Coach

Wish I had room or budget for it - that is a sweet rifle.

Be careful about the GTX - I'm on my 3rd pair. Danner was good enough to replace them when the seams broke out - twice, but this pair did exactly what the first two did and split out where the leather hits the nylon at the flex point, and the waterproofing won't take more than a week of hard hunting. Great customer service, but my GTX have become my "around the house" and woodcutting work boot - I don't take them hunting anymore.

Wish I could snatch it up - just too many other "priorities" right now. I have no doubt it won't be for sale very long.

I just hope this doesn't turn into a "hunters vs. AZGFD" situation. We're pretty lucky here in AZ. The current relationship between hunters/fishermen and G&F is pretty good right now compared to a lot of states. As I stated on another, related thread, I applaud Mr. Husted for his honesty in the matter. I also think G&F did the right thing by persuing charges. There are plenty of negative results that could come out of this situation. On the other hand, there are some positive ones as well. For starters, G&F has proven that they won't show favoritism, that their commitment to upholding the laws includes everyone, even those at the top of their ranks. To me, that shows character. Secondly, it gets the department to really look closely at the difference between those who make an honest mistake, and those who intentionally set out to break the law. I'm sure there are lots of folks on here who have been diligent and have never broken any game laws, intentionally or otherwise. On the other hand, I bet there are many more who have accidentally found themselves in violation. or violated a law without ever even knowing it. Rules change every year. Usually it's pretty black-and-white, common sense stuff. But sometimes it's little minor things. In all honesty, who knew there was a 10 week period from April 1 to June 15th that you can't shoot a Gunnison's Prairie dog, before this whole thing unfolded? Point being - we all have a responsibility to know the law, and usually it doesn't take much effort to ensure you are in compliance. But, there are situations where even with best intentions, you can find yourself in violation. My hope is that G&F can recognize this given this situation and excercise some leniency in the future when law-abiding hunters come foreward looking for assistance. And that hunters will realize that what was legal 2, 3, 5, 10 years ago may or may not still be legal - and we need to be sure of exactly what is legal to take, and if there is any doubt, don't pull the trigger. It's not the same world a lot of us grew up in where pretty much anything small game or predatory was legal year round, and the only "poaching" was people intentionally killing big game our of season and hoping they didn't get caught.

+1 on the DIY stories. I have nothing against guides or anyone who hires them. I prefer to hunt DIY, and like reading stories of other hunters going un-guided. I wish there were more publications and shows featuring DIY hunters on public land. Glad to see you guys are putting some focus there.

Nice job! Sweet bear and a great shot. Looks like that gun is a killer.

When I saw "Willys", I was expecting something totally different - that thing is freakin' awesome. Is that tan paint or Durabak? I'm not really in the market but love jeeps. What kind of cash price would you be looking at?

Theives are scum. Hunters stealing from other hunters are the worst kind of scum. Sorry to hear about the loss.

I went out to do some wood cutting this morning and saw a successful bear hunter coming into Springerville around 10 AM. Didn't get the make of the truck, but wanted to say "congrats" to the hunter.

Sorry, wrote VOID across my extra 13B tag and took the scissors to it.

Well, that's an interesting "turn of events"... If he was willing to take away someone else's hunting rights for 5 years, he should be subject to the same penalties and not complain too loudly about it.

I've got a couple big hunts coming up where hauling a big camp trailer just isn't an option. I've always wanted either a quality cotton wall tent or Cabela's Alaknak, and just wanted to see if there are any bargains to be had. I might get through the season borrowing from friends, but I'd rather not ask to borrow expensive gear. If the price is right, I'd rather just get one now. If any of you guys are in the valley and see a good deal in the Cabela's Bargain Barn, I'd appreciate a head's up. For the Alaknak, I'd only be interested in the 12x12. Same basic dimensions for a wall tent, would like a floor. With either, a good quailty stove is a huge plus.

One more thing you are going to have to look at closely, and this is hard because trying on a boot in a store with dry socks, even really good ones, is when your sock compresses with sweat and use, does your foot slide forward in the boot? You have to realistically measure what width of boot you should be wearing. When you are going downhill, over hard terrain, your socks are wet and compressed, do your toes slide foreward into the front of the boot? One of the first things I look for in a boot is whether it is "lace-to-toe". Can you adjust the boot based on the width of the ball of your foot compared to the width at the "gap".' If you're 6' or taller, I can guarantee most boots will be too loose in the heel and too fat in the toes. I've bought a lot of boots over the years. The old style Cabela's Mounain boots were awesome. They don't offer those anymore and the new versions suck for a vareity of reasons. The Perfekt hunter is a solid boot that I'd recommend to anyone. What it lacks is the rock-absorbing ring of rubber you see in the Denali.

Thanks 123456, I just called them and it sold today. But I do appreciate the heads-up.

Hey, nice looking bear! Probably no better place to hunt big bears than the SC. Thanks for posting the pix.

Yup, that's what I'm looikng for. And from the sounds of it, the 20x12 would even be better. Thanks everyone for the replies so far. I'm just getting caught up.

Hey Bill, Thanks for posting this. If anyone knows these hunters, please congratulate them for their restraint. Lots of people aren't either for-or-against hunting, when it's done right. But we've all seen how homeowners get really upset and a bad taste for hunting when it ends up in their back yard. I'm sure everyone on the mountain remembers the debacle a couple years back when a big bull was shot basically in a neighborhood and it ended up in the newspapers, etc., some charges filed and a lot of people upset with how the hunt was conducted. Kudos to the hunters on this one for doing the right thing. This is a perfect example of what defines ethics. There were probably times where it would have been legal to take the bear, but they opted not to until it was further away from residents.

I don't have a 7MM/08... BUT... I have been handloading for a lot of different guns over the years. 25-06, 270 Win, .270 WSM, .300 WSM and .300 Wby, for me - my friend adds a 7mm Rem to the mix. There has been one powder that has stood out over anything else we've tried and that is IMR 4350. I've gotten rid of everything else and have this powder in my quarter bore to the big magnums. IMR4350 combined with Nosler Ballistic Tips & Accubond, and CT Silvertips (all very similar bullets) with Winchester brass and WLRM primers (don't ask me why, they just work) seem to produce the best accuracy. Some guns like them touching the lands so your COAL is as long as you can get and still have them fit in the magazine. I can't even begin to list all the tweaking of powder, primer and bullets I've tried in various guns over the years. For some reason they all perform best with the exact same formula - That tells me that it's a very good all-around recipe. I know it's expensive to go buy a pound of new powder and box of bullets, but without fail this combo of powder, priimer brass and bullet has been the best I've seen so far in the widest ranges of guns and calibers.

Nice - bump for a fair price on a beautiful gun.

Nice, I didn't even know we had blues here. My cousins are sometimes on "Hillbilly Handfishin" catching blues out of Cache Creek back in Oklahoma on the Discovery Channel. Who would have ever thoght some un-educated noodlers would find "Hollywood" noteriety? My late uncle "Rob" Robert, was maybe the best-of-the-best noodlers down in that country, but he passed away long before his passion was embraced by popular media. To him, it was just a way of life. You knew you had entered his section of dirt when you saw every fence-post for 12 feet over 2 miles with a huge catfish head/skull on top. I've watched him dive into a cattle pond and carry out a 35 pound flathead like he was tending his own sheep, and tenderly lay her back down on her bed. Man, I hope that generation isn't lost.

Not sure what you are asking for - I'm sure you can get some good advice here, but your initial question isn't very clear.

Thanks Elkhunter1, I'll take a look at that.

There's another topic discussing this, and it is definately an interesting situation. First and foremost, I applaud Mr. Husted for his honesty. He wasn't pressured into coming clean - he chose to do so. I also applaud G&F on their decision. They found themselves in the "ultimate catch 22". On the one hand, you've got a person (let's just pretend he's not on the commission, for now) voluntarily admitting to what we would all probably agree is a minor infraction. For starters, most people don't even know there is a small window that it's illegal to shoot Gunnison Prairer dogs. Secondly, he wasn't even the person that shot the prairer dog in question - it was a youth hunter he was accompanying. But the rules clearly state that "take" does not necessarly mean actually "killing" anything, it is broadly defined by "persuit". And persuit, as I have found, is an extremely open term. According to the law, you are unlawfully "taking" game if you are even there with the intent to take game. I'd be happy to expound on that via PM. Back to the quandry G&F found themselves in. On the one hand, it's a minor infraction, even a technicality. If they persue and follow, to the letter of the law, you'll find a lot of people upset that they "threw the book" at someone who was just trying to be honest. On the other hand, if they dismiss it, you'll have an equal number of people upset that they gave special treatment to the individual because he was acting as a G&F commissioner and turned a blind eye. There is no way boots on the ground G&F wins in this situation. How would you like to be the officer who didn't even witness these events, but still had to testify against your boss's boss (and maybe then more bosses)? No matter what direction they take, they are going to come out in a bad light. So, the most honorable thing they can possibly do is follow the "letter of the law". They have to discount the fact that this guy did the right thing by coming to them and admitting an honest mistake and even harder, they have to omit the fact that he is at the very top of the chain of command in their organization. That's a very hard situation to be in the middle of. From the standpoint of all of us hunters, his actions might not have been "technically legal", but even he didn't know he was breaking the law at the time he was doing it. I've shot p-dogs all summer as a way to sight in guns in years past. I didn't know there was any difference between shooting a prairie dog or ground squirrel or setting a mouse trap in my garage. Rodents must die. Personally, I'd drop any and all charges against the guy. We've got enough intentional poaching to reign in before I'd go after the guy who made an honest mistake and openly admitted it. On the other hand, every time I go on a job interview and fill out an application, I have to list the time I made an honest mistake and openly admitted it, and it was right along side of what what this guy is going through. If you think only those intentionally breaking the law find themselves on the other side of the law, I and Mr. Husted would disagree.

Best wishes on getting it back, and I applaud your restraint for not naming names or starting a smear tactic against the guy, but putting subtle pressure on, in hopes those involved will realize they aren't doing themselves or our sport any favors by acting in this manner. Karma can be a goddess to those doing the right thing and a real b**** to those who intentionally screw people over. You might never see that rack again, but I think you've been very tolerant in your approach, and I know somewhere along the path, you'll be justly rewarded. Even if it's just knowing you took the high road when someone wronged you.

My kids will shoot some cows in unit 1. They're 13 and 15 and already trying to find ways to make it harder. They've got rifle tags but one wants to use a bow and the other my grandfather's Hawkins .50 cal. Could be a really fun hunt. They both laugh that every time we go out to check our spots at how many opportunities there are to shoot one from the road, no matter what time of day it is.