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Nice finds. My dogs are going crazy with all the quail near our house. Might actually head down south this year and try our luck at mearns for the first time. And IA, I know some spots near Verde that I've found some birds in before. We could meet up and try to get after them.

Don't go too far back in. Too many outfitters. I hunted an OTC unit 4 years ago and we got into bulls the last 4 days we were there. Where we found them was halfway down a mesa, smack dab between 3 roads, all between 3/4-1.5 miles away. But there was at least 1500' elevation change between the elk and the roads and it was some of the steepest, nastiest, thickest deadfall I've ever seen(once again, on a dark timbered, north facing slope). It was so thick, that when we walked down the spurs off the mesa, if you dropped off one side more than about 30 feet, you'd no longer to be able to hear the bull bugling in the draw on the opposite side of the spur. Walk back up and you could hear him just fine. Keep in mind that for most of CO, unlike here in AZ, there is water and food pretty much everywhere. Wet summers they will be in the farm fields and dry summers they will be in the timber. And in CO, there are really only two things that really make the elk move: weather and hunting pressure. Snow will push them down the mountains and hot weather will push them to cooler northern slopes and deeper canyons. Hunting pressure pushes them to private land or terrain so inhospitable that no sane human would ever bother them. You find that, and you'll tag out.

Jesse, are you a non resident?

Better buy a powerball ticket!

There are elk in both units, but be prepared for a difficult hunt(as are most all OTC hunts in CO). The two best pieces of advice I can give you is to go as early as you can, and hunt the steepest, nastiest, darkest timber you can find on a north or northeast facing slope. If you find any canyons that make you think you'll need climbing gear to get yourself down and a helicopter to get an elk out, hunt there too, cause that is likely where the elk will be. OTC Elk is CO is tough, but doable. I've only ever seen elk in the early seasons a handful of times anywhere near a road, and usually it was running(or swimming) from other humans. With the wilderness areas, there is a sweet spot if you are backpacking in. Most road hunters will go about 1/2 mile in, day hunters(or guys camped at the trailhead) will go 1/2-3 miles in, and outfitters/drop camps usually start at 5-8 miles back in, depending on the wilderness area, trailhead, terrain, etc. Backpacking into and hunting that 2-7 miles range from a TH tends to be the sweet spot. If you can find a series of drainages that have a few miles between them and trails, that would be were I would look(assuming they have dark timber on north facing slopes or in nasty canyons). Find a good spot to set up camp where you can cover lots of ground glassing. Be prepared for nasty weather at any time, especially if you get up high. Enjoy the amazing scenery, and most importantly, have fun.

$28.13 is not a tag.

It means things are still pending and your bonus points are currently at zero... Sorry, had to do it.

Mine too shows pending and I only put in for points.

I sit water in August.

Don't see why not, but not sure on using an magnifying power scope, maybe a regular red dot would be better option for a shotgun. Would work on a good slug gun. Would have to figure drop chart for reticle subtentions. It's a popular setup back east where there's many places that don't allow rifle hunting.

Was in the same boat as you a few years ago when searching for a bow for my wife. You might want to swing by Ross and Cabelas and see what they have in the stock for used, older model or bargain cave bows. There are several other mfg's who make similar bows. My wife shot most of them over the course of a few months, and decided on a PSE Chaos. We backed it down to 26 lbs when she started, and it can go to 60.

Just curious what your research consisted of? Please do not take this the wrong way, but until you and your boys shoot the bows you are thinking of buying, your research is far from complete. Just because a bow looks good on paper does not mean that it will be the one that feels the best to you. I'd suggest getting a list of 5-15 bows that meet whatever list of criteria you are looking for and then shooting them all to find the one you like.

I sure do miss fishing in the Colorado high country.

No 6.5 GAP 4S?

Whatcha building???

There's a 3 gun match that starts at 7 on Saturday. New shooter brief is at 7:30. Bring what you have. I shot iron sights for a few months before I picked up the eotech. Shoot a couple matches before you get your scope. Plenty of other things that will make a bigger impact on your performance than having a $1k optic. They only have one stage with long range targets anyways.

I shot an Eotech for two years before going to optics. Never had an issue on the hoser rounds, but anything past 300 ate my lunch. How much 3 gun have you shot? I'd recommend you spend some time behind the glass of what others are running before you plop down your hard earned money. I spent almost 6 months researching and shooting through various optics that others had before settling on two, Khales k16i and Vortex Razor HD II, both 1-6x. I bought the cheaper of the two figuring that a top end 1-8x would be out soon, and I'm looking forward to getting some range time on a Swaro Z8i when they come out. I know a few guys got them ordered already. Though I am sure by the time I can save enough for it there will be a 1-10x out. With all that said, your best bet is to find the glass and reticle you like, and then look for one on the Brian Enos forums. Tons of 3 gun gear there, and if your patient, some really good deals. -edit- I'll be at Rio this weekend if you want to shoot my Razor

The guys I've hunted with I've met at archery ranges or critter group work projects. Plenty of folks on here that are more than welcome in my camp.

What's your budget?

Welcome to the site bud. I don't spend a ton of time in the desert scouting, but they should be growing by now.

Maybe he ran out of cameras to steal, got bored waiting for his partner in crime to pick him up, found your stand and remembered the old bucket of water over a door prank, but his buddy picked him up before he could finish it.

What type of sidearm you looking for? Pocket pistol, daily CCW, BUG, open carry? Lots of options, and I may have one or two I might part with. If not, I could help you find what you need.

Can you load them safely? Yes. They just won't fly as well as the regular 150gr SST's(.415 bc vs. .370 bc). I'd just tell him that he snagged the wrong box by accident and that you'll take care of it.

Was a pleasure to meet you too. Safe travels.

If you ship it to yourself you are not required by federal law to ship it to an FFL. Local and/or state laws of where you would be receiving it may say otherwise. My pelican only has one cutout for a bolt gun. Not sure if the S&W is for a bolt gun or pistol. If they can fit, you're more than welcome to use it if you'd like. I'll bring it with me to work tomorrow and you can swing by whenever.