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ac guy

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Everything posted by ac guy

  1. ac guy

    shot last year???

    A lot of them look ribby right now. He'll be fine if he made it this long.
  2. ac guy

    Arizona Unit 35B

    Contact the game warden, and start with the tips on the g&f website. Those always get me to a good starting point. Overview: Whitetail hunting throughout the unit is good. Habitat conditions during 2006-07 allowed fawn survival to remain stable. Therefore, the number of 1-2 year old bucks entering the population should be quite high, resulting in good harvest success. Unfortunately, the winter and spring of 2006 resulted in below average precipitation causing below average habitat conditions. Yet, summer monsoons have been above normal resulting in good grass cover. Even though the overall whitetail population has declined, due to drought conditions, over the past 9-10 years, quality bucks are still available throughout the Patagonia Mountains and Canelo Hills. Bucks in the upper age groups are also available, but in low numbers. Therefore, if you are looking for a trophy you must hunt hard and be patient. The Patagonia Mts. and western end of the Canelo Hills make up unit 35B. The area is predominantly made up of oak-juniper woodlands with areas of thick manzanita. Unlike unit 35A (the exception being the Mustang Mts.), this unit does possess desert habitat types, which allows the hunter more visibility. The more popular areas include the west side of the Patagonia Mts. (3-R Cyn., Paloma Cyn. and Providencia Cyn.), Red Rock Cyn. Lampshire Cyn., and Harshaw Canyon. Make note that a regulatory change has taken place for the 2007-2008 archery hunts. Only antlered deer are legal. Another regulatory change that occurred during 2006 requires that all successful archery hunters contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department either in person or by phone at 1-866-903-3337 within 10 days of taking a deer unless the deer has been checked through a mandatory hunter checking station. Area: Take I-10 to Hwy 83, south to Sonoita. Take Hwy 82 to Patagonia. Exit Patagonia, south to Harshaw Cyn (FS Road 58) or continue on Hwy 82 toward Nogales. From Hwy 82, 3-R Canyon can be accessed off of FS Road 215 or 235. Providencia Cyn. is accessed by FS Road 61. Access can be obtained by purchasing USFS maps. Additionally, state land maps and topographical maps are helpful. Hunting the Coues whitetail entails owning a quality pair of optics and knowing how to use them. Whitetail, inhabit all habitat types found throughout the units, particularly the oak-juniper woodlands. They do not venture long in open areas. Rather, they remain secluded in the woodlands. Therefore, it is imperative for the successful hunter to locate an adequate vantage point and glass diligently for long periods of time. The adage of glassing more than you walk is paramount in successfully locating whitetail. Look for parts of the deer rather than the entire animal when glassing. It is also helpful to arrive at your vantage point well before first light and remain in the field until dark. Whitetail, are active at first light and at dusk but also can be found feeding and moving to shaded bed sights during the middle of the day. During the early archery season, glass form high vantage points at first light looking for feeding bucks. Observe until the buck beds and air currents stabilize, then attempt a stalk. Also, water holes and deer trails can be productive. The October general firearm hunt usually finds the whitetail in the lower elevations and foothills. Active periods are early, middle and late in the day, as temperatures are still fairly warm. The November hunt will usually find the bucks moving out of the bottoms and working up the mountains, preparing for the rut. Weather conditions vary from warm in the day to cold at nights. The December hunt finds weather conditions more to the deer’s liking and as the rut nears, they to become more active for longer periods of time. The younger bucks are the first to accompany does. The mature bucks will be in the vicinity but do not venture far from thick cover. Harvesting a mature buck takes luck, skill and determination. The January archery hunt is the ideal time to locate mature bucks chasing does, since the peak of the rut begins sometime during the middle of the month. Since bucks are constantly on the move, chasing or looking for does, it is often times difficult to locate the buck during the final stalk. During this time, grunt calls and rattling can prove effective. The range of the mule deer overlaps that of the whitetail. Every year some hunter accidentally harvests the wrong species. Therefore, it is important to accurately identify the buck to species prior to shooting. The only reliable means of identification is the tail. The mule deer tail is narrow and black tipped at the end. The whitetail is broad, long and gray/brown in coloration. When alarmed, whitetail will sometimes lay their tail on their back, or flag, showing a white underside and a white rump. It is important to note that not all whitetail will flag. Therefore, if not absolutely sure of which species you are looking at, do not shoot. Also, remember that one characteristic alone is not a totally reliable means of identifying a whitetail from a mule deer. For further information, along with illustrations identifying differences between whitetail and mule deer, please review the 2007-2008 Arizona Hunting Regulations. NOTES: Even though the unit is made up predominantly of public lands, private property can be encountered. Therefore, it is important to be familiar with your hunting area before venturing afield. The best way to accomplish this is by obtaining and studying USFS, topographic and state land maps of all interested areas. The possession or use of motorized vehicles off forest system roads and trails is prohibited. This law is also pertinent to all public lands, as well as, private lands if permission from the landowner has not first been achieved. Off road travel in washes is not allowed unless the wash is part of an existing road. For further information concerning this or any other laws administered by the USFS, contact the Coronado National Forest, Sierra Vista Ranger District at 5900 S. Highway 92, Hereford, AZ 85615. Phone (520) 378-0311. Located just north of the Mexico/Arizona border in the southern portions of Units 35A/B is the San Rafael Cattle Company, shown on most maps as the San Rafael De la Zanja. This parcel is made up of private, and Arizona State Parks lands and is currently closed to hunting. Prior to hunting lands owned by the Babocomari Ranch, contact the ranch manager at (520) 455-5507.
  3. ac guy

    Fawns dropping?

    A lot of times, the really young ones won't move with momma. They stay put in heavy cover and wait for momma to return. They are virtually scent free, and blend in very well. In NC, a lot of people made the mistake of bringing home a new fawn because they figured they were abandoned, when they were just doing what nature intended. I've found a lot of fawns in brier and kudzu thickets. It's one of my favorite things in nature.
  4. ac guy

    My great Grandfather

    I named my Browning high wall "Roberto". Best book I've ever read. Movie stunk.
  5. ac guy

    AZGFD Double Standard

    Isn't it already loaded in the truck if they're taking it to a spot where wolves feed? Is it harder to dump it a mile off the road than on the road?
  6. ac guy

    hunt in 20A

    There are some good mulie spots if you look around. Better to fill the freezer. I feel your pain, for the last 2 years I put in with friends who just had to hunt wt. Got me a mulie tag this year, and couldn't be happier.
  7. ac guy

    cell phone amplifier?

    dang city boys. All you need is this: http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Make-a-Co...Booster-2388107
  8. ac guy

    first attempt at photos

    Is the bull in the last pic pregnant?
  9. ac guy

    Dad'sJanMuley(added Mount&Skull pics

    My son wants to know if the deer in NM cross breed with elk? :lol:
  10. ac guy

    I'd like to start a debate.....about points....

    FYI, anyone not from east .of the Mississippi, or south of Maryland, and Ohio,Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois is a yankee
  11. ac guy

    I'd like to start a debate.....about points....

    Yeah, there's a lot of Yankees south of Maryland. When I moved back here from NC, I just figured guys couldn't count higher than the fingers on their hand. Either that, or there were no deer in Az, and guys were out shooting construction materials. 10 point sounds a lot better than 4x4. What, are you driving it home after you shoot it?
  12. ac guy

    Unit 24B Dec. hunt

    Most coues will be in the wilderness area, and those area above 3500 ft. You can find some in the adjacent desert areas if there is plenty of water. There are some better areas, but all in all, you can find them anywhere there is manzanita, and scrub oak.
  13. ac guy

    Stolen F250 Diesel

    Why did Tempe come out? That property is on Phoenix land, except Aunt Chilada's. Just curious.
  14. ac guy

    Stolen F250 Diesel

    I used to work at the Grand. Bad place for car thefts. Perps have easy access to the freeway. I bet a car is stolen every 3 days from the parking lots. BTW, if it ain't in the Oasis, don't swim in it.
  15. ac guy

    AZGFD Double Standard

    On Fort Bragg, the G&F had a pit dug on their property to dispose of problem animals, and road kill collected. They'd fill it up, and dig another. Wonder if they could do that here?
  16. ac guy

    Does anyone else......

    Isn't there a bunch of lo tags? Good thing about coues tags is there isn't much demand.
  17. ac guy

    Draw results

    Good call
  18. ac guy

    Draw result contest?

    07/27/09 9:33 AM
  19. ac guy

    Jr's turkey - Grant's first yote

    He speaks turkey, because he's part turkey. Take him jackass hunting, and he'll really put on a show. :lol:
  20. ac guy

    Lazzeroni warbird

    Leave it alone.
  21. ac guy

    Draw results

    :angry: :angry:
  22. ac guy

    Found Gun

    Could you specify rifle, pistol, shotgun in case I hear someone talking about it?
  23. ac guy

    Rattlesnakes!

    Glad to see you used them.
  24. ac guy

    Hate crimes

    Funny, I worked for a little old German lady a while back who said the same thing. She grew up in East Germany, and told me she knew very well the difference.
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