Coach

Awesome Job, Felicia. There is something about that first Javi with a bow. Huge Congrats.

Hey guys (654321 and averagejoe), funny fact - I don't bait either (I've used salt in the past, but currently don't have any active salt licks). I also don't hunt bears or lions with dogs. It's really not about baiting or picking one style of hunting over another. It's about a handful of priveledged people making decisions, pretending to listen to those of us they represent, and just doing whatever they want to do. Today it's baiting, no skin off my back, I don't bait. Tomorrow its hunting with dogs, again, no problem to me, I don't hunt with dogs. The next day trapping, why should I care? I don't trap. Sooner or later, they'll be after something I do care about, and there will be nobody standing next to me, because I wasn't there for them. Look at the bigger picture guys.

It's about finally recognizing that we have a serious mental health issue in this country. One that isn't covered under most employer-sponsored plans. Guns, drugs, porn, whatever, go after the supply side and you fail. The only way America can fix our issues is to target the demand side.

Gino, I want to thank you personally for taking such a passionate stance. You stood up to the bureaucrats, you sent out emails, you got really involved and made your voice heard. On the flip-side, you mentioned that those who had not undertaken this battle should not complain about its outcome. While I revere you for taking a stand, there are a lot of us who have already walked that path. These commission meetings, asking for public input are nothing more than a dog-and-pony show. They proved that during the discourse in this last meeting. They are obliged, maybe legally, to let you express your opinion, but their ears are closed, their mind already made up. I felt very passionate about the tag re-allocation in certain units years ago, my friends called “The end of hunting, as we know it”… I went to meetings, I expressed my concern… At the end of the day, they don’t give one rat’s butt. They are smarter than us, they are calling the shots, and not one bit of a life-long Arizona hunter trying to “educate” them is going to sway the vote one way or another.

Leica and Swarovski are of course, the best of the best. Don't overlook the Vortex Ranger though. For under $400 you won't find a better one.

Here's my boar.

I used to believe that pigs were super-sensitive to weather. Too much wind, some rain, sleet, whatever, I thought they would hunker down under a tree. Last weekend I was into more Javi's than I have ever seen and the wind was howling, temps low - all the things I used to think would make for poor Javi hunting conditions. My son and I were into pigs so fast we couldn't rest between them. I say, whatever the weather, go hunt. Think like a pig and "git-r-done". Good luck!

It's issues like this - and those being considered by the White House, as we speak, that turn law-abiding citizens into criminals. Watching these guys pretend to listen to the people they are supposed to represent, with their minds already made up, really gets my blood boiling. They are doing exactly what Biden is doing when he allows the NRA to speak to upcoming legislation, just laughing to himself because his mind is already made up. He tosses around threats of "Executive Order", meaning he intends fully to cicumvent the Constitution of the United States, without the approval of Congress. What G&F did today was exactly the same thing. A few priveledged people, supposedly representing US, make a unilateral decision stripping us of rights. I am 100% behind the G&F officer trying to catch poachers and wasters of our wildlife. The commission, and higher-ups, on the other hand, I am really starting to disdain. It's not enough that they ruin units year-after-year by allocating way too many tags. Now they are coming after generations of hunters who have spent countless hours learning how tip the odds slightly in their favor at taking deer with archery equipment. Just like I won't turn in my AR-15 when Biden says I have to, I won't stop hunting over salt. That's a fact. And if legislation turns me from a law abiding citizen and hunter into a criminal, well, it was them who tipped the scales, not me.

Wow, that is an awesome looking buck. Congrats!

Nice!!! That's a great buck for sure. Just goes to show that just because there are other people in there, the bucks are there too, for the ones willing to put in some work. Nicely done for sure.

Does the ban include salt?

Darn it, Tony! You owe me a new keyboard!!! Mine's full of coffee now.

I've got six on backorder from Midway. I doubt they'll ever ship. Luckily I bought a few drawers full (not Magpul) from Natchez before they ran out.

They are using the recent tragedies to target YOU and I. And they have no intentions of letting "due process" into the picture. Biden met with the gun control groups, then he met with the NRA. Now, he will propose to the President, that we must have: Background checks on all firearm sales (I'm not opposed to this) Ban on "assault weapons" (I'm very opposed to this) Ban on high capacity magazines ( again, very opposed) Registration of all "grandfathered assault weapons" (illegal under ObamaCare - great irony there - they should have read it before they passed it). I try not to get into the political discussions on this site, because they are always ugly and I like to keep this site all about hunting. In this case, I'll make an exception. Obama PROMISED not to go after gun rights. After Sandy Hook, he's gone 180 degrees in the opposite direction. He has now indicated that he will bypass Congress and use Executive Order to support whatever Biden recommends. What does that mean for us? In the next months, you will see the most corrupt administration this country has ever seen use the most legally and politically, controversial tactics to usurp the constitution that our armed forces, our police, our president have sworn to defend. In the end, they want us all to become tax-paying sheep. That's all. I'll give up my AR15 and AK47 when I'm dead or out of bullets - period. But if I stand alone, I won't matter. If I stand next to 5 or 10 or 500 or 5000 people who think like me, maybe my children will get the chance to live in the America that so many people have fought to defend.

Man, that is SUPER awesome!!! Great job. I've hunted the San Carlos twice. The first time, I totally blew a shot on a great buck. The second time, I never pulled the trigger. But IMO, hunting coues on the San Carlos is almost like hunting the strip. You might not find a buck for days on end, but when you do find one, it's likely to be the trophy of a lifetime. That hunt is hard, no way around it. The bucks are there, but it's a huge area, and much of it is very hard to glass. Mix in the lions, etc. I'm gonna hunt the SC again, but next time it won't be in November. I've gotta see it in the rut. Congrats again on a great buck.

Nice Job, that is a great buck! Way to get it done!!!

Thanks Chef, that was my favorite part of the hunt.

Hey, thanks guys. I'll post some pix of the boar I shot. I misplaced my camera. I am SOOO kicking myself for not getting a picture of Matt's Javi. We were following the herd and he literally would not let me stop long enough for pix. We GPS'd the coordinates to his pig and came back to it in as it was getting dark after losing the rest of the herd several drainages over. I'm glad you like the stories - sometimes they get a little long-winded. But, hey, I'm always recording the story mentally, as it happens, so I can remember what to type when I get home.

That's NICE! Great job!

Thanks Brian, Huge congrats again on your coues buck. Very nicely done. I assure you, there are still plenty of those little buggers out there. They don't move that far, you guys will find them. If you get a chance to scout, Joshy has 24A/24B and I'm at a loss of where to start. Nick has 23 at the same time and my 24A spots are at least an hour away in the wrong direction. I've never hunted 24B, so I'll be going in blind.

I sure hope you find him. He's got to be there close to where you last saw him. Best wishes on a recovery.

Awesome buck, and even better job finding him. That is outstanding!

Nice Job - well placed shot!

Man, I saw the title of this thread and my heart sunk. I'm so glad he is safe with his family.

My oldest son went out chasing quail and he brought back the "shared" 870 pump with no front sight. Actually, he had the sight in his pocket. I've got taps and dies, but I cant re-thread something this shallow.I'm in the Show Low/Lakeside area, and need to get the front site replaced. Any help is much appreciated.