Viper

This morning I saw on Facebook that Eastman’s (of Eastman’s Bow Hunting Journal and Eastman’s TV) is requesting pictures of live coues bucks for a feature story. Quote: “Have a great photo of a live Coues' buck you'd like to see in the magazine? If so, shoot it over to us at editorial@eastmans.com. We might be looking for one for a feature story design.” I think there is some great material from forum members!

I go to maptech (http://mapserver.mytopo.com/homepage/index.cfm?CFID=10339098&CFTOKEN=31851023) I print out various sections of my hunting area, then piece/tape them together to form one larger map. If you do a "print screen" and copy to power point, you can crop, resize, add text/symbols, etc... On maptech, you can hold your cursor over a particular location to display the GPS coordinates, and label your map. These are real handy in the field.

Make sure all the beeps and noises can be turned off. One feature I find very helpful is the "vibrate call alert". The Midland radios I have, do have this feature. Not sure of the other brands. This allows you to simply press the call button to vibrate your buddy's radio. Then he can talk back to you to find out wuz up. This allows you to keep the volume very low. Otherwise, you have to speak into the radio to get your buddy's attention, and he has to have the volume loud enough to hear your call. I've got an older set of Midlands (maybe 5 years old) that allow you to silence all beeps and noises and turn on the vibrate feature. The Midland "Bubba" radios don't have the vibrate feature. My buddy bought a set of Midlands about a year ago and couldn't turn off all the beeps, so he took them back.....could've been operator error. The problem with this frequency band (FRS) is that objects and terrain greatly reduce the range. Open Hills and canyons will reduce the range to 2 or 3 miles. Tall pines, hills and canyons will reduce the range to 1 mile. Over all, they serve most of the hunters needs for an economical price. Buisiness Band radios have more range through obsticals, but are more money, and usually larger. Also, you're suppose to have a license to operate them.

This is an excellent guide! I've not seen this before. I'm afraid to check the tuning of my bow this close to the season. I'll want to start fooling around with it and goof it up. It shoots pretty good now.

Don't have to worry about that camera getting stolen. Nice buck!

That's what I figure. I found a small isolated ridge, away from normal traffic, that had a lot of activity and rubs last year when hunting with a friend, who shot his bull at that spot. It seems to be a natural travel route for the elk. I plan to try that, then check it a couple weeks later and move it if need be.

I have been reading about this issue for some time now. It is one reason why I've delayed getting into the trail cam hobby. I went to the CWT yard sale last Saturday, met a few of the fellow CWT folks. I bought a Covert 3.0 cam from the shop. I'm planning to put it up this weekend where I got drawn for elk (4B). Being a total trail cam rookie, I am reading all I can. It sounds like I really have to consider where I hang it, and how I secure it. It is a real shame that we have to go to extra trouble and expense to make it "secure". Has anyone tried the "government property" angle? Maybe put an official USFS or G&F logo and warning statement on the box. Maybe set a Rambo snare with spikes....that would make some good pictures

I've had the older 12x50 trinovids for several years now. I hope I never have a warrenty issue, but it's good to hear the possitive experiences. I will feel better about shipping them off....they are considered family.

I plan on bringing $$. I want to buy a couple trail cams, a quick-pitch cabin tent, and whatever else I can't live without. I look forward to meeting some CWT folks. It seems a lot of you live in Mesa/Gilbert area.

Daryl, I too am interested in doing the trail cam thing. You posted some great pics! What camera did you buy? You said it was the older one...is it the covert II or the older, odd shaped covert I ? I am leaning toward the covert I, but wasn't sure if 3 MP is good enough resolution. Do other trail cam users have experience with the covert I, and can offer input? I also noticed Bass Pro has Wildgame Inovations 10 MP camera for a little more $$. Anyone have opinions on this camera? Thanks, Brad

Is this still happening? Will there be a good number of sellers?

I haven't got into the trail camera craze yet, but am interested, so I read the forums to learn the pros/cons, etc... I found these batteries years ago by reading digital camera/battery reviews. They are high capacity NMH type and have been awesome in my long zoom digital camera. Now they have a new generation battery that retains 85% charge after a year. I bought several AA for my cameras, headlamps/flashlights, radios....heck, even my toothbrush. I also have the charger/conditioner that is AC/DC, so I can charge in the field off the vehicle. The first ones I bought...maybe 10 years ago are still going strong. You get what you pay for. Good quality rechargables are worth the extra $$. http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/Index.asp

I'm not sure how this works, by looking at the pics. I assume the rubber(?) strap wraps around the bino, but I don't get the two different sized notches in the plate. I have a Leica Trinovid 12x50. The universal adapter I have is similar, but a flat plate with foam, and velcro straps that wrap around each objective. It works well, but a little hassle with the velcro straps. I'm always up for something simpler.

I've seen racks like that before... Pretty cool, but I bet they are spooky in the curves, eh? All that weight above cab height has got to be like having a cab-over camper on board. Did you install air bags? Believe it or not, it handles really well. Not much noticable lean in a curve. No air bags yet, just stock suspension. Not sure how it will handle a sudden blow-out at highway speed. I'm not anxious to find out. I figure it is similar to a cab-over camper. The spooky part is loading them...but you get used to it after doing it a few times. Honestly, after selling my tent trailer we have gone back to the tent, so I haven't used the rack in quite a while. I haul the quads on a trailer, which is simpler. I'm not sure what the next move is.....small toyhauler, small camp trailer (using the rack), stay with the tent......these quads sure complicate things

Here are a few pics of the rack in action. A friend had one he ordered from a company in Utah. It was a bolt-together type, probably a bit lighter than mine. Another buddy worked with a guy that does welding jobs on the side. He used the bolt-together as a template to build two, one for each of us. We had them professionally powder coated by another friend. The total cost was around $1300, as I recall. That was in 2005. May be much more now. Anyway, it's well built, all welded joints. It fits perfect in my 6.5 foot bed. I strongly recomend a 3/4 ton or better truck for this setup. Redman, if you are interested, I can check with my buddy to see if he wants to sell his. It fit a late 90's Ford 250. It has a cross-member that attached to his 5th-wheel hitch for locking it down.

I have a steel rack that slides into the bed of my 2500. Basically makes a flatbed just above the bed sides. I can fit two full size Arctic Cat 500's side by side. The 12 foot folding ramps slide under each quad and lock in place. Plenty of storage under the rack, and the tailgate will close. It handles great with stock suspension, but I think I will install airbags. I hauled my quads this way so I could pull my tent trailer, before I sold it. I'm guessing the rack weighs about 300 lbs. I can load it myself.

FYI - I found out from the ABA Chairman, there is no discount fee for one day, or per course. It's $40 no matter how many days/courses you shoot.

Holy CRUD!! Did I read that right....$40 to shoot Non-comp? I just want to go for the day, shoot two courses. Do you know if there is a per day fee, or per course fee? Maybe a discount for Sunday only? I guess I've been out of the loop for a while. The last shoot I went to was $25.

I prefer 12x for open country hunting. It is good magnification on the tripod, yet steady enough when supported on my knees or moses-pole. I love my Leicas. I have not regretted the purchase. I break out the Zeiss spotter for a closer look. I use the Nikon 8x Monarchs on a bino harness for elk.

Small world....I too have a 4B archery bull tag and will be shooting a Drenalin with the same arrows.

What choke and barrel lenth?

Is the XD sold as well?

A buddy that works for SRP sent me these pics of the transformer fire in east Mesa. I spotted the sticker before noticing the smoke Is that an obsesion or what?! Not sure who's truck it is.

Yup, great guy, good customer service. It's good to see he is still in buisiness after all these years.

Need some advice. I bought a lightly used Matthews Drenalin last year. Lately, the first couple times I draw the bow, it makes a creaking noise. After 5 or 6 draws, it seems to quiet down. This is not a good problem to have in a hunting situation, as you can imagine. Is there a common lube point (cam axels)? And what is used? Thanks for any input.