Pine Donkey

Chris, we have a couple you can use, but not planning any trips to Tucson anytime soon. The traps work OK, but there are better options. My favorite is a cheap hairnet. Tie some strings on the edge so it closes some when pulled up. Then put a small piece of bacon in the middle. Wrap some of the net around the bacon and zip tie it closed so the little thieves don't take the bacon. This should give you buckets of mud bugs. Good luck and enjoy your trip.

Here is another thread that will give you a little info, although no info about the Hannagan area camp grounds. Hope it helps. http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=32812&hl=

Road kill makes sense. I can not figure why a poacher would haul the kill to an area to dump it rather than take what he wants and let it lay.

As soon as we returned from up North, Garrett took off to check some of his cams. This was a decent buck last year, lets see what he can grow this year.

http://www.territorialcupseries.com/results.html

It appears it was in Utah. Pray for survivors. http://www.abc4.com/content/news/state/story/Air-tanker-fighting-fire-crashes-in-Iron-County/kIgPVcn6QU68BXxQkZPVWg.cspx?rss=1451

Great bear, love the color. Congratulations!

This is one of those games where everything clicks for the wildcats. They also have only used two pitchers this weekend. They look to be peaking at the right time of year.

Here is Winchester, Cabela, Remington and Harley enjoying sunset at Nelson Lake.

Sorry Casey, this lab is a girl named Cabella.

One difference between the Wallow fire and Rodeo Chediski is that much of the Wallow is in high elevation areas where oaks are hard to find, but aspens are plentiful. This fire proved that individual aspen trees are very fragile, but the organism as a hole regenerates very quickly. The area is covered with millions of juvenile aspen shoots. The elk are already knocking them down, but many should survive. This picture was taken near the 249-276 intersection. As you can see, this was not an aspen grove before the fore, but will be in the near future.

We spent Friday on the East Fork of the Black River. The fire damage, is evedent but not the total disaster that had been feared. Both sides have severe burned areas, but the East side has much more damage. Although damaged, this is still a beautiful area. Here is Laurie fishing a little hole that was loaded with both Apache and Brown trout.

NCA 2012 BBQ ●July 28, 2012 Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests reopens Escudilla Wilderness and other areas for Memorial Day weekend Springerville, AZ; May 8, 2012—The Escudilla Wilderness Area Emergency Closure Order is being lifted on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNF) after nearly a year since last May’s historic Wallow fire. “The resilience of the Escudilla Wilderness is truly remarkable! Escudilla is no stranger to fire, as it was nearly 61 years ago when fire swept across its landscape. But, as you will see, meadows are green, aspen groves are springing up, and some areas have mixed conifer. We are asking the public not to loose sight that there are still a lot of hazardous conditions when entering any forested area, burned or not,” ASNF Forest Supervisor Jim Zornes stated. Many areas of the Apache National Forest at a glance will look pretty similar, but the Forest wants to remind campers, hikers and all visitors to Look Up, Look Down, and Look All Around. What to look for? Look for stump holes, unstable trees and if there is a chance for rain, the possibility of flash flooding may occur. When strong winds occur, which is typical of the White Mountain area; hikers and campers may want to stay out of burned areas just as a precautionary measure. “We aren’t telling people that they that can’t go into the burned areas, we are just encouraging people if there’s another place to hike or camp they may want to do so,” according to Eric Flood, Alpine Ranger District recreation staff officer. NOTICE: Low clearance vehicles and those pulling trailers are being advised not to use FR276 through the East Fork Recreation Area that will be open, because of the number of deep drainage ditches and salvage logging occurring on the north end of the road between FR249 and FR37. Visitors should access the East Fork area via US191, and take FR26 west, and then FR24 north, or follow FR 24 south from the Big Lake area. Routes to (re)open: NFSR #81 (Auger Canyon Rd.) and NFSR #276 along the East Fork of the Black River. Recreation Sites to (re)open: Aspen Camp Ground (CG), Deer Cr. CG, Buffalo Crossing, Diamond Rock CG, Horse Springs CG, and Raccoon CG, Rainbow CG, and South Fork Day Use Area (the area was a campground, but is now closed to all overnight camping). Areas that will remain CLOSED to Dispersed Camping Until Further Notice: Auger Creek Closure Area, Fish Creek Closure Area, Middle Mountain Closure Area, Milligan Valley Closure Area, Prime Canyon Closure Area, and West Fork Closure Area. Recreation Sites that will remain CLOSED Until Further Notice: West Fork Dispersed CG Please check out the ASNF website for more information at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in place forest-wide on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. What does this mean to the public? Due to increasing fire danger, the following fire restrictions are deemed necessary to prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public health and safety: Fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves are allowed in developed campgrounds only. These restrictions limit smoking to within enclosed vehicles, buildings, or in developed campgrounds. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns, and heaters that can be turned off are allowed. The fire restrictions will remain in place until lands within Apache, Greenlee, and Navajo Counties receive significant precipitation. White Mountain visitors are reminded that some campfire restrictions are always in effect, such as in forested areas within city limits of most northern Arizona communities. Additionally, fireworks are never allowed on National Forests. For more information about restrictions on public lands, call toll free 1-877-864-6985 or visit (http://www.publiclands.org/firenews/AZ.php and www.593info.org) or by dialing 593 or 928-333-3412.

Great pictures Lance, thanks for posting them. Here is one I saw on the 31st. Tough to see from this photo, but he has a pretty good bottom end and a lot of growth still to come up top. He is just begining to split off the sixths. He was with two other bulls that were just a bit smaller. A few hundred yards away we saw a spike that had not yet shed its antlers.

So sorry for your loss. Our family has had to try to make sense of a suicide due to chronic back pain also. Hold strong to the memories and be comforted by knowing that he is no longer suffering. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Doug, your talent is beyond what words can describe. Thanks for always sharing.

The winds have died down and the weather is beautiful. Fished Nelson Lake this evening with the family, caught 19 stock trout in an hour. Little niece and nephew loved it.

Many times I have fished Big Lake and left thousands of dollars of equipment in the back of my truck. Never had any problems, but maye I was just lucky. Thanks for the heads up, guessing I will be locking stuff up front from now on...sad day.

Saw a cow with a very small calf last night near Nutrioso.

We owe so much to all of out service members.

I love that blonde bear. Thanks for posting the pictures.

Bill, Your article brings up some bitter sweet memories. This state has grown so much. I now drive on paved roads through subdivisions where I once hunted. I remember fishing oak creek when you could drive in on a Friday evening and have your choice of open camp spots. I also see malls on land that used to be owned by the State; land that we thought would never be developed. Growth comes at a great cost to our open spaces. This is one reason I strongly support organizations, such as RMEF, that work to protect and preserve critical habitat. I am as guilty as everybody else in promoting growth. Tomorrow I am headed to Nutrioso to spend a week at our cabin that sits on the edge of a once untouched meadow adjacent to Forest Service land. Thanks for posting the article.

I'm headed up Friday. I'll try to avoid the weekend crowds by fishing a small almost unknown pond on the weekend. Probably will visit Big Lake on Tuesday or Wednesday. Either way, it will be a weekend in the White Mountains with the family, what else could a guy ask for?

That was pretty cool. God put on a pretty good show!

Nice pictures. Glad to see the sheep and turkeys, since they were hit pretty hard.