HUNTMUP

I agree 150%. It is those unresponsible individuals that will help seal the deal on closing down the woods. PERIOD. I use a UTV, but only to get to and from my hunting areas and stay on existing roads. The recreational ATVers are mostly responsible (not completely) for the Gov. psuhing the issue on the closures however we all will suffer the outcome.

We've discussed the reporting methods and whether it should be mandatory here several times. So rehashing it all isn't something I have time to do right now. In fact, I was even reluctant to get into this thread because of that. That' said, I AGREE everyone should have to report, but it probably won't be any more accurate than the old method because lots of people will fib. In fact, the only SURE way to get accurate harvest stats is the way it has been done in many states -- a mandatory PHYSICAL checkout of a kill that gets a seal similar to one used on bighorn sheep. But then the same chronic complainers would bitch about it because of more regulations and inconvenience. The unfortunate fact is regulations become necessary for two reasons: 1. To protect the resource 2. to eliminate practices that provide unfair or seemingly unethical advantages in regards to #1. Sometimes those practices start on a very small scale and then grow into much larger and more detrimental numbers. The regulation about flying just prior to or during a season came under #2 and mostly as a result of the growing use of chute planes. The dove regulation resulted because too many "hunters" took advantage and literally became poachers by repeatedly breaking the law about daily limits on doves. The use of bait -- whether salt or food stuffs -- along with trail cams is one of the growing ones. All one needs to do is consistently look at this site to see that. Me thinks part of the problem is an inability to police our own ranks when it comes to questionable issues, and the mentality that every hunter should march along in lockstep is the wrong road to take. I will NEVER support something that *I* believe is wrong regardless if it is legal or not. To do otherwise would be a compromise and betrayal of my own ethics. Do I favor every regulation or rule that is made? Nope, far from it. But I also don't see some grand conspiracy behind them being made. And it gets real tiresome reading all the "game department is out to get us" like comments. That's likely because I'm a bit jaded since I talk to the folks at AZ G&F several times a week, and some of the conversations are off-the-record, so to speak. The long and short of it is I put more stock in what the professionals think and do than I put on the opinions of the common folk, and the latter includes me, despite my education in things wildlife related. Why? Because I'm not on the ground so to speak in the everyday management of the state' wildlife. More folks need to realize that the department's focus is two-fold -- managing wildlife (that's ALL OF THE WILDLIFE, not only those animals with targets on them ) and managing people. Both are intertwined, and when it comes to managing people...well you probably know the adage about opinions. -TONY Wow OW, I usually enjoy and appreciate your posts, However this one seems to leave me feeling quite the opposite, almost somewhat below you.... Reading "Between The Lines" and paying attention to your BOLD and CAPITALIZED words seems to me that you, much like some of us have formed your own opinions of what is right or wrong. I respect you for what you believe is "ethical" or not but you are the same as those complaining (THAT WOULD BE ME) just maybe a bit more eloquent with the way you arrrange your words. YOU do not consider baiting or trail cameras ethical, I do.. So here we are both disagreeing with each other. I agree with most, we need to stick together and stand up for what we believe in, that is the American way. We voice our opinions and show our desire then usually accept the outcome some times with disgust. I for one would not discount anybody for hunting and or harvesting any animal in any way that is legal. Not trying to start an arguement or anything, just wanted to add my .02 and thank you for YOUR TIME. FYI, I have NEVER harvested an animal of any kind from a bait station of any type, sure wouldn't mind the OPPORTUNITY though...... -BILL

WOW!!!

VERY Nice!! congratulations!

Wow! I thought I was the only one... I spend a lot of money each year on outdoor products and have bought online and in the stores from many different companies and Bass Pro is the absolute worst. I have had numerous bad dealings with them, the most recent is as follows. I ordered a Badlands Monster Fanny Pack and told them I wanted it shipped 2nd day air. They stated they had it in stock and would get it out right away. I ordered it on a Friday and then left out of town on a scouting trip and returned on Monday afternoon. Once I got home I had several emails from Bass Pro. They said in the first email that they in fact did not have it in stock and would credit my card and notify me when it arrives. 2nd email was it had arrived and they would again charge my credit card and ship it out. I checked my card and sure enough there was a charge, a credit and then another charge. I waited until Friday (5 days after it supposedly shipped) and still NO BACK PACK! I tried the tracking number and it said that it is not a valid number. I called Bass Pro and they said it did ship and just keep checking USPS and the package will show up. 13 WORKING days after the package shipped from Bass Pro, I received it and guess what, WRONG PACK!!! They not only shipped me the wrong pack but they shipped it ground! If I wanted it ground I would have ordered it that way originally. I guess what mad me was they took it upon themselves to decide how I wanted it shipped and did not even ask me. This is not the only problem I have had with them , just the last one as I will never buy from them again. Go with Sportsmans Warehouse, they have never treated me wrong!!

I also heard that she was going to push into effect a bill that would mandate medical coverage to those who have "Life Partners" because that is only fair..... What ever happened to the man / women unity called marriage as the only legal means of covering your spouse??? We might as well get used to it, we are already paying taxes into social security that a portion of will be be used by the federal government to pay benefits to illegal immigrants that have not paid a penny towards of there own money.....

I am sure glad someone else was thinking that as well... That was the first thing that came to my mind about the border wilderness proposal..

Go with the Ranger! I was going to buy an Arctic Cat or the Rhino but in a strange twist of fate ended up with the Polaris. Make sure you get the XP with the Fuel injected 700 motor. I am very glad I got the Ranger, I have numerous friends with the Rhino and one with an Arctic Cat and each brand has some great features. A friend of mine's son was recently in a roll over accident (7 months ago) with a Rhino and he will be lucky to not loose his leg and even if he can keep it he will never be the same physically again and no he was not at the dunes.. He was scouting and took a turn at about 25 miles an hour and it rolled over trapping him underneath. You will really appreciate the extra payload, better built, wider stance (less chance of roll overs.. google "Rhino Rollovers" and see what you get...) the option of three guys riding safely in the front seat and most of all the fuel injection. My Ranger starts right up and idles on its own no matter what elevation or temperature it is outside. Put some 26" tires on it and enjoy!! What ever you get be sure to look the unit over and realize the good and bad features of each, pay close attention to the way they are built and most of all get the one you like the best tht suits your needs and be careful.

Way to go Bret!! VERY nice! I shot a small 2X3 on my Oct hunt. Nothing worth mounting unless you need some practice Not!! I know what your work looks like and you can be sure if he was worthy enough you would get a close look at him! Congratulations and the velvet was a cool bonus!

Welcome to the site!! I personally have been using a Browning A Bolt medallion with the Boss system in 300 Win Mag. It has been a great gun and has taken many animals. Only draw back is that it is a heavy gun when you put a bipod on it and carry it around the hills in Southern Az. On this years Oct. Coues hunt I was in a position where I had spotted a buck in his bed 505 yards away (laser range finder) with no option of getting any closer. My buddy was carrying his new Browning A Bolt stainless stalker in 270 WSM (also with the Boss system) and equipped with a 14 power Burris ballistic plex scope. After much deliberation (almost an hour) I decided to take the shot with his gun. First shot was just over his back which caused him to stand up allowing me to place my second shot right behind the shoulder. The deer traveled only about 10 feet before falling. I was VERY impressed with the gun, the 130 grain ballistic silvertip performed perfect and the scope made the shot all that much easier. What I liked most about the gun was it was much lighter than my 300 and it shot on the range and in the field very well. Although I have shot out to 500 yards many times during the off season at homemade deer targets, I would never have taken that shot on a live deer with my standard (single crosshair) scope. I do not think you would have any problems with your current set up, but you can be sure next year when I step into the coues woods I will be carying a new 270WSM Great Gun. Again welcome to the site!!

I talked to a couple of guys who said they hunted at this "EZ Ranch" in Cordes Junction but they did not have much information about it. I was wondering if any members have been there or know of anyone who has been? Just curious, they said the place had large boars, red stags and buffalo on the ranch. I have never heard of a place like this in Arizona. I wonder how big it actually is, sounds like one of those "canned hunts" types of operations....

Holy heck!!! I am pretty sure I seen those guys while hunting Elk in Northern Arizona this year

Thanks, I kinda figured it would be something like that. I am sure we will se more places like this one inour future here. (Just like California).....

I don't know to much about that Ford..... But I would share a seat with that Bird Dog for sure Very Nice!!

That sucks!!!! I am relatively new to the trail cams. I just started using them this year and I am almost certain I barely missed one of mine being stolen. I am using the Leaf River cams the ones with the steel bracket and bar to secure the camera to the tree. I have cable locks from the bracket to the tree and locks on the steel bar covering the camera access door. When I went to check my cameras late one Friday night, I found one of them had been tampered with. Luckily there was not any serious damage but it was fairly evident that someone had tried to steal it. I moved the camera to a more remote area that same night and then crashed in my truck. Very early the next morning a dodge truck with an aluminum camper shell drove by my truck and he was in a big hurry and I thought that it was strange that he did not return my friendly wave. I put away my gear and then headed in the direction the truck was going (the same direction my tampered camera was in). I was about 15 minutes behind the guy and wouldn't you know it he pulled out of the short dead end road where my camera had been! I was watching his tracks the whole way in and he did not stop at any of the other water sources but went directy to where my camera was. I am positive that he was returning with bolt cutters to remove my camera from the tree. I hope that the person that stole your camera and the one that I am sure was going to steal mine are visitors (not members)of this site and can read your post!!! I am with you on this one and I will surely be one pissed off individual if and when I run into this guy again Again I am really sorry to hear about your camera!!

Holy cow!!! VERY nice!! Thank you for sharing

Dave, You said what many of us are feeling and my hats off to you! I agree with you entirely and I feel sick to my stomach to think that no matter what we say it is not going to help. The AZGFD has been pushing this on us for the last several years and it is not going away. Most of us that answered the survey did not take the time to think it out and reacted out of frustration with many of our answers. I do believe that there are a LOT of so called hunters out there that just want to get a tag and not just a good tag once every 5+ years, they feel that they are getting screwed if they do not get a tag every other year if not every year. I for one appreciate what we had here and did not complain about not drawing a Dec. coues tag (by the way I am an Arizona native and put in every year and I have NEVER had a Dec. tag) or only getting three archery bull tags and I am pushing 40 years old! I know what we have and I do not think a majority of the people apply really give a crap about it. I would be interested to see how many people that just want to get a tag are Arizona natives or transplants from Ca. and other strong anti hunting societies. I am not bashing people from Ca. (too much) but I have seen how alot of them conduct themselves while hunting our state. Take a close look at the hunting opportunity and quality of the great state of California because that is what it will be like here...very soon!!!!!

Who's daughter will be in it?? I got rid of that sticker but we will see what happens up at the shoot That was funny It seems like I remember when I was younger and living in Flagstaff I might have had a sticker like that on my truck Maybe I can finally met a few of you up there face to face. I will be there on Saturday only then off to my Elk unit to scout. Younghunter hows your scouting going??

I agree with you... We really need to check this out a little more. Did I read that the archery Elk hunts will start having a split season (early and a late)? I realize that we currently have late elk hunts in a couple of the rim areas but the recomendations did not state as to which units. The way I read it is all archery elk bull units except for 1,9,10 and 23 will have a split season . When they did this "Survey" I really do not think that most people realized how it would be used against them. If they think they can justify a $121.00 Elk tag for a 12% success rate November archery bull hunt in say 7W or 6A or whatever, I think they are..... well I won't say!! I just can not believe that the place where I grew up and hunted my whole life is going to change so drastically almost over night. I think they should just leave it the way it has been and everyone just takes there chances with the draw (however unfair it is). If I thought for one minute when I answered that ..."Survey" that I would gladly pay more for a tag, that they would not only charge more but split the hunts to lower the quality AND add more tags, I would not have answered the same. Looks like more out of state hunts for me in the future. I wll still put in but only for the "Best" units and just wait the 9-12 years between tags. Say Coosefan, How reasonable was that Alaska trip? Anyone looking to go out of state for Antelope or Black Bear??? I am serious!

Very nice!! Congratulations I am envious!!! GTT does great work. If you want quality, you will have a hard time finding someone better!! I hope my monster bull will be appearing at GTTs house sometime this September

Great pictures!! I especially like the Mearns Bird!! Thanks for sharing!!

Seems like I recently read somewhere that Giuliani is a major supporter of stricter gun control

I hope that Drenalin is all that they say it is. Mine should be in this week. I have a 2005 Switchback that I will be using for my back up bow and if the Drenalin shoots as good as it does I will be happy !! Now all I have to do is get rid of my old back up bow, anyone in the market for a Hoyt Striker 2 with carbonite split limbs and master cams?? the bow is a 29" draw with 70 pound limbs, been a great bow but I can't see having three bows.. Plus I would not want my friends to find out that I own a Hoyt

Are you serious?? WOW, Maybe we should grab a golf cart and start a new sport 3-D golf!! Sounds like fun to me.

Nope. But I did see 2 tonight about 8:30pm cross Thunderbird Rd and 99th Ave in Sun City.. I usually see a few every week somewhere in Sun City.. And in case you were wondering.. No I do not live in Sun City, just pass through it alot..