Coach

I was planning on getting a Bowtech Destroyer - love my Allegiance. But, I'm starting to hear such good things about the new Hoyts, I wouldn't plop down that much cash without shooting them both side by side. I've never owned a Hoyt, but they've always made good bows. I've heard great things about the Mathews Switchback (older), and my first "top shelf" bow was a Mathews Conquest which is still a great bow. I agree with the other posters here, that pretty much all of the bow manufacturers are putting out some great bows, and Matthews, Bowtech and Hoyt all have some really amazing new bows this year. You just have to shoot them all and see what feels the best to you.

If you want to sit water in August, be prepared to A) set up early sleep in your blind and C) fight off the onslaught opening weekend. I've posted numerous threads on this topic and even had a situation last year where a popular TV show was being filmed on the water hole I planned to sit. My mindset has changed a little based in last year's hunt, and now I really feel like if you want to hunt it, you have to be pretty agressive. Get there first and be ready with a flashlight 2-3 hours before sunup to let people know, you were in place before they got there. If you stand back and let them have it, they WILL take it and might not be willing to take the same "sharing" approach. If you let someone "tag" a waterhole and leave it up to them to tell you when you can hunt it, you had better have a good backup plan, because lots of guys aren't that accomodating. I've taken a different approach similar to what Str8Shot advocates. If it's a well used watering hole, don't focus so much on the tank itself. Do some scouting and find where the deer are bedding and moving and put yourself between the them and the water hole. May as well hit them before they get to water, and IMO, the biggest bucks will be close to water, but will actually hit the tanks more at night, if it's getting a lot of pressure.

So, last year I posted a story about trying to hunt a water hole at the beginning of the AZ coues archery season. I had a couple of spots staked out - public land and all that implies. I had a great water hole with cameras set up and lots of activity, but didn't want to put my blind up too early, because I didn't want to "stake out" a spot prematurely, and, honestly, I was afraid it would get stolen. A couple days before the season started,went in to set up my blind - yeah, there's a double bull sitting right above the water hole. Dillemma time. So I left a note indicating that I have been scouting the same water hole, yada yada, let's work out a schedule where we share it. I didn't really expect a response, but I got an email opening morning sent by a guy named "Fred". Said they were basically planning to sit that spot Friday - Sunday. He was sending me emails right from the water hole via his blackberry. This was my plan B spot, as my plan A spot already had a blind set up as well - so my plans for archery hunting coues were kind of in the crapper. To tell you the truth, I wasn't really OK just saying, OK, you get it for the first 3 days - my intention had been to work out an arrangement where we shared the spot without stepping on eachother - but hey, this is AZ public hunting. You set up earlier than the other guy and take the chance of getting your blind stolen, or back out and let him have it, IMO. He set up earlier than I was willing to so all I could do was to try to work out a reasonable arrangement. Throughout the day Friday, I kept in contact with "Fred" asking what he had seen, etc. and he kept in contact about what he was seeing. Late in the day he tells me that they got a nice coues off the tank and that they were done - something like "it's all yours". I got picture taken by cell phone of Fred and another guy (who we all know) with a high 90's, wide, short-tined velvet buck. Obviously I was a little jealous and kind of kicking myself for not staking the spot out earlier. So, that's the backround...here we are in May of 2010, last night I was having trouble falling asleep after a long day turkey hunting with my boys. We put on the Outdoor channel, and there is Easton's Bowhunting TV with a trip to AZ to hunt Coues with a tradtional bow, by, yeah, you guessed it, Fred Eicher. I was just thinking...no way...but it all came together. As I watched the show and the video of his brushing in of the blind (they moved it mid-day) and compared it wth the emails, pictures, my own trail cam pictures, it was clear. I was competing for this water hole with a whole hunting show. The final picture I got from Fred was him standing next to a guy named Randy - yeah, Randy Phillips - from Archery Headquarters, in Chander. Same buck from the show, same water hole I intended to sit. It was kind of surreal - I didn't know who Fred was, I honestly thought it was just a situation where 2 "normal" guys wanted to hunt the same water hole. My congratulations go out to Fred and Randy. I don't have any hard feelings - we were all looking at the same spot, and you guys set up before I was willing to. No prob, I moved elsewhere and took a a nice buck. BUT there was a MUCH bigger buck hitting that hole., FWIW. LOL. Anyway , I just thought it was funny to be sitting there with my boys, going "That was where I was going to be last year!" and they said, "Dad, you coulda shot that buck." And I said, "Yeah, i still think mine was bigger". LOL.

Penalties up to $3000??? Seriously??? There should be at least one more zero in there.

Good info - what are the biggest advantages of the 60Cx vs the Etrex?

The Miss USA pageant has become nothing more than a political tool. The talented young women who are part of it need to stand up. For years, Miss USA was mocked as an objectification of women. In the past couple of years, It has exemplified the contempt some people in this country have for outspoken women who can bravely cut against the grain and actually speak their minds. Of course they can't win on an honest answer, but there is still a part of our society that wants to say "FU" to the established media, all their money and hollywood power. Look at Carrie Prejean last year. She had it in the bag, but the establisment NEEDED her to lose, so they asked her an honest question about gay marriage, and took her to task, stripping her of her shot for giving her honest answer, that the knew she would give, because the recognized that she had a brain behind that alluring smile and physical beauty. She became a target - a little like Sarah Palin or Elizabeth Hassleback (sp), someone they were afraid of. The left hates 2 things more than anything else in the world - 1: A charming, educated, charismatic black man, and 2: A charming, educated, charismatic white woman. They have no defense for either - and their cowardly attacks on Sarah Palin and Alan Keys show that. You have to respect someone like that, under what to them is the highest possible scrutiny, to stick to her beliefs and not waver, knowing it would cost her everything. THAT is character, and to me, character is what separates the "could-be"s from the "Here I am, Take it or Leave It" types. You know which one I prefer. It's a tough world. Learn to eat or get get eaten, and don't bitch - you made your choice.

That is Halarious - been a fan of Ray Stevens since I was my kids' age - love Ahab the Arab, Guitarazn, The Streak, the Mississippi Squirel Revival, man lots of old road trip sing-alongs from a battery powered cassette playdeck on sweaty vinyl seats with no seatbelts and only windows down for A/C, 97 degrees and 97% humidity (nowadays "feels like" 108 degrees) on the way to a swimming/fishing hole on the Illinoise River below boyscout camp Fred Darby... Anyone out there know what I'm talking about? Any Cherokee, Okie backwoods hillbillies from way down in the "other" midwest, there ever visit this board? LOL. BTW, I have learned recently that people from Wisconson and Michigan, don't consider themselves "back east" - and some actually take offense - LOL. Man, I love AZ, not to get too sentimental or serious, but it's been decades now since I last smelled Spring in the heartland as a relatively innocent boy, smelling the fermenting oak leaves and blossoming dogwoods, the sign that summer vacation, filled with fireworks, fishing, snake grabbing, all those childish wonders, were just days away. I sure do miss and cherish those hot, humid days, and warm blissful nights.

Man, I sure hope they caught the POS responsible for this, and I hope our laws are stringent enough to make it hurt. I have a hard time hating anyone, but for poachers, I can make an exception. Especially sheep...or elk...or deer...or...yeah, any poacher - hate 'em with passion.

No one more deserving - look guys, we all have some time off and maybe a tax refund to spend on a family vacation. How hard is it to send an email to some tourist agencies in San Diego and Los Angeles, that we'll be spending our vacation dollars in "Arizona Friendly" destinations like Utah and Nevada this year? Seriously, my family had our best vacation EVER last summer in Southern Utah. We hauled a 5th Wheel up there and hiked slot canyons, narrows, fished great trout lakes, you name it. Don't think for a second that Sea World, LegoLand and Disney have ANYTHING on the North Rim, Zion, Bryce Canyon or Escalante Staircase. The kids took to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes just N of Kanab with more enthusiasm than some stupid "wait-in-line" ride. And price/budget-wise - NO comparison. Food, under $20 a night at most campgrounds, little to no admittance fees. It was great. The last time I took my family on vacation in CA, our hotel was a prostition hotbed, in sight of Disneyworld. Our truck was stolen right out of the parking lot of Sea World - no kidding. Got recovered in Tiajuana a few weeks later after we found our way home. Complete disaster. There is no reason to give CA your vacation money this year - shoot me an email or PM and I will be happy to point you in the direction of some truly amazing destinations just hours away. I mean, literally, each day for 10 days, we just wondered how we could possibly top yesterday. Best time of my life, so far. BUT, don't slack out - Tell San Diego and Los Angeles Counties EXACTLY why they won't get a nickle from us AZ residents. Be loud, be proud, and be Arizonan's tired of the PC garbage.

I went out this evening to try out my new predator call on coyotes in Unit 1 just North East of Cerro Montoso. In the rolling hills I saw an elk herd that numbered easily in the hundreds. None were showing antlers so I decided to get closer and look for sheds. I ended up about 150 yards away from the biggest congregataion of elk I have ever seen. As the sun was setting through the clouds on one shoulder, the closest cows were within 100 yards feeding and meandering, singing a corous of mews. As I scanned, the herd literally covered the ground for at least 1/2 mile to the West into the sunset. I felt like I was witnessing one of the great bison herds of the old days. Every inch of ground seemed to be moving with countless elk, ignorant of my intrusion. Some fed while others laid down in the open grass. Seeing a herd of that size just steps away, and turning to scan the hills and find other groups at least 30 strong in every direction just reinforced how well our elk management is succeeding. Kudos to G&F and to hunters of this state. Our elk population is stronger, healthier and more prolific than I have seen in over 20 years of living here in the White Mountains. I truly wish I had my video camera with me as this sea of elk meandered in front of me. I would love to be able to show all of the CWT members what I was seeing. All I could think was, dang, I wish Carrie and the boys could be here right now - to see these magnificent animals this close, and in these numbers. Well, hopefully I'll have some pictures and/or video to illustrate a repeat of this experience later this weekend, but I really don't know if they'll put on the same show when I'm actually prepared to capture and share it. Maybe it was one of those rare moments that happen between you and the world and God - that can't be reproduced. All I know is that I felt almost selfish, being where I was and experiencing it alone - I wanted badly to share it with my wife and sons and my friends, and all of you - who would truly appreciate it. I guess the words will have to do for now.

Yeah, SunDevil, I think the general rule of thumb is that whoever gets there first on any given day gets the spot. That said, you never really know who you are dealing with and whether their take is the same. If it turns out that you are competing for a spot, IMO, it's probably best to get some communication going to avoid an ugly confrontation. In this case, them saying they planned to sit for the next 3 days, really isn't "acceptable" IMO, and if I had felt strongly about sitting it, I would have pushed the issue and said, OK, then plan on me sitting 3 bushes down - I hope you are a fast draw. . However, I was really only interested in sitting it opening day, or later during the week. I figured Sat and Sunday would be a zoo in there, so it wasn't really worth worrying about. Where it gets a little fuzzy is when someone sets a blind on a water hole days or weeks before the hunt. You would be well within your "rights" to set up a blind 10 feet away from theirs and sleep in it if you want to be the first one at the spot that day. But there's nothing keeping them from sitting theirs as well, or doing whatever they can to mess up the area if they do leave. It's really up to all of us to try and keep things in perspective (not worth a violent confronation), and try to meet the other person and work out something fair.

Nice Pike!

Predator fall gray. No better camo on the market. The HD stuff from Realtree is the next best runner up.

That's awesome, Brian. I'm taking the fam down to Roosie next weekend for my birthday. Might miss a couple of baseball games, but I hope to chase some big flatheads up in the river. I'd love to see one of them hook into a big cat.

Yeah, it's that bad...If this were happening in New York, it wold be on the front page of every so-called newspaper in the country. Because it is happening down here, in the forgotten corner of America, it is being totally ignored. I'm glad Jan Brewer and Sarah Palin have had the courage to at least try to wake up the sleeping masses to the border problems down here.

Classic! I haven't seen that one in years!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGqPo5ofk0s...player_embedded I'm sure this site has a better way to embed a youtube vid, but at the very least, cut and paste the link above and listen carefully to what is being said. There is a huge revolutionary movment happening right now in America that is unprecedented. If you aren't yet aware, there are several strong groups operating within our borders that truly believe that NM, AZ and CA are, and always have been, a part of Mexico. They are fighting hard to retake "their" territory. And they are doing it through schools and neighborhoods - one at a time. To reclaim the Southwest states of the United States - as part of their soveriegn territory. Think it sounds silly or without momentum? Consider that last week American students in an American High School in California were sent home for wearing articles of clothing bearing the American flag - because it was considered "incindiary" and might ellicit violence on campus. The strongest opponenents of America throughout the cold war (Russia, Communist China, North Korea, Cuba, etc.) all said that the fall of America was not going to come from a forceful takeover, but an internal conflict - that we would bring ourselves down. Guys and gals, we are doing EXACTLY what was predicted. If you think for a moment that we can maintain our world status as leaders of the free world when we kill our own culture in the name of diversity, you are sorely misled. Out - Coach.

Went out this morning and didn't hear a single gobble. Saw one solo hen I assume had already been bred. I think it's a little late in there.

I LOVE the History Channel. If you ever get a chance to watch the series on bootleggers, it's a real eye opener. Much of what our country is today was forged in the war against, of all things, BOOZE. I think I'll crack a cold one and watch it again on TEVO.

AZ4life, I like you a ton. I hope to some day share a hunting camp with you.

I consider Janet Napalitano an enemy of the state, and Janet Brewer a true patriot.

If you look at some of the stud shed-finders on this site, you might think it's almost easy to go snag a backpack full of antler sheds. Every Spring I go out looking for horns, walking miles day after day, finding bulls still wearing their headgear and trying to get them to run through thick enough stuff to make them drop. It always amazes me how these guys set out to find sheds and actually do it. Almost every shed I've found has been purely accidental - during a turkey hunt or some such nonesense, and usually close to a road. The funny part is, I've hiked an amazing amount of country while shed hunting, scouting, or just trying to get to know an area and I have NEVER walked up on or glassed a good shed - save for the San Carlos rez where I didn't dare pick any up. The small ones I've found have been purely coincidence. The guys that find good horns, and lots of them are right here on this site. They put serious miles on their boots. They do their homework and follow herds all through the year. Hunting sheds is a great way to get to know the habits of deer and elk, and every hour you spend out there looking for sheds will eventually pay off. You'll have a better understanding of their habits and patterns. Keep up the good work but try not to be discouraged when you aren't finding any. It will come - at least that's what I keep telling myself - LOL.

If it were just one thing, coues hunting would be easy. LOL. The most successful hunters I know are the ones who spend LOTS of time in the field, and get to know the deer in an area and their habits. There's no formula, save for hard work. Scents, yeah, if applied right, licks, yeah, if applied right. You get the picture - they can all help, but there are no guarantees. I know a guy who regularly takes good to GREAT coues bucks with a bow - by this I mean an OK shooter is in the low 100s and a great buck is in the high 120s or better. He also does well in bass tournaments, shed hunting, etc. His method - "Work your butt off". Get out there before the other guy, hike further than the other guy, be willing to sleep cold, hike long and thirsty, and sit for hours. Don't expect anything, but be ready when it arrives, persevere hard conditions, fight bordom, and most importantly don't choke when it all finally comes together. The truth is, even knowing this, we all don't have the luxury of spending countless hours dedicated to coues hunting - something of a topic all it's own. Coues hunting, from what I've seen over the years is a labor of love. You get out of it what you put into it. Sure every year some schmuck gets lucky, but if you ever meet someone who gets "lucky" year after year, you know they put their blood, sweat, money, time and mental energy into it from January to December.

Well said. Sure there are many forums out there that we can bicker about politics without dragging that trash-can into this forum. That said, a good portion of our state is ground-zero of the illegal immigrant/illegal drug trafficing issue. Just last year I posted on here about doing a pack-in coues hunt in the SW corner of New Mexico. Frankly, I was concerned that I might be putting my life at risk to hunt coues deer. This issue affects all of us, and it's not just a political topic - it truly is a coues whitetail hunting topic. Some of the best coues deer hunting in our state and neighboring states, is turning into a war zone. We're less worried about how we'll hunt and nourish ourselves than we area about dealing with potential run-ins with armed illegals, whether they are trafficing people or drugs. Let's keep this debate open, cordial and respectful.

Already sent them an email when I saw the article on fox.com. I'm glad I'm not the only one ready to tell them to move "Los Suns" to Mexico City.