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Everything posted by azcouesandelk
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Canyon Cooler raffle, 5 lucky winners **SOLD OUT***
azcouesandelk replied to 125coues's topic in Conservation Group Events
Did I win? -
Canyon Cooler raffle, 5 lucky winners **SOLD OUT***
azcouesandelk replied to 125coues's topic in Conservation Group Events
So since I bought 3 tickets I can win 3 coolers right -
Wanting to get everyone's input on what headlamps they are using and what they are recommending. Been running the same Petzl for the last 15 years and it finally decided to die on me.
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Congrats again on all the success. You always seem to know how to get it done amigo
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Going into the draw this year we decided to apply for some premium tags without success. With no success in the draw we went after some leftover tags and were lucky enough to draw our 5th choice. With all our friends having tags for other hunts or not being able to make it down this was going to be the first time since 2007 that it would be just my dad and myself on a deer hunt! We knew the odds were against us since we had not hunted this unit for deer before and the last time we had hunted this particular area was 18 years ago for javelina, but we mainly wanted to spend the time in the field together and if successful it would be an added bonus. We got down and setup camp Thursday midday and were able to get out for an afternoon of glassing. Due to my elk tag this year I had no vacation time left so we only had the afternoon before the hunt to scout. We setup and were fortunate enough to find a group of 4 bucks way up a canyon. We had a plan for opening morning and were anxious to get out there and see what we could turn up. Opening morning we setup overlooking a couple of big canyons hoping to find the bucks from the night before. We glassed for several hours turning up some does when we finally found our first buck around 930. We continued to glass finding more deer and several more small bucks. We saw that the first buck we found had bedded down near the ridgeline at 725 yards. With near perfect conditions we set my dad up for the shot. I watched as the bullet hit the buck hard, he only made it 25 yards before expiring. Day 2 we decided to glass a new area that had a some amazing looking northern slopes and a massive canyon. We glassed for a couple of hours without finding a doe. At this point we talked it over and decided to go back to where my dad harvested his buck and spend the rest of the day there. We made it to the point around 10 and within 5 minutes I had 3 bucks found. We dropped off the hill and setup at 380 yards. The rest is history as we were able to make it 2 for 2 in 2 days. This was an amazing hunt and I can promise that it will not be 10 more years before me and the old man have another hunt with just the 2 of us again.
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PM Sent
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I run 60.5 grains RL22 with 160 grain accubonds and get well under MOA out to 800. That is a max load and am getting 3080 god at the muzzle.
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Great buck Nate. Congratulations
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If nobody is selling right now check out rockland trailers in Scottsdale. He has good pricing and the best customer service around
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Kuiu will have there semi setup at fashion square mall 10/19-10/21 if you just want to bring your pack to them
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Before I dive into the story I need to thank a lot of people for the help on this hunt. When they found out I drew an early rifle tag they all jumped in and helped out in a big way. It truly amazes me how great of friends and family I have that they are all willing to drive from all over the state and take time off of work just to help me. Tyler, Rob, Jay, Jeff, Matt, Jesse, Josh and of course my dad. Without all of you this hunt would not have been possible and we would not have had such a great time! Now onto the story... Imagine the surprise when seeing that $135 charge on my card back in March knowing either my dad or myself drew an early rifle tag in one of our favorite units or I possibly drew one of the most coveted archery tags in the state. Waiting the next couple weeks was brutal to say the least! When results came out we found out that I had drawn the early rifle tag with only 5 bonus points!!! Talking with friends that knew the unit well we discussed areas to focus on and realistic expectations. Going into the hunt I knew the opportunity to harvest a great bull was possible, but I wanted more than just antlers on the wall. The expectation was set that we were going to have a fun camp and if a bull better than my last or something unique presented itself I would attempt to harvest him. Leading up to the hunt I was able to get around 8 days of scouting in and was feeling confident with the quality of bulls I was seeing. The Tuesday before the hunt came fast and my dad and I were on the road to setup camp and do some final scouting. After camp was setup Tuesday I went to an area I had not scouted yet in hopes of finding a potential shooter and boy did I. Within a couple of minutes I found an amazing bull and watched him the rest of the night. I ended up going back and watched him all day Wednesday and Thursday also! The plan was set that we would have eyes all over the valley and ridges to locate this bull and hopefully get me a shot opening morning. Opening morning came and everybody was in place about an hour before light. It was an eerily quiet morning as we sat waiting for first light. Rob and myself moved in to the ridges awaiting the call that they had located the bull. The entire morning was spent looking in his bedding areas and rut areas in hopes he would show. Sadly he never presented himself and we backed out that morning in hopes that he would show that afternoon. We went back early in the afternoon and got setup again with spotters all around looking for the bull as Rob and I sat in a cut I had seen him feed through the previous 2 evenings. It did not take long before we got the call that they located the bull nearly 2 miles from us. We packed up and made a beeline to where he was. We ended up working up the ridge and setup approximately 600 yards from where we found his cows bedded. Now the wait began! We sat there with the cows looking in our direction periodically for nearly 90 minutes before he decided to stand. We watched him push a cow into an opening at 575 and I setup for the shot. I wish I could say the bull dropped in his tracks and the hunt was over, but sadly I can't. I ended up pulling my shot and grazed his back. We ended up tracking the bull on minimal blood and his tracks for a long ways before he bedded. In his bed was only a dollar size spot of blood and after that nothing! The entire second day was spent searching the area on the ground and with guys on hills glassing in hopes of turning him up with no luck. Sunday morning we decided to have 2 guys sit and glass the area where the big bull was and the rest of us would go looking for new elk. It did not take long and we had a mature bull located pushing a group of 5 cows. We bailed off the hill and booked it across the flat in hopes of heading the heard off. As we were pushing across the flat Rob saw his antlers in the cut to our left. After looking at his top end through the 15's I told him if I had an opportunity to harvest him I would. We continued across the flat to head off the bull when we saw his antlers again, this time he was a mere 175 yards out! I set up while Rob watched through the 15's. We could tell at this point he had a twisted pedical and broken or weak G3 on his left side but it did not matter to me. The bull presented itself after a couple of minutes and he went down. As we walked up on the bull we realized that this was an old bull that had amazing character! The fact that everybody was still in camp and able to be a part of the harvest made it even more special to me. Again I cannot thank everybody enough for everything they did for me on this hunt. One day I will be able to make it up to each of you!
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Fried heart and eggs. One of the best breakfast you can have
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Congratulations again on an awesome bull!!! You put your time in and it paid off in a big way!
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Starting to look at some digital SLR's and wanting some input on what make and models everybody is using along with pros and cons. I don't have an exact budget in mind, but am willing to spend the extra cash to get what will work best.
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Harris Bipods, misc bipod, Allen meat saw kit, REM 700 mag
azcouesandelk replied to 5alivefishing's topic in Classified Ads
Where are you located. I'll take the magazine -
San Carlos Elk 2017 **edit** Jicarilla High Fence Elk
azcouesandelk replied to Norteno's topic in Elk Hunting
I believe that bull was killed on the Jicarilla. Absolute giant bull!!! -
Aren't you to old for youth javelina?
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The updated list is a day behind. If you look at the date on top it will say updated 8/2 for today
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Got lucky and got my 5th choice
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No need to worry yet. There are still tags available they just haven't pulled your app yet
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Looks like some people are able to see leftover results on there portal accounts now. They must be uploading them as they go this year
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Who really cares if it scores 410 or 425?!?! That is a giant bull that was harvested. It will probably be one of the largest taken in the state this year.
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Quality of 36B compared to 20+ years ago?
azcouesandelk replied to 105Coues's topic in Coues Deer Hunting in Arizona
There are still great deer in there, but over the past 10!years I have personally seen the buck tondoe ratio dwindle. Still in the right areas we will have 10 buck days -
They should be out sometime next week. Normally a week after results are posted