tmcguire

Interesting read. If prescribed burns do curb the spread of the disease, it would mean the "Smoky bear affect" has even more consequences than just huge wildfires every few years. This article goes into more details, but it talks about how prior to the 1900s smaller fires every 5-10 years were the norm and served to clear all the underbrush and create healthier forests. http://www.npr.org/2012/08/23/159373691/how-the-smokey-bear-effect-led-to-raging-wildfires Also, not to derail the thread, but have there been any confirmed CWD cases in Arizona? Was hunting the San Carlos for Turkey this past spring and watched two elk walk into a tank all the way up to their chins and just stand there with just their heads exposed and drink and drink and drink. Honestly forgot about the whole ordeal until reading this thread. The animals looked healthy, but seemed like odd behavior considering it was 40 degrees outside. (I know back East that was how you could tell a whitetail had CWD, when the disease progressed enough they would normally just drown in a pond or lake trying to drink as much water as they could)

That's when you force feed them! Can't wait... Guy needs to celebrate less and reload more. Ha, true... that fish completed my 10 dorado limit for the day, but those 3 band guns take quite a while to reload. I know guys who dangle a 2nd gun from a float nearby for when the school starts circling like that. Side note: that video's a good example of why they always say to keep one fish hanging. Whole school stuck around until I brought that fish up, peaced out immediately afterwards.

That's when you force feed them! Can't wait...

Awesome hunt! Looks like you guys had a blast, congrats on the birds!

Congrats on getting two species down and good luck on the rest of your slam! I kinda buggered up my single year slam opportunity this year by forgetting to put in for some quote Osceola hunts (baby born in November will do that too you ). Have 2 Rios down so far in San Diego, then head to Northwest Florida to visit family for Easter (and do a little Eastern hunting), then San Carlos after. Maybe I'll make a bonzaii run to South Florida while I'm there LOL. Leave a few birds for me at San Carlos I have the late hunt.

I don't want to hear that... have a late hunt on San Carlos. Ya'll need some rain, and lots of it... to cool those birds off

Guess what I'm curious about is do the deer know the county boundaries? If you're hunting D16, you're essentially hunting an area that 4 supposed deer subspecies converge. "Pacific Hybrid" is probably the best way I've heard them described. Not knocking anyone, I'm honestly curious how these different subspecies are assigned. Can anyone list out identifying characteristics between a California, Southern, Desert, Peninsular, etc. Mule Deer? Or are the only differences apparent in a blood test.

I "identify" as a Floridian LOL... Out of curiosity, why are you coming from AZ to hunt deer in southern CA? Ducks I could see, but deer? You know WE come over there normally. Juries still out on what we call our deer here, BlackMules or MuleTails... I have heard the term Southern Mule Deer used by biologists, but I do not believe it is a recognized subspecies for records.

I hunt deer in D16. In general, most of the bucks in Socal are forkys. There are some bucks that show a blacktail/hybrid antler structure, but the majority never get a 2nd branch like is typical with a Muley. (of course there are always exceptions). The forky below is my buck from 2 years ago and honestly is probably a top 10-15% buck for SoCal. The other two I posted below are about the largest bucks I've seen taken in D16 -- I blocked out the hunters faces since I do not know them.

That's a killer deal... great cameras for the money. Have four of those running as we speak. If the deal falls through, I'll take them

For cheap reliable pump, you can't beat the 870. For auto's, I'm currently shooting a Beretta A300, great gun for the money.... might cerakote it next year as I tend to abuse my duck guns and it is not blued. Have put several cases of duck loads through it in pretty nasty locations without one hang up. If I was in the market for a gun that would compare with your SBEII but didn't want to spend SBE II money, I'd probably look around for a like new Beretta Xtrema or Xtrema 2, arguably one of the best waterfowl guns ever made... 3.5" chamber as well, if you do someday want to chase geese or turkeys (no need for 3.5" for ducks). I've seen some go for around $800 on GunBroker. Honestly though, the way gun manufacturing has improved... if you're shopping new and keep your price point around $700 or higher you're going to get a quality auto. Franchi, Stoeger, Benelli, Beretta, Winchester, etc. are all going to make a reliable weapon at that price point... just a matter of fit, finish, and longer warranties the higher up you go.

Little bit of a drive and over the border into Californistan, but there are some available here: https://www.facebook.com/Applewood-Retrievers-478117018902107/?ref=page_internal

Don't hold your breath on Yeti bringing their prices down. If they were going to do so, they would have to compete with RTIC. Instead they used some of their healthy profit margin to lawyer up and remove the competition.

That's a pretty rough picture to try to go off of. Try looking through some example photos from different Taxidermist's and they will tell you the exact form they used. Just linking a buddies page from back home as an example. Much easier to tell the form used on shots like that. https://www.facebook.com/pg/CoopersTaxidermy/photos/?ref=page_internal

65s are out everywhere. Might be worth calling RTIC directly and see if you can backorder one. Mine just arrived yesterday. For $140 you can't beat it! Edit: just chatted with them. They are only running the current deal with the inventory they have. So once they are sold out. It's over. Sorry guys.