az_runner

So, I’m with my 13yr son on Thursday evening in unit 7 scouting where we’ve seen some recent and bucks before. You could hear a chopper off in the distance and all of a sudden, this guy just plops down about 75 yards from us, sits for 8 minutes and goes right back up. This was also right across from a burn area that we hunt too so I got a double gut punch. Well, we didn’t see any deer around in what was turned into a temporary helipad over the next two days… rrrr. We still managed to have an awesome time out and put some crazy miles on the boots getting remote. Elk, pronghorn and does were in no short supply and must have had over 50+ does in sight on opening day, with no bucks to be found minus a funny little fork. It’s just insane how many does are in that unit. We hiked just over 18 miles in three days and glassed up or bumped at least 15 groups of does. I’m going to try and get sick at work this week and head back up for a day or so with my son and hopefully fill his tag. I’m guessing by now all the decent deer in the area have gotten pushed way up and way out from where we’ve normally seen them.

Yeah it seemed like some touch and go training with some bad timing and location.

I’ve been in a funky place with my youngest for the past year and wanted to get some thoughts or suggestions from you guys. My 8 year old is right-handed and left eye dominant, on top of that he has pretty poor eyesight that is improved by glasses and eye therapy by way of a patch. From what I’ve read and found is that he should be using a left-handed bow. He does struggle with a left-handed bow since it’s naturally awkward with everything from trying to get the muscle memory thing going , using a release, and all the way through to holding the bow and then the whole eye thing. I did initially get him a right-handed bow and discovered from the eye doctor that he was left eye dominant, so I then swapped that for the left-handed bow. He seems to do better and is more consistent with the right-handed bow, but I’m worried that I’m going to jack him up in the future. I thought we had this solved for him, but we went shooting a few days back and no matter what we did he was consistently way off to the right or left with no clear explanation as I even put a few arrows through his bow. The boy is starting to get pretty discouraged now. Should I keeping pushing the left-handed bow on him or let him decide? Arizona Archery did an awesome job getting my oldest squared away a few years back with a bow and a few private lessons; he is just getting to a point to hopefully take a buck this year. Then again my oldest didn’t have the challenges that my youngest is dealing with. Any thoughts or experiences? -Thanks

Yeah, I really appreciate the feedback from you guys. I may just bring him back to a right handed bow, lay both in front of him while shooting and see where he can progress. I see where people say that the "supposed to or recommended" is not a solution for all. I think his confidence and comfort level may help push him to go right handed and learn just close the left eye.

Just for non-residents.

You obviously need something that provides a more challenging method buddy. Congrats sir.

Congrats to you guys Beaton... yall are thinning out that herd of stink pigs.

Nah. If he was that big i would have thrown my release or boot at them in attempt to stun him while I jump on his back and perform a sleeper grip.

Yep, not a huge rack though he had some size to him for sure.

Very nice man, hope you tag one. We're going after them in 21 this year for the rifle hunt.

I should start a thread for lessons learned and dumb mistakes. Last week I noted that I saw some rut action, got a stalk in, got busted and chased a large buck and does right across the road on a non-hunt hunt and private land. Well this morning I'm sitting a blind in a cool 28 degree creek bed for almost 3 hours and nothing. On the way out of the area I pull over to take a piss before hitting the road, I decide to walk down a hiking trail a few yards afterwards. A really big body six point comes barreling out of a large wash 20-30 yards in front of me and freezes. I went back and grabbed my bow, but he was long gone by then. The point of my story is the buck was alone in southern 6a and the lesson was don't ever make a move without your bow or rifle while hunting. Fawking good times...

That's funny. Well you may have a better chance of getting that tag than finding this ammo. I have two boxes and willing to part with one if you get in a really bad spot before a hunt.

Do you need it for a hunt man?

I was chasing a really nice buck in 17B last week that was pushing a large group does. The big guy jumped units right into a non-hunt unit and onto private land. He stood broad side to me 40 yards out for probably 15minutes... I'm almost certain they were laughing at me.

Kind of looks like a homemade shrimp boat from back home in Louisiana. Dem shrimp just ain't bite'n today Boudreux.

I was out in 6a today building out a bit of blind over a seep that I found last year and scouting some game trails that go a few ridges over. I guess some person didn't bother to follow the trails a few hundred yards to the spring, but they look to be carrying in water and had two large black bowls on a game trail. These folks are pretty hardcore cause it's some tough areas with no access for wheelers or SxS and no way a horse could possibly get up there much rather the general area. Is this even legal? Noting against this cat if it is you, but just more curious about it, if anything.

My lord that's funny as I came across a nudist/hippie couple online that hikes that area... I was looking for a hiking trail and not to join them. I would pay to see an old nude couple halling water with a couple of goats. Man those volcanic rocks just can't be any good on a old set of balls and cha-cha. Now youre going to make me go look for that dang site.

Ah. Kind of figured that though did leave me scratching my head. Well that guy's back has to be killing him.

So cool and congrats to the boy. I just went through the same thing with my 12 yr old this year on a cow and was one of the coolest moments.

I have a little single shot Savage Rascal that I started my oldest on years back, but my youngest just doesn’t seem to dig it too much at the same age. I’m not trying to force the kid to like guns and hunting, but figure that I would give it one last try. Anyway, I got a Ruger 10/22 and slapped on a fancy stock and bi-pod in a last ditch attempt to get his interest. I guess even if he doesn’t take to this I’ll have a fun little overpriced plinker.

Very cool. That dang tent is bigger than my first house.

For sure, it should be a fun little gun for him and hopefully sparks some interest.

Has AZGFD posted any recent and official info on this? I cant find shat on it.

Any others out there now for the youth hunt? I was taking my son in on about 2 mile hike in where I got my buck last year and we had to turn around due to the heat and we started before sun up. I'm used to seeing a few dozen does on day one and we glassed up about 8 on spot for the entire day. We sat water twice and didn't see much... dropped a cam or two to see what shows for tomorrow. Just trying to see if you guys are dealing with the same out here. I know youth hunt is pretty far into the season so I'm sure that is some of it and the rest is this crazy heat.

Very cool man! Awesome to see that you were able to get back on them.