capt88

Just curious how everyone spends their days in the blind? From what time to what time does everyone sit?

Will anyone recommend a meat processor in the Williams or Flagstaff area? If luck and skill are on my side I will need to cool an elk or two before I head home. My searches have come up empty. Thanks

Thanks for the help. I plan on processing any elk my camp is able to harvest but would like to hang them in a cooler while we finish hunting. I am willing to pay for the space and time.

It is interesting to read everyones ideas. I have usually been to type A to sit still for very long in a blind but yesterday I gave it a shot. I sat from 9:00am to 5:00pm. I didn't have anything come in until almost 3:00. At 3:30 3 fork horn bucks came in for a drink. I video taped them instead of wacking one. Pretty cool to watch the at 20 yards. Needless to say I will be sitting in my blind again despite how hot and bored I was. I played the game on my phone until the battery was almost dead. I will have to get me video poker or soduko to pass the time for my next trip.

Price REDUCED $900.00! What a deal on a perfect spotting scope. I might consider trading for a deer rifle or Ziess 15x60.

I like to cook meals at home and freeze them in individual serving sizes. Taco are easy because you only have to pre cook the meat. Crock pot just about any meat ahead of time. Another easy one is crock pot a pork roast and then stir in some BBQ sauce when done. Divide it up and freeze it. When you get back to camp just heat the meat and serve on a bun. Enchiladas freeze well and are tasty after a day out hunting. These things will be what I do for my up coming hunts.

I have killed to pronghorn at over 65 yards and missed one at under 30! Killed elk out to 60 yards and missed plenty under 60 as well. Bottom line is you have to PRACTICE in all conditions and different positions at different angles to the target. You can't just shoot at dots on the target either. You need to shoot at animal targets that force you to pick a spot and aim for it. Then you still have to figure out how to keep your knees from knocking so you can get a good shot off. I practice out to 110 yards but doubt if I will ever shoot an animal that far. 75 yards if everything is perfect, which doesn't happen very often.

On my way to look at some new hunting areas I noticed a couple of does on a hillside next to the freeway. I went to the next exit and turned around and came back for a look. I saw at least ten does and knew a buck had to be there somewhere. Then I saw the antlers move, he was bedded underneath some brush. I had to go down to the next exit to get to the same side of the road as there deer. I dropped off my buddy on one ridge to watch the action or maybe have a chance if I goofed things up. I went to the back side of the ridge the deer were on and made my stalk. With a quartering away wind I was hoping for the wind to stay constant. I got to the top of the hill and eased up the crest and started glassing. I found 2 does 60 yards beneath me and knew the buck was right there with them. I chose to ease back and wait. I used my time to rangefind every land mark where the deer might walk past. I eased up for a look and the does were still in the same spots. About 40 minutes went by and then I saw a doe start moving off to my left and soon a few more followed. I looked to my left and saw the buck stand up.. Sham WOW he was a dandy. I eased back to get myself together. I looked over to my left and picked up the buck following the does. He is almost in a shooting lane, I start to draw and then he stops and beds down. OK then I will rangefind him again.. Yep still 40 yards. He gets up and walks to the left, I draw, he walks into a shooting lane quartering away from me. I put the pin right behind the rib cage and let the arrow fly. SMACK! that awesome sound of a solid hit. The buck takes off out of sight. I wait a minute or two to soak it all in and then mark my shooting spot before I go around to the other side of the bowl we are in. I meet up with my buddy on the opposite side and he tells me the buck took off and started up the hill, then stumbled and fell backwards and rolled down the hill into a small draw. I glassed the area and couldn't find him. I knew I should give him some time but from the sound of my arrow and the buck rolling I knew he wasn't going anywhere. We made our way over to where Chris had seen the deer last. There he was, what a dandy and what a way to finish out 2008. Double lung shot and he went about 70 yards.

Closer to Benson than Tucson. He was an old buck. His teeth were really worn down and some were missing. I bet he was at least 7 years old. I wonder what last years rack looked like!

If you still need help I can go out on Saturday if you are in the Tucson area.....

Greetings from a long time reader. Just havent had a reason to post until now. I am curious which unit would hunters be more likey to hunt during the Oct 24 rifle hunt, 27 or 28?