coueshunter

I put out some salt/mineral licks & liquid about 5 weeks ago and have went back each weekend. I set up two different areas with mineral licks and each time I go back to check them out and re-fresh the area, I see tons of activity. The deer are already pounding my spots. I have never bow-hunted coues so this will be my first year with a bow and I am pumped. I can hardly wait for bow opener.........Allen.........

Amanda, thank for posting your fun trip/pics/memories. Those owls are fantastic...............great job on the antelope pics, kinda strange they let you get that close..............Allen...........

Josh, great job.............I really liked the video and the closing notes "no houndogs were injured filming this video"...........that was great...................Allen...........

great looking buck. That would be tough to pass on a 100" buck............Allen.........

John, I thought it was a good video with some real nice bulls on it and some great hunts. It sure is a good primer before this septembers bow hunt...........Allen Taylor...........

I dont have experience with either types but will this year. I bought a Double Bull blind and am going to give it a serious shot this year. I would assume that each type has its own benefits depending on the terrain..............Allen.........

I ended up buying the Leica "pinmaster" which is a 700 yard range finder. I got it for somewhere around 350.00 from Cabelas.

I will be reviewing the tripler here in the next few weeks. From what I have been told they are much easier/quicker to put on the bino's and are much brighter than the Swaro doubler. Once I have used it, I will let you know how it works...........Thanks...............Allen Taylor.........

I have shot this gun for around 8 years and the best ammo pricing I found was through DNR sports. Basically you are limited on the selection of factory ammo, I use the 115 ballistic tips. I pay somewhere around 35.00 a box for them. Sportsmens warehouse carry's a decent supply and sometimes they have a sale, but you are pretty much stuck with expensive ammo unless you reload like others have said.............I figure I am not shooting more than 3 boxes a year so other than the initial sticker shock of the price of ammo, I just spend the money and love the gun............Allen Taylor.........

Doug & Stanley, I seriously question this move by the department. I really cant see "sound biology" on this issue. I cant see where waiting for this further information and leaving the harvest quota the same as last year can be a bad thing. We know that the winter range will support the existing herd and we are waiting on further information from the joint ADA/AZGFD survey, so it really smells like a political issue of "increased hunter opportunity". I think its truly sad that we are allowing more "hunter opportunity" on the Kaibab with does instead of increasing the opportunity spread out among other units that arent currently under a comprehensive study...............I sure dont see some huge winter die off on the winter range if we leave the doe harvest level at last years level.............Allen Taylor.............

I couldnt believe how much that rack went for either. On the pictures Amanda posted above, the deer print with the wine bottles by it looks alot like the rack. What do you think, did the artist render this deer with the rack we are talking about?.............great banquet Amanda, thanks............Allen............

I havent heard much. I didnt draw anything, but I know two guys that drew the bow hunt so I will be able to spend some time with one of them running around in the unit this year. Hope you kill a monster............Allen...........

I know Doug - Redrabbit is going to have an extensive review, but for now I can provide some review info. I used the tripler side by side with my swarovski doubler. The tripler in daytime use was alot brighter & substantially easier to put on my 15x56 and 10x42's than the doubler. I really like with the tripler you dont have to unscrew the eyepiece like you have to with the doubler. I havent used the tripler in low light situations yet, but overall so far it is much better than my doubler and the price tag is alot less than the doubler.............thanks.............Allen.........

I did get a table and hopefully Amanda or Tracy can make sure it is right next to the CW table. Duwane Adams and his family will be at this table so it should be a great time with alot of great information all for a great cause.............Thanks Amanda and ADA...................Allen.............

Jim, I would take you up on the offer, maybe even the foot massage but I got two kids with baseball games tonight. Hope it goes great............SCI is a good group............Allen...............

Like everyone else, I have opinions on predator control, but being totally honest, I do not know to what extent "control" is needed for lions on the Kaibab. I know ADA has used a great guy, Jim Bedlion to hunt cats on the strip. I also know that in the 3-Bar study area, deer densities are substantially higher in the test area than right outside the fence and 3-bar has little to zero predators in the enclosure. Also, I think bobcats and coyotes do alot more damage to deer than many people may think. with all that being said, I am not sure how bad the predation is on the Kaibab by lions, but in coues country, lions really put the hurt on the deer. I think someone like wetmule (Kevin Harris) could really add some valuable insight into this discussion. Kevin has guided the strip/Kaibab areas for deer for many years, works with Jim B. on the predator control and would be one knowledgeable person on what is/has happened up on the kaibab......... I personally think lions are an important part of an overall eco-system but lets not mismanage like California has..............Allen........

I wasnt trying to be a "college boy" or anything other than a guy who was passing on what info I have just seen. I am a member of ADA like some of the others on here because I feel that donating some time to a wildlife conservation group that stands up to AZGFD is important. Dogmann, I am unsure what I have done to you to deserve the public snub, maybe if you met me you would know that I am not an educated "non-hunter"..........we probably agree on most everything regarding the Kaibab. I have learned of the unit by hunting it the past 5 years with Duwane Adams. All of what I know about its history and current status is from him. The Kaibab can hold alot more deer than what it currently does, and alot of its holding capacity is dependant on its wintering ability. I am not a biologist, just my opinion............Allen........

I am still in for 3 people. Thanks Amanda..................Allen........

Unfortunately I have only hunted the Kaibab for the past four years so I dont know what it was like years ago. I know this year on the early hunt, there were lots and lots of deer where we hunted. Our hunters killed some tremendous bucks but other groups didnt fare so well...................As to the management of the Kaibab, I think that with the Arizona Deer Association working with the AZGFD, there is going to be some very good/sound biology and management practices implemented in the next few years. I just read the proposed management plan for the Kaibab that dealt with how to manage the forage on the winter range and I am hopeful that things are headed in the right direction. I sincerely believe that AZGFD had not taken as agressive approach on the winter range holding capacity therefore has over harvested the does. I think if we created more food sources on the winter range, clear out some harmful vegetation and manage for trophy potential, the Kaibab will continue to be one of the premium trophy mule deer habitats. I will check with Amanda and see if we can post the proposed management plan for everyone to read and provide input..............Allen Taylor..........

Nothing for me or the family this year..........congrats on all those who did draw.............Allen..........

I am looking forward to it as well. I have a couple of the doublers and I think they are worthless. I tried using two on my 15's to make them into 30's and it doesnt work. Using just the doubler took too much time and its clarity wasnt/isnt very good so I hardly use it. If this Tripler works good, it will be a great item. In talking with Jim, he has tried it on many different brands and has had it fit on most brands/sizes etc. I believe this product will be in the stores real soon and advertised in Western Optics Hunter. The retail price is right around $250.00 so buying it here at $242.00 is a good deal. Hopefully I recieve the tripler in the next couple of days and it proves to be all I have heard it is..............................Allen Taylor........

Jascad: I think your option #2 is the most appropriate way to go. Get a good pair of 15's and you can get by the first year with the 10's you already have. Your next investment will be a good set of 10's which dont have to be SLC's, you could get the american line of Zeiss 15x45 to use around your neck and I believe those are around $800.00 I am buying those for my son, they are really a good pair of bino's but cant do the tripod glassing the SLC 15x56's do..............Allen Taylor............

Lark, I will watch for the mule..........LOL.........Casey, maybe last year wasnt great for you, but come to the panel discussion and ask some questions of these guys, you may pick up a tip or two. Duwane and Randy have guided and killed some real monsters over the years and I am sure they will give out tips that can be useful for everyone............Hope there are alot of CW people there.............Allen...........

I will be there saturday for the expert panel ADA has sponsored. Hope to see a few of you guys there.............Lark, make sure and speak up at the panel, I am sure you can come up with some great questions. Look forward to seeing you again.....................Allen..........

Generally, I think the ISE show is a great event. This year there will be an ADA sponsored "Ask the experts" panel with 4 noted authorities. Duwane Adams, Bob Robb, Randy Ulmer and John Mclendon. The program will be a 1 hour question and answer session from the audience. These guys have proven track records and something all of us can learn from them. I am looking forward to this part of the ISE and just window shopping on the rest of the stuff.............Allen Taylor.............