Sam

Great story - I'm sure that horseshoe will be part of many future hunting trips.

With all of this talk about how bad the Arizona draw system is and how the bonus point system needs improvement, I got to thinking about my personal elk hunting history and how many elk tags I have drawn over the years. This took alot of thought and a little searching through old boxes of stuff. Here's my history......I think I have done pretty good. How many elk tags have you guys had? Of course I have Zero antelope tags in the same amount of time. 1979 - Any elk tag - AZ 1987 - Cow tag - AZ 1993 - Bull tag - CO 1995 - Bull tag - AZ 1996 - Reservation Cow tag AZ 1998 - Bull tag - CO 1999 - Bull tag - AZ 2000 - Bull tag - AZ 2006 - Bull tag - AZ 2010 - Bull tag - AZ 2013 - Cow tag - AZ So, in 34 years, I have had 8 public land elk tags in Arizona. Oh yeah, I also found my old hunting licenses with the actual tag numbers written on the license - the good old days......

If I remember right, in the early 80s it was possible to buy an over the counter elk tag for many units. I did it for Unit 8 and it was an any tag.....I forgot about that.

I enjoyed many hunts in 5A when there were less than 100 bull tags allocated for the unit. Used hunt both deer and elk there all the time. Seems like someone in the family always had a tag. My last bull hunt there had about 300 tags. Sadly the unit was not the same and I strongly believe that both the quality of the hunt and the quality of the bulls have suffered since the permit numbers have tripled. Not sure if I will go back.......

Tee Pee and Carolinas

This is interesting. Looks like alot of you guys have done pretty well with the draw. Seems to me like the key to enjoying life and hunting is a balance - put in for a premium or more desirable tag as 1st choice and then put in for an easier draw for 2nd choice. I used to always put in for quality bull hunts, not anymore. I want to hunt and enjoy time in the woods with my family......

Not a chance - Over the years, I have known two or three Biologists and a few WMs that could not draw any elk tag. And yes, they were putting in for less desirable hunts. I do not think guys are being rewarded for their service.

Does anyone have a youth stock they would like to sell? Looking for one for a Remington model 700 BDL .270 - so it needs to be a Long Action stock. Thanks.

I agree. I have been in education at the high school level for over 19 years. At my current high school of 2000 plus kids, I can think of 4 adults total, including myself and the resource officer, who I would trust with a gun. This is a very questionable piece of legislation. I have seen trained officers make very difficult decisions in life threatening situations - to shoot or not to shoot. I do not think the average person can make these pressure ridden decisions - including myself. Even though I have been shooting handguns, rifles, shotguns and bows for over 35 years..........

$228 - Elk tag for me and my brother in law!! $50 - Youth elk tag for my daughter!! No antelope tag yet - 19 points this year - oh well, there is still time. Hopefully before I'm 50.

You can take the dog to any vet and he/she will scan the dog for free to see if she has a chip. It is usually placed on the back between the shoulders.

My daughter uses a .270 Remmington 700 BDL. She started when she was 10 with a youth stock. I actually had to cut the youth stock a little bit. She is now 14 and has outgrown the youth stock. I may put the wood stock back on or get another synthetic stock. As far as the rounds, she started shooting Reduced Recoil Core Lok - they are only 100 grains and I think it is fine for deer. Out to 100 yards, maybe 150 yards. This year, on the elk hunt, she used 150 grain. In the field, she noticed no difference at all in the recoil. My vote, get a caliber that has reduced recoil now and then move up to regular rounds as they get older.

Yes!

Cabella's has their meat Grinders on sale. I ordered the 3/4 hp and saved $100. I got it today and it looks great, except the neck seems a little small. The 1 hp is on sale for $150 off regular price. I have never seen them discounted this much. So, for $50 more, I can get the 1 hp with a bigger neck size. 1hp has a No. 22 neck and the 3/4 hp has the No 12 neck. My only experience with a meat grinder is my friend's 1 3/4 hp - it is a monster with a No. 42 neck and I don't need anything that big. Does anyone have a Cabella's grinder - if so what hp and does it get the job done to grind a front shoulder or two? If you need a grinder, they are at the right price now. Thanks for your input.......

AZSlim - I didn't think about the weight - the 1hp is 58 pounds a little harder to carry around. Thanks for the input everyone. I still haven't decided. I also have a $20 off coupon and some Cabela points, so I will break even if I get the 1hp - I hate making decisions like this.

I called today. Percentages range from 5% to 20% of regular priced items. Sale items and Bargain Basement items aren't included. I gave the woman I was speaking with a specific item number - a cabella's grinder - it was already $150 off. There is no extra employee discount. It is still a great deal. I am just deciding on the 3/4 horse and the 1 hp.

I clearly remember when this happened over 3 years ago. At that time, I thought it was tragic and still do. I could not figure out how educated biologists could have caused the death of an animal. After reading the recent article, I now see why. Having worked with the Game and Fish one summer, I don't understand why someone would use a wire snare trap to capture an animal which was planned for a radio collar. Obviously, many days went by and the jaguar stressed itself to the point of death. There's nothing wrong with using radio telemetry to track animals. But, big cats are known for their low tolerance to high levels of stress and the outcome is generally death. Game and Fish should have admitted to their mistake, not cover it up. They should have never agreed to this project......

Way to go!

Great story and a very nice deer. Congratulations. I know what you mean about waiting for a bigger one - early in a hunt there are always alot of things going through one's mind......none the less, I would not have passed him up.

While doing some work at the kitchen table, I heard some rustling in the leaves outside the window. I kept looking out and didn't see anything. Finally, I looked at the ground under a bougainvillea bush and saw this young hawk with a dead pigeon. He must have just caught it and brought it to the shade to kill it it. Once dead, he began to have lunch. Pretty cool and I got to watch him from the window, about 5 feet away. Here are a few pics........

Way to stay with it - congratulations to your daughter. How exciting!

I agree, this is a tough unit come Novemeber. I saw some nice bulls on the junior cow hunt, but also saw a number of spikes. The bull head to the res pretty quick. As a high school counselor, I agree that education takes place both in the classroom and out in the woods. But, if it were my daughter, I would let her shoot a the first bull that gave her a good shot. Then enjoy the rest of the weekend and get the kids home for school. Like you said, they have the rest of their life to hunt, high school only comes around once.......

Awesome - great time of year to be in the woods with the kids.

Very nice. Agree - the best time of year to be there.

Moose meat is outstanding. It is very lean, hardly any fat on these bulls after they hit the rut. It is mild tasting compared to venison and antelope. Close to elk with texture, but a little diferent taste - not stronger than elk, just a bit different. Thanks all for reading.....