hallagan

2003 - November Coues. Nice 3pt. 2004 - December Coues. No joy. 2005 - Late Rifle Bull 7W. No joy due to drought. 2008 - Late Rifle Bull 10. Shot 421 opening morning. 2010 - Late Rifle Bull 10. Missed my shot, my fault 2011 - Antelope rifle 19A. Took an 80 0/8. Yes, I did draw both tags in 2011, only 6 Antelope points 2011 - Late Rifle Bull 10. Took a 350+ 2012 - No joy, so went October Bear hunting and got a nice boar. 2013 - No joy.

Big Chino Outfitters has a good look-up table on their site which explains all this, resident and non-resident. Should help you. http://bigchinoguideservice.hunterstrailhead.com/huntsearch.php?ST=AZ&ID=

The Sportsman's Center has your answers. To hunt on post you must meet the eligibility requirements (AD, Retired, DAC, etc.), have completed a Hunter Education Course, and pay the modest fee for a post permit. The permit alone is all you need for small game and birds (all three species of AZ quail are resident). For deer, the post has unique hunt numbers that you must get in person from the Sportsman's Center, write those on your AZGFD draw form and submit with the regular rifle draw. You will get picked. There are always leftover tags. You will have the chance to fill your tag, and every year some B&C quality deer are taken. Telephone check out each morning, telephone check in each evening. The numbers of hunters per area are controlled so people aren't tripping over each other. Biggest changes over these past 35 years is the drought and subsequent disapearance of ponds, illegals crossing in the high passes, and the encrouchment of new buildings (and Sierra Vista). But there are still thousands of acres open with good access and good game populations.

I'll buck the trend, Desert Hills Presbyterian in Carefree.

Yes, I took an 82 last year on private land late rifle. Trespass Fee paid, in exchange I was the only hunter and glassed no kidding 200+ antelope the day before and at least 20 shooter bucks. At my age, this really was a once in a lifetime tag, so I forked over the $$. I've drawn that unit 10 late rifle tag before too, in '08 10 and 11. Connected 2 of 3 times, the time I missed was all on me. The elk are there - get into the wayback, foot access only area, get up high well before dawn, and have your best binos.

Ruger No 1 in 300 Holland & Holland - the original 300 Magnum. Handloads with 200g Nosler Accubonds and IMR4350. Replaces my Remington 700 CDL in 35 Whelen stoked with 225g Barnes.

He'll go about a little less than 84 inches. He's 16 inches on each side, the paddles are both 6 and 5/8 inches. There was only a 3/8 deduction for asymmetry. I liked him because he's really the textbook picture of a pronghorn.

I know you guys don't want to hear this, but I pulled this tag with only 6 bonus points. Was guided by Michael Vicente of Big Chino Outfitters, they had this buck spotted from muzzleloader the week before. The evening before opening day we went back out and glassed him in his draw with two does. Back early opening morning and he was within 1/2 mile of where we left him the night before. Started the first stalk, creeping and crawling. They fed towards us and we were planted and ready to go. The does and buck crested a small swale just 50 yds away, but there was a cactus between him and me: I couldn't move, the cactus wouldn't move, and the buck backed away. So, take a pause and get ready for the second stalk. Took a long loop around and watched from around 400 yds as a small busk tried to take his does and then he stole five from another herd which had crested a hill 600 yds to our west. Now he's happy, got seven girlfriends, and was content to stay put. We're low crawling again and close to 200 yards, but then we're stuck. Michael pulled out a decoy and that was just enough to get everyone's interest. They ran and circled to be downwind of us, crossing about 150 yards to our left. When he caught our scent, he stopped to figure things out - a one shot from a 243 put an end to things.

Personal best was taken November 1992 on Fort Huachuca, AZ. Scored 110 3/8 gross, 104 0/8 net B&C. I finally took it off the wall for this photo and had it scored this year!