elkaholic

Well to day was kind of a wake up call- now I've had Tinnitus for 20+ YEARS. Today we were out scouting for an upcoming deer hunt. putting out cameras etc. We had hiked in about 2-3 miles and found a couple of good spots , even a nice spring with water and a ton of tracks. Now I found a spot in the shade to wait while my friend mounted a camera . so I'm relaxing in the shade and Steve comes over and says Gary - do not move - don't you hear that rattler buzzin. I'm like - yeah right - Steve is dead serious - DO NOT MOVE , he's right here someplace. we don't see a coiled snake ,so I stood up. With that action - Steve repeats - Gary Don't you hear that rattler. NOPE don't hear a thing except my ears ringing . Well , we find the snake - a little black guy up under a rock , less than 6 ft from where I've been sitting.- I never heard a thing - Steve could hear him from 20 + feet away . So ,we try to get it out so we can kill it - I'm within 3-4 ft poking the hole with a stick and I still hear NOTHING. I'm told he's buzzin like a band saw We dispatch the snake and I turn to Steve and say - HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM

Even with the constant buzzing/ringing---"cicadas" My hearing isn't real bad - I do hear ok , that's not the problem - It's what I don't hear - I would have never thought I wouldn't be able to hear a rattlesnake at less than 3 ft. To be honest - it's actually now a life and death situation for me. Here agin - I never gave much thought as to where I sit or walk - If anyone has been out in the desert since all the rain - guess what folks - everything is over grown - you can not see the paths anymore what was an easy open walk is now a catclaw jungle and grasses/shrubs knee high I posted this as a warning to be safe and do not think you can hear everything - especially if you have tinnitus - go get your hearing checked - I see getting hearing aids in the near future for my self - oh well social security is next - lol

Over the years - I've never had a problem hunting alone - never gave it much thought - 2days - 5 days - 10 days - no phones no real contact -just give general area - like unit 21 and go- lol Last 2 yrs things kind of changed for me - I don't mind going out for the day hunting alone but find having someone in camp makes the evenings much better !

Nothin like capin and taking a head off a rotting mass of stinkin animal - tend to toss a few cookies - if you know what I'm talking about after all this hoopla - sorry to hear some unethical people stole the antlers and the cap- doubt it was G&F as they'd of just wacked off the antlers

head down to Mt. Ord

what a joke - the worse opening day in my 30 some years of dove hunting usually we limit out by 8 - 8 is the total of dove that were seen from day break till 8 a.m Nobody we talked to in our area seen any number /flights of doves- a few little groups of 4-5 and a few singles. we even had hunters showing up at 8 hoping to find a better spot as they had seen ZERO doves flying. The only thing I can think of if - the huge MONSOON storms last month tht hit most of our dove hunting areas . I took 4 shoots and killed 1 dove! that's it we usaullt go through several boxes of shell between 4 guys - we totaled 12 shots with 2 birds taken anyone else have better luck ?

why would someone bait illegally in front of someone elses camera / spot

I 'm getting the feeling that the Bulls are getting use to NOT BUGLING during daylight hrs I may be wrong but with the added pressure of scouting and numerous "party groups " out calling from every nook and cranny of the woods they have wised up a bit in the last couple yrs!!

the criminal has to do with federal migratory bird violation! once he picked the code - i'm sure he had to check the criminal box - he could and should have written a warning and checked the petty offense box

yep the criminal box is checked -- there has got to be more to the story - it just doesn't seem normal where you disrespectful - mouthy or something - story states he checked everything and you guys were perfectly legal except for one sparrow

There is no way in heck that this kid shoulda got a citation for a sparrow G&F - you aren't doing the youth program any good if you chit pick about a sparrow whom ever this G&F wildlife -worden -warden - cop - is there a quota you need to fill -?? teaching a lesson is one thing - but to go to the extent that you went to give this citation proves you really do not know how to deal with the youth hunters like he wanted to write a ticket and after he couldn't find anything else wrong . went out of this way to make sure this youth would remember not to shoot a sparrow especially when we all know the crap these wildlife managers seem to get away with!

awesome video - now post approx. location as there are way to many coyotes in the one spot!

if you are in 6a - below stoneman road the elk will get pushed off the flat lands into the canyons edges - you might try higher in the pines hunt off fs rd 239- 4-5 miles in but with all the rains road conditions may limit where and how far you can go.

I can't ever remember coming home early because of rain - when you set up camp and plan to stay the whole hunt - weather isn't even a factor to end the hunt or go home early the mornigs after a good evening rain where always the best! hope everyone is prepared - hunt smart and stay safe now if "everything" gets soaked - it does tend to make it rough those whom know AZ and Know that the rain can be bad - shouldn't be a problem

nice young cow there - great eat'ns

I guess no one thought of packing the deer on one horse and riding double for 1.5 miles! lets just drag it !?

I got to admit - that's a first for me - drag a deer out behind a horse . that is a crazy buck

ITS OPENING MORNING - last thing someone has time for is making sure all the no tag holders on CWT have photos of Big Bulls Down

not to sound crazy but isn't that just like the coyotes rape tree memorials of abused illegals or do you think its locals losing something special!?

Nice job!

one can say - fairly accurately that this last storm dropped 4-5 inches , everywhere it went thru! but we are in a DROUGHT YR!??

although salt is a much sought after mineral for most wildlife - its essential not to get too carried away with what you put out for them. and the how much you put out that's why they came out with trace mineral salt - 7 or 8 different minerals added to salt to supplement minerals that will be helpful to the animals diet . including iodine - all these should be taken in very small amounts for a healthy diet. that's why they call it trace mineral salt only very small amounts are added to the salt!! be careful what you are put out is helping and not hurting the animals

just tell him to have fun kinda easy if your not the first in line because everyone is hawkin the kid in front of them to see what they do . just go over the BASIC stuff the night before or even on the trip to the range - its all about handling the gun and being safe

not even going out this weekend - kudos to all those with hot spots n phx generally sucks this yr. hope to get out an evening but places to go around n phx all have drawn blanks would love to get wife out but heat and no birds is no fun!

I always called them MADASHELLS - mainly because a few trips proved they are rugged and unless you are prepared ,anything and sometimes everything goes wrong and I get - mad as hheell yes they are in 22- lol the verde is the boundary - all of the mtn range is in 22!! for a day trip try MT.ORD