couesdiehard

Hey azyoung; That last photo was a few miles ago! Cool pictures buddy. Good luck in the draws. Lee azyoung, Looking through all these photos of kitties, I can't make out the one with the lasso around it!

Deer - 1 Antelope - 12 Elk - 3 Sheep - 1

Check out this "feel-good" article from our wonderful G&F. G & F article

dave, If you check the tag numbers on the southern units the percentage of Dec tags of the total tags for that unit they run only about 5-7%, i.e. 36A where there were400 Oct tags, 550 Nov tags, and 50 Dec tags which is right at 5% and 36B where there were 1000 Oct tags, 1000 Nov tags and 150 Dec tags which is just under 7%.

Keith don't forget that those 350 WT hunters in Oct. in 21 will now be sharing that hunt with several hundred javelina hunters and Muley hunters. It's closer to a thousand hunters in 21 in October. I've hunted 21 a lot and a thousand hunters at a time is about 600-700 too many, especially for the next few years while the unit recovers from the fire. Lee

As I recall there was little to no reporting requirement for successful deer archers in the past. What baseline is being used to say that successful archers reporting is low. How the heck do they know? Based on their extrapolations from the surveys mailed out to tag-holders after the hunts? Those things are crap. Out of 10 guys I hunt with I bet only 2 of us ever fill out and return those things. I frankly believe this is just ;aying the groundwork for an archery draw for deer. Just my 2 cents. Lee

dang I knew I should have got that patent! I'm filing tomorrow for my pigeon-packer! Lee

Rembrandt has the right idea! You just bust right through it and take your cuts and scratches. heck why deprive yourself of the joy of picking those curly stickers out your skin. That's part of reliving your hunt!

RR You read my mind. I have been pondering the same scenarios for weeks. I generally fill out my applications with a Dec. 1st choice and a Nov. 2nd but now I am not so sure. I did an interesting little experiment when the recommendations first were available online. I took calendars and for several individual units marked all the big-game hunts in each unit between Aug. and Dec. of 2006. As recommended, many of these units have less than 2 straight weeks at a time to rest (no big-game hunts going on not including lion hunting) during this Aug-Dec period. Not to mention almost all units where WT tags are issued would have Oct/Nov Mule deer, white-tail, and javelina hunts all going on at the same time. By Nov in some of these units I think the WT might be suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder! Just my 2 cents.

That does seem like a mighty long walk, but maybe they are dumped there by vehicles and wait for rides on the next leg of their trip. Lee

DesertBull, I hear you! Unfortunately I bought lifetime licenses for myself and my wife last year and they don't give refunds so we will be hunting. When people realize after a season or two that the Commission has overcrowded the state during hunting seasons, diminishing their chances of success to nothing then maybe enough people will stop buying licenses and tags to make a difference. These guys on the commission just don't get it. The people who participated in the ADA survey are representative of the hunters that buy licenses and tags year in and year out. Great way to treat your best customers isn't it? Since these guys want to run G & F like a business they should learn a little about treating your customers with respect. I hope this doesn't hurt guys in the outfitting, guiding and scouting businesses but it seems pretty bleak if the regs stay this way. Lee

No joke! 15-20 deer hunters are all that showed heck I guess we got what we deserved. I was feeling under the weather but I should have gone anyway. It makes me ill. I knew they would try to invalidate the survey but come on it's far more scientific than sending those "after the hunt" surveys they send in the mail. I think I am the only fool I know who fills those things out honestly and returns them. I will be looking forward to watching how these rule changes will affect deer hunting in this state. I feel like I let myself, my kids and all my hunting compatriots down. It won't happen again. Lee

P.S. The items that are missing on the DeLorme software do show up on the National Geographic. Lee

I know this topic has come up before but I am looking for folks who have used the "National Geographic TOPO! State" and the "DeLorme Topo 6.0 west regional" topo software and can give opinions of them. I like the looks of the NG maps better, the DeLorme look sort of cartoonish. But they both offer very detailed topos. I love maps and have found that the BLM-Public Lands office in Phx. could make awesome custom 1:24,000 topos for $10 a piece but they have become less customer friendly and I like to make maps when the whim hits me. One thing I loved about the BLM maps was that they showed private and public lands clearly. I don't know if these two softwares are capable of that but they do appear to do a better job of labeling small roads. Let me know what you have experienced. Lee

To all that replied; Thanks for your input and I thought the idea of getting the whole western United States for $49 was a great deal so I went and bought the DeLorme Topo USA version 6.0. Brother, am I disappointed! It is missing tons of information. For example I brought up several areas that I have BLM custom topos for and compared and tanks, roads, fencelines, windmills, etc. are missing from the DeLorme software by the dozens. I am going to return it and get the National Geographic program. Oh well, live and learn. Lee

Thanks to all for the input. Will use the info when puchasing the software. Lee

fatfootdoc; I own the Leica duovids 10 + 15 power. I love them. They are bright and clear at both settings. I carry them in a case around my neck so I can use them on 10 power in my hands. I set them up on a tripod at 15 power when it's time for serious glassing. Amanda is right about the fact that they need to be comfortable for your eyes. I also have had troubles with binos that I could not get the lenses close enough together for my eyes but the Duovids lined up perfectly for me. I love being able to carry on pair of binos instead of two and I don't feel like I give anything up. Lee

Amanda, Thank you. I looked everywhere but there on the G & F site. Now I am torn. As much as half of our deer camp have been guys from out of state who love to hunt coues and now it may be darn difficult for them to get drawn on some hunts. I think we may have gone a little too far. I sure won't put any out-of-state guys on my application! Bummer. Lee

singleshot, I agree with Teddy on the pride of being an American first but still am proud of my heritage as I would hope everyone should be. The thing I think a lot of us fail to realize is that for a lot of the people walking across that desert is that they aren't coming here to be Americans. They are coming to work at jobs that Americans will gladly have them do. Those that come here and decide to stay and make a life for themselves and their family still feel a really strong bond with the place they were born just like our first-generation ancestors did. Most wish that economics would allow them to stay and work in their country of origin, that not being the case they go where the demand is for their work and the money is available to make a better life. I think that we should offer a guest-worker program for those who want to come here just to work for limited periods of time. We should also offer a program allowing those guest-workers who want, to become citizens. Just my 2 cents Lee

Amanda, This one is causing a lot of confusion amongst hunters resident and non-rsident alike. Did the Commission pass the 10% cap for all lottery issued big-game hunts and on a per unit basis as Mr. Cimellaro says? Looking at G & F site does not give clear answers. It appears that the Commission originally considered this form but then reverted to the old caps on bull elk and deer north of the Colorado River. Hope you can clear this up for me and others. Lee

DesertBull, Happy Birthday! Have a terrific day! Lee

DEERSLAM He is a monster! I just hope I get to see him alive again. The pictures don't do him justice. Lee

Heres the same Mulie picture without blowing it up. Lee

How about a desert Carp who wishes he was a Coues so bad he is grows a great typical whitetail rack. None of the other carp would play with. This photo is from archery hunt near home earlier this month. To his credit this guy pulled a coues trick on me and ghosted out of there on me. I have actually seen several mulies like this in this area. Lee

One more of the coues. Lee