stanley

Good stuff Keith! More than a few of us can relate! Thought provoking for sure.... S.

Oh man, your really killing me here. What a great summary of your experience Garth! It obviously hits home with many of us here, as we experience the 'passing of the torch' in our own lives. Even though I LOVE to get out with my buddies, my most treasured memories are of going out chasing birds with my dad as a youngster & 'younger' adult... My father is over 80 now, and there has been a noticable slow-down in his outdoors activities over the past few years. In fact, last year was the first year that he officially threw in the towel and stopped applying for big game hunts. Although he still loves to get out, he just doesn't have the energy & stamina that used to carry him up & down the hills. We still get out when he's interested, and I still treasure those times. As my kids come of age, I'm hopeful that they'll look back some day and remember the good times were having as great times. This story gives me hope, and I'm confident that they will.... God bless all, and remember to take a grandpa hunting/fishing every now and then! S.

I think I see what you're referring to, but I hardly see it as peta ammo. I honestly think that peta has plenty of ammo already (with the propoganda they spread around...), and the likelihood of them digging into this site and actually seeing that, then exploiting it, is WAY low IMO. I just don't see it happening personally. Except now that you've pointed it out to them (just kidding... ). S.

Congrats on the honor Bill. You'll be joining some esteemed company. I've been to the last two WFTF banquets, and have enjoyed them both (good steaks & wine!). I'll look forward to shaking your hand at this year's ceremony. S.

Great pics guys! I'm taking my three on an annual camping trip up into Utah late next week. We meet-up with an old college buddy and his family each year, and the kids always REALLY look forward to it. I just got a new digital camera (my first... finally broke down and bought one...), so hopefully I'll get a few decent pictures. Thanks for posting! S.

I'm a perpetual procrastinator, and was hit with the realization over the weekend that I had not submitted my apps yet. Hustled and took care of it on Sunday, and didn't have any problems. I'm thinking there's going to be a few folks taking a road-trip to the G&F office today! Good luck! S.

I think I'm sensing a little momentum Allen.... We had a pretty good turn-out for the annual meeting, and Keith jumped-in to volunteer to join the board. Also there were 80 new members signed-up at the banquet in April! I hope that the momentum continues. I'll still be hanging in there and helping a bit this year as well. S.

Yep, this topic really brought the natives (and adoptees...) out for sure. No surprise though, as anyone who has lived here all of their life is bound to feel passionate about our great state! S.

I'm a native, and have only lived outside of the state for 4-5 years while in SLC for college. Maybe I'm biased, but I think AZ has to be the best state in the west. The geographical diversity, the diversity in game we have to pursue, etc. I think my favorite part (other than it's home sweet home...) is that I can be sweltering here in the valley on a hot summer day, and in 1-2 hours I can be up in the cool pines camping with the family. Can't beat that! S.

Nope, this one is an easy one! Only as far as New York City, and I'll be back before the kids wake-up on Friday morning. Nice & cool here by the way. Back to India and the Phillipines in a couple of weeks though... I don't really like the long hauls, especially when the kids are out for summer, but oh well. I should be staying in the states through July & August though, so hopefully I'll make a board meeting or two (even though I no longer have a vote...). S.

Hey Keith, thanks for showing-up and getting involved! It was nice to meet you & Kevin (Peloncillo, I think...). The organization will only grow stronger with the more 'new blood' involved. New ideas and energy are welcome & needed to keep ANY organization vibrant. Wetmule, congrats on your new role! I know you'll do a good job. Regards all, S.

Awesome stuff Scott! I grew-up in Kearny and we used to fish the Gila below San Carlos for the cats, but I haven't given it a go in many years. Brings back some great memories..... S.

Had to limit it to big game, huh? Then I'd say an Alaskan Brown bear, coastal as opposed to interior. Ever since I took my one & only trip to Alaska many years ago, I've had an urge to hunt those beasts. When I retire in a few years, I'm definitly planning making the dream will come true! Now if you opened it up to other species, I'd have to say a good ol' 'run & gun' gambels quail hunt! Even though it's a thrill to hunt (and sometimes kill...) big game animals, for me personally there is nothing like the opening weekend of bird season. I think it's because it just brings back so many memories of past hunts with my dad & buddies, as well as it usually takes me back to my old home town stomping grounds which always helps to re-charge my mental batteries. S. PS: "T-Rex. Should have hunted them when I was younger." Very funny Mr. Quimby!!!

Good luck Christian!!! I'm sure you'll have the adventure of a lifetime up there! S.

***REMINDER**** The annual ADA members meeting is tomorrow night! See Amanda's post above for details. Please attend and get involved! S.

Check out Duane Adams out of San Manuel. Not sure if it's the exact same thing as a scouting service, but I've heard good things about his map service. S.

I hear what you're saying Noel, I was simply making the point that there is at least one person (me) who does not make his living off these things who still supports them. I agree with you that the auction tag takes one animal (always a 'TROPHY') away from the general public, but how is that different than the raffle winner taking a trophy? I agree that at least the general public can buy, and afford, the raffle tags but I still see the benefit of the auction tags. I guess there's no 'right' answer here, because it's all about personal opinion. Lord knows that my wife has reminded me many times what opinions are worth.... I just hope we don't get into a situation like in Utah with these things, but only time will tell. S.

Nice pics Chris. I passed through Durango/Silverton/Ouray about 10 years ago while on my way to Grand Lake and fell in love with the Durango area. It wasn't until last summer that I made it back with the kids for some camping, fishing, and exploring (at a spot that RR suggested... Thanks Doug! ). We didn't do near the adventuring that it took to get these pics, but had a great time none the less. We'll be back there sometime in the near future. God's country for sure. S.

"The auction tag is a bunch of crap.And the only people that would dissagree are the one's that either have the money to pay for them,or make money guiding them." Noel, you're wrong buddy. I'm neither a guide nor do I have the $$ to afford the auction tags, but I disagree with you. S. :-)

Everything in moderation...... I don't have a problem with the way Arizona runs the program. Seeing the actual projects that are a result of the money generated has made me a believer. I'm anxious to see what the latest 'super raffle' will result in, but thus far things are looking pretty good. On another site (I'm sure some of you know which one....) there has been a lot of noise about "to many govenor's tags" being issued in Utah.... Seems like the public opinion up there is that they have gone too far with the auction/raffle tags. I think the perception of these things causing hunting to become a rich man's sport start to occur when the average joe feels like his opportunity is being sacrificed for the sake of the raffle/auction tags. Here in AZ, there are not enough of these tags being issued (yet... ) to force this feeling, so most folks in general still feel like the impact on the number of permits is benign. I'm not sure where the line is, but hopefully those who are adminstering the programs in AZ will take note of the political climate in our neighboring states as lessons learned for consideration here. My opinion only! What say you Chris? You posted the question, but didn't give your own opinion (which puzzles me based on what little I know about you.... ). S.

Allen, this post is spot on! Even though the vast majority of folks on this site (and others...) have heard this plea before, it's critical to not let the topic die. Kevin, thanks for the words. Even though I'm pulling back on the level of my involvement, I'm not going to disappear. Also I won't let the ADA youth program wither in the meantime. I took on the job, and I'll continue to try to keep things afloat in the interim. I'm also actively trying to recruit some youth support in the background so who ever ends-up leading the charge will hopefully have a support network to draw on (I'm planning be an on-going part of the network....). I'll send an update to the board soon on this so everyone knows what?s up. Chris (CHD), you are going to be part of this youth program buddy! Come this fall & winter, I'm going to relentlessly harass you until you show-up at one of our youth camps! Just so you know, it's not all kiddy stuff at these camps. Good campfire discussions with the local Wildlife Managers are the norm (and sometimes a couple of beers after the kids go to bed.... ). I'm going to look at you as one of my special projects, and I won't be done until I've converted you. Best of luck in the draws all! S

What everyone can do to help is you notice the problem, PM me as well as Amanda. We both have the ability to fix the SQL error. Amanda is apparently out of touch at this time, and I fixed the problem as soon as I noticed it. Now considering I'm working in India right now, it surprises me that I beat Amanda to the punch. The internet makes the world a small place though... S.

S. :-)

Been a little slow around here so I thought I'd post a couple of pics from a trip to Alaska that I took in 1996. I can't believe it's been 10 years since I've been there, and I certainly hope it will not be another 10 before I get back! Here's the brief run-down. In the spring of 1996, my dad & I were invited to spend some time with a family friend in Alaska. He is a commercial fisherman who lived in Alaska from May to October, and then would spend November to April in Tucson. Anyway, he invited us to spend the last week of May with him. His salmon fishing season was to start on June first, so we spent time with him while he finished getting his boat ready for the season, and then joined him on some 'scouting trips' for his upcoming season. He was based out of a fishing town called Sand Point, which is in SW Alaska out on the peninsula towards the Aleutian Islands. He fishes in the Bearing Sea and North Pacific (Anyone been watching Deadliest Catch on Discovery???) He loaded-up a couple of ATVs & a skiff, and we spent several days exploring & doing some sport fishing in & around the Shumagan Islands. Saw some cool sights & had some fun adventures. This first picture is of a ghost town he took us to. The town is named Unga, and is on Unga Island. Apparently it was a Russian hearing fishing village back in the late 1800s & early 1900s. When the hearing got fished-out in 1920something, the island was abandoned. It was amazing to see the condition of this place. Cemetery, schoolhouse, homes, store, etc, all in pristine condition. Mainly because this place is soooo remote, that no vandals/scavengers have ever had their way with it. The picture was taken from the boat as we were anchored off the coast from the town. This picture is from the beach below the town, looking back towards the skiff & boat. (Notice the size of the fishing boat. It is a two man operation on a 35' boat, not the HUGE things you see on Deadliest Catch...) This is an old anchor we found 1/2 buried in the end of the bay about a mile from the town. Pretty cool.... So after we spent a week or so with our fishing buddy, we went to spend a few days at a lodge that a friend of his owns. The lodge was about an hour flight from Sand Point, and was on the north side of the peninsula about 7 miles from the Bearing Sea. It is called Bear Lake Lodge, and is located on the shores of (you guessed it...) Bear Lake. The land was home-steaded before Alaska became a state, and passed down to the current owner. It was an amazing place for sure..... We got there a couple of days after they finished with the spring bear season. All of the hunters were gone, but some of the guides & skinners were still around. We had a great time over a few days fishing, exploring, and learning about the place. This picture is of a bear that had been shot a couple of days prior to us getting there. At the time, they told us that it would likely end-up in the top 10 brown bears ever killed. It was a big sucker!!! One of the MANY Dolly Varden (sp) I caught from the lake while there. We were too early for any of the salmon runs, but stayed plenty busy on the dollys! Notice that flat calm water?????? Well here is what that exact spot looked like about 12 hours before the above pic was taken. A storm blew-up while we were there, and we had over 36 hours of sustained 35 knot winds with gusts up to 60! Didn't keep me from trying to get at some more of those Dollys though!!! During this storm, there were many times when the Super Cubs were straining 2 feet of the ground against their tie-downs. I didn't get a pic of it, but is was a site to see.... At the time, the lodge focused on bears/moose/caribou only, but I think they now do fishing trips as well. I hope to get there someday with my kids. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy. I've got some more pics that I may post when I take time to scan them. I've got a couple that would blow some of you shed hunters away! Good luck in the draws everyone! S.

Thanks for the reply's guys. It was an awesome experience, and our buddy helped make it unique with the trip to the ghost town, etc. That bear was so big that it looked like it could have eaten both my dad & I, and still had room for more! I asked the owner of the lodge if he ever had anyone try for bears with archery equipment. His quote was something like "No &%#%@ way would that happen on my watch! Guns, BIG GUNS, only!!". These guys really took care of their place up there. Their lodge & land are right smack dab in the middle of hundreds of thousands of acres of preserve, which basically gives them exclusive access! They would rotate their hunting seasons so they would only hunt every other spring or every other fall, and boy did they have a bunch of bears in that area! Kevin, Bristol Bay salmon fishing would have to be an experience not too different from Deadliest Catch! Anyone who has spent even a little time on that water knows what those guys (all of them... crabbers or not..) go through. When we were anchored off the ghost town, we were in a really nice bay. As you can see from the pics, it was beautiful weather with flat calm water. We spent two nights there, and on the second morning we woke to a falling barometer and 5 foot seas in our bay. We had to get back to Sand Point, we took-off out of the bay. Imagine this land-lover on a 35' boat in 15' seas, and you don't get a pretty picture! At one point I asked my buddy if maybe we should go back to the bay and wait out the storm. He laughed and said "Are you kidding??? We fish in this kind of weather all of the time! If you can't fish in weather like this, you'll go broke!". Unbelievable! S.