Sam

A friend of mine is in the hospital right now - triple bypass. He is lucky, he'll recover. Yes, everyday we have on this Earth is a blessing. There are too many unfortunate events that happen everyday. Some of us are lucky......I'm not sure how else to say it.

Got the Leopold's. They are on back order, but I think it will be worth the wait. She will use them on the turkey hunt.

Hi all - I'm looking for some opinions on some binoculars for my daughter. I've narrowed it down to two that Cabelas has on sale. What do you think is the better binocular/deal? Leupold Yosemite - 8X30 - $89.99 instead of $129.99. 393 FOV and 18oz Nikon Action - 8X40 - 69.99 instead of 89.99. 430 FOV and 26.8 oz I'm leaning toward the Leupolds. Thanks.

Great Bull. What caliber and load did you use?

Here's a couple of Lacey - our yellow lab who is 8 months old now.

A friend of mine has done the 90 day program a few times. I think he is 62. But, don't jump to any conclusions. He is a retired coach who is an avid skier and mountain biker and has stayed in excellent shape over the years. He played college ball too. Anyway, he did not build much muscle mass, but increased his strength and cardio pretty good. He may not have built muscle mass because he wasn't taking in high number of carbs. He swears by P90X because of the muscle confusion and the variety of the workout. I tried it, but didn't really like it. I just couldn't get used to working out inside infront of a TV. So, like you, I have been doing traditional workouts. Twenty five years after high school and I often do the same exercises. I think diet plays a big part in building muscle mass. I have a few friends who are trainers and I would go broke if I ate and drank what they told me too - both pre and post workout - but, I'm sure you know about that........

I was in Tombstone on the 16th with my daughter's 7th grade class. Kids had a great time and learned alot about the old west. Imagine, it was only 100 years ago and the town of Tombstone was thriving. Anyway, I had a chance to talk to Sheriff Paul Badeu between interviews. He really is a modern day sheriff fighting to keep this country safe. It was great to talk to him and thank him for his hard work. He and Sheriff Larry Dever met in Tombstone the day after the BP agent was shot outside of Rio Rico. Here is a link to the interview - http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=13688862 It was also a good opportunity for me to explain to my daughter and her friends some of the challenges we are facing due to illegal immigration.

Great story and nice pictures. I would say he is a young bull, the ivories are kind of small. 3 or 4 year old??

If medical marijuana leads to the legalization of pot, this could be a good thing. Not because people could smoke it without getting busted; but, for the revenue it could create for the country. Alcohol and tobacco is taxed pretty heavily. Could you imagine the money that could come from some good old US grown pot? Not only that, it could keep some farmers in business - many tobacco farmers and others have been subsidized by the government for years. Not only that, why would people buy Mexican pot if they can grow their own or buy it at Circle K? This could cut down on all those illegals we see when we are out hunting for Coues. As someone who works in the public school system, I have seen more families destroyed by alcohol and violence than by marijuana. I have never had a student die in a marijuana related car accident, but unfortunately I have gone to way too many alcohol related funerals. And marijuana is not a gateway drug. Some kids smoke it because it is illegal - make it legal and half of the thrill is gone........

Agreed. The AZGFD has given out way too many permits over the last three years. Almost every unit has seen an increase in tags. I had the same experience in 5A during the bull hunt. However, 5A will still see the same number of bull tags next year. There is a decrease in cow tags - luckily for the elk population. In 2003, 5A had 50 bull tags. Then up to 115 in 2004. This year, 339 plus early bull and blackpowder for a total of 411......absolutely out of control. I wrote to all the board members at AZGFD - not sure if it will help.

Boy, I'd say it was a great year. Well done. I would just like to know how you are able to get away from school. I was a science major in college and never had a chance to miss that much school. I know dental school is harder than that.

Nothing like the bond between brothers. Thanks for the story and congratulations. I had a 5A bull tag and yes it was very cold, almost too cold on a few of those mornings. I came home empty handed. There have been way too many bull tags given out in 5A over the last few years. Hope the GFD changes there mind on 300 plus tags. I liked it better when there was about 125 bull tags in that unit.

Read between the lines.......The AZGFD made a mistake in helping/agreeing to introduce the wolf back into AZ. Why else would they agree to delist this species? Seems to me that they realize that the wolf has not been contained to the Blue Wilderness area and now something has to be done. Like someone said - no fence, no containment. Let's hope that the wolf will soon be classified as a "fur bearing" species and we have an open hunting season on them.

I agree on the poor management of the elk herd. The Game and Fish are allocating way too many permits in some areas. Look at 5A - I have hunted this area on and off for elk and deer since 1980. This is always my first choice for both species. I have hunted from the pinon/junipers to along the rim (6,000ft to 7400ft). The increase in rifle bull tags have more than doubled in the last 5 years. I drew a tag this year - one of 340. I thought to myself, man this is alot of tags. But I know the unit and had confidence that I could get away from hunters. I hunted for 5 days in areas that I have shot elk and have always seen multiple bulls on any given day. I DID NOT SEE 1 ELK. I couldn't believe it. My friend hunted for 7 days and jumped 2 elk. We are both experienced hunters and hunted in completely different areas of the unit. Too increase the permits from less than 100 bull tags 6 or 7 years ago to 340 is ludicrous. I know that animal management is done more effectively by controlling the female population, but AZGFD has destroyed the elk population in 5A. LOWER THE NUMBER OF ELK TAGS! And get rid of the wolves.

Wolves will breed like mad and are very invasive. Look what happened to the deer herd in 27. I agree with Bill - once they re-establish themselves in southern AZ our Coues population will be destroyed. They are eating machines and do not kill only when hungry. I bet the wolf pack that killed the doe in the above picture did not come back to feed on her again. My brother-in-law heard wolves howling in 4B the day before his late cow hunt started. They are moving West. Where is my shovel?

As I am getting ready to leave on a bull hunt today after dinner, I am thinking back to my last bull elk hunt, four years ago. The hunt started off with absolutely great weather, lows in the 20's and highs in the 60s. I passed on several small bulls. I had the whole week to hunt and was holding out for a nice bull. Some of you may remember that year, Monday night the weather turned and it stated getting really cold and snow. The lows hit single digits and it snowed all day Tuesday and Tuesday night. Well, I hunted in the snow and got a shot at a small 4 point - I missed. That night I cleaned my gun, wrapped in a down jacket and went to bed. Early the next morning I got onto a set of bull tracks. The wind was blowing like mad and I would guess the temp to be around 10 degrees. About 8 am I catch up to the bull I was tracking and see it feeding in the snow about 40 yards away. His head is down and his antlers are moving back and forth as he digs through 4 inches of snow to find some food. What an awesome sight! I kneel down, settle the cross hairs behind his shoulder and pull the trigger. The trigger doesn't move.......so, I check the safety, move it twice, re-shoulder my 700 and pull the trigger again. No movement at all. At this point the bull has no idea I am there and frustration is starting to set in. I chamber a new round, pull the trigger, nothing. I decided to take a round out of my pocket - chamber it and try once more. I was afraid I was going to break the trigger as I pulled with all my might. At this point I realize my trigger is froze. A layer of ice must have formed behind the trigger the night before. Picture a 38 year old man spitting behind the trigger trying to melt the ice with a perfectly symmetrical 6X6 40 yards away. I could not get it melted and the bull walked off. I was about ready to cry. Actually, I really thought about throwing my gun and go after this bull with my Buck knife. As the weather looks pretty nasty for this year's hunt, I am praying that this will not happen again. I will be carrying my Dan Wesson .357 just in case....... Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm heading out Friday morning early on an elk hunt in 5A. I was planning on hunting off the 300 road about 10 miles East of Hwy 87. This is my usual spot for this unit. Anyone have any idea how much snow they got in that area? I know that when there is enough snow on the rim, the elk move north towards Winslow. Anyone think they may be on the move from this past storm? Thanks for your thoughts........

Thanks for this link - never knew they had a camera at Clints Wells. This is great! Not much snow as of 6:00.

I'll be in 5A. You guys think the elk will be moving to their winter range? Any idea how much snow the rim got?

Sight it in with one brand and stay with it. My daughter uses a .270. She shoots Remington's managed recoil 115 grain bullets. I thought I would try a Hornady 140 grain just to see if it shoots the same. Well, not even close. I shot two Hornady rounds at 100 yards and they both were 2 inches high and 3 inches to the right. Then I shot a Remington round - dead on, covered the X. My daughter shot a Remington round next, covered what was left of the X. So, all the these years, I have always shot Core - Lokt out my model 700's in a 30-06, .270, and .243 caliber. Seems to hold true every season.......not the most expensive ammo, but works for my family.

Thanks for the advice. It does not seem too difficult. I think I will start Monday afternoon.....I think eventually, I may replace the whole front panel. I can rocks getting kicked up and more cracks and holes occurring.

I bought a 1987 Coleman tent trailer from a friend of mine today. My daughter has a deer hunt next weekend and my younger daughter has been complaining about tent camping again. Even though I have hunted out of a wall tent for 25 plus years, I figured my wife and daughters may stay with me if I made it more comfortable for them. Anyway, I paid $500 for it and the canvas is perfect. It has hardly been used at all. Actually, the original tags are still on the zippers. He just put new tires, regulator, water pump and propane line. Here's the problem.......he had a blow out last time he used it and damaged the fiberglass in the front of the trailer. There is a hole roughly 9 inches at it's widest spot by about 7 inches. It is a jagged hole that is right on the outer edge of the front panel. I thought of placing a piece of aluminum or sheet metal across the entire front and rivet it to the sides. Any ideas how to repair it? Is their a fiberglass repair kit for a hole this big? Where would I buy it? Thanks for your advice........I would hate to use duct tape, but may have to, we leave Thursday for her hunt.........

I agree, I think they were 2 separate offenses. I had no idea that there were that many people living in the woods. We always talk about how we have to worry about our camps and safety down south, does this mean we now have to start worrying about our camp and safety up north too? Breaking the law is breaking the law. If they poach, what will prevent them from stealing my cooler or lantern or sleeping bag while I am out hunting. And you are so right, if these guys are truly getting food for their family, then shame on them for not taking the whole animal. But, why not shoot a smaller animal. I'm sure they have no way to preserve the meat. Anyway, I play by the rules. I went to college, took out loans and finished a master's degree. I have a job I love - don't get paid much, education is not a wealthy profession. If I can't afford something, I do without.

I just read about two bull elk that were illegally killed in Unit 5A in September. The poachings occurred outside of Clints Wells. I have hunted this area for over 25 years and have spent countless hours in the woods. Like many of you, I sometimes see the same bulls and bucks year after year. When these things happen it is such a tragic event. This always upsets me, this time more than ever - I have a bull tag up there in November. I wish I was up there scouting when this happened and had a chance to get a plate number on one of these scumbags. Anyway, take a look at the article link below and if you saw something suspicious - report it. http://azgfd.net/artman/publish/NewsMedia/...n-Arizona.shtml

What a great family outing. Congratulations on a successful hunt.