stanley

Thanks much for posting the pics Amanda! These kids were all so proud of these deer and as mentioned, everyone who stopped in seemed to have a good time. Brian, I'm glad your group of youngsters had some good success! I might be camping with Gabe in that same spot for my boys Junior pig hunt in Feb, but once I confirm I'll let you know. I also have the Jan archery tag (planning on scouting some herds for my boy's hunt...), so maybe I'll run into you then as well. TAKE YOUR KIDS HUNTING EVERYONE!!!!! S.

Hi Folks: I?m finally getting a chance to post some info on the youth camp we had weekend before last. Thanks to all who stopped by to say hi during the Junior Hunt Camp in 36A/C. As far as I could tell, the camp was a big success! We had close to 20 junior hunters (and a few ?regular season? hunters as well?) come through camp throughout the weekend, with several deer checked through. A couple of kids that came through camp had just killed their first deer, and let me tell you that it was AWESOME to see the excitement on these kids faces. As soon as I get my CD back from the photo lab, I?ll e-mail some pics to Amanda to post. Over the course of the weekend, I served-up over 100 burgers & dogs! (note to self: bring something else next time so I don?t have to eat burgers & dogs for lunch & dinner for 3 strait days again? ) I also had the honor to meet several folks from this site including azpackhorse (Brian, did your buddy's son ever get his deer?), younghunter, and Mon. Scottyboy also stopped in a couple of times to chat. Thanks for making a showing guys! Mon and his boy Samual drove all the way from Benson for dinner and a nice chat around the camp fire on Friday night! They didn?t even have tags for the area, but just came-out anyway! We also had Richard Leon & his daughter Reanna camp-out with us for a couple of nights. How awesome it was to see this man out there with his daughter, both of them loving every minute of it! Reanna is lucky to have a dad like him to take her out! Sorry if I missed mentioning anyone else who stopped in. I met a lot of people?. Gabriel Paz is THE MAN when it comes to being a great and dedicated Wildlife Manager for the G&F. His dedication & commitment is apparent in the time and energy he spends in the unit (trash pick-ups, hunter camps, etc?)! If anyone sees him in the field, be sure to thank him for his time. We might try to do the same thing for the youth javelina hunt in early February, but I?ll have to see how the arrangements work out. My boy has his first javelina tag for that hunt, so I would need to be in the field as opposed to hosting the camp. We?ll see how it works out, and if we?re going to be there I?ll be sure to put the word out. Best wishes everyone! Pics to follow soon? Stan

Congrats on the 36C buck Brian! Good job... Of course you're still welcome to come on out to the Jr. Hunter's camp @ milepost 31 this weekend! I'll be heading-out in a couple of hours to set-up for the weekend... S.

That's AWESOME Brian! My boy turns 10 in a couple of weeks, and he got drawn for Javi & Turkey this spring. I can't wait to get him out there!!! Kudos to your cousin, and to you for helping him out! S.

Great story Al! Sounds like a great hunt. Congrats on your first coues also. I caught the coues bug two years ago, and have yet to tag my first! Kudos! S.

Thanks for the words Couesi1! I'm hoping we get some good participation at this camp, as it is great to see all of the kind folks stopping in to share food & stories!I'll be there starting on Thursday late afternoon. Gabe Paz and Amanda (the star of this site!) are planning on showing-up Friday. As a final note on the location, AZPACKHORSE got it right; we will be camped about 50-100 yards off of 286, on the east side of the highway at mile post 31 (Ryan Ranch Road). Be sure to stop by if your down there this weekend folks!!!!! S.

Words of wisdom packhorse..... I 'saw the light' three years ago, and have been glassing off of a tripod ever since. My only regret with regards to using a tripod is that I didn't start doing it 20 years ago! We saw 20-30 deer per day in 36C on our early hunt. Spotting almost all of them at long range off of tripods. S.

I wanted to bump this to the top, as it is only 1 week away.... I'm still hoping to see some cw.com folks stopping in! Dan H., as far as spotting help goes; we could likely use all we can get. As for the cat tag, I would check the regs but I'm assuming it isn't illegal for you to carry a rifle with a cat tag in your pocket during deer season (even if you don't have a deer tag..). Again, I would check the regs though... S.

I'll be doing some snooping around and let you know newbee! My son got drawn for the spring hunts this year (first time), but he has to COMPLETE hunter safety prior to the actual hunt. The only class in the valley that I currently see listed on the G&F website runs through the first week of Feb, which overlaps with my son's junior pig hunt so it won't work. I'm going to call the G&F to see if they know anything about any other classes potentially being scheduled. Anyone else know anything on this topic? S.

Outstanding bucks Daniel! Thanks for sharing!!! S.

Looks like there will be plenty of us out after pigs with our bows in the 36 units! That's what I got also... I also got an early (and late... split season...) 23 turkey tag! It's cool that I got the above tags, but the spring 2005 season is going to be EXTRA special for me because my oldest son is turning ten next month and he was drawn for his first two 'big game' tags! He got the unit 23 turkey tag with me, and he got the 36 youth hunt in early Feb (Same hunt as your boy, couesdiehard...)! I'm MUCH more excited about his tags then my own.... I'm hoping that I can scout-up a herd or two during archery season to get him into during the youth hunt. I can't wait to get out there with him! Good luck all!!! S.

Nice buck Doug! Guess you won't be hunting for a meat buck down south next weekend then, huh??? S.

Thanks to those who have replied! It will be nice to put some faces to names that weekend.... Anyone else going to be in 36C/A during the 2nd weekend of the general season? Stop by if you can... S.

Congrats to your clan Bret! Looks like 33 paid-off big time!!! I was in 36C as well, and ended-up not connecting. My hunting buddy and I saw lots of does & small bucks, but only a couple of shooters. No good shots presented... How about that wind on Monday morning COLD!!!!! S.

The weather is shaping-up to be pretty interesting for the Arizona deer hunters this weekend! I'll be SW of Tucson beginning on Thursday morning for my earling hunt on Friday. The weather report says maybe some weather coming through on Thursday, but then clearing-up on Friday through the weekend. Temps in the 70s... should be great weather. So how do folks think the deer will be acting on Friday with the weather clearing? My hope is that it is windy on Thursday, and calmer on Friday (the OPENER). I'm hoping they'll be out & about as the clouds/rain (I'll believe the rain when I see it...) leave. Any opinions? Good luck to all who are going hunting! S.

I'll be hunting 36c. I've got a friend from out of state who is joining me on the hunt. I told him to get ready for some LONG hikes into some STEEP terrain! Good luck on that December hunt!!! S. :-)

I'm headed out this Thursday for the early hunt over the weekend. Can't wait!!! S.

Congrats to that young man! It sounds like you guys really helped make it a great hunt! S. :-)

I can vouch for Predator, in that I've seen pictures of many of the trophies she's killed over the past few years. She is absolutely a dedicated huntress puts the time & energy necessary in to make the most of all her hunts (and there are many...)! I'm looking forward to a good story & pics from this hunt for sure.... Good luck P! S. :-)

I've never seen one live, but I've seen a full mount stuffed one. This must have been a full grown adult, because it was HUGE! I'm a horrible judge (that's why I don't worry about scoring deer... ), but it definitely looked much bigger than any lion mount I have ever seen. Pretty spectactular looking. S.

Alright treestandman1, I'll bite..... Let's get you out humping the hills/bluffs that line the sand washes that I hunt. Once you've chased a few coveys around those ridges & draws, you'll know it's not for women! Every year I swear to myself that I'm not going to chase any covey further than a single 'covey rise', but I somehow end-up chasing them all over the desert! Not a bad work-out.... Gotta find me a flatter place to hunt birds! S.

I was out in my traditional opening day stomping grounds in 37B and cleaned-up on the birds. Plenty of them in the regular spots, which means it's a good year! It's going to take lots of rain to bring the muleys back like they were in that country 20 years ago though. It used to be that we would regularly spot numerous mule deer and some large bucks on occasion while out bird hunting. The droubt has just killed some units... Focusing on final planning for my early COUES hunt down south now though. Nine days to go!!! Then back to the birds for the rest of the year.... Bird hunting is awesome!!! S. :-)

You're having quite a season so far this year Bret! Congrats! S.

I would expand your scouting a bit to include some other likely spots in your unit. Don't panic yet! Just try to adjust your location a bit. Another question (and please don't take offense...) I have to ask is what is your normal tactic for hunting/scouting. If you've been on 7 hunts and have not had success, then you're either hunting in an area with very low deer densities, or you need to change your tactic. Do you glass much? If not, then I suggest you start doing it. Sit on your bottom more, and walk MUCH less. Again, not sure what you do currently so this advise may be mute.... Good luck! S.

I made my first archery elk kill on a nice yearling cow in unit 1. Not a 'trophy' bull, but a trophy to me none the less! Happened in the rain on Saturday evening after stalking a large herd moving from their bedding area to their evening feeding/watering area. My spotter and I followed this herd for over a mile before actually getting in front of them (after they slowed down a little...). It was raining hard the whole time, and I actually think it helped out with keeping the noise & scent down. The rain didn't help much with my shooting however, as I first had a chance at a nice big cow. I belly crawled to within 30 yards, and when I finally drew the string to shoot her, I realized my peep sight had water in it and I couldn't see my pin! I layed back down to clean it out, but when I looked again she and several of her friends busted me! They hauled out of there quick!!! Anyway, soon after that we spotted this young cow and I was able to stalk within 20 yards to make the kill. I know what you mean about walking out in the rain in the dark Amanda, as we had to do it Saturday night after the kill. We didn't have rain gear on, and were soaked through to the skin! Made for a VERY tiring and cold night, but we had her hanged and skinned back at camp by 10:30PM! Oh yea, the bulls were going NUTS where we were hunting. The rain seemed to turn them on even more! Good luck all! S.