Pine Donkey

It's great to see one of these stories have a happy ending!

Thanks Red Rabbit. I have watched that video a few times now, and have committed much of it to memory. I am now trying to practice my judging skills, but the opportunities to look at an animal, make an estimate, then get an actual number are pretty limited. I did find great value in another post of "largest antelope". I have also been looking at live goats every chance I get. I will be back in the mountains this weekend pearched behind a tripod. Thanks for putting up another of your beautiful pictures, I always enjoy them.

I have my first goat tag ever, and am trying to refine my field judging. Can some of you who are experienced post a size to this buck. Thanks, Robert

Wow! I didn't know Murphy's Law worked on elk.

Great news, can't wait until she is back on the site.

Amanda, Our thought and prayers are with you.

Arizona is getting support from all over. The link below is to a new Ray Stevens song. Not as funny as his stuff from the 70's and 80's, but very timely. Enjoy

Amanda, the recognition is well deserved. Congratulations.

Looks like the left rear leg is broken. Hopefully nature will mercifully put an end to the suffering.

Somebody has been telling the story of the one that got away. Great picture.

Lets all pitch in to buy Lark a mirror. We have to help him see that the glory days are over.

Mountain lion meat is much like a lean pork. The chops can be thrown straight on the grill with a little seasoning. It is some of the best tasting meat you can eat. In May I made a lrge batch of shredded lion that was very similar to pulled pork. I took it to school for my staff to try. Most people took a small spoonful just to try the exotic fare. Soon they were returning to load up their plates. Admittedly there is a bit of a stigma about eating a cat, but if you can get past that, you will have some excellent meals.

Jim, Thanks for opening your home and allowing everybody to see your increadible collection of antlers and mounts. Although I was not able to stay for very long, I had a great time. I also enjoyed meeting many of the CWT members. Thanks everyone for the great conversation.

I have to be at a 5:00 wedding in Vail, so plan to stop by for a bit before the wedding.

Oh, fart humor, it never gets old. Why do some people think farts are funny...because they are!!!

30B Dec WT. This year I hunt instead of just help during Christmas Break!

Bill Quimby started a topic about wolves he had recently seen. It appears that many people have been seeing an increasing number of wolves in Arizona. The topic of wolf management has been debated before, but I want to open it up again. Below is a letter written by David Allen of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to the Defenders of Wildlife and the Western Wildlife Consevancy. Although this letter is based on wolves on northern states, the issue is applicable to Arizona, and the Mexican Gray Wolf. I am very pleased to see the Elk Foundation go on the offensive against these groups and challenge them to backup thier own actions with fact rather than rhetoric. What are some of the thoughts from CWT members? RMEF_Ltr._Defndrs4.10_1_.pdf

Lark, You need to get past this "beating around the bush" and tell us how you really feel...just kidding Seriously, I agree with you that this is an over priced scam that was doomed before it started due to the fact that the wolves are hybridized. I know one individual who is looking to shoot a wolf, then push the genetic issue in court. He plans to demand a DNA test because you can't be guilty of shooting an endangered species if all you shot was a wild mutt that might have a spoonful or two of wolf blood. I recently read (maybe in the AZ republic) that each wolf now in the estimated population has cost the USFWS $180,000. Thats your tax money at work.

We have a place in Dry Valley, just west of Nutrioso. Large numbers of elk is the norm, but wolves have been pretty rare until recently. We used to see wolves about once a year, now it is once every two weeks. Last week we saw four different groups. One by the cabin. four on road 88 just short of Water Canyon road, two at the end of Rogers lake, and two in the OD's. Some had collers, some did not. The calf drop may be drawing them out, but I think the packs are expanding rapidly.

I have made a couple trips to unit 1. Goats seam to be scattered and the only good ones I found were nowhere near does.

His song, "In Color" has some of the best lyrics I have ever heard.

Nice work!

Thanks AZ, Good luck with the birds.

I hear the roads are open to Big Lake. Have any members had any luck yet? I did not get to make my annual turkey-fishing trip, but plan to be up there for a week beginning on the 24th.

This morning I received a call from a local rancher. She said they had lost a calf to a lion last night and asked if we could try to find the lion. I called Mark at work and called my son Garrett out of class, and we agreed to meet after work/school. It did not take long to find the drag trail the rancher told us about. I immediately was impressed with the size of the tracks along the trail. That is a .243 at the base of the track. Soon we were sitting over a burried kill. I had to leave after about an hour due to an end of the year banquet at school. It took all I had to drag myself away, but I had to go. No sooner had I sat down at the banquet then my phone rang...it was Mark. He told me that the lion had just appeard on the old mine dump across the canyon (109 yards) and her had shot it. He said he hit it hard, and rolled it backward off the dump. Jokingly he said, "I hope there is not a mine shaft back there". A few minutes later the phone rang again. This time it was Mark asking how long the banquet would last because he and Garrett would need help getting the lion out of a mine shaft. It took a few minutes for him to convince me that he was serious, but soon we were making arrangements for ladders and ropes to be take out to them. A couple hours later, we were taking pictures in his front yard. The tom tipped the scales at just under 120 pounds. Not a bad way to spend a spring evening.