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Everything posted by natureboyfloyd
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"come here, honey," I said, "look at this" "900 yards out, down to 20yds!" she said. Collective "wow!"
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This week, in the valley between the Rincons and the Little Rincons, aka Happy Valley, my wife heard voices @ 4:30 a.m. Asked me if I left the emergency radio on accidently (talk radio for a few choice minutes of Dr. Savage and Levine....car camping, why not?). I had not left the radio on. Around 6:00, lazy, focusing on coffee, I did not check for tracks. Later, talking to another family camped about 2 miles away, they had heard their door being checked to see if it was locked. They weren't lazy, and did find tracks. Next night, nothing. Meth heads? They took nothing of value I left out. Illegals? That area? Why, with the San Pedro close, or even I-10 near by. How many pages will we write on this nonsense.
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Anthony, That bighorn looks enormous. Sounds like an incrediable, memorable hunt. Hauling that big boy out of there must have been the taxing part. Those two photos you posted drive home to me why I love this state, namely the rugged, vast terrain making for a real hunt.
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ObamaCare Could be Used to Ban Guns in Home Self-Defense
natureboyfloyd replied to coues7's topic in Political Discussions related to hunting
Coues7, A big thanks... Keeping track of all the behind-the-scenes ways to limit me is a second job; thanks for the heads up. If we the people do not vote these folks out in the next election, in huge enough numbers to overwhelm the corrupt counting, we will all be riding solar powered bullet trains to our second and third jobs. This stuff is getting ridiculous. -
For what it is worth.....maybe a penny.... I have sat pretty still, in a ghillie, by a water source with fresh w/in 24 hr tracks, and had crows and quail come in (very wary, sitting outside the immediate area for 10 to 30 minutes before drinking), but no deer. Roadrunners, hawks, but no deer. Very wary, these coues. I love how they humble me. Make me realize I am a still a 21st century man. Granted, I may smell like tea, or sweat....but I washed the sweat out of my shirts with the help of AZ FG bubbler, and felt 89% sure I was rightously still and blending in...so I +1 the idea that bigger bucks drink at dark. In any case, sitting by a water hole, or even a large crevice, is a great way to see cows. Yet, Amanda's thought on the "hidden water" is right on. In the Reddington Pass area, near Tucson, are some crevices that hold water year to year, even this year. I see deer always within a 1/4 mile or so of those little sources. However, I can not reliably move that knowledge to other areas. Alos, if I personally knew the secret of coues and water, I not sure I would post the answer; let the next guy do his/her own research. A book I read focused on the East and said deer drink an @ quart, morning and night. Not much help out here?
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Yes, I had the problem yesterday.
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Thanks for sharing, Yeah, I did a bit of exploring, approaching the Ash Creek/Saddle Mtn from the south Mesas; also checked out elevated outposts on the west end of the unit. I agree, water is there, because I drank it. Still, quite a few catchments were dry, the kind that are bulldozed on one end. So, I figure the deer have to change the home range, but that is kind of a no brainer. I was also noticing that some of the deepest shaded places/crevices were dry this weekend. poor monsoons? I did not dig down, but I have seen deer pawing...Any mammal, including the bear, that deal with the arid seasons have my respect, as I lug a gallon plus for the first day. Guess my post made me sound like a road warrior. Hardly. Sensitive about that. Was actually thinking about the interior, and maybe seldom visited, features of the unit... The genetics question, well, I use to live in Reynolds County, Missouri, the most heavily poached county in the US for a while. Even squirrels seemed a notch above regarding flight distance to human noise, and my father tells me about pheasants in S. Dokato fleeing at 200 yds when a door opens. I still wonder and have decades to wonder about, hopefully, exactly how far a mature deer looks as it decides to leave a gully. On average. (the posts on harvesting Monster bucks really got me thinking about the role of age on the deer' s awareness. Probably should continue "thinking aloud" on the biology thread). Str8shot, one weakness to focus on is a lack of knowledge re: browse; the D. Adams' book and others are on my list now. Thanks for thoughts. This site contributes to the experience.
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Gabe, Think carefully on these posts. I've returned from another serious scout from Unit 32. One weekend prior, I could've shot my share of decent sized spikes. This weekend, working for a large buck, I saw two deer running as I went to a water source; relatively no skill involved in those sightings, to be sure. The unit is dry, as one astute observor mentions, and I spent a better part of a long day looking at few fresh tracks in a fry stretch of topography. The land spoke of water, once, but not now. (June, what about those Little Dragoons. I took a peak through the glass, and they look large. However, the range is probably dry, huh? Tempting though, another range to wander about.) General questions I have, and not expecting anyoone to give up hard won knowledge: Will Coues become larger in home range in a drought? How much? How much do larger, older deer look around, presumably to spot me glassing, before they start tooling around? What is their "awareness factor?" Are the"dumb deer' genetics gone forever? Hunt hard and smart; enjoy the process.
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Given the yearlong coyote season, we can carrry a longarm all day long, right?
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Congressman Joe Wilson
natureboyfloyd replied to bowsniper's topic in Political Discussions related to hunting
Regardless of Joe Wilson's comment being appropriate, or not, the President was, in effect, lying to the American people. He knew that he wanted to insure the non-citizens, and had Joe not spoke out, the micro-debate may have not started on the issue of illegals and health care. If language is to have any meaning, we need to get rid of darn near all the liers. Why are we willing to continually tolerate this double speak, as a nation of free people? Joe Wilson is my Man on the Year: concise, accurate, and probably willing to provide his transcripts. -
Gabe, I will just relay what I have heard and seen; I drew 32 for the late. Nov. as well. I see coues almost every time I go in that unit, and often bucks. Never hunted there, but backpack and hike.That is probably not much help. A landowner said there is much traffic from hunters on the Sunset Loop, near Sunset and Basset Peak. Since many will be ATV hunters, the common reasoning is to "go in deeper." I am nervous in some respects to having alot of people around me, not that I will be shot ( I more closely resemble a jack butt, not a deer), but that I will get to within 85 yds, lay the 30-30 over the log, and bam,...a hunter abit further off strikes first. We will see. I 've seen the deer this summer in the desert washes, in the Muleshoe AO, in the drainages along the Sunset loop and close-by elsewheres. Good Luck
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Ground blinds and photo radar
natureboyfloyd replied to Non-Typical Solutions's topic in Coues Deer Hunting in Arizona
I sorta agree with Redneck. I do not use the blind , nor cameras, and besides the fact I can not afford them, they seem abit intrusive. We all bitch about Big Brother ( or at least need to wake up and start bitching), but will cover a water hole with survelliance.... However, the Spanish philosopher, in Meditations on Hunting, Ortega Y Gasset, mentioned that we moderns are so removed from nature that our modern improvements merely close the gap. Since he wrote "In our time-which is a rather stupid time-hunting is not considered a serious matter...", I take him seriously. If a man wants to photograph any deer coming into the stocktank, and me taking a 'weee!", his or her own adult decision. The late Sen. Kennedy wrote 300 laws. I doubt we need another for a cuddiecamera, or whatever the thing is called. Y Gasset also wrote "Primitive man is, by definition, tactile man"; anyone who gets into the Sonoran or Maderan to think about an animal and water, paths, whatnot, is tactile. By the way, such a cool day, with clouds, gets my hunting and gathering urges to the surface. -
I had success in 30B last year, but after scouting hard (all day looking, one 30 min. coffee break) in the Dragoons, for two weekends and Nov 11, I never saw a buck. I hunted there, saw several does, and no buck. However, a ground squirrel looked rather interested in what was down the creek--a buck? Any case, I tried a different approach, and scored a spike. Question is, how much time and scouting do you have/ experience seems to be there (more than mine). What will be your "Plan B"? Just my thoughts... Good Luck.
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Oh boy! Of course, people who abandon infants to the Arizona wilds, rape women and teenager girls, sell mind-altering crap and kill cops in their own country will kill you DEAD and rape you, if they choose, if they can do it and still get away with making money. Right now, I have a body count of 5 near my Foothills abode attributable to gang & gun violence. One citizen, a cop who lived, and some others, illegals, "hard workers" . I took a long walk this summer and when crossing the Pedro, I took out the game loads from my wheel gun and loaded the hard-hitting stuff. Quite a sober momment, for I love butterflies, cottonwoods and people, but any one who isn't a little cautious is a moron. This sucks, for I love all humans. However, I love them in order, from family to country. Lock and load South of the Border; G. Giffords, et al, would barlely raise an eyebrow at your death or dissapearence. ALL the rest of the conversation is ad-hoc personal opinion; the border sees death and should you hunt there, follow the advice of the cautious on this site. A personal aside: isn't this a sovereign nation?
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worst draw system in the west!!!
natureboyfloyd replied to crbn4runner's topic in Rifle hunting for Coues Deer
Instead of waiting, I went off to scout Unit 32, figuring that I may just get my first choice, and after a few productive days, checked out a new way to interpret Unit 30( the Dragoons, Mules and San Pedro), which was my 2nd choice. I drew the Galiuros, Unit 32, late November, so I did not need the leftover tags like last year. Living in Tucson works well, for the leftover permits mean I can always hunt. Little nervous about the number of permits in Unit 32, but figure on hiking far to "escape" and thin out the hunter density. Last year in Unit 30, saw only two hunters, in a truck. I going to learn Unit 30, and a few others, and always have that "left over" permit handy. May God help us if the hunter population swells in Arizona. -
I made a ghillie last year. Took a cotton hunting frock from my flintlock blackpowder days, dyed walnut tan/kakhi. Attached army wool green , tan and grey-green strips, worked it all over with some acrylic paint. Awesome. Birds, including hawks, come in real close. I use a 30-30 open sights rifle, and so like the camo when still hunting. Try it. An aside....using the jacket, really makes me think about using the shadows and saplings. I like to place a dead, fallen branch over my legs if feasible.
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Mother of all smuggler camps
natureboyfloyd replied to Hunthis's topic in Coues Deer Hunting in Arizona
I am sending note of this to every friend of mine who looks askew at me throwing my used coffee grounds on the desert floor. I 'd seen this crap near Coronado, but it makes one pissed every time it comes up. We all know this is a hunting website, but thanks for letting us know, once more, that to many, our land is a cesspool. -
Any of you think that the UV-Killer detergent is worthwhile? I read the sites about how deer and dogs see blue, yellow and greys. However, I just use a "scent away" detergent, and do not wash my outdoor clothes in regular detergent, even if it says UV brightner free. Am I being careless? I see deer in regular clothes, and yet I know that that is not a scientific study, by any means. I saw that Tommy is successfully killing the bobcats, in the blue jeans, I guess. That got me wondering. What say you?
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As for my Marlin 336 30-30, I guess anything over 50 yards is a tough shot... but in all seriousness, 200 yards is about it, from a prone or supported sit-on-my-rear position, no wind, level shot. I recently found all the boxes I went through to feel comfortable with that rifle, and realized had I bought a bolt action, flat shooter, I might be less financially solvent. About 21 years ago, I could make far shots, in the service with the M-14 variant, the M21 308. However, on the long shots, someone called the wind. One reason I did not buy a bolt gun was to avoid living out on Allen Flat, on my belly, firing at concentric circles. Because hunting is eternal, many topics, I reckon, recycle. Yet, this topic makes me really think. Over the solstice, coming back from a campout, my wife and I spotted a coyote acting "weird", and that wasn't hard, as the coyote was only three feet off the road. His head had matted blood, a cholla rested in his leg, and one paw was swollen. Otherwise, looked healthy, but had the characteristics of "pain." I got out, and dispatched him. I did not do an autopsy, but the overovew looked like buckshot, or rifle, wounds to the upper head and body. Not a pleasant task. Did someone fire a newly acquired 12. ga. at too far off a distance? Anyone who shoots buckshot, or a round, needs to really grasp the limitations. Quite a few of you guys and gals that contribute to this sight, I realize, deeply understand this concept of limitations; many newer hunters, well do they? If I wounded a deer, confirmed hit with blood, I'd like to say I would stop, but realize that is very tough call. I probably keep at hunting. A side note. A friend new to hunting, elk in Colorado, had a experienced hunter as a mentor. Out this fall, the hunter wounded his first elk, with a bow. My friend learned alot about ethics. The elk wasn't found, even though the man went back for another day to look for the animal. My friend could not get off work, but the message was clear.
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Southern units and safety
natureboyfloyd replied to lowyder993s's topic in Bowhunting for Coues Deer
Correction---bullet holes up and to the right, not left, in the truck, as a recoiling auto-gun tends to do in a right handed owner. I might spend some time getting the actual damage report on hunters' physical being in the southern units. I will get back. I know that info in other circumstances can simply disappear. If I get any hard, verifiable data, I'll let us all know. -
Southern units and safety
natureboyfloyd replied to lowyder993s's topic in Bowhunting for Coues Deer
I wrestle with this safety issue. Last year, a friend and I took a ride down to Patagonia, and then up along the Forest Rd. 142. We saw three abandoned trucks and several cars. Two, that I recall, were in a drainage. Now, to the gist-all vehicles had the usual smattering of bullet holes, from plinkers. However, one, a newer model, had bullet pattersn that I recall from being an M-60 gunner in the 80's. I didn't point that out to my friend, who sits on the fence about the whole illegal thing (invasion). Why scare him? Was that truck in an ambush? We will never know. Why no hunters have been killed can only be attributed to drug runners not needing to, or not wanting to draw attention to themselves via the moronic media. I pointed out that all the oil and anti-freeze went into the water table, and we drove on. Without any bravado, I report that I was armed with a handgun, but I really wanted a long arm when I saw those bullet patters, which went up and to the left. In the Silverbells, I have had healthy, big men appraoch me and my vehicle, until I placed my hand back into the driver's side and said "nada." Thye got the message. I accidently left a gallon, and called BP, as they wished. WHO they heck do we meet out there, and what are "reasonable precautions?" Advice on this site is valuable, and the consensus is "carry a handgun." SO, and to end my post, I would at least carry a Taurus revolver, and speedloader. Thank God Arizona allows a citizen, even when bowhunting, to be armed...that post about the lone illegal with blood chills me. Once you have been shot at, or beat hard, you will never bitch too much about the extra inconvience on your hip. -
Mid November AA 34a hunt
natureboyfloyd replied to CouesKilla's topic in Muzzleloader hunting for Coues Deer
AZFG says that coues are intermingled with the mule deer in 30B at lower elevations; I used this fact to fill a tag. I new to Arizona (@ 4 yrs) and really interested in this topic. I wonder if coues can really get used to desert areas? Sabino Canyon has a good herd, and that is partly Saguaro land at @2700 feet. Also, unit 37 B, the desert north of the Catalinas, with the 96 Hills and Black Peak allows for "any antlered deer." I have seen a big coues out there, and numerous sign ( for that area, I guess). Species overlap in range. Great topic. -
This topic underscores the need to actively develop knowledge and intuition from experiences. Cousechaser3 is right on; ignore scent and wind, and all the other stuff (gear like camo, optics, etc) may not help. Study tracks! See a deer, or any animal, and spend some time seeing the print. I have aged tracks from seeing the animal to a month out. Priceless. Once, a muley in RMNP, and another time a dog under a billboard when I was in college. This knowledge allows some sense of who went by when. Draw the prints, and keep a journal. Read Tom Brown jr, or any book, like Mammal Prints and Sign, by Mark Elbroch. Never pass up an opportunity to learn. Intuition. I scouted over many weekends, and yet no buck in late November. I camped out, hunted well, but just does. On day three, I could really get a sense of the does, but my intuition said "Hey, dummy! The buck aint gonna come.' I went home Sunday, worked Monday, took off Tuesday, planning a hunt in a different area within the unit. And could not sleep, for my sense was that this new area would provide opportunity (been there once). Result. Rattled twice (did it work?), and at 8, shot a spike at 52 yards, my 1st coues. (Rifle Marlin 30-30, open sights, 170gr. Fusion rounds, repaired stock) By the way, I could not find a buck all late summer/early fall but once (many does) at Sabino Canyon. Watched javelina babies suckle, called foxes, etc..., in my homemade ghille jacket, but no buck. Would I have scored an early season buck in that area? NO. But in January, I stopped painting on my large watercolor canvas, brewed up some tea, walked 15 yards into the brush up Rattlesnake Canyon and saw bucks chasing does. Next week, had the King Buck walk 10 yards from me. LUCK coupled with TIME, and a sense of HUMILITY. Good Luck. The end result seems to dictate the narrative, but this sight is a good place to vistit and reflect on your personal hunting practices.
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I think I recognize that road....I backpacked up the west side this weekend. Pitching my tent, the number of deer sign sunk into my tired mind, and I simply covered up the gear with my coat, a poncho and some branches. I dozed off, awoke, and fumbled with the army poncho hood. The fumbling made the out-of-nowhere spike buck 13 yards away take notice of "something", namely me. He played the game of eating, looking, until a doe came in between us. I took a picture, and spooked the doe, and horny friend. Several more deer came in at dusk. Lots of fresh sign up there. A large buck and friends were suprised to see me hiking down.
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Precautions in southern units
natureboyfloyd replied to NativeRat's topic in Coues Deer Hunting in Arizona
When I decided to apply for the "first come, first serve" leftovers, I ran my choices through my wife; she generally felt unease about the whole idea of being south of I-10. We've many nights outside, in the southern units, and agree with all that illegal traffic is possible. I settled on Unit 30B, the Dragoons specifically. Here's one reason why, related to this necesssary thread: I recall an idea from the infantry, called "natural lines of drift." People will go the easiest route, even if trying to avoid detection. Therefore, I chose the north end of the Dragoons, and figure on emulating the Apache when camped up there. That way, any illegals I see are very motivated to cover vertical terrain. I will hunt outside the natural lines of drift for the illegal traffickers. Should perdition come, I made a ghille jacket and I'll throw it over me and hunker down. A revolver, speedloaders, and some common sense, I believe, will get me through any encounter up there in the Dragoons. BTW: New to the stalking of the "white flags of the Apacheria", and have found the scouting reward enough. Great website!