recurveman

I've bought a lion tag every year for over a decade. I wouldn't go hunting without it. I've seen 4 cats in this state. Unfortunately I've never had a gun in my hand when I've seen them. It seems that they know I'm bow hunting when they come around. It is true about seeing cats anywhere in the state. I've seen them in the desert and the pines. They are everywhere. Please shoot one for me if you get the chance. Save a deer.....shoot a lion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! recurveman Now I'm one of those tree huggers

Me and a buddy have the same tag. There are deer up there but they are few and far between. There are many other december hunts that would be a ton easier than this hunt. I've seen a few deer up in the pines this year but I haven't even looked down low. I'm hoping that I don't have to. I was going to start scouting again when the hunts were over. I think that will give me the best idea of where they are going to be during the hunt. I'm really hoping for some snow. That would really help locate the animals. It might also push them into one area. I really don't expect the deer to move that much. Even if it does snow. It seems like whitetails are more likely to stay in the same area. Good luck on your hunt. I think we are both going to need a little luck and a bunch of time behind or binos looking for those little brats. Here is a little hint. You probably aren't going to see many WT's if you are more than a mile from a canyon edge. Every WT I've seen up in those units has always been close to a canyon. Now I'm sure there are spots where they aren't close but I have never found them. Hopefully that will help. I pretty much know where I'm going to be hunting but I'm just as tigh lipped as those other people. later, recurveman

I don't think the quality of the deer harvested is as important as the quantity of the deer harvested. Think of it this way. If everyone didn't shoot spikes but shot the bigger deer then what would be left for next year? The spikes of this year. So everyone would go out and shoot a bigger deer and leave the spikes for next year. You really don't let the medium size deer grow up. You actually hurt the chances of shooting a larger deer. There was a study done in the 3bar area in 23 quite a few years ago. Where they were allowed to shoot any antlered deer. The success rate was X. The hunters shot any and all antlered deer. Then another period of time the hunters were allowed to shoot only 3 points or bigger. The success rate was the same. The only thing that changed is there were less bigger deer in the area for the next year. So if you want people to not shoot the spikes then be ready for them to shoot your larger deer so they aren't going to be around for next year. I'm all for shooting spikes. Whack them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is another thing that kills me. Let them get big so they are better breeders. What a bunch of crap. First off we all shoot the biggest one we can find. So if we really believed that then shouldn't we shoot the smaller one or the one that has a deformed rack? The next thing that cracks me up is people think that the smaller deer don't have good genes. Only the big ones do. What a joke. The buck is "throwing" the same genes no matter what age he is. If he is a spike his offspring will have the same genetics. You never know. That spike could be the new world record or a fuddy duddy. It just depends on his daddy one mommy. I say shoot the spikes, shoot the big ones and eat them all. Later, recurveman

I would lean towards a 300 or a 7MM. I think I would go for the 7MM. It seems to kick a little less than the 300's and really reaches out there. I'm more of a fan of the .243, 25-06 or .270 but I think you would be happier shooting an elk with a 7MM. No matter what gun you choose you better hurry. You have a ton of work to do. Scope, ammo, range time, ect. You only have a few weeks left. Later, recurveman

I would guess that buck at 16 inch spread (inside) and would net it out at about 95 or so. I could be way off on this though. I haven't had nearly as much experience at scoring WT as I have elk. It could score a ton more but I would be really surprised if it scored less than 95. I'm sure someone with more experience than me can come much closer. Later, recurveman

If that is as big as you guys think then some of the bulls I saw last year hunting were in the 450's plus. I saw three bulls last year that make this boy look like a boy. 50" on the main beams is not good at all. A good bull will have main beams in the mid to upper 50's. I've got a bull in my back room right now that scored 340 and had 62" main beams. I think it would be really tough for this bull to score well just for the fact that it is loosing an easy 15 to 20 inches just on the main beams. Not to mention I don't think the point lenght is as good as it looks. I guess I'm also one of those guys that scores things low. I hate guessing high. Plus I've just seen way to many animals start to "shrink" once that first measurement was taken. I can guarantee that bulls doesn't gross 400. Not even close. But with that said I think it is a great looking bull. I might even shoot it if given the chance. Later, Recurveman

I'd like to put a tape on that head. I don't think it would score nearly as good as you guys think. If you look at the left side it would be about a normal 330 bull or so. It might not even be that much. The main beams are VERY short. Then the right side is kind of cool but it still has the 330 frame with quite a few inches of junk (which I just love). The spread is OK but nothing great. All in all I would put that bull at 350 gross. Maybe a bit more but not much. I think the junk throws you for a loop. Don't get me wrong. I would clean it up and put it on my wall in a heart beat. I think you would have to add a counter balance of some sort so it didn't lean to one side. Later, recurveman

I vote for a recurve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I actually started out with a compound. But if you really want to get a kid started shooting a great way to do it is through JOAD. It is a kids only league. I'm not sure where they are at now days but it is great fun for the kids. I believe they can use compounds or recurves. But the kids really seem to take off when they get around other kids. Check it out if you get a chance. It is well worth the time. Later, recurveman

I love 36B. But I met a guy a few months ago that had trial cam pics from 22 that were awesome. I'm not sure why I'm not hunting up there since it is only an hour instead of 3 hours. This guy with the pics had bucks that were in the 90's that he had shot with his bow. Then he had pics of other bucks that were in the 90's but he didn't want to shoot them. He wanted bigger. The pics of the bucks that were bigger were much bigger. he was guessing close to 115-120. I think he is pretty close if I compared the pics of the smaller bucks he had already shot to the bucks that he only had pics of. It was pretty awesome. He had an album of pics his camera's had taken over that last 2-3 years. You could watch these bucks get bigger year after year. Just flat incredible. But I'm still heading down to 36B. It must be all the wets I see when I'm glassing. Later, recurveman

Nice elk. Just tell your camera man to get closer and turn the rack a bit. I hope you took multiple rolls of film. You've got a nice bull there. Later, recurveman

Critters know when it is human scent. They might not know what made a twig snap or a rock fall. I'm not a big fan of cover scents. I think that is just a bunch of crap for the most part anyways. If I'm sitting downwind of a BBQ with steaks grilling and a fresh pile of dog crap..........I can still smell both smells. I'm just bummed that the dog didn't do it someplace else. If I can smell both smells I'm sure that deer can too. Either way it is important for them not to have a clue that you are there. The more variables you can put in your favor the better. Later, recurveman

Blah, blah, blah. REAL MEN SHOOT BOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Though I do love my .243. I would shoot my .300 weatherby but it kicks to much and hurts my shoulder. Panzee out, recurveman

Just two. There were 4 people who got drawn. The last two might be more of a challenge. One of the guys has no clue what so ever. The other guy has killed quite a few 320+ bulls but isn't in the greatest of health. So, it might make things a bit more interesting than I really wanted. With a little luck we can get them bulls. Time will tell. Later, recurveman

We were in unit 8. We have had a great time and I'm heading back up Thursday morning to see if I can't get my buddies a few more of those bulls. I just love to see them hit the ground. I have a late WT tag in unit 8 and I'm looking as hard as I can for those little critters too. But if anyone has any ideas I'm all ears. Later, recurveman

I can't believe the people left because of the rain. I heard bulls all day long in the rain. It was great. We shot our first 6 X 6 bull Sunday morning in the pouring rain. While we were cleaning this bull the group we were hunting never stopped buggling the whole entire day. It was very cool to clean an elk in the middle of the day and listen to the elk buggle. I would have been a bit happier without all the rain. I spent 4 strait hours in the rain and was soaked through. Thank god I was ready to camp in the rain. Then Monday morning in the wind we shot a 7 X 7 once we found him. The tough part was hearing a buggle in the wind. Then this morning was clear, quiet and crisp. I figured it was going to be great. We heard a few buggles but it was like they needed a break from the heavy rutting they were doing while the storm was working through. Go figure. Later, recurveman

I saw a mulie doe with 3 fawns the other day. I was shocked. It is so good to see little ones. Maybe in a few years the population will be better than it is now. Later, recurveman

I actually thought it would be a great idea to turn your mom in. If she doesn't hunt then tell her that you willl pay her fines and get your elk tag that way. How great would that be? It might cost you a little more but it would probably be cheaper than going to Nevada or NM and buying one of their tags if you could get drawn. later, recurveman

I think this is a great idea. I'm going to get my mom to poach an elk in unit 9 every year. Then when the tags come out I can go collect mine. I think I can make this work. What the heck. She doesn't want to hunt anyways. So what does she care if she looses her license. I do know a few people that have turned in poachers in this state and you get nothing for it. Not a thing. It sure would be nice if you did get a tag or some reward. Later, recurveman

I was hunting with a guy that bought the action buffalo tag last year. It was a ton cheaper than I tought it was going to be I believe it was under 10K. Which if you think about it the state tag cost 750 for a bull. That is a pretty good deal relatively speaking. He also bought the pig tag for his son. He told me what he paid for it. I forget the price but it wasn't very much. A few hundred or so. Ya kind of have to remember it is just a pig. I've know two guys to buy the gov WT tag over the years. One of the guys was a dentist. Just a normal guy. The second guy had more money that he could ever spend (he isn't Mike Tyson). He looked around by himself and a few buddies for the majority of the hunt and never found a buck he wanted to shoot. So he didn't fill his tag. I believe he was looking for something in the 130+ range. Seems a bit extreme but it was his tag. So not everyone is a stuffy CEO that buys these tags. If you met any of these guys you wouldn't even know they had the means to purchase one of these tags. Later, recurveman

There are probably a few more governor tags than you think. I'm sure a bunch of people don't know there is a pig, buffalo gov tags. I wouldn't be surprised if there were others too. Maybe even a turkey tag. I think the coues and buffalo tags are probably the best value out of the governor tags. Later, recurveman

I shoot a PSE right now and really like it. I actually voted for a Mathews. I think they are the quietest bow on the market. Though they are a bit spendy. I also really like the hoyt. Past that I'm sticking with my PSE. Later, recurveman

I'll be up in unit 8 this weekend if someone needs help finding/killing a wounded buck. I don't know where he is at but I will be in the whitetail country of unit 8 so I can't be that far away to at least help. Let me know. Later, recurveman

There are a ton of guys out there that say they have never wounded an animal. They always wait for the perfect shot and always hit where the aim. I only have one thing to say to them. You are a rookie if you haven't had enough opportunities to screw up or have some bad luck and wound an animal. It isn't a matter of IF it is going to happen but a matter of WHEN. Congrats on finding your animal even if it was a few days latter. I've looked for animals a few days later just like you did. Check the sky and look for birds. Or just take a walk and look for birds that you kicked up. Sometimes they can be your best friend. I'll be the first to say that I've hit and not recovered my share of animals but I look for them until there are no other options. That is all you can do. Cangrats on a nice buck, recurveman

This is my guess. I would bet there is quite a bit of private land and it is difficult to hunt because of access issues. I don't know that for sure but that would be my guess. I've hunted 30A before and access is an issue. Just my guess, recurveman

I still think it is unit 22. I think it is a kick trying to play detective and find out where he is talking about. Personally, even if he did tell me where it was at I wouldn't go try and kill it. I see to many critters that I want to shoot without trying to get his too. Here is another example of how I believe a guy should be. I was in unit 9 last year hunting elk. Another guy I was camping with (but didn't know before the hunt) said he wanted to hunt this big bull(we both figured it would gross close to 400). I asked him if it was the one behind camp that looked a certain way. We shared some details and we both had seen the bull on several occasions before the hunt. I told him to go and shoot it and I would go some place else. I never hunted in that area the whole hunt. I wanted to but didn't think it was right. The only bummer was he didn't get the bull either so I didn't get to see it on the ground. I guess even if some of us do find out where someone has a nice buck........it doesn't mean we will be a "WALLY". Unless of course you go home and I happen to be up there on a Tuesday. Then all bets are off. Later, recurveman