stanley

Yea, it's interesting. Some of the pictures I took are quite decieving..... The buildings in that particular picture were definitely beyond 1/4 mile. Also still on the private property, and un-occupied I believe. All safe for sure! Funny thing; when I posted the picture I thought the same thing. Also, the power lines are a bit decieving. In some of our pics, it actually looks like we're shooting birds off of the wires!! :lol: S.

I was invited to hunt doves on some local dairy land over the weekend so we took the kids out yesterday afternoon for some fun. The weather was hot, but we had a blast! A couple of buddies and I set-up under some shade and kept watch over the three boys lined-up just to the south of us. The set-up was basically a HUGE feed lot area (water & seed), with a VERY large tract of safe shooting land to the south. Large fields, ditches, and mesquite/scrub. PERFECT dove country! We got there in the early-mid afternoon, and the action was steady for the next two hours. The boys got plenty of shooting in! Finished-out the day with a little BBQ & swimming! S. Set-up with some shade to watch the action! Lined-up ready to go! Erik Shooting! Here's Nick pulling-up for a shot! Rosie fetching a bird! Little girls helping fetch downed birds! Resting & cooling down with ice water over the head! Swimming later that afternoon! Lots of energy! A well used grill! Some bacon wrapped, some not.... YUM!!

That is so awesome! What a great and unique hunting opportunity Troy! Unique for the desert southwest anyway.... Very cool that you were able to go, and great that you got to know some new friends! Continued great memories!! S.

I sure do love that country! Thanks for sharing Doug! I'm itching to get up there again soon, but I think my first real shot will be spring turkeys. Maybe youth OTC.... Thanks again! S.

Very cool!!! Congrats to your son on the coati!! Also very nice pics of the deer! S.

Great looking pronghorn!! Great for the kid!! S.

OUTSTANDING!!!!! Great bull!! S.

This past weekend while some of you were out archery deer hunting, I took my little girl on a Hunter Education Weekend up by Happy Jack! We brought several of her friends and their dads, and we all had a great time! The weekend was coordinated & managed by Bill Hill, Woody Farnsworth, De Wane Tabbot, and a host of helpers. The event was held on a private ranch that was generously loaned by the owner, and was the perfect facility for this. The object is to provide a two day Hunter Education course including range time, testing, etc. so when the kids (and adults) finish the weekend they are completely certified. Some of you may have seen my posts in past years. These guys do this every year (although previously have used a different ranch...). The dedication, professionalism, and all out attitude of this group is amazing. They do such a good job with the kids! My little daughter Greta turned 10 years old just this past May. She's been hunting plenty of times, and was by her next older brother's side when he shot his first deer last November. She LOVED being there on that deer hunt, and she can't wait to give it a go this fall. She has a junior tag in 36A, so hopefully we can find a buck for her. In the meantime it will be lots of trips to the range with the .243, plus a little quail & dove hunting in the interim! Here are a couple of pics from the weekend: First morning of instruction Woody cooking burgers & dogs for lunch! Bed time in the girls tent! Do they look sleepy to you???? This is my girl on the range. Nice form Greta!!! Now checking the targets! Group picture after graduation! Finally some sleep (and peace & quiet) on the ride home Sunday!

Cool! A buddy of mine & I saw a bunch in a group one time where we hunt down south. It was raining, and they were moving along in a group, over turning rocks, goofing-off, etc.... Pretty cool! S.

Very cool!!!! I LOVE Utah! My kids and I take an extended camping trip to Southern Utah each summer, and always have a great time! My buddy is trying to get me to put in for archery there.... Sounds like a great trip! Thanks for sharing! S.

VERY COOL Mark!!!! A lion with your bow.... Thanks for sharing the great story and pics! S.

Awesome story and pics!!! Congrats to Angie!!! S.

OK, now I'm thinking..... I have another question that maybe sunsetfarms can answer: In the state of Arizona, do you HAVE to obtain permission from a land owner prior to accessing the property (for hunting, or anything else....)? The only reason I ask is that when I was going to college in Utah, I learned that in that state, private property can be accessed unless 'properly marked'. The burden was put on the property owner to mark the property, and there were strict guidelines. Something like 'a sign every 100 feet...' or something like that. I was chased off of some property while dove hunting a few years ago by a Maricopa county sherif. When I questioned it; telling him that the property was not 'posted', he said that the property didn't need to be posted. He said that the burdon was on the hunter to get permission, as opposed to the burdon being on the land owner to post the property. I didn't have a problem with that, and ever since then I have been extra sensitive to where I hunt to make sure I'm not on private ground. Do you know the rules on this sunsetfarms? Again, more just curious than anything cuz I'm pretty careful these days.... Also, it's obviously simple courtesy to get the land owner's permission. Just curious as to what the law states... S.

I've seen some of these signs, and also was curious. Thanks for the good explanation sunsetfarms!! Sounds about like I figured it would.... S.

OUTSTANDING!!!!! The legend continues to grow!!!!!!! Thanks so much for sharing the story & pic! S.

What a TEASE!!!!! Sincere good luck on getting one of those dudes on the ground this seasn!!! S.

VERY cool!!!!! Always great to meet new & kind folks in the hills! S.

VERY cool!!!! Ditto on the excited commentary behind the camera! I wonder when we'll get 'the rest of the story....'... No matter what, it looks like it was an awesome hunt!!! S.

Cool video!!!!! Amazing! Even more so, that you were able to get that great video when you were 'solo'!!!! What a deer! S.

NICE Doug!!!! Amazing country there..... Great pics and words as always! Thanks for sharing! S.

WOW!!! Amazing deer!! S.

Awesome!!!!! Soooo cool to see the little ones out there!!! Kudos to you! Thanks for sharing the expierience! S.

Should have saved that one for April Fools Day!!!! Nice!!!! S.

Nice pics! Thanks for sharing them here!!! Beautiful black coat on that guy!!! S.

Thanks for the kind words folks! Those that know me a little, know that I take NO greater joy than spending time with my kids. Whether it be reading a story at bedtime, coaching a little leage game, watching a Pop-Warner (or now... highschool) football game, or GETTING OUT CAMPING, FISHING, AND HUNTING!!!! I'm heartened to see all of the dads with kids younger than mine that have been hooked by this post. I remember just a few short years ago when all of my kids were too young to hunt, and now here I am with 3 kids of hunting age. Let me tell you; It is ALL that!!! Good luck to all as your children grow! I know you'll find as much joy as I have! Gamehauler: I'll try to post notices going forward on these kind of things. Additional help is ALWAYS welcome! DUG/Chriscrosland/Scottyboy/matthewp45: Your time will come, and it will be VERY special! Coues 'n' Sheep: You obviousl know Woody! Yes ,he can cook!! Should have seen the dinner we had on Saturday night! Chef: Bowsniper: I'm in awe of your son's bow record! I can't wait to see/hear of your next child's adventures! Good luck this fall everyone!! S.