AZbowhntr

Allen, congrats on a nice buck. Hope to see you at the banquet.

Well I just got back last night from my elk hunt. It was tougher than I thought it would be. The bigger bulls were bedding down right at first light and not getting up until right at sunset. So you had to know where they were or be real lucky. I glassed five bulls the first evening get up right at sunset. With three of them within rifle range. But none were bigger than a 5X5. So we backed off and headed back to the truck. The next morning we went to another area that I have seen some good bulls at before including a real nice bull that a buddy of mine shot last year. Right off we saw another 5X5 with about a dozen cows. We end up moving to the next ridge and glassing up a bull that looked like he would go about 325 and 4 other smaller bulls. Unfortunately the big one was on another mountain that would have taken about 3 hrs to get to. So we keep him in mind and head to another area for the afternoon. We end up seeing a bull right at last light but couldn't count points or length. Sunday morning we decide to go to an area that I had seen some nice bulls a few weeks ago on my coues hunt. It ended up snowing on and off most of the morning with only about 100 yards of visibility some of the time. We only saw one bull which happened to be on private property at about 2 miles away. We ended up going back to the trailer to get warmed up and head out for the afternoon. We decided to head out in a totally different direction to see what we would find. Almost as soon as we sat down to glass we spot 2 bulls within about a mile. With one of them a shooter. So we decide on a game plan and take off after them. We get to the ridge that we had decided on and range the bulls at 550 yards. Looking around we pick up 3 more bulls just off the the left and a little lower than the others. We decide to drop back and swing around to the next ridge which would put us within 200 yards and easy shot for both of us with tags. Unfortunately once we get to the next ridge we can't find the big bull anymore and the others sensed something was going on. But a 6X6 and a 5X5 were still holding tight. We talked a little about if we wanted to take them or not and seeing as I have never shot a bull before decided that I shouldn't be passing on a 6X6 at 200 yards. So I shoot my bull and he lunges forward a few yards and just stands there. So I put another round in him dropping him for good. Almost instantly my buddy shoots the other bull which then proceeds to run straight down the ridge towards us and he puts another round into him dropping him also. Everything happened within about 10 seconds. It was pretty crazy. By the time we got to them it was almost pitch dark and took us about a half hour to find mine. Luckily my buddies went down in an opening so it was easy to find. We got them all quartered out that night to let the meat cool down and went back in the next morning to pack out everything. Luckily we were able to find a road that got us within about a half mile so we didn't have to pack them out too far. Here are a few pictures. The first couple are mine and the last one is my buddies.

Great bucks and they are all during shooting light. Shoot half of them are right in the middle of the day.

I've seen it first hand also. Although I did get to watch you drill one in the head. That's why I shoot them at 3 yards. They can't move at all. Huh Neil.

Here are a couple pics that I just got sent to my phone. Don't know where they came from or who sent them to me but I'm pretty sure that they won't mind them being posted here.

That is too bad. I talked to a friends wife of mine last night that lives there and as of last night they still didn't know exactly what happened but it looked like it started right in the middle. He was still at the debrief (or Merle's). Can you imagine if the propane tank would have gone up. I know they evacuated the school. I sure hope they can rebuild and soon. For the owners and the people that worked there. It's not like jobs grow on trees up there. Boy are there some memories from that place.

Well I bought one of the Savage Patriots when they were being made and on the recommendation of Kirk Kelso I have been shooting the 168 grain HPBT for everything. This is my far the most accurate round that I have ever shot. I was real skeptical at first about the bullet holding up but I just shot a bull a couple months ago and dropped him with no problems. The nicest thing is that I'm not loading one round for deer and other smaller game and another for elk and bigger game.

Very impressive. That is one way to get the kids hooked. That would have been a blast for anyone to be there. Great job and congrats to all the kids.

Neil, awesome buck. And congrats again. Let us know when you head back out for the pigs and if I can swing it I would love to come do a little glassing. It's kind of nice being on the glassing side once in a while.

Great buck. So much for that long range shooting huh. I did the same thing in the Kaibab a few years ago. Practiced shooting long range and then shot my buck at 35 yards.

Well Santa was pretty good this year. My biggest thing was a new chainsaw. But I also got a blueray dvd player, a new desk chair, an air rifle scope and a bunch of other smaller stuff. Overall it has been a pretty good Christmas. Always fun juggling both families in town at the same time.

Cool picture. I would bet there is a buck close by also.

Good luck Allen. Hope you nail a nice one. I know you deserve it. I will be waiting for pictures and a story.

I would also consider a higher power scope. I currently have the Zeiss Conquest 3X9 and wish I had gone a little higher power when I bought it. I am going to upgrade before next season. I love the clarity but wish there was just a little more magnification.

I have always seen pigs around Queen Valley. Haven't hunted javelina in 24b in several years though.

Here are a few of the trail cam pics that I got off of a spring that we hunted one night. None of the bulls that we glassed had been coming to the spring. It felt just like it used to when I was a kid at Christmas time looking at the pictures for the first time.

Stan, congrats on a heck of a buck. I didn't see a small side. Just 2 big sides.

Gamehauler, good eye. We had the same discussion about the Suburban and I think he said it is a 72. It is a friend of mines and he picked it up for $300 bucks. It is amazing where he has taken it. Thanks for the comments guys.

I just bought the swaro 15's about a month ago and it didn't even register to me that I should have got the 15X geovids for about $300 less. I would go for it if I were you. But I sure love the swaro's.

Well I purchased the flight for 2 over the Grand Canyon at the ADA banquet this last summer and we finally made it up there yesterday. I would like to thank Monty (azsagebrush) from here on the site for donating this. Although due to work it was not as long as I would have liked it to be we had a great time. Monty really took care of us as we had the best seats on the plane and he threw in a couple extra tickets to the IMAX since I brought my daughters up too. It's too bad it took me 20 years to finally see the Grand Canyon. Here are a few pictures that I took while up there. I may have to add a few when I see the ones my wife and daughters took.

Great pictures. We are planning on going up for the plane flight this week if everything works out. It looks like you had a great time. And it was nice meeting you guys when I gave you guys the tickets what seems like ages ago.

Sometimes you need to delete your cache. When you click on the link it looks in the cache first to try saving time. If that address is bad then it keeps giving you errors. Delete the cache and it goes out and finds the site again. Probably not the best explanation but close.

Great post. So several years ago some of my buddies and I have javelina tags in unit 21. There were at least 8 of us total. Four of us went to one area and the other guys were camping and hunting somewhere else. Anyway, the other group ended up getting a pig and while we were still hunting they caped it out leaving the head intact and the legs from the joint down. While we are still hunting they come to our camp and set this thing up with a couple rocks tucked under the cape and made it look like it was laying down on it's stomach with it's legs below it about 20 yards from out camp. So here we come and I walk out to take a leak and see this thing. I start back tracking trying to get everyone's attention. There were 4 of us with bows at full draw on this thing when we realize it is dead already.

I have been going into Bear Mtn for several years now and will keep going. They have always price matched for me. I bought my Zeiss rifle scope and it was $40 bucks cheaper somewhere else and they matched it no problem. Plus Howie is a great guy.

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