donniedent

I've heard a little about this issue and at face value it seems ok. The problem is they slip little tidbits passed the average joe and we don't realize it until its too late. ANYTHING an anti group has attached its name to is suspect to me. ANYTHING. I do agree that we need to limit road traffic in our National Forests. Not because it should limit public access, because it should limit idiot access. Example: Last fall up on Big Bug mesa, the Forest Service closed all but 1 road on the mesa with signs. The VERY next morning idiots on 4 wheelers had already made paths around the signs, tearing up underbrush just so that they didn't have to walk in. COMPLETE IDIOTS. I'm so sick and tired of seeing our public land torn up by people that don't respect it, its VERY tempting for me to back anything that will limit idiot access! Donnie

Arizona Deer 3points 21 28 20b Elk 4points 5bn Archery bull 7w rifle bull 7w rifle cow Goat Bonus point Good luck all Donnie

Thats a tough one. Wind usually isn't constant and it would be tough to shoot a group at 50 in gusting wind. You are probably torquing the bow when you shoot.

Anyone that thinks Mulies are dumb... come give me a hand with this 160 desert buck I've been chasing since mid Dec. I got within 15 yds once but couldn't see him. He ended up winding me and bolted, NEVER stopping to give a second glance. I've only seen the tops of his antlers since then and thats been from a half mile away. Theres no doubt that coues are the toughest deer in North America to take with a bow but I promise you that burro deer run a close.... CLOSE second!!! Donnie

17's a big area. Where are you hunting?? Donnie

Almost looks like a lion kill with the right side of the face all broke up. Nice deer Donnie

Unfortunatly, I've haven't seen any action out of the commision that would indicate that they really care what we think. They're taking adjantage of the fact they the feds gave the states ALL the control. I think any attempt at lawsuits would be a waste of money and because of the USO fiasco, any lawsuit would recieve resistance from hunters that don't know that facts. I believe in my creator and if he decides he wants me to get drawn, it doesn't matter what G&F does, I'll get blessed anyway!! Donnie

There are some good spots that I've found that very few people stop to check out. Not a ton of deer but the ones I've seen have been good. One I saw was amazing. Anyway, its worth checking out. PM me and I might have a spot or 2 for you to check out. Donnie

Hey DBArcher, North or south in 21??? The reason I'm asking is cuz I'll be in 21 but I'll be down south hunting carp. Donnie

Thats quite a statement there 2506. Back in my match days in the Marine Corps we used to shoot 12" inch bulls with our M16's at 500 yds, IRON SIGHTS. Thats a .223!!!! I could do it all day long with a .300 RUM with a scope on it. The fact is brother you decided to say something about what you think is wrong with hunting these days. Theres NOTHING wrong with that. The problem is that I think you made some bad statements concerning a kid we happen to know from here and like alot. I think in MANY, MANY circles there is a problem with people being too concerned with inches. BUT.... You also have to look at 90% of the people in these circles! These are hunters and sportsman that have 10... 20.... maybe 30 years of hunting under thier belt. These hunters have killed alot of deer and after killing ALOT of deer a guy might start trophy hunting a bit. Now... you get a motivated kid who wants to learn something, where does he go? He goes to where the "old" guys hang out and is smart in doing so. This kid is a breed apart. How many young hunters do you see on here? 2 or 3 maybe? I'd be willing to wager that younghunter will kill a state record buck at some point in his life. Why? Because hes commited to it and hes got alot of years ahead of him AND hes got goals. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with that either! Maybe I made some references to you that weren't so nice and for that I apologize. We're all supposed to be on the same team here and sometimes its gets to be a little like my wifes soap operas but hey, we're mostly men here and we need a little drama too! Right??? Anyway... happy hunting to all and to all a good fight!!!! Donnie

Notice.... I didn't put the dash between 25 and 06!!! You ARE the only 25-06 baby!! Yeah Younghunter, there will always be someone with an opinion about what you're doin or how you're hunting or how you're shooting but guess what, they aren't in your shoes and they don't know your heart! You can't spend 15 min with a guy that just took a shot at a nice animal and assume to know his motivation for hunting. Shoot, you shoulda seen me after I took 4 shots with my 30-06 at the same Antelope before he finally went down this past Sep., I was a mess. Keep trying to learn and ALWAYS be willing to learn something new and you'll be OK man. Donnie P.S. When people give you crap about buying Swaros, its cuz they're jealous. Lifetime warantee baby... you gotta love it!

Hey Younghunter, Don't pay any attention little brother. You keep doin' what yer doin' and don't pay any mind to the idiots who have opinions about everything that goes on out there in the sticks. WE"VE ALL MADE BAD SHOTS!!!! WE"VE ALL GOTTEN BUCK FEVER!!! Even 2506 and I guarantee at some point in HIS hunting exploits hes made a bad shot or two. I've personnaly read alot of your posts and I've never seen the attitude out of you that this guy said you had. Don't let this BS get in your head! Donnie

Hee Hee. Its tough being a newbee around here. Get out there... sweat.... and get some blisters and when you have some info to offer you might get a little in return. Not trying to sound like a jerk but the guys around here that have good spots worked their butts of to get them and are not likely to share them, even with guys that have been here for years. What you will find here is the same info you can find on AZGFD's website. That being said, welcome to coueswhitetail and let us know how you do!!! Donnie

Here's another poll: Muley, Mule deer or carp? Donnie

I call em' whitetails! As for the larger eastern version "Eastern Whitetail". Simple Enough. When someone asks you what you got drawn for, whats your answer? "I drew a Whitetail tag down in 33" OR "I drew a coues whitetail tag in game managment unit 23" There ya go! Donnie

Maybe they found more than expected and don't want people going in lookin' too close. Maybe they screwed up and are just realizing it. Donnie+

Everybody always hunts the same spots in 5BN. Especially on top of the mesa. Its so flat that anybody can get anywhere they want to hunt. There are some spots in there that I can almost promise that nobody got into. Anyway, You tagged out but that, unfortunately, isn't always what makes a hunt successful. What I love about hunting is getting out there, by myself. Its tuff when you have hundreds of other people that want the same thing you do. Donnie

Back in my match shooting days in the Marine Corps, we used to practice on 20" bulls at 500 yds. prone with iron sights with our M16's (.223) My match coach was a national champion with rifle and pistol and they used M14's (7.62mm) at 1000 yds. with iron sights. Al that long range stuff isn't all that bad though because your prone. The hardest one for me was 10 rounds at 200 yds. standing with no sling and iron sights on a 12" bull. That is a challenge. For pistols at Marine corps matches we had to use .45's with one hand the longest being 25 yds. Thats a BI!#H!!! OK, I'm done braggin' now Donnie

Thx Fellas. I hunted Mulies down below the mesa last Jan and got a shot at a nice buck but missed. I figured alot of it was burned but I wasn't sure if anything had started to move back in there. Right now I'm more interested in quail than carp. I might head up on top of the mesa for the heck of it anyway, if theres still water in those tanks up there the quail should be there. I'm just trying to find a place thats somewhat close to Phx that I can hunt without my dog Blue getting all torn up with cholla. Anyway, thx again guys. Donnie

Just had a question for you guys. I'm in Phx and I was looking at possibly taking the kids for an adventure up on New River Mesa for a quail hunt. How are the roads up there, usually? Is there private property? I've lived in Phx/Az all my life and I've never been up there. I already have some great spots for Quail but I'd like to see some new country. I imagine there might be a few carp up there to look at too. What do you guys think? Donnie

I almost forgot, did that area get all burnt up by the fire????

Excellent Bull!!!!! He'll deffinatly make the mid 370's. His fronts are great, the sword on the 6 point side is great and his main beams gotta be close to 50 inches plus the extra point on the other side. I'll bet he goes 374 5/8". Big congratulations man!!! Donnie

I've had more success with the stuff you buy online (liquid) than I've had with salt. Everybody and their brother use salt. If you offer the deer something a little different your odds may go up a little. I'm not gonna advertise but I found something that works great. I tried hardhunter but to no avail. Not that it doesn't work, just not where I hunt. I prefer the stuff that soaks into the ground to mineral blocks because slob hunters LOVE to steal mineral blocks. I can't tell you haw many I've had stolen. The stuff I use usually has deer on it within a week give or take a day or 2. If you start a good lick now and pay close attention through the fall you'll have a great spot come the rut. If you use a liquid form you may have to replenish it a couple times before the rut starts but I promise you one thing, if its a good spot, the deer will hit it everyday. And don't worry if its only does hitting it at first, the bucks jwill be with them come the rut. Good luck Donnie

OOPS I almost forgot! Congratulations on the deer Mike!!! Donnie

Hey KGAINES, Were you up in 17A? I remember you mentioning that you drew a tag up there, just wondering if that was where you were Arch hunting. I hope you get your domestic deal worked out b4 the hunt. 17A is a great unit if you want to get away from the crowds. I'm must be a masicist. I went up and hunted the opener on Big Bug.... What a cluster! Saw a bunch of spikes but didn't have a good shot at any. Early archery is a meat hunt for me. I've never seen so many slob hunters in my life. The forest service closed a bunch of the roads off but that didn't stop anyone. Walking back to my truck on Sat I found where someone decided to empty their ashtray in the middle of the woods. I'm not one for closing access to anyone but I wish there were something that could be done to keep the slobs out. I set a tree stand up in there back in June and have been babying that spot every other weekend, cutting lanes keeping it scent free...... I go out Fri. morning about 4:30 to get in the stand and I look over my shoulder and see 2 flashlights coming toword me. They stopped at I'd guess about 100yds, 1 went to my right, 1 to my left. Both ended up setting up on either side of me at about 100 yds each. There is no way on Gods green earth that they didn't see me get in my stand. They didn't care that I was there first they just went ahead and got set up. Oh well, I should have known better than to hunt Big Bug on opening weekend. Good luck all Donnie