Whitesheep

11. Shoot it where you can legally get your truck with beer, ice and coolers ready to go.

Another reason I don't do "doggy doors." Stuff comes in you don't want in.

OK, maybe I didn't pay attention, but when I put in for the fall draw I purchased new licenses for all four hunters on our entry because our licenses all expire before the hunts we applied for. One of my buddies noticed that the dates of the new license overlap with our old license by four months because the start date is June 7th, the day I purchased the licenses? What gives?

I have never had a scope "professionally" mounted that I didn't have to remount myself. This includes one mounted at Don's which really surprised me. When I was younger I could like up a retical perfectly, but as I have aged I need the help of a tool. Sportsman's is my #1 for all the reasons stated plus the price/quality point of their gear. Their gun counter did let me down onetime when I was looking for a specific Weatherby and they said they couldn't get one. A call to Weatherby revealed that they had several in stock at the time and could send one to Sportsman's the next day. Note they are listed as a dealer on Weatherby's web site. This is how I found my self at Don's, and I am glad I did, but I will NEVER let another gun salesperson mount a scope for me.

A bad guy who is a good woodsman is still a bad guy.

Sorry I missed the earlier thread(s). Yes Str8Shot it was my responsibility to read the detail, but a little customer service in the design of the site would have been helpful. I suppose you read all those "privacy notices" you get from financial institutions each year too. I don't recall any subscription service, including G&F's magazine Wildlife Views, sending me multiple issues if I renew early. Kaspersky doesn't double up on your protection if you renew your anti virus early. In the old days if I bought a new hunting license when putting in for Javalina in October I don't remember any overlap because there wasn't any. I think anyone in my group's situation can be forgiven assuming G&F would start a new license term when your current one expired because it just makes sense. G&F should be glad I wanted a license even if I didn't know I would be drawn. Live and learn. Now I'll just buy one every time I put in for Deer since it is usually at the last minute anyway. I rarely hunt in June so being a few days off hopefully will not matter.

Hunted and camped with the family for years in a Coleman pop up. We set it up exactly for off the grid camping. Ditched the inverter and went with 12V only system. Worked great. Lifted it (over axle swap) and replaced the rear bumper with angle iron. It could go almost anywhere my 4x4 would pull it and sometimes places it shouldn't have gone. Good: Small, light, airy and easy to maintain. The Sunbrella fabric lasts and lasts with no mold issues. Get it. Bad: Small tires eat hubs if you drive fast. Carry an extra hub, bearings and all the stuff needed to fix them. Cold, you will never sleep colder than in a tent trailer. Think about your butt hanging over 3 feet of open air. Noisy in wind (flappy flappy). Bears?: Don't eat or fix food in your trailer. That is what the outside mount for the cook stove is for. Sleep with a Glock or similar tool just in case. Get one. You will love it. When you sell it you will cry.

G&F is going to get a call after giving them some time to recover from the draw submission. I do like the idea of just buying a license on new years and being done with it so thanks for the suggestion Muledeerarea33?. Maybe it is time to just get the lifetime license anyway and be done with it.

I have used the Sawyer gravity filter several times backpacking. It is nice to sit in camp and sip whisky while gravity purifies two gallons of water. If you use this system, be sure to label what is clean and what isn't. Beats pumping all to he**. I don't carry this gear for a day hike, but do have a Bota Bottle filter that you can either drink out of our squeeze into another container. No question on which container is clean/dirty with this. Anyone used the straws? Seems like a good back up, but how do you use it? Do you lay down and drink out of the cow print or scope it up in a container first? Serious question actually.

The Ammoland article proves once again that the .30-30 is useless.

I carry 2 to 3 liters and a couple of ways to purify water including an in the bottle filter and backup iodine if the stuff looks really nasty. This is for a day hunt and when I have run out I have filtered water for myself and others and was glad I could. In a truck camp we always bring more water than needed, but can boil/filter if necessary. Cooler water is fine for showers if you warm it up first. Matys281, you might want to google "kidney stones" if this is your normal intake.

Thank you Soul Archer for reigniting this thread. In reading all the posts I wonder if it wouldn't be better to spend time scouting for existing tanks or pot holes and mapping them rather than building and maintaining a tank. As Gray Ghost said there really is a lot of water in the desert, you just have to find it. I am sure many of you have had the same experiences I have of finding water by following bees and other bugs or just stumbling into water sources small and large. Personally I would rather scout my unit than lug water.

Are lopers often in the timber like this bad boy. I always see them in the grass lands, but maybe I am not looking hard enough.

He fits the profile: Young white male with tattoos. Probably drunk too. Before you flame me this was told to me by a AZG&F biologist during a reptile exhibition as the most common MO for a snake bite victim.

Welcome to the site Savage. As always Amanda's advice is solid. In addition to the G&F site and getting in on the draw consider joining one of our Arizona "Critter Groups." Since your interested in Elk I suggest you check out the Arizona Elk Society here: https://www.arizonaelksociety.org/ Go on a few projects and you will meet some of the best people in Arizona who care about wildlife, conservation and hunting. You will probably also hook up with a mentor. There are many other "Critter Groups" in Arizona, all of which are full of great people. I suggest you check them all out: For predators: http://azpredatorcallers.com/ For Deer: http://www.azdeer.org/ For Lopers: http://azantelope.org/ And the grand daddy of all wildlife conservation groups in the country the Arizona Desert Big Horn Sheep Society: http://www.adbss.org/ If I have missed any others here can fill out this list. Have fun!

There is a new bill board in my neighborhood in Phoenix on 32nd street just South of Cactus facing North that is really nice. I understand some hunters and fishers don't see public marketing to the non hunters/fishers as a waste of money, but the more positive view non-outdoors people have of our G&F department the better. If all the hikers and campers who enjoy wildlife would just buy a hunting and/or fishing license even if they don't use it, there were be a lot more money for non-game species, etc. By they way, I really like the new web site. If you haven't done so already, set up an account today.

Personally I try to to level my '04 Cummins Ram by carrying a bull elk in the back. To bad it doesn't happen very often. When it does I really don't care about the fuel mileage.

I worked on a water hole project with Amanda for the Deer Association a few years back and I still don't have any status on this forum. What gives?

Amazing. The best we can do is a ghille suit and that must fit the environment you're in. I understand that cloaking devices have been developed that direct light around an object so you essentially see right through it. While this is just an early attempt and it appear the viewer has to look to the optics, it is pretty amazing. http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/09/27/scientists-have-invented-a-real-life-cloaking-device-and-it-could-cost-less-than-a-new-computer/

It depends. For things I want to be able to return at no cost, like heavy equipment, furniture etc, I like a brick and mortar store like Best Buy. Face to face is also best for clothing and footwear because most of this stuff is still hand made and varies from item to item; I want to see if it fits first. I do buy boots online because I have bought the same brand for years and they always fit just right. For most everything else I prefer on-line. A big exception is powder because the haz mat fee is so high if you have the stuff shipped.

Singed

I have done this a couple of times. Once when I thought back pack Javalina hunting would be fun we packed in three days of food on a scouting trip and stashed it in a bear bag in a tree. Nothing touched it and I would do this again. Since your scouting, why not leave something behind for when you get back to hunt. It is important to pick a really secluded space, preferably off trail and out of sight. Once on a backpack hunt in Nevada on 70 mile trip we stacked some food and an extra can of gas about mid way where a 4x4 "road" crossed the trail. Nothing bothered our food and it was handy to have plenty of gas for the last 1/2 of the trip. Should have stashed more booze though..... Next time. Of course never leave anything behind. If you end up in a different spot I believe it is imperative you return and retrieve your stash.

Some good finds can be had at Cabelas, but you have to look around. Their Mendal boots work great for me and I have an Alaskan Guide dome tent that is the best tent I have ever owned. If you can get their basic camo on sale, it can be a good deal. Also their return policy is fantastic and that has to be paid for some how. Now we know how If your looking for reloading components and are in North Phoenix, check out Bruno's by Deer Valley Airport. Their prices are great and as a family owned business service is excellent. Happy hunting (for bargains)

Usually we get a warning to verify your CC # is current about one or two weeks before they hit the cards. Then results are posted about a week later. Given that I haven't received the CC warning, I think we are several weeks out. That being said, I can't wait to see of my group was drawn either.

I agree Havasu, especially if the out of shape hunter is on a quad. Guaranteed to never leave the road. This is much easier and safer way to hunt and everyone should try it and not walk around so much in the back country.