Manamal

I recently read an article in Arizona Deer Times, the publication of the Arizona Deer Association. In the article Rory K. Aikens writes about a study conducted on the 3-Bar wildlife area near Roosevelt. There is a 602 acre fenced predator-proof enclosure where the study takes place. One of the people Aikens interviewed is Jim de Vos, research chief for the AZGFD. de Vos states that " Despite one of the worst droughts in the past 700-1000 years fawn survival has remained high in this predator proof enclosure". He also mentions that the deer numbers inside the enclosure are ten times higher than the surrounding country. That is a huge difference predators make on a population. I think as sportsmen and women we need to do what we can to keep these dogs and cats in check!! Unless I'm hunting big game, I try to kill every coyote I see. I would love to get a lion and have seen a few over the years but the opportunity just hasn't been right. I don't know any lion hunters with hounds. If I did I would kill as many lions as I legally could. Eventually I will probably hire someone with dogs to help me get a lion. But untill then I still want to contribute to their demise. Are there any lion hunters on this site? When I find a fresh lion track can I give you G.P.S. coordinates so you guys can track it down and kill it?

I'm all for increased hunting opportunities. IMHO everybody wins, more people will get a chance to hunt a great unit, and there will be more mature bucks living 'till next season.

These are all awesome pics. Hey j-rod, did that bear leave any teeth marks on your trail cam? That pic is just too cool. Man I can't wait to get some trail cams on the salt holes I made. Just a little short on the funds right now. Any one else have some pics they would like to share?...Please.

bowstalker, Keep in mind when stalking, the terrain will look very different if you circle around to get the wind. It is better to have someone giving you hand signals, but if you are hunting alone try to remember at least three landmarks to keep you on the right track in the excitement of the stalk. I'll tell you from expierence that you will feel pretty stupid if a buck you've been stalking jumps out of a juniper that you walked past at 25 yards because you thought he was further away than he really was. One more thing, once you've comitted to the stalk stick to it. In August I was stalking a decent 3x3 that was hanging out in some pretty rough country with his smaller buddy. I slipped on rocks twice in this canyon, once within 150 yards or so and made a bunch of racket. I thought there was no way they would still be there, but I kept going anyways. Took off the boots at 100 yards, and inched forward. After a while of searching I realized that they were there and they knew I was there too, no shot at 45 yards. Those kind of things always happen to me when I stalk the coues. Everything is easier to stalk than the coues whitetail. I'm taking to the trees man.

Truly one of the neatest kill photos I have seen in some time. Good job guys.

On December 23, 2003 I was north of Phoenix practicing with my bow in a spot I had been going to for a few years. I had a couple of bales of straw set up at different yardages. After the third round of shooting I was walking to the straw to get my arrows when I saw human legs among a tangle of mesquite. My first thought was some drunk homeless guy just needed a place to sleep it off. As I got closer I still didn't see any blood so I whacked him in the hand a couple times with an arrow and got no response. He was laying face down, and when I turned him over it was apparent he had been murdered. I left to call the Sherrifs office. I had forgotten my cell phone so I went to my parents house that was about 15 minutes closer than my place. I made a report on the phone and met a deputy at the scene. For anyone who is unlucky enough to find a dead body DO NOT move the body, if even to determine if it is dead or not. If you do there will be ALOT of questions.

I wonder if SCI is involved somehow, or maybe the NWF? P.S. Thank you NUMMIE for doing the leg work here!! and welcome to the site!!

It is very important to know your limitations when hunting. Personally I have no buisness shooting at a deer sized animal at more than 50 yards, 40 yards for a javie. I wil agree with the above posts that practice at longer ranges will definately make you a better shot at hunting distances. It is also important to practice alot. Some guys go out a week before the season, fling a few arrows and call it good. Those are the same guys that miss and wound game more often than not.

Thanks for the info AZJR!!

Thanks for the info AZJR!!

I've had great luck with the Beeman ICS 400's. They shoot great out of my bow, aren't too expensive, and have blown right through every javalina I've shot with them. I've shot pigs with aluminum arrows from the same distance that did not pass through the animal. I use Thunderhead 100 gr. broadheads.

You guys are right, It really doesn't matter who started it but it would be nice to know. Tonight I have set aside a couple hours to write the appropriate e-mails, and to call most of my friends and family and ask them to do the same. Think about it, if each one of us gets AT LEAST ten people to send some e-mails then our voice is ten times louder. I will be contacting non-hunters as well as hunters.

Someone had to have organized those ranchers, and "Mr.U.S.O." has alot to gain if this passes so I see him as a good candidate. Does anyone know who got this whole thing started? Do you know Couesi1?

I can see this plan working in other states that have many more animals and less people hunting for them. But there is just not enough in Az to go around. I have no doubt george is behind this, and his greed will get him in the end. I'd like to kick his butt too!!!

Man thats a great buck!! Good luck next weekend, seems like you have a heckuva spot!!

Good

I agree with the above posts, a combonation of all factors will most certainly produce bigger than average bucks, with genetics being the most important. Take this for what its worth, but I remember hearing or reading somewhere down the line that an area with above average amounts of sulpher and phospherous in the soil will produce large antlered deer. I have seen some huge desert bucks near southern AZ mines, however I don't know anything about mining, but maybe there is something in the soil. What about fire? When a wildfire burns through an area fast enough not to damage the soil, the new growth is high in nutrition and readily eaten by deer. There are some big 'ol bucks in Arizonas fire scarred landscape. Good topic!!

I've been trying to arrow a coues with my bow for a few years now. I have stalked them, circled around to get ahead of them and wait in ambush, and still hunted for them. Yet still the only coues on my wall were all taken with a rifle. I'm thinking about totally revamping the way I go about hunting the whitetail with my bow. I have seen some some very nice bucks on this site and elsewhere taken from treestands. Most of the time they were also taken with the aid of a trail camera. I have a couple questions for you veteran treestand hunters. 1. What type of treestand do you use? Is it a fixed position or a climber and what are the pros and cons of each. 2. Do you use salt to get the deer to come in? How long does it take to establish a good salt lick? 3. How many trail cameras do you use? Is 30 feet of flash enough? 4. How do you decide on where to place the cameras? Are trail intersections a must or do some trails get used so often that all you need is one trail? 5. Do you have much early season success or is treestand hunting more effective during the rut? Any help would be appriciated.

Actually the law mentioned above is one instated by G&F and should have been scrapped long ago. The interstate commerce law says something to the effect of everyone in USA should have equal right to profit from federal lands, if a state law is not in the way. I think...

This afternoon I talked with someone from the AZGFD about the issues at hand. She said regarding the fee increases, that the G&F had to basically bargain with the legislature to find fees that will work out for everyone. The G&F goes in with an outragousely high number and the legislature will then state their recomendation for a price, then its the G&F's turn, and back and forth untill an agreement is made. They will be in front of the legislature in April, and once again did not seem too concerened about the situation. She did mention that it could take a couple years for the increases to be in effect. She had an "It will all work out in the end" attitude. I asked if a group of hunters could hire a lawyer as was posted earlier and she said no, and changed the topic to the comission. We spoke for a while about the comission and I suggested getting some new blood in there. She was adament in stating that all the people on the comission are hunters and looking out for the best interest of Arizona hunters. I don't think I was talking to the right person down there but at least I found out that they are going about this with a laid back attitude. Not the right approach to take imo. I have also put a couple calls in to Scarintino, and have not heard back. ultramag I would hope the people in other states can see can see just how unethical Taulman and his lawer are being. After all this whole thing is based on a lie. The interstate commerce law in question says that the antlers, cape, and teeth(ivories) can be sold off of animals taken in Arizona. Taulman looks at the then 10% cap and says he is being restricted on the amount of money he can make on our federal land. Just how many antlers and teeth does this guy sell? Probably none, but he saw a loophole in this law that would get him more tags. Who sells antlers anymore anyway with reproductions so readily available? As far as Taulman being a "hero" in other parts of the country, I think not. He is the reason for the price increases, bottom line, and may make it impossible for an out of state hunter to afford a tag. Besides, he is going after other states and not just AZ.

Right on TREESTANDMAN way to go, a buck and a baby, what a year!!!

What pisses me off about the whole deal is the AZGFD knew about a possible suit three years ago and did'nt see that sissy georgie boy as a real threat. All they had to do is change that damned inter-state commerce law and this whole mess would have been avoided. As far as the price increace, I say "Sky High" for nonres. Other states charge an arm and a leg to hunt some of their premium units so we should too, without the constant bitching from georgie. His clients are rich, well most of them anyways, and would have no problem droping a few grand to hunt monster bulls or bucks OUR BULLS AND BUCKS!! Really, how does this make sense... You go to New Mexico to hunt, and the animals you are after are owned by the state of New Mexico, you come back to AZ and you are hunting animals that belong to The United States Of America, what gives. I think this guy and his posse of lowlife scum are gonna spread through the west like wildfire unless the AZGFD and Comission get some better lawyers, grow some nuts and take on the fight. This twirp isnt going away. We need to stop him now before its too late. What ever happened to good 'ol vigilante justice?

Wow guys this is awesome!! I really appreciate all the help, and am very excited to get some salt on the ground and set up trail cams. The 'tricks of the trade' I'm learning on this thread are really going to shorten the learning curve, and will help in my success as a bowhunter. One of the reasons I really like this site is hunters are willing to help hunters in a very unselfish way. Thanks again!!

Josh,bowsniper, Thank you very much for taking the time to reply! The two of you are obviously successful at bowhunting coues out of the trees and the information in the above posts is priceless. I'm stoked, I read some past posts/threads on salt licks and will be starting a couple this weekend. Thanks again guys for getting me pointed in the right direction. Neil Large

wetmule, Thanks for the info, its good to hear that someone is taking care of the lion problem up there. I'm a member of the ADA but have never been to a meeting or participated in any projects. I would really like to get more involved. What can I do as a member to help out? Is there a meeting coming up? DB, I think a lion raffle is a great idea, it would definately get some more people out there killing these lions. Are you going to go to the next meeting and presenting your idea to the board? 111, Still looking, spent the weekend in 37b and didn't see any tracks. I'll be up in 22 this coming weekend , I'll let you know if I find any.