Coach

Love my Taco, but it isn't the same truck Toyota put out in the 80's. The stock ground clearance for an "offroad" package is very poor. The body panels are made out of some kind of "crumple" foil steel, waaaay too much plastic... But I love the reliability of the engine, drive train, the electric locker is solid. I took this truck up a really nasty trail not long after buying it that I didn't think a stock truck could make. This truck isn't even paid off yet and it's been beaten up. I bought black, that was a huge mistake, shows every scratch like a battle scar. At this point, I want to lift it 3" probably with an Old Man Emu lift, put some good tires on, and just Durabak the whole thing. I've durabak'd a 4Runner from inside out and you couldn't scratch it with a nail.

Ya know what stinks? On lots of forums there's a habit of trolling and just trying to stir up controversy for fun. People come on this site looking for real advice, and most of the time they get it. They bring up REAL hunting questions and get useful responses. By the poster’s own admission, he was just bored, stirring the pot. Make your own choices, but I, (aside from this digression)I refuse to feed into this. It does nothing to further our sport, it does nothing to help fellow hunters, and in fact, it can only serve to divide us. Out – Coach.

WOW + 100, That's a super bull! Huge congrats! Thanks for the story and pictures! His tops are absolutely amazing and but his fronts are unreal. What a perfect bull! Nice job!

Nice job, Brian! What a great looking bull. Love those fronts!!! Congrats.

That bull is GIGANTIC! Great footage - I'm just blown away. I sure hope to see some ground pix - what do you think he scores?

Man - those are some great bucks. I hope you get one this year! Good luck choosing which to shoot! I'd take that big typical 3, but I'm boring that way! LOL. Thanks for sharing.

I was finally able to break away and try to help some buddies out in 3C. Last night I set up high and glassed up some really nice bulls getting whipped into a frenzy. Spent the night with them in the wall tent, and went back out this morning. The bugling was insane, and everywhere we looked we found bulls. The bull/cow ratio was nuts - we saw way more bulls than cows. One bugle kept getting our attention and we kept working toward it. After crossing a deep canyon, we got a little split up. As soon as we broke over, the one guy with a tag had gotten separated from us, but only by about 50 yards. A huge, low, growling bugle lit up just in front of us. We hit our knees, and I looked back and asked if anyone knew where our buddy with the tag was - just shoulder shrugs. We could see the bull raking a tree about 75 yards off, and it was clear he heard us coming up and thought we were elk. I had a video camera in my pack but didn't have time to pull it out, so I just sat tight watching the spot I knew he would walk through. A few seconds later, he emerged, looking for the source of the noise, not more than 35 yards off - a huge 7x8. All I could do was look back at my buddy and his son like - "DID YOU JUST SEE THAT"??? Unfortunately, not shot on him for the shooter, but he knows where this guy is hanging out. What an unbelievable year it is for the archery hunters this year. Everyone seems to be on huge bulls, the rut is phenomenal, more potential for huge bulls than I've ever seen up here. Good luck to all hunters out there this year. Make the best of it, and try to really soak in every second when you're out there on the stalk, bone rattling bugles from all sides. 99.9% of the population never has the chance to experience awesome bull hunting in the prime of the rut.

Wow - what a brute!!!

Wow - Doug, you are a true artist. Thanks so much for sharing here. I can't get enough of your photos.

Great goat! I'm glad to welcome you aboard. I really think this is the best hunting website on the net. I can't wait to see more of your hunt stories and pictures.

I carry Swaro 10x42 SLC around my neck, Swaro 15x56 SLC in my pack for detailed glassing. A Pentax PF 80 ED spotting scope. I use a Slik Sprint tripod for the 10's and sometimes the 15's. A Bogen 3221gn for the 15's and spotter.

This is shaping up to be one of those years people will talk about for a LONG time. The rut is in full swing, late rains could not have been better, and the tops on these bulls are definately showing it. To those of you with tags, take your time, be picky - this is the year to land a bomber bull.

The .270 WSM is just an awesome all-around gun. I got one in partial trade from Gino a while back and made a youth gun out of it. This one is just a Howa, with a cheap stock and decent scope. With handloads, even despite the poor trigger, my kids can group well out past 300 yards, and they don't practice as much as they should. 140 Grain accubonds, H4831sc or IMR 4350, it shoots amazingly well. I can only imagine what a Rem 700, Tikka or even Savage 114 medium countour can do with this bullet in experienced hands.

Best rut we've had in years, and from what I've seen best antler growth too. You're in for one heck of a hunt! Good luck!!!

NICE! Great job!

Headed out tomorrow morning to help some friends who have that tag - I can't wait!

I think...I wish I had seen it...

Hunters seem to be on the "bleeding" edge of technology. We use the very best optics from binoculars to spotting scopes and range finders. I've noticed this year that some new tools are becoming increasingly available to hunters - specifically thermal imaging binoculars and monoculars. This technology has trickled down from military applications to the hunting community. There is no doubt about its effectiveness in combat - any any advantage our boys have in finding and eliminating those who want to kill them is a blessing. But what are your thoughts about the ability to locate and persue game based on thermal imaging? Cabela's has several units now under $3000 where this type of tool used to be 12K and up. I've seen all the youtube vids of hog hunters using thermal scopes to smack field-destroying pigs - but it looks like this technology could be equally effective at locating deer or elk, even during daylight hours. What are the ethical implications of hunters able to locate game via thermal imaging?

I think you are spot-on, Snapshot - and I would welcome your comments on that thread. That's why I started it - to get some discussion going. On the one hand, if I were a guide and consistently finding/harvesting trophy animals is what paid the bills, I doubt there would be any technology I would pass up. 3 years ago,very few people could afford to buy what is basically, simplified military technology. G&F depapartments across the country are no doubt looking at this issue very closely, but as we all know, government has a slow process, whereas technology is incredibly fast-paced. For myself, I have laser range finders, use google earth, mapping software and expensive optics. But I still tie my own flies, build my own bullets, tune my bow, work up each rifle I shoot based on trial and error. I'm more than happy to sit behind a good pair of binoculars for hours and trust my instincts and experiences to make a hunt, just that - a hunt. I really appreciate your input, and the fact that you approached it with such courtesy. FWIW, this isn't something I'm advocating, just looking for other opinions on the topic.

It's on - The bulls are screaming and already gathering cows. Should be a great year!

Just to clarify, I don't own any of these devices and have no plans to purchase one - just wondering what other hunters think.

Excellent post - almost every encounter I've had with them has been very positve too. Now lets see some pix of that goat!

That's a stud buck for sure! Huge congrats to the hunter and outfitter.

The Havalon Tracer 22 is one of the best tools you can carry in your pack - along with extra blades. I've done elk, deer, javi and turkey with this knife. For elk, I like a big strong blade like the buck classic. Lots of rubber gloves, good cotton game bags - gotta take care of the meat.

If you are hunting 3A/C I can help with water and a generator.