az_runner

Thanks folks… lots of great information and responses. I had a Rem 700 in a 270 year back that I wish I didn’t get rid of as it would have been great for my boy and even made me start looking at them again. I currently have a Savage in a 22-250 for pig that is accurate as all heck but has too many known issues and big biggest is having to rubber band the mag since constantly falls out. My Tikka 7mag is probably one of my favorite guns, so I’ll probably try to stick with Tikka for him too and after reading your comments it will be the 7-08. I’ll just have to decide on a compact or full size. Again, I really do appreciate all the feedback.

I'm looking at around 700-800 before the scope and mounts. I was leaning towards the 7-08, but never thought about the full size but makes sense too just not sure about the cost to change it up.

Not too sure what it's designated as, says no hunting, shooting and is mainly a huge area of hiking trails. I may just buzz BLM and maybe the unit manager at AZGF just to make sure.

Funny you mention that as I'm heading out there this weekend for a few hours.

I have one or two more spots out there before I wash my hands with 6A for awhile. I just liked the thought of a short drive from my house for OTC and the high number of youth deer tags for my son. I've hunted the general rifle pig hunt out there years back when I couldn't make it down south and it was a circus... even way back from the roads in places. I plan to get out every weekend for the rest of January for OTC, so I may even take it out to 22 or the 5s.

Oh for sure, so you could see what the rain just about all but washed away in places though there were dozens of fresh tracks crossing all over the place in more than one area. You know, I never really thought about sheep around there though I'm sure that is very possible. The tracks were more of single and a few multiple sets. I would expect sheep to be a bit more grouped and may even ravage the area more. Then again I know little about deer and shat about sheep. I'll get a cam out there and update this. Now that I think about it there are for sure some ranches within a reasonable distance.

Just recently in 6a I had the spotting scope out glassing over a few valleys and ridges from a high point. Way far out there were 5-6 guys in some remote flats that were dancing while playing fiddles and banjos... hating myself for not getting a picture. I mean what made it even stranger is it was a very remote area. I grew up around the swamps of the south as a kid and saw some strange things and even stranger people, though this shat was creepy.

Thanks guys. I'll probably get out there a few more times with my oldest son. The kid just took his Hunters Education class and can start putting in for big game. My goal is to put him on some deer in 6a or 22 by Fall and not have to bring him to that mess so close to the border in the 36(s). I did a solo hunt and tagged out on a deer down south last year and can say my senses where even a bit too high for me to enjoy myself, much rather having my 11 yr old son back there with me.

Yeah, we didn't think they were heading down either. I'm guessing we just glassed over some of that really think crap that where they must have been bedded down hard. We even tried to stir them up by creeping though the thickets down low, at one point I did hear some take off from a finger over from me. That still leaves some really low numbers for all the miles and lack of encounters in my eyes or maybe from our short experience out there. I'm may try to get some cameras out there if time allows before the 15th or just try to learn how things work out there for August. With a few weeks left it's probably better to spend time in a little more open county and let the optics have a better chance of getting on to something.