billrquimby

Bobby: The fire people keep putting off the day they'll reopen Greer to residents, and we still could be in Tucson on July 9. If so, I'll go. Do you sell tickets at the door? Bill Quimby

I shot maybe a dozen Texas Hill Country whitetails in the 1970s with a .22-250, and all were instant kills from 100 out to 300 yards with little meat damage, but my only experience with a .223 was in South Africa, where I was invited to shoot in an organized springbuck cull. The shots were from 50 to 125 yards with a .223 and ammo provided by my host. The antelope were slowly pushed to us by guys on horseback and motorcycles. We shooters were instructed to kill every antelope that entered our killing zone, which was marked with flags. There were maybe ten or twelve of us shooting, and by the second day we had killed maybe 300 or more springbuck. I didn't count how many I personally shot, but it was a bunch, and I definitely was not undergunned with a .223. We were told to shoot our animals "in the box," meaning the heart-lung area, and not try for head, neck, or spine. Butchers in refrigerated trucks stood by to handle the carcasses and the meat was eventually sold as "venison" in Europe. Almost forgot. I shot another springbuck with a .223 on a later trip. It was about 225-250 yards away, and it dropped in its tracks at the shot. Your kids should do well with a .223. Just try to get them close. Bill Quimby

Congratulations to your sons, and all my praise to you for being such a great father! Your boys will never forget the experience, nor will you. I look forward to shaking your hand on the mountain, whenever they allow us to return. Bill Quimby

She and the entire family have been added to our prayers. Bill Quimby

Thanks, TJ: Bill Quimby

Bryce Canyon: Thank you for the photos. Our cabin is just out of sight to the far right of your photo marked "coming into Greer." It's on the east side of the valley, on Badger Lane, which is over the knoll behind the Rendezvous Diner. If you're going back to Greer let me know. My wife is heartbroken that she left our wedding album behind when we evacuated, and this fire is far from over. Bill Quimby

Here's a report I received early this morning. My cabin is west of Main Street -- Bill Quimby The following input came from the Greer fire department late Wednesday night: The situation AT THIS MOMENT seems to be better than previously reported in the media and elsewhere, but not as good as hoped for. While the Honeybee Lodge was left untouched in Paradise Mt some others in the area were burned. The fire department saved several houses in the neighborhood so the damage on Wonderland Road at the end was minimal. Heaven Scent came through okay. Don't yet know about the houses around the Butterfly Lodge Museum. Also some cabins on East Fork were damaged and the Peaks may have sustained some damage around the main building. The fellows at the fire department said that nothing on the West side of Main Street burned at this time. Molly's is okay, Sargent’s is okay. Not sure about Red Setter or the house at the end of the road next to Red Setter. One house on Ruhr was burned Also Crosby Acres seems to be spared. Of course there are many flames still active but there are also hundreds of fire fighters in town to save houses that are still facing problems. Don't yet know to what extent the damage is on the east side of the street. We are not out of the woods yet, due to spot fires and trees burning in and around the valley, but tomorrow the wind is supposed to be calming down so that is a big plus. Please understand that as unpredictable as this fire is, status may change, but hopefully the worst is over for Greer. Unfortunately the fire is not done and probably won't be until the rains come.

I use 25-year old 10x50 Swarovsky binoculars most of the time, but I also will use a 20X Leica spotting scope. The Mattausch family can outspot me any day of the week with their 15X Zeiss binoculars, though. Bill Quimby

Congratulations, Bill. I hope you find and collect the buck of your dreams. Just one thing, though. There are rules for capitalizing the "scientific" names of creatures and plants. The first letter of the genus is always capitalized, but not so with the species and subspecies. Therefore, you should have written Odocoileus virginianus texanus. The entire scientific name is also always capitalized. You're forgiven this time. Bill Quimby

Thanks, everyone. Bill Quimby

For Lark and TJ and everyone else who asked, my wife and I are in Tucson. We were packing things late Friday night when at 1:30 a.m. a Greer fire department officer knocked on our doors and gave us a "pre-evacuation" alert notice. By 2:00 a.m., we were heading to Tucson, expecting to return on Sunday or Monday to get more stuff. Unfortunately, we got hung up here and before we could leave everyone in the village had been ordered to evacuate immediately. As of a few minutes ago, the fire was reported to be burning only about a mile above Greer. Crews were cutting trees around cabins and hoping to create a firebreak to save our cabins. We can only only pray that they succeed. I spent 41 years building the place, mostly with my own hands, and it still is filled with things that Jean and I cherish. We thank all of you for your concern and well wishes. Bill Quimby

Thank you so much for your kind offer! We've talked with the local fire captain and he claims the winds are such that the fire PROBABLY won't reach Greer, although he's not guaranteeing that. At any rate it's still 12-15 air miles from us. We've notified everyone we know in the village to keep us posted. We've also got stuff packed and can leave with a few minutes notice. Will reassess our options in the morning based on what we see. Bill Quimby

Here in Greer, we've been told to "prepare" to evacuate in case the wind changes and sends the fire this way. I've looked around the cabin and decided the only things I'll take are my guns, copies of books I've written, some plaques I've been presented, and this computer. I've 14 mounts on the walls, plus a couple thousand dollars worth of tools, but I'll have to leave them if we're told to get out on a couple of hours' notice. My wife's list is much longer. What hurts is that I've spent nearly 40 years building this cabin and am only a couple of years away from completing it. It's insured, but at today's prices for materials and labor, I probably won't be able to replace it. The aspens would return in a couple of years, but I'll never see pines and firs on my property again if everything burns. Greer's air is clear for the first time in two days now, but Eagar and Springerville are filled with thick smoke and cold ash. Residents with respiratory problems have been told they probably should leave before it gets worse. Bill Quimby

I had to drive from Greer to Show Low today to have blood drawn to check the level of the rat poison I take to keep my blood thin and avoid a stroke. I make the trip at least twice a month, and really hate it because of all the traffic, stop lights, signs, Circle Ks, Burger Kings and people in the mess I call "the strip cities." Today's return trip was a joy, though. There was very little traffic at 6:30 p.m., and elk and mule deer were out in force, feeding all along the highways between Horseshoe Cienega Lake and the cabin. The deer were in ones and threes, and I stopped counting after 20. Then, just past A-! lake, the biggest black bear I've ever seen started across the road. It was in no hurry, and I stopped my truck and we stared at each other before he ambled off. At the Sunrise Lake turnoff, there were at least two dozen antelope, including a buck that might go 16-17 inches, and we stared at each other for a couple of minutes, too, before I drove on. The crowning touch came after opening our gate, when I looked across our road to the little meadow where our resident elk herd had come out early to feed. I counted 34 last year, but there seemed to have been a lot more than that tonight. We see a lot of game here, but we seldom see so many animals in just 30 minutes ... and all except "our" elk herd were just off the pavement. Bill Quimby

Sorry to hear that you and Peg can't make it this year. It was my turn to buy, too. Bill Quimby

No chance. They were just making a quick visit. They'll head back across the Black River next week. Bill Quimby

We still have more days of high winds forecast for this side of the White Mountains, and judging by the smoke we've had in Greer, Eagar and Springerville, it will be a while before this fire is contained. It's awful to think what might happen up here before our summer rains start in July. Bill Quimby

This thread was started in 2008, and three years later, all the guys I listed earlier are three years older and still hunting, including Whitey DeVries. He'll be 93 in a month or so, and I expect he will shoot three more Texas Hill Country whitetails in October, just as he has done every year for the past 25 years. Incidentally, I'll be 75 in a couple of months and, if all goes well, I plan to shoot another elk in the August hunt I just drew and a few more deer before someone pats me in the face with a shovel. Bill Quimby

Smoke from the "Wallow Fire" in the Bear Wallow Wilderness south of Hannigan Meadow reached Greer and Round Valley yesterday and is still thick around our cabin. I have no idea how many air miles it might be from here to the northern edge of the fire, but it must be at least 30-35 miles. Last I heard, about 1,500 acres had burned and the Reno Lookout south of Strayhorse had been evacuated. Bill Quimby

All my fly-tying gear is in Tucson, and I'll be in Greer until about the last week of July, or I'd make you some. The woolly worm is among the easiest of flys for a beginner to tie. Why not stop by a tackle shop and buy an inexpensive vise, bobbin, hooks and what you need, and ask someone to show you how it's done. At today's prices for hand-tied flys, you'll save money on your first dozen or so. It is not difficult at all. You should need only ten minutes or so of instruction. Bill Quimby

I acquired a PSE Pulsar bow about five or six years back, thinking a left-handed friend might want it, but he had one just like it. I would like to sell it, but have absolutely no idea what it is worth. I know nothing about compound bows, but it seems to be in good shape and has a multi-pin sight and a folding arrow rest. It doesn't have the extra-large wheels and short limbs seen on the newest bows, but it could be useful for someone who wants a bowfishing rig or something to keep behind a truck seat as a "just-in-case" bow. Make me an offer that does not include shipping. (I have no idea what it might cost to ship the bow, but whatever it is that's what you will be charged.) Or you can pick it up in Greer or Eagar/Springerville/Show Low/Lakeside/Pinetop this summer. Bill Quimby

I have a Post 64 Model 70 Winchester in .375 H&H Magnum that I will be offering for sale after I return to Tucson in late July. If you are interested, let me know. It is in 99% condition after being used to shoot a buffalo in Zimbabwe. I've fired only about 20 rounds through it. Incidentally, the .375 is considered a "medium" bore in Africa. Its recoil is bearable but, if it bothers you, muzzle brakes really do work. Bill Quimby

Casey: I was in a similar condition in 2002, except I was fortunate that the major attack that entirely blocked my LAD artery struck in a hospital that specialized in heart problems and cardiologists were able to install a stent and get blood flowing again within 13 minutes. I will pray for your friend. Bill Quimby

Like many people who have little experience with this area, you apparently were duped by our little-known White Mountain elk mirages. The high altitude captures images of elk, deer, bear and turkey in units 27 and 3 and randomly displays them near Alpine, Round Valley, Escudillo Peak, Nutrioso, Green's Peak and Greer. In fact, those of us who spend a lot of time up here are well aware that the last elk, deer, and turkey left unit one several years ago. Bill Quimby

Knifeboy: I know Bud Rosenbruch also. A nicer young man and a more competent Alaskan hunting/fishing guide would be tough to find. I recently helped his father, Weatherby Award recipient Jimmie C. Rosenbruch, write his memoirs and in the process spent more than week with Jimmie and his family, including Bud, at their ranch outside St. George, Utah. Bill Quimby