TAM

Congratulations on a nice cat!!! Randy is a lion hunting machine. got any pic's of the dogs? Hap, Mike, Roxy, were any of them in on the chase?

I think the point here is that the RNC is under a lot of scrutiny right now from a lot of angles. Supporting anything like this that could even possibly draw any negative attention to the party does nothing but continue to bring the party down. You can't be all things to all people, but doing things like this will loose voters before the issues are even up for debate. There is no question that the party needs new blood right now. They need to look at ALL demographic groups of people that voted the other way and try and figure out how to win there votes. One of the other groups they need to focus on is the under 30 voters. They are loosing ground fast with the younger generation and need to find ways to appeal to them as well. I don't believe they need to change there message, they just need to re-wrap the package.

Jason isn't it also possible that some of the HD hunts could change between S and HD from year to year? It's my understanding that a hunt gets the "HD" designation if the ratio of applicants to number of tags is high. If this is the case then you would think that some of the hunts that just barley made it as a HD hunt could change to an S hunt if the number of applicants drops. Perhaps this will be rare but I think it's possible for a unit to be HD one year and S the next? It all depends on how many people apply for it... right? I'm also curious about the Q coues one year vs Q mule deer the next?

Great job and even better buck!

That's the problem! His actions have already spoken loud and clear. All of them anti gun. Although his experience is limited he's not a complete rookie. He's been around long enough to have supported several anti gun and anti ammuntiion laws.

You say the rifle performed well over the summer, but not now. Could it be from the temperature variations? I know during the hotter months you could have higher pressures than in the cooler months, which could effect the bullets POI. It's never a good idea to sight your rifle in during the heat of the summer and expect it to shoot the same during the cold fall or winther months. My only other guess would be that with factory ammo sometimes one box will perform better than another. One more reason to load your own ammo! Good luck

Congratulations Josh, looks like you guys had a fantastic hunt. Thanks for reminding all of us about what hunting really should be about. I've been to Mexico twice now and will be going back again in a few weeks. I've yet to take a big buck down there, but the country, people, and overall experience keep drawing me back. One of my favorite parts about going to hunt in Mexico is actually coming back! For those of you that have never gone before it is some what of a gut wrenching experience stopping at numerous military check points and letting the Mexican Police and Military officials check your rifles and ammo. In some cases they count every bullet you brought just to make sure it matches up with your paper work. We've never had any troubles but the potential is there and none the less it's still intimidating! It's always a great moment after being gone for a week when you can see the big American Flag flying at the US Port of Entry and you cross back on to American soil. It really makes you appreciate how good we've got it here.

So Casey if we all start ignoring you does that mean you'll go away?

Let 'em have it Tommy!

Sounds like NM G&F is using one of the AZ G&F smoke and mirrors tricks. Like you said "appease the masses" and throw logic to the curb. I've got a couple areas to check out in the next few months that may have some potential for your quest for a velvet buck. I'll be sure and keep you posted.

LOL Tommy!

I got a picture mail from GRONG!

4,860 Four thousand eight hundred sixty beans in the jar

Here is an email I got from Walt at Berger regarding load data for the Berger 190's and 210's Good luck! Hi Tim, Load data was generated using Quick Load a 26 inch barrel a COAL (cartridge over all length) of 3.600 inches and your COAL and velocity could be a little different. AS WITH ALL RELOADING APPROACH THE MAXIMUM LOADS WITH CAUTION AS ALL RIFLES AND RELOADING TECHNIQUES WILL BE DIFFERENT. If YOU CHANGE ANY OF YOUR COMPONENTS; THIS INCLUDES DIFFERENT POWDER LOT NUMBERS; YOU MUST REFIGURE YOUR LOADS BY STARTING WITH THE MINIMUM LOAD. If we can be of any additional help feel free to contact us. Thanks for your interest and have a great day. Walt Berger Berger Bullets Technical Adviser 300 Rem Ultra Magnum Bullet Powder Start Load Approximate Start Velocity Max Load Approximate Max Velocity Fill Ratio 190 Grain RETUMBO .88.5 2972 95.4 3185 101.2% 190 Grain RE-25 85.5 2976 91.9 3174 98.5% 190 Grain AA MAG PRO 86.5 2966 91.2 3128 91.8% 190 Grain NORMA MRP 2 84.5 2861 97.6 3103 97.7% 190 Grain Ramshot Magnum 89.0 2956 95.0 3166 94.6% 190 Grain VIHT N170 90.5 2887 97.7 3125 101.6% 190 Grain H1000 85.5 2861 93.0 3119 96.3% 190 Grain H870 95.5 2932 104.3 3247 106.6% 190 Grain RE-22 82.5 2973 88.6 3165 93.4% 190 Grain IMR 7828 SSC 82.5 2973 88.8 3189 88.8% 300 Rem Ultra Magnum Bullet Powder Start Load Approximate Start Velocity Max Load Approximate Max Velocity Fill Ratio 210 Grain RETUMBO 85.5 2844 92.0 3035 99.2% 210 Grain RE-25 82.5 2843 88.6 3024 96.6% 210 Grain NORMA MRP 2 79.5 2676 88.2 2961 95.6% 210 Grain Ramshot Magnum 86.0 2835 90.8 2995 91.9% 210 Grain VIHT N170 87.5 2765 94.2 2984 101.6% 210 Grain H1000 85.3 2833 91.6 3038 96.5% 210 Grain H870 94.0 2880 100.6 3104 104.5% 210 Grain AA 8700 94.5 2650 105.0 3015 109.1% 210 Grain IMR 7828 SSC 80.5 2731 85.0 3022 89.7% 210 Grain RE-22 83.0 2982 87.0 3114 91.8% 210 Grain NORMA MRP 83.0 2976 86.8 3101 89.6%

Welcome to the club I think I'm up to 4 stolen and 2 destroyed. Nothing is worse than a dirty theif! Setting and checking trail cams used to be a hobby that my three boys and I enjoyed. Since the out break of thefts over the last year or so I've pretty much had to stop all together. Seems like even when I hike in off roads or trails some rat bastard still finds them and takes them.

Way to pile up the bone!!!

The secrets out.... he lures 'em in with the sweet smell of freshly pumped pooh and a Grong Orange shirt! Now we're going to see huntin rigs driving the forest roads with porta-jons strapped to the back leaking pooh juice riggin for coues!

Here is another reason we don't need more gun laws. I especially like the last paragraph. FBI's Crime Report Bad News for Anti-Gunners Friday, September 19, 2008 This week, the FBI released its crime report for 2007 and, once again, gun control supporters are taking it on the chin. It's not just that the nation's violent crime rate decreased slightly between 2006 and 2007. It's that every year since 2002 it has been lower than anytime since 1974, leading the Justice Department to say that violent crime is "near a 30-year low." Since 1991, violent crime has dropped 38 percent. Murder is now at a 40-year low, lower than anytime since 1966 every year from 1999 to the present, and down 43 percent since 1991. "More guns means more crime?" Only in anti-gunner "La-La Land." Violent crime has fallen as the number of guns has increased 4.5 million a year. There are more gun owners, owning more guns than ever before, and violent crime is lower than anytime since Gerald Ford became president! We can hardly wait to see the Brady Campaign try to spin this one with its asinine "state grades" stunt. In 2007, the major U.S. cities with the highest murder rates were cities with severe gun control. The top three? Detroit (where Michigan law requires a permit to purchase a handgun), Baltimore (where Maryland law restricts private handgun sales and requires a seven-day waiting period on handgun sales by dealers), and the District of Columbia (with its handgun ban and its firearm registration law). Detroit, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and D.C. had the highest robbery rates. In 2007, as in years past, Right-to-Carry states had lower violent crime rates, on average, compared to the rest of the country with total violent crime lower by 24 percent, murder by 28 percent, robbery by 50 percent, and aggravated assault by 11 percent. Further, in 2007, 32 percent of murders were committed without firearms of any sort--knives accounted for 12 percent, hands and feet six percent, and blunt objects four percent. Rifles and shotguns (semi-automatic and otherwise) accounted for three percent each, and typically "assault weapons" have accounted for about one percent. Copyright 2008, National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action. This may be reproduced. It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes. Contact Us | Privacy & Security Policy

Thanks J, and glad to see you're back. I know you've been involved/following the rule changes and I'm just curious if you've got an opinion about sitting out a year after drawing a Q or HD tag? It's obvious that G&F is trying to level the playing field, but won't this change push some of the hunts that used to be "almost" Q or HD over the edge? As you kow I'm a NR so my vote doesn't count.... I'm ok with that, but I'm not sure this will have the results that G&F is hoping for either. Won't this create even more demand with the land owner tags? Higher demand means more $$$, more $$$ means more fighting??? If there are normally 5,000 applicants for a Q hunt on the Gila with 500 tags, next year there will only be roughly 4,500 applicants for 500 tags. Will 500 fewer applicants really make that much of a difference in the overall draw odds? I see it as very small advantage at the very best. I know in Utah they also have waiting periods for there limited entry hunts and I don't see them as being one bit helpful. Between waiting periods and bonus points it still takes 10+ years to get a Utah bull tag. I'm not sure I'm against any of these changes, but I'm not so sure they'll have much "real life" benefit either? I guess my hang up is that I'm not real big on the idea of forcing someone to sit out. I know, I know... there not being forced to sit out, they can apply for other hunts, but they are being forced out of the Q and HD hunts. I'd rather let everyone come to the party and at least get a chance to put there name in the hat. That's just my take on things. I guess time will tell how effective the changes really are.

I've found very very few parked at the ends of roads. In fact, I hardly find them parked ever. But I definitely have seen where they've been driven, and not a road in site. You're right a lot of people abuse them, but don't just go assuming that everyone that has an ATV breaks the rules! There are numerous hunters and outdoorsmen that use them properly that don't like being lumped in with those that abuse the privelage. As I said before I don't want to thrash my truck on some of the tough dirt roads I use to access the areas I hunt. What's wrong with that?

I'm just going to post my guess right now. 112 5/8

Why not do both? If we really want our voices to be heard then we should make a comment right now that can be included in the tally, and we should also make a comment after the official comment period is open so our comments can be included there as well. Don't sell your self short by only commenting just once. Also get your spouses and children to send in there comments as well. There voices and opinions should also be included even if they don't hunt. Don't forget that the G&F listens to the anti hunters and tree huggers when they are pushing there agendas. So why not have your non hunting relatives voice there opinions for this issue as well. Also don't forget that this is not an election. There is no law that says you can only vote once. Keep voicing your opinions every day if you'd like! I doubt there keeping track of names anyway. Keep the comments flowing so they know you're serious.

No kidding dude! Some of us would prefer to ride the quad to the end of the road so we don't have to beat up our trucks.

I hope Jason doesn't mind me posting this in a public forum. Jason is just one of the nicest guys I've ever had the privlage of meeting and hunting with. I wish him and his family the very best as they morn the loss of his father. I recieved the following email from him today: Hey Guys.... Let me first say sorry about the email, but it is just too hard to call everybody This is just a quick email to say that my dad passed away on Thanksgiving Night. His passing was very peaceful and he was surrounded by loved ones. I had to come home to Silver City to take care of some stuff and I forgot my charger at my mom's so my phone isn't working, so I will catch up with everybody later. We are not sure when the services will be but please don't send any flowers or food. I will be setting up a scholarship fund in his honor later next year so if you feel the need to send something you can contribute to that later. He would really have really liked that. Once again thank you for all your support.. J-

Way to stick it out and get it done Gabriel!!!! You've got plenty of years ahead of you to go back and find the big one.