AZAV8ER

Saw the gate? Ok you saw it locked or unlocked? Yea we went three for three also. Just more fun to get further back in to Red Rock Canyon.

In 45 years of hunting S AZ at 5000 ft +/- OCT or NOV we have come across 1 rattler.

Yep thats my method. Rarely get a chance to scout so it always go remote and rugged

there was to be a meeting about that on the 7th. I have yet to call Matt to see how it went.

I have been in concat with the manager for access issues for the region. Its an ongoing topic.

Full stock rifles look GREAT. That said pretty is as pretty does. For my tastes full stock not worth potential accuracy issues. But boy are they cool if you get one that shoots.

From my experience hunting Coues deer in 35's and 36's numbers went way down when the oaks quit producing an acorn crop. This happened around early mid 90's. Around the same time we did start seeing lions, my dad hunted here from 1940 all his life and never saw a lion, my uncle hunted hard when younger and never saw a lion and when I started hunting in 72 we saw nothing to indicate lions. Then boom mid 90's we see lions and even bag a few on deer hunts.

use Ballistic APP and a Density Altitude APP

Cabelas Silent Stalk Sneaker Hunting Boots. Just got done doing up and down rocky hillsides for 5 days. The soles on these boots are the grippiest I worn in a long time. good luck.

Nice bucks way to get after it. Made the shift from 30-06 to 270 to hunt Coues decades ago, nice choice for deer.

This brings up a key part of long range shots. Dead deer walking, deer is going to die but not until it moves far enough, or into thick enough cover leaving no blood trail. If the bullet, cartridge and range combination lets you punch through both lungs but not exit far side hide, good luck.

Went out to verify two rifles for my hunt next week, shot cold bore at 500. One rifle hit Rt 1/2 MOA made adjustments and the other was dead on a 1.5 inch bullseye. Next verified at 200 yards. Now rifles are fowled in and I am confident how were they are shooting.

Delw makes great points. Kinda depends on where Mom is on the whole camping shooting thing. I can recall being very young and helping my Dad load shotgun shells. Back then I got to run paper shells over a hot iron to straighten out the wax paper cases, red Federals and I can picture the look, feel and smell clearly. We also helped stack wads and scoop and pour shot that and prime cases. Very high quality memories.

After divorce, a move another move then my last move hand loading has gone to the side. I have time for PRS shoots and do small bore silhouette. The PRS gets me on longer targets once a month and small bore silhouette gets me on off hand & trigger work once a month. In the PRS I have found Hornady American Gunner 6.5C 140 gr to be just about as accurate as the Match Ammo from Hornady (sub 1/2 MOA in a good rifle), (American Gunner 140 6.5C $150 for 200 rounds bulk). Phoenix Rod & Gun Club has 500 yd practice WED @ noon and FRI in early AM Ben Avery has 600 or 1000 yard practice I think on THURS. PRGC you need to be a member or a guest of member Ben Avery you go to 1000 yrd range and pay them a nominal fee. that or shoot steel you hang or rocks in the desert. Let me know if you have questions about any of this, hope it helps.

Using cap and ball real BP rifle I would remove cap at night and drop hammer over the nipple covered with a piece of bicycle inner tube. in the morning put a new cap on nipple. Would work for several days hunting never had an issue.

great job all the way around, scouting stalking, nice buck hands down.

Do you need practice shooting sessions? How much practice time do you have to put in?

I tried to look up that range when you mentioned it couple months ago and had no luck getting good info/directions.

Interesting how things go sideways so easily. I took SHOOTERS question at face value, "Are one shot kills the norm or does it take several rounds downrange to seal the deal"? Or there about. Shooter if I am wrong correct me. I am a fairly good shot and have done ok in competitions of several types over the decades. To date taken two Coues first shot cold bore at 300 two misses at 400. The 400 yd shots 30% uphill bad light & so so rifle rest. One off hand 300yd on Elk and one 375yd on Elk. All with normal to light weight hunting rifles with 6X and 9X scopes. One hunter that I know who seriously competes at rifle matches has about a 500yd limit for himself, also with normal weight hunting rig. As longer range rigs go my only experience is PRS competition. We get about 60 shooters at our matches and maybe the top 5 can put first shot and subsequent shots on target at 1000yd consistently. For me 600yd is the range I can put first and follow up shots on target consistently.

Nice bucks great stalks !!!!

Had it for airline flying. It was required but never did anything to get it but apply.

I can echo Lance's point on light rifles. If I don't get on my 6.5 lb 270WIN just right shots can go wide.

I have a "Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit" does that count?

Congrats!! Sounds like a great experience. Coues hunting days numbers ??? Snap out of it youngster I am 62 and been at it since , crap can't remember 71 or 72 and just this years finally realized I will do well to get in ten more good years. So unless their is an undisclosed situation you look good for a bit more hunting.