean out the closet first. I wanted this pack as I thought it would be an upgrade to my REI ultra lite pack, but I actually prefer the fit & feel of the REI pack, even though I like the pockets better on the Badlands pack. Anyhow, it's very near brand new & sells for around $270 new. I'm looking for $225 o.b.o. Thanks. http://www.amazon.com/Badlands-Sacrifice-Backpack-AP-12-Inch/dp/B003ZWDSZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358994386&sr=8-1&keywords=badlands+sacrifice Matt Stevens mattys281@yahoo.com (602)908-2931

Well, work & the weather cut my opening weekend down to just Sunday. Had some action, but not close enough for bow range, so I fired away with the new camera instead. I don't care for the shutter noise, but it didn't seem to bug anybody at longer ranges. All pics taken from 80-110 yards. Picture quality is pretty good & I'm sure it can be improved once I learn how to use this gadget a little better. We got baby having breakfast: Momma on the lookout: & some teenage punk tryin to score some tail. It didn't work out for him.... Keep trying little buddy!

I go directly to the forum through my favorites & couldn't get on at all yesterday. Seems to be working this morning though. Did they fix something last night?

I've been able to get on but it keeps freezing on me. All other sites seem ok.

Sure looks like a great year. Your family doesn't leave many tags unfilled, good work!

That's quite a trophy.

Rick's a bowhunting machine. Nice buck!

As you've already seen, every single archer has a different opinion as to which brand & even which model is the best. I'll throw in my .02 as well. I've killed three deer with archery equipment in the last 5 years & the one thing I can tell you from my experience is this: for a late season archery hunter, the bow is probably the least important link in the chain. Dang near all the new ones shoot great & fast, there's no need to drop huge coin on one. Diamond Archery, Bear, Mission & many others make great shooting, mid priced bows. Then, of course, there's also used equipment. I've been shooting the same bow for 3 years now (Diamond Black Ice) & have been investing in better clothing, optics & trail cameras, things that get me closer & keep me comfortable so I can stay out longer. You can't hunt if you're shivering your butt off 3 hourst into an all day sit. If you're spot & stalk hunting, you now need to get within probably 60 yards or less (depending on the archer, I've killed at 80). That's a world of difference compared to setting up at 300+ & taking a high-powered rifle shot. Better glass will not only help find a trophy, but also help you find all those does & smaller bucks that are between you & your trophy, not to mention evaluate the land better. For me, my prioritization of gear goes: 1.) clothing, 2.) glass, 3.) Weapon. But that's just my opinion.

Ever get a close look at your dog on the run? They're.... well..... interesting. This one's for the canines that make life so much better. Post up the pics if you got 'em.

Awesome pics. Keep 'em coming. Hard to imagine life without a good dog by your side.