MattMan

Just trying to keep people informed, the map seems a subtle change, but it seems to change AZGFD and USFWS responsibility and liability related to wolves that won't or don't stay in the original range. I already know their "failed" pack has long since outpaced their reintroduction program, and has expanded to far beyond any lines they can show you on a map. G&F either has no clue where they have actually ranged to or won't release it. Read up people. This is the same thing that happened with the wolves up north and is one of the first steps to expanding the already "failed" program. They've also stated that the area in 1 and 27 designated is unsuitable for long term success and viability of the population. The article detailed other areas in 3A/3C, 9, 10, etc. Didn't any of you read the info from the Arizona Deer Association? JMHO, but wolves have no place in modern society in the lower 48, any more than we have room or a place for free range buffalo herds. There's not room, their habitat is no longer free of human intrusion, and the wolves' success will lead to empty freezers across the land... I only wish the anti hunting community had the apathetic approach that the hunting community has...

The way they act so surprised, it absolutely turns your stomach to think how many times one of these pervs might have gotten away with it?

If you're losing toe nails, your shoes are too small....

707E Hard to beat for the weight and money... only 450grams and the top plate unlocks with a separate lever to pan.

Unless a hunt is in the AMP, which is the "Alternative Management Plan", you're correct. I think the target success rate might well be 0. They want to put as many hunters in the field as they can while harvesting relatively similar numbers of deer, and in many units they've passed the curve, and could likely just go with OTC 4 day hunts, sell 10,000 tags for each unit, and not kill any more deer than they are now. With everyone in the field at once, it might even get a little dicey for the hunters, and approach dangerous game hunting on the thrill factor. They're giving us what everyone wanted in the surveys from a few years ago... "Increased opportunity" with "decreased hunt quality".

The intent is to create as much "hunter opportunity" as possible for each hunt, while harvesting as few deer as possible. It ain't rocket science. 33 had too many tags in 2000, before Oct WT was even popular... But I gotta wonder why you applied again this year if you thought there were too many tags last year?

Yeah, those "Protection Policies" work both ways. I quit selling on there when a buyer bought two items and paid together. Shipped BACK his broken part for ONE of the auctions, I had marked the items I sold so they could be identified, and he shipped back a different item. Ebay gave him a refund for BOTH items and I got to pay for return shipping of his broken part. He got to keep both items I shipped to him for free. Some "Protection Policy". FWIW.

Packs are GONE. Thanks.

I have far too many packs and need to thin the herd. J107 DragonFly... Used on one hunt. Been rained on but otherwise in GREAT shape. Need $300. Gunslinger... Used on several hunts. No rips, tears, damage, fading, etc. Need $200. Gunslinger... New. No tags. Need $225. I'm in the White Mountains.

Congrats... if yours tastes anything like ours you'll be wanting to put another one on the ground ASAP. LOL.

Just the used Gunslinger left... need it gone.

175 shipped used one 200 shipped New one Let's get em gone

New one is on the left, used one on the right

Dragonfly is SPF to Mr. Payne...

Wow. The boys in green really CAN'T win. The Rodeo and Wallow fire blow up during dry pre-monsoon conditions from a few idiots and turn catastrophic in a neglected and very dry early summer forest, and it's the FS's fault for not maintaining the resource. A lightning fire during one of the wettest monsoon season seasons on record is allowed to gently ground burn the north slope of a highly overgrown mountain, ripe for a catastrophic fire, and it's the FS's fault for not getting right on it and getting it out. Gimme a break. We need them to let more of these monsoon season fires burn as long as they will on their own while conditions are right... Fire is GOOD. IMHO, they should burn the whole Pinal Mountain range if they can, while they can.

On our recent speedgoat hunt, my wife and I were able to take the bucks we wanted. Found them both with my 12 year old son while scouting, and out of respect left the field and the unit to the archery hunters for the last two weekends prior to the hunt, wishing them the best, but deep down hoping both of these bucks could still be found when we came back. Both bucks were taken fair chase and DIY, and my wife and I were the only ones in camp, no mega-party of glassers, pushers, and cookers for us... pictures cropped to protect the innocent. LOL. She likes mass and shot "Soupcan". I like mass too, but she only had four days to hunt due to some changes at work, so she got dibs. I'm also a sucker for extra points or anything out of the ordinary, and took "Kicker". He's got extra points on both sides and my son and I both thought he was a great buck. It was a great hunt.

Absolute stud... the stuff dreams are made of. Also a prime example of why nets are for fish, depending on the angle of the photos, it looks like that deer might get slammed on deductions.

Your experience mirrors mine. Never had them deliver anything on time or within budget. I was dumb enough to go back for seconds just to make sure...

Compared to 1/3 of the meat from a boned out bull elk + antlers, I'm exactly positive it ain't much... how to get a critter out RARELY crosses my mind till after lead is in the air. Other than when meat would sour and hair would slip, like a bear. Can't fathom a place I couldn't pack out a boneless coues buck. I've even known a crazy french guy to do it in a kid's Outdoor brand backpack from Wally World.

My kids are currently 10 and 12, and including this year have collectively had 5 Deer tags and 4 elk tags in AZ. It ain't all "Luck". It's reading and understanding the system... and AZ's is still the best. I can remember applying for early bull in college, before you could buy a point, and praying EVERY year that I DIDN'T get drawn. I wouldn't have had the gas money to make it to Salt River Canyon much less unit 1. I read and understood the system, and applied for hunts I thought were impossible to draw. Point about CO was that to draw a primo tag, we'd need over 10 points, with NO chance to draw until then. No sense paying out of state fees, gas, and lodging for less than a trophy tag out of state when we can hunt the rez in our back yard OTC. I don't suck at math, and a waiting period, no matter how long, or how you slice it, is ONLY punitive in nature. Reducing applicants by 1000 won't do anything to statistically change your odds... so what do you plan to accomplish other than punishing a successful applicant? And which goat tags in AZ would you group into the non-trophy or less desirable pool? Can't find one hunt that I like the odds... Had a lifetime hunting partner and mentor punk out to apply with some 'friends' cause the three had max points. Haven't hunted or shared a camp with him since, and will never forget. Only BP buddy I've EVER had is my wife. We started applying for goat together, and decided we would apply together till we got drawn together. EVERYBODY wants a primo tag. Unit 10 is well known as a primo tag. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE HARD TO DRAW. I told my wife we have to make the best time of it we can, cause we probably won't ever draw again.

No matter what the price is of the pack/glass/boots/etc you need, it'll always be more expensive to buy one or several cheap models first. That said, the Kelty Cache Hauler is the ONLY bargain in packs I've found. J107 and Gunslinger ain't bad. I owned several others previous, including a J104 and J105. Currenty have 2 Keltys, a 107, two Camelbaks, and two Gunslingers. None are a bad pack withing their limits.

Happened across the last 1/2" mild plate I had... 260/140VLD, 223/75AMAX, both @ 550 yards. 1/2" AR500... Buddie's 264WM/140VLD, 350 yards. Side by side... I ain't guessin, and will take the AR500 every time, even though I likely "won't see much difference". Can't learn it from any book, nor make it up...

$750 out the door...

Truly unfortunate for her family. And truly wish the bears up here weren't taught bad habits.

You're right... life ain't fair and for many, hunting has turned into a game of inches like a bunch of boys in a 7th grade locker room. I had somebody recently tell me that a true trophy hunter will go home empty handed before killing an "inferior animal". I guess I ain't a trophy hunter. We kill lots of cow elk and I like to eat whitetail so I don't go home empty often. First question my kids ask somebody when they get an elk is what the ivory looks like. Glad for all the happy hunters, and I apply for a chance at those tags in the super raffle every year, just like everyone else, cause my choices in life led me to a place where I can't afford to get them at auction. My choices in life led me here, and I like it here. I gotta think it's a heck of a lot easier to whack a toad with 365 days to hunt instead of 7 or 10... I'd sure like to give it a go.