Non-Typical Solutions

I'm assuming that the old dude with glasses in the front is the shooter....but looking at all the pictures with people holding the rack I'm not sure

Why did someone have to give the greenlight for somebody else to go after this buck? Colt Yount found this buck in July and he hunted for him hard in October along with the help of his brother Shane Yount. They were unsuccessful, however Colt gave his brother Shane the green light to take Tol in there and kill this monster.

Rut problems???? If you're stuck +++++++++++++++++++ If you're stuck, stop bemoaning the fact that you're stuck. Start working on a different approach. Being stuck has nothing to do with the goal, with your purpose. Being stuck is all about the route you're taking, and that's something you can quickly change. Stop agonizing, wondering, planning, debating what you're going to do. Don't give yourself the opportunity to talk yourself out of action. Instead, choose another path and start making your way along that path. You'll find out quickly enough whether it's going to work. If you get stuck again, you'll gain nothing by being upset or frustrated about it. Simply step onto yet another path, and go. Being stuck is a challenge, one you can overcome with action. Be persistent and flexible in your action, and you won't be stuck for long. -- Ralph Marston

When you see the rutted roads on the 300 later in the spring you'll see why even if roads aren't closed common sense is a good idea!!!

Interestingly enough all the numbers.......and to think, I just look at the available hunts and apply.....too much for my small brain to wrap around! Rain or drought.......I just want to hunt as often as possible which isn't often enough. Getting harder and harder to draw an elk tag and even if you do it is civil war out in the woods. Sheep and antelope are both just a mythical dream that doesn't really seem to exist! Deer can be hunted in southern units but getting drawn in my back yard is next to impossible! Figuring out the draw is like trying to figure out how I ended up paying more taxes If I get drawn, yeeee hawwww........if I don't..........back to coyote season!!!!!

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2018/12/17/forest-service-moves-revoke-grazing-permit-endangered-mexican-gray-wolf-case/2232098002/ The U.S. Forest Service has moved to revoke a New Mexico rancher’s grazing permit after he admitted trapping an endangered Mexican gray wolf and hitting it with a shovel. The wolf later died, according to a spokeswoman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The permit has allowed Craig Thiessen to graze hundreds of cattle across nearly 50,000 acres of the Gila National Forest in New Mexico. “If I lose it, I’ll have nothing," Thiessen said. "I’ll walk away with nothing. Won’t have a home. Won’t have a livelihood. Won’t have a ranch.” He must remove his cattle or appeal the Forest Service’s decision within 45 days from November 29, said Marta Call, a spokeswoman for the Gila National Forest. Thiessen said he will appeal, which will set in motion a process that Call said could take around six months. He stopped short of admitting to killing the wolf in his plea agreement. He told The Arizona Republic the wolf ran away after he let it go. But the wolf succumbed to the injuries it sustained from Thiessen, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service spokeswoman. Thiessen's confession was enough to convict him in court. Mexican gray wolves are protected by the Endangered Species Act. And grazing permit terms require ranchers to comply with federal laws protecting wildlife and other aspects of the environment. Thiessen had held the permit since 2012, but Canyon Del Buey LLC has held the permit for about a year, Call said. Thiessen is listed as this company's organizer. This is the first time the Forest Service has moved to revoke a rancher's grazing permit for harming a Mexican gray wolf, Call said. It alarmed members of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, many of whom share the land with wolves. Environmental groups conversely applauded the Forest Service's decision to revoke the grazing permit, calling it an important precedent for the agency to set. It is a “pivotal moment,” said Bryan Bird, the Southwest program director for Defenders of Wildlife, an organization that encourages ranchers to take steps to coexist with Mexican gray wolves. By moving to revoke the grazing permit the federal agencies are showing that they are willing to do what’s needed to ensure Mexican gray wolves are recovered off the endangered species list, he said. “They are willing to take a stake and put some skin in the game.” The executive director of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association said the Forest Service went too far. A judge already sentenced him in May to a year of probation and forced him to pay $2,300 in restitution. “He pled to a misdemeanor, not a felony,” said Caren Cowan, the association's executive director. “And now they’re going to take his life away from him? For a misdemeanor.” After Thiessen was convicted, a coalition of organizations and individuals petitioned the Forest Service to revoke his grazing permit, arguing that his punishment wasn’t enough to deter others from killing wolves. If Thiessen loses the permit, he’ll have to sell off his cattle, he said. All he'd have left is his 40 acres that adjoin the Gila forest, but that’s not even enough land for one cow, he said. Without his ranching income, he'd have to move away. He bought the ranch with his life’s savings and if he loses the permit, he’ll lose everything he invested into it, he said. “I certainly think this is going to hit the rancher’s bottom line,” Bird said. Like Thiessen, many ranchers in wolf country depend on public lands to graze their livestock, he said. “If these ranchers are not willing to take the steps necessary to conduct their business while living in peace with Mexican gray wolves," Bird said, "this is the price they have to pay.” Death by human is a top threat to Mexican gray wolves, according to the species’ most recent federal recovery plan. Officials documented five dead wolves in November, but are still investigating how they died. As of Nov. 30, authorities had found a record 17 dead wolves in 2018. It's the highest number recorded since reintroducing the wolves back into the wild in 1998. A spokeswoman for the Fish and Wildlife Service said in a statement that this year's increased count is likely due to "improved mortality detection." Predator eradication campaigns to protect livestock largely contributed to the Mexican gray wolf’s downfall decades ago. The species’ original recovery plan in 1982 described the campaigns as “crusades” fueled in part by “fear and loathing.” By the mid-1900s, Mexican gray wolves were nearly extinct. Today, the entire population in the recovery program has originated from seven wolves. The population will remain on the endangered species list until an average of 320 roam the U.S. and 200 roam Mexico over eight years, among other criteria. A least 114 Mexican gray wolves roamed the U.S. during the last annual count. And the Mexican government reported more than 30 in a September report. The move to revoke Thiessen's grazing permit makes the forest a better, safer place for wolves, said Sandy Bahr, the director of the Sierra Club's Arizona chapter. Despite what it may mean for Thiessen’s livelihood, revoking his grazing permit was warranted, she said, adding that ranchers who use public lands need to share it with plants and wildlife. “This individual crossed some pretty big lines,” she said. “He needs to uphold the law and he wasn’t.” Most of the ranchers on public lands act in good faith, said Bird, the wolf advocate at Defenders of Wildlife who promotes coexistence between ranchers and wolves. From year to year, Defenders of Wildlife works with around 15 to 20 ranchers to help them learn to live with Mexican gray wolves, he said. Bird hopes the idea of coexistence and the tools that the organization promotes will spread throughout the ranching community. But Thiessen said the coexistence model isn’t fair, that ranchers get hit the hardest. “They’re not coexisting,” Thiessen said. “They’re trying to tell us to get along with them, but then run roughshod over us.” Thiessen said he’s repeatedly lost cattle to Mexican gray wolf attacks. Wolves have killed or injured livestock 31 times in Arizona and 66 times in New Mexico this year through November, according to the Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Project. Depending on the animal, many of those lostare worth hundreds of dollars at auction. A 500- to 600-pound heifer, for example, fetches up to $840, according to a recent market report by Roswell Livestock Auction Sales, Inc., in New Mexico. And other cows are worth much more, Thiessen said, especially those that produce calves year after year. Programs to reimburse ranchers for wolf attacks on cattle don't fully compensate them for their losses, Cowan said. Thiessen said he has been reimbursed for only a fraction of what wolf attacks have taken from him. Despite reassurances from federal agencies that ranchers are allowed to kill Mexican gray wolves to protect their cattle during a wolf attack, many ranchers fear they’ll be punished, Cowan said. Losing a grazing permit is among their most dreaded outcomes. “This is the threat that has been hanging over their head,” Cowan said. “Any time that a federal agency can take your livelihood away from you, you better start looking over your shoulder.” Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in the Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow the azcentral and Arizona Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and at OurGrandAZ on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Is there anything in place for like a 22 year old kid to transfer a tag for example to his mom? Is his only option going to be donating it to a qualifying organization? Tag Transfer Program Under Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S. 17-332), there are circumstances where a big game hunt permit-tag can be transferred. Should you be unable to use your big game tag, the Department is unable to reimburse you for your fees or reinstate your bonus points. Circumstances where a tag can be transferred or donated Transfer from a parent, grandparent or guardian to their minor child or grandchild. A parent, grandparent or legal guardian holding a big game tag may allow the use of that tag by their minor child or minor grandchild pursuant to the following requirements: The minor child is 10 to 17 years old on the date of transfer; The minor child has a valid hunting or combination license on the date of transfer; A minor child less than 14 years old has satisfactorily completed a Department-approved hunter education course by the beginning date of the hunt; The parent or guardian must accompany the child in the field or, if a grandparent allows a minor grandchild to use the grandparent’s permit or tag, the grandparent, parent or the child’s guardian must accompany the child in the field. In either case, the adult must be within 50 yards of the child when the animal is taken. **Note: There is a $4 fee for the big game tag transfer to cover the administrative costs for processing the transfer and producing an additional tag. See more info. Once a tag is transferred at a Department office, the original permittee may no longer use it. Donation to a Qualifying Minor Child or Grandchild Donation to a qualifying organization for use by a minor child with a life-threatening medical condition or permanent physical disability. You may donate your tag to a qualifying nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides hunting opportunities to children with life-threatening medical conditions or qualifying permanent physical disabilities. There is no tag transfer fee for making the donation. Please contact the organization directly to arrange for a donation. Some organizations include: Hunt of a Lifetime at www.huntofalifetime.org Pat Beard, 928 245-3658 Crosstracks1603@yahoo.com Outdoor Experience 4 All at www.outdoorexperienceforall.org Catch A-Dream Foundation 2485 Ennis Rd Starkville, MS 39759 Martin W Brunson 662-324-5700 Spencer Brunson spencer@catchadream.org Changed by Nature Outdoors 8215 E McGee Rd Flagstaff, Arizona 86004 Justin Youngman 623-810-5395

Yes it is.....

That is what Pelosi said.......

Alternative has become a very subjective.............term!

No tags yet, just looking at options for elk.......he's headed off to school in Colorado in the Fall and I don't want to waste a tag in the event he were to get drawn! Odds are against him, and probably just have him put in to buy a point. Just making sure I knew what was what before we put in. Thanks.....

Same with my kid up there.......

My wife and I had a similar discussion as we were waiting for a movie to start at the movie theater and they were advertising to make sure your cell phones were off and not texting during the movie please! What will they be warning our kids for 20 years from now.........times a changing.....

Congratulations on filling your tag.......

Went home for lunch today and told my wife I wanted to sell everything we had except the camp trailer......and get off the grid!!!!

I have never been in that area before and am curious what direction you would access that property? From the 77 on the Mammoth side or the 70 on the Thatcher side? Seriously have never been in that area at all but have seen signs for Aravaipa Canyon........thanks

Sounds like alot of fun without all the hassle of actually having to take care of the stinky Peccary!!! Sometimes weekend warrior is all some of us get....don't give it up!!!

We took a genealogy side trip over Christmas, exit off I-10 to Dragoon. My wife's dad worked for FF Ranch back in 59-60. Plus her Grandma has a husband buried at the Pioneer Cemetery here. Rex Allen and Rex Allen Jr. head stones are both in the same cemetery. I had to laugh at the rattle snake sign........

If you can't have fun talking about the critters......I saw them referred to that in another Tayassu Tajacu thread.........then what is the fun of it......and in this particular case....I really don't care what the "scientists" say about em.....they are freaking pigs.........go have fun and hunt!!!!

So.....what exactly are we supposed to correctly call them so we don't look so ignorant? ro·dent /ˈrōdnt/ noun a gnawing mammal of an order that includes rats, mice, squirrels, hamsters, porcupines, and their relatives, distinguished by strong constantly growing incisors and no canine teeth. They constitute the largest order of mammals. var·mint /ˈvärmənt/ noun INFORMAL•DIALECT a troublesome wild animal. a troublesome and mischievous person, especially a child. swine /swīn/ noun 1. FORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN a pig. 2. INFORMAL a person regarded by the speaker with contempt and disgust. "what an arrogant, unfeeling swine!" Javelina (Tayassu tajacu) also known as collared peccary, are medium-sized animals that look similar to a wild boar. They have mainly short coarse salt and pepper colored hair, short legs, and a pig-like nose. The hair around the neck/shoulder area is lighter in color giving it the look of a collar. Javelina have long, sharp canine teeth which protrude from the jaws about an inch.

Interesting post and prompted me to check out some of his competition video. This one seriously looks like a disadvantage for Erik competing against a guy in a wheel chair.......but dang.......pretty impressive. Good luck in your search for a release!

In 1990 my family started spending Christmas at Alpine, every year up until my parents passed away in 2009, 18 years in a row, Christmas at Alpine. Big Lake road would be plowed up to what is now Tobaggan hill and then the snow was piled up so deep across the road that there was no "vehicle" traffic. My dad would get bent out of shape when we would try to test our "vehicles" and end up getting stuck in deep snow, but we would still try to drive roads. By the mid 2000's we rarely encountered trouble making it all the way into Big Lake where upon one occassion we saw people ice fishing next to the dam. They had fish and Bud Lights laying all over the ice and I told my boys we would come back the next day and give it a try. We brought our fishing gear.....never having fished ice before.......and successfully failed to catch a single fish! My wife says it was because we didn't bring the Bud Light! If I remember right there was about 8" of ice and it was eriee because the ice made deep crackling noises just randomly. Christmas of 1997, we shoveled off 30" of snow off the flatter part of the roof the first day we were there! Now all the boys are grown up and out of the house so it was just us two kids this year over New Years Eve!!!!