stanley

It's that time of year! Getting thick in the along the 101 Scottsdale during certain times of the day. Often see a near miss or two while commuting! S. PS: Classic PRDATR!!!!

I agree with rcdinaz and many others on hree. Lots of opinions, but it all depends on the rifle, the youth (and their experience), and the conditions. My three kids all started using simple shooting sticks. (We all still use them if the conditions warrent.....) It seemed like the sticks worked well with them sitting on their butt or kneeling. I would often be kneeling next to them and maybe helping them to initially steady the rifle. Also, no matter what you settle on LOT'S and LOT'S of practice! Here's my little sweetie with one of her VERY early shooting experiences. You can tell it was a bit awkward..... (She sure liked shooting that little Browning .22 auto though! ) Here she is at a slightly older age while on her first deer hunt. She was much more comfortable on the sticks at this point...... Getting some "coaching" from my buddy, Troy! I bought The Claw and tried it a few times, but the sticks (or just the top of a tripod) seemed to work just about as good. My opinion...... No matter what you do, just keep getting those kids out!!! S. PS: Sorry for large pic size. Tried to re-size on Photobucket but it's not working for some reason.

YES! All feedback/opinions should be shared with the department! Next meeting is tomorrow (Tues, 7/8), 7PM at Bass Pro Shops in Mesa. Will we see you there, Tyler? S.

I think if you buy it at a dealer, it will be an actual 'stamp/sticker' that you stick to the back of your license similar to the waterfowl. If you buy it on-line, it is a seperate piece of paper that you print-off and carry along with your license. S.

Thanks for the heads-up! Dove season is always a favorite of mine. Always has kind of been the 'kick off' for the Fall's hunting season for me! The last few years have been made that much more fun now that I have three teens that like to get in on the action. Always a hoot to see them go through boxes of shells trying to bring down those little gray rockets! S.

TJ, I just checked and it looks like it airs again at 11:30AM today then 12:30AM on Friday the 11th. S.

Chris Denham is an old friend of this site, and a coues deer FANATIC! S.

This is the first thing I thought of when I read this proposal. I have no problem with a tag surrender policy, as long as it is available to everyone, and any surrendered tags went to the next guy in line ONLY. Allowing someone to turn it over to a so called "nonprofit" org, while retaining their points, is outrageous, and should be TOTALLY out of the question. All points should be lost. Anything less would be a way for corruption to work it's way in. Such a policy would grossly cheapen everyone else's points, and cheat those next in line. Hunt of a lifetime? Really guys, there lots of worthy organizations who deserve surrendered tags and already get them. . No doubt. Some of us would like to make sure it stays that way. Some of us remember HB2072 that would have allocated a bunch of premium tags to AZSFW ( never mentioned by name in the bill but the only 501C3 that met the criteria outlined therein) to be sold at their discretion. By the way, some other folks thought that bill allocated tags to a "worthy organization", just a difference of opinion about what constitutes "worthy". By the way, as I remember HOAL opposed HB2072! Some of us would just like to see this tightly controlled to prevent big money interests from getting another leg up on the masses. Some of us worry about abuse of any government system by folks who learn to play the system. These are VERY good points! I would urge you to try to make it to the Flagstaff meeting to provide your input personally. Scott and the department really want to hear from as many sportsmen as possible. S.

+1 Yep! Phone call, e-mail, courier pigeon, smoke-signal, whatever. Just so the feedback gets to him! S.

A VERY funny and welcome relief from my daily busy stuff! Thanks for the pre-4th humor!!! S.

Big + 1 on your last two posts, Kent!! Also Lance, I like your idea of current members of conservation/outdoor groups getting the access (as opposed to having to pay extra for it). That is an idea that I did not hear floated when Scott was asking for input and those that were there were brainstorming options. I'm planning on going to Bass Pro on Tuesday and will throw that on the table. 520HUNT, it's good that you sent the letter to the Commissioners. Regarding your expectation of hearing back from them, I wouldn't count on it. Not because they don't care, but likely because they are VERY busy and rely on Branch Chief's like Scott Lavin to work on and handle projects like the website overhaul and such. Hopefully they will get the letters and forward to Scott and/or his team for consideration. I would maybe also recommend e-mailing the comments directly to Scott. Also, you are clearly passionate about this topic. The passionate feedback is EXACTLY what they want, and if you could make it to one of the meetings on the schedule that Flatlander posted it would be good. S.

Agree 100%! This type of scenario (and several others) were hashed through as part of the feedback provided in the meeting last night. There is NO doubt that the tag surrender topic will absolutely need very careful/thoughtful consideration and oversight (if the idea even comes to fruition.....)! There are always people that will try to 'game' the system and the department is aware of that. S.

All of your family fishing posts are making me itch to get out there!!! Thanks for sharing! S.

AWESOME!!!! No doubt that your pictures truly depict what life is about!! Also, you should never feel the need to apologize for anything like a flat brim hat IMO. Sad that anyone would judge anyone else (especially someone else's child) based on the style of clothes they wear or how they choose to wear them. To those that do, I say get your own life and worry about your own darn hat! Thanks for sharing with the site. S.

Obviously none of us need SCG to hunt. SCG is not trying to do good for people that don't want any help. It's simply a group of folks who want to be engaged in the process and have their voices heard with regards to rules, regulations and programs of the G&F department. Also, it is definitely not more bureaucracy. It is a way to try to be engaged and try to understand the bureaucracy that already exists within the system. Really it should not be any big deal and should be benign to those who don't want engage in the process. Thanks for the write-up and information from those who were there. As always, it was nice seeing a couple of familiar faces (and meeting a new person or two). S. PS: +1 on the NO priority! That was loud and clear feedback that the department heard.

6PM at the Mesa office (7200 E. University). S.

VERY, VERY awesome!!!!!! The post that keeps on giving! S.

Bump TTT for anyone who might be able to attend this evening's meeting! S.

I agree! Must keep spreading the word, just like with any crooked business! BTW, I posted a comment on the facebook page for Pulse Factor asking if they were aware of Todd's troubles....... S.

Killing a little time watching TV this morning and noticed there was a Sonoran mule deer hunt on the Pursuit Channel. It was a show called Pulse Factor. Well, it turns-out that they were hunting with Todd Rice / Sonoran Outfitters! Of course you all know how these shows are, and this one was no different. They were talking-up Sonoran Outfitters BIG TIME, including the closing statement that all shows say; "So if you're looking for a great hunt, contact Sonoran Outfitters...... bla bla bla.....". I feel sorry for the 1000s of hunters who have now seen that show and may book with Todd, ignorant to the troubles he has caused people. I hope they do a quick Google search on outfitter reviews first! S.

Was just there in late May and discoverd Ono Tacos! Awesome 'street' tacos if you're looking for a fix while there!! S.

i do some, DU lately. im kinda broke right now due to $200 in application fees alone this year. but why dont we stay on track. you dont think that AZGFD should be in charge of organizing that sort of thing? Interesting point regarding who should be in charge of this sort of thing. I think that the AZGFD should be in charge of managing our state's game. Not necessarily 'watering' our game. In the same sentence you took a passive-aggressive poke at G&F for tag fees, but then proposed that they take charge of organizing something (which would cost even more $$$). I think the G&F should be consulted and included to the extent possible, but I also very much appreciate what the various organizations help over & above. My $.02.... S.

Back in the early 80s, the tanks all in that area from Silly Mountain Road (AJ) all the way to Gonzales Pass used to be amazing for dove. The past few times I've ventured there though in recent years, there have been WAY too many people. Seems like the urban sprawl over the past decades has led to many more hunters out in that area. Haven't tried the late dove season though, so maybe that wouldn't be too bad. Good luck with your early planning! S.

I Googled them and the VERY first hit was for a consumer complaints site. That should tell you something..... Sounds like you've already gotten the advice you were seeking here. Probably good that you told the guy you aren't interested! S.

Respectfully disagree. Do gooders in their own business. Not in any anyone's public business. If a player doesn't like the rule, then don't play in the league. Simple...... Completely different than government intervention, IMO. S.