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Coach

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Everything posted by Coach

  1. Coach

    dead elk 6x6

    "In case nobody told you, it is NEVER a good idea to talk to the police. Period. I was a cop for over 20 years so I speak from experience!" Dang, that's a pretty rough statement. Not denigrating you or your experience, but lots of guys, including myself, try to keep stuff like this "above board". Personally, any time I encounter a "gray area" in the law, the FIRST thing I do is work with LEOs. Maybe I've misinterpreted, but your statement was pretty clear. Why is it not a good idea to talk to the police? If you've done nothing wrong, and have nothing to hide, it seems only logical to keep them privy. I'm just asking here. Is there some unspoken assumption of guilt when someone contacts the law?
  2. Coach

    Help me pick a tripod

    Not trying to be contrary, but I've found that for bino's heavier tripods don't buy you much. I'd much rather go ultralight with something like the Sprint Pro than carry too much tripod. If the wind is too much for that tripod with 15x binocs you probably won't see much anyway. Just my $.02
  3. Coach

    what do you think he'll score?

    That last buck is solid mid 90's for sure. Hope they're not nocturnal!
  4. Coach

    Help me pick a tripod

    Hey Scott. I use a Slik Sprint Pro with my 15's and it works really well. I didn't even buy a head for it because it comes with a ball head that does the job. I might look into that 700rc2 head though - a little smoother head would be nice. Using the Jim White universal tripod adapter I don't think you'll find a lighter tripod setup. PM me with any questions.
  5. Coach

    Collect Magazines for the Troops!!

    Do they need any Cabela's catalogs? Wish I had some magazines to donate. Sounds like a neat program.
  6. Coach

    Glassing for Coues Deer

    The biggest mistake I make is glassing too fast. Forcing yourself to really slow down is key in my opinion. I don't know how many times I've found deer on the "second pass" when I slowed down and stuck to a grid in an area that I thought I had looked over pretty well. When you locate a deer that you don't intend to go after, watch it for a while. It's always amazing what percentage of the time it is invisible or barely visible. I've found this helps reinforce in your mind how easy it is to overlook a deer by not letting your glass sit still long enough to catch a slight movement.
  7. Coach

    *2009 Bull Elk success*

    Great bull, and what a neat write-up. It's great to see the whole family out there sharing the experience!
  8. Coach

    Member holding out on us?

    What an awesome bull!!! Congrats to the hunter and to the Mullins team! You guys did a heck of a job. Nice write-up of the story too! Maybe some paragraph breaks next time I can attest to what a difficult hunt it was this year. I tried to help out 2 buddies in 3C and the rut was definately not what any of us expected. The bow hunter ate tag soup despite a lot of help from guys way more experienced than me (passed up several 340 class bulls) and the rifle hunter finally scored today - the last day of the season - on a nice "older" 320's bull. After hunting all week this was the first bull we saw that was really rutting hard. It was his best ever bull so he's tickled pink. Pulling off a 400 class bull this year took a lot of dedication on your part. My hat's off you you guys! Great job!
  9. Coach

    Quail

    Wish I was going out. I've used up my "field time" between my hunts and helping friends on elk hunts. Maybe in a couple weeks.
  10. Coach

    Hypothetical Question

    Immediately contact G&F and tell them about the circumstances. Way more often than not, I've found them to be very helpful and understanding. If nothing else, you have involved them and stated your case. You're not trying to push the rules or get away with anything, and I would be willing to bet they will support you for that. The vast majority of G&F employees I've dealt with want to assist hunters in retrieving downed game, and are very sympathetic to fringe-cases like the one you presented. Good luck and let us know how it turns out. IMO, by all means, get G&F involved. If another hunter finds your animal, they will probably assist you in recovering it.
  11. Coach

    Worst elk hunt I ever had

    Sorry this particular hunt was such a bad experience. I don't think giving up is the answer, but that's just me. Hold on to your stuff, let some time pass and get back at it. It can only get better!
  12. Coach

    How not to gut an elk

    Go gutless! You'll never go back!
  13. Coach

    Scott Adams?

    As usual, Scott, YOU ROCK!!! Congrats. Nice bulls all the way around. Way to get 'er done!
  14. Coach

    sold

    I hope my son doesn't see this. I only have so much yard work to be done. Nice pistol - would love to have one.
  15. Coach

    1987 4Runner with Solid Font Axle

    SOLD! Pending Funds. Thanks all for looking.
  16. Hey guys, I'm selling my 1987 4Runner. I've done a lot to this truck to try and make it a perfect "trail truck". It's a really great looking/great running truck. Everywhere I drive it, it gets a lot of attention. As with most trucks that have had this type of conversion, there are still some areas that I would work on if I were keeping it. I would be happy to discuss all of those with any perspective buyers and I'll do my best to list them up front. It's not really a daily driver unless you're in a smaller town. Our family's main truck, an F250 was stolen recently and I need to sell this truck to make up the difference between what our insurance company is giving us and what it will take us to get back on the road with a similar vehicle. Here are some pictures along with a list of what has been done so far. • Trail-Gear IFS Eliminator Kit w/1984 solid front axle and 4” springs • Trail-Gear 4” rear lift kit. • ARB Air locker (on-demand) in front differential with dash-mounted controls and under-the-hood compressor • 5:29 Gears • Aussie locker (full time) in rear differential • Trail-Gear crossover steering • Trail-Gear 10” long-spline drive shaft with creeper joint • Both axles fully rebuilt with all new seals, bearings, etc. • Trail-Gear rock sliders with Durabak • Almost new Goodyear Wrangler MTR 35” tires on custom reverse-backspaced wheels • Thorley “Tri-Y” header • Custom swing-out spare tire/gas can carrier • Custom roof rack • Custom Durabak exterior/interior highly scratch resistant coating • 12” Bilstein shocks On the down-side, the front drive shaft is a heavy duty Trail Gear drive shaft that isn't designed for "balanced applications" as they put it. What this means is that in 4x4 at speeds over about 12MPH you can feel significant vibration. A custom built balanced drive shaft runs around $300 but I have had to put it in 4x4 so few times because of the rear locker it hasn't been worth the money or effort. The AC works, but needs periodic recharging. Also, at the header there is a small exhaust leak that you can hear while driving - fixable with a quality "crush" gasket. The rubber boots on the cross-over steering have cracked but can be easily replaced. Finally, as with all 4Runners, it's heavier in back than in the front. Adding the roof rack, custom swing out bumper and heavy spare (35") tire and gas cans exaggerates this. It could probably use either a heavy front winch bumper with winch, or removing a leaf up front on each side to get the balance more centered. These are all fairly simple fixes, but I'm not selling anything without telling you the bad along with the good. Karma can either be an angel or a bitch depending on how you treat people. Bottom line is, this is a great looking and great running truck, and very versatile hunting rig. It's loaded with upgrades. But if you're looking for a commuting vehicle or don't want to have to make "tweaks" along the way to get it the way you want it, it might not be a good fit. I was originally asking 8K, but given the slow economy and the fact that I really need to sell it so we can get back into a family vehicle, I posted it on Craigslist and locally for $6900. Add into that the fact that it could take some money and elbow grease to get it just the way you might want it, I am offering it on CWT for FTF pricing $6000 - no trades please. Any less and I'm losing too much - I'll just hang onto it until my sons get to driving age. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Jason
  17. Coach

    Elk late rut

    3A/3C is loaded with water and they still aren't really going. I hate to say, but a buddy of mine I was helping when I could steal away from work went home with tag soup. He passed on a couple 340-350 class bulls but was holding out for a bigger one. Up here in the White Mtns it has been very bleak. I know 3 guys with archery tags who are VERY good hunters with lots of helpers that still ate their tags. It seems to me to just be an "off year". Areas that are typically loaded with bulls have only a couple and they are far from vocal. We all thought it would pick up over the last week, but it really didn't. Hopefully, the rifle hunter I'm helping out will do better than the archery hunters. No doubt about it, this is a harder year than I've seen, and I don't know why. The tanks aren't getting wallowed, the satellite bulls aren't giving up the big herds and the herd bulls are shutting up well before first light and getting deep in before shooting light. The few that talk at all are wary enough to keep their distance and stick to the thick stuff. Good Luck! Jason
  18. Coach

    Broadheads????

    If you like Wac Em try the G5 striker - very similar head. The RedHead Blackout at bass pro and the CopperHead from Cabelas are also very similar. I also recommend Slick Tricks, Magnus BuzzCuts, and plain-old Muzzys 3 blade.
  19. Coach

    Droptine!

    Awesome - can't wait to see what his horns look like this year with your tag wrapped around one!
  20. I'm helping out a good friend on a 3A/3C archery bull hunt. I'm not a licensed guide and I don't get anything from helping out a buddy besides the extra experience in the field and the hopes that I can be a part in helping a VERY deserving guy get a good bull. So, my main "job" lately has been to sit up high and glass certain areas and let my buddies know if anything good is going on in a particular area. Like most of AZ, this basin has a few 2-track roads. I don't stand to gain a penny if my friend kills, but I'm out there on work days at 4:30 AM listening for bugles and looking for good bulls. What I don't understand is how many "Elmer Fudd" types show up 20 minutes after first light driving through prime elk locations. Just when the area starts getting fired up, some numb-nutz inevitably shows up driving and calling - usually without even turning off the engine. It's crazy. I've seen some really AMAZING bulls from my vantage point prior to the season and almost always find a few 340-350 class bulls looking to clean up any straggling cows. This year, the great bulls are completey gone and the satellites are heading for the thick stuff before shooting light, because so many guys wait until the last minute to drive through, shooting bugles out the truck window. Anyone else seeing this? How can we get the word out that you need to be out of the truck and getting in position AT LEAST a half hour BEFORE light - not cruising the backroads hoping for a window-shot at 6:00 AM? It's infuriating!
  21. Coach

    1987 4Runner with Solid Font Axle

    It's the 4 cylinder 22RE (EFI). Thanks for looking.
  22. Coach

    Driving at Prime Time

    AZ Antlerhead - thanks for the response. But, being a local and all, where in 3A/3C can you find a roadless "primitive area" 5-10 miles from any roads? I'm not trying to be a smart-alec. I'd love to find a place like that in this area. We all know it's criss-crossed with roads, some major and some minor, but in reality, I think you would have a heck of a time finding an area in those units that doesn't have at least one fire road going right through the middle of it. I agree with the idea behind your response - getting away from the roads and digging in is what elk hunting is all about. But let's face the facts - anywhere along the rim and the burn beyond into the grasslands is a labyrinth of fire roads, ranch roads and two-tracks that any of us can legally drive on any time we want. I guess I just don't understand the mentality of guys who wait years for a tag then drive around with the heater on jamming tunes and throwing out the occasional bugle, like some 400" bull is going to come sit in the bed asking for headphones to hear the latest country hit. The guy I'm trying to help out has been behind more true AZ throphy bulls than he'd ever admit. He's one of the real "elk gurus" of this state and has some extremely hard-core help at his back - simply because if anyone deserves a great elk harvest due to the decades of helping others filll their tags, he does. OK, sidetracked. The point is, guys, if you're in the field unsure of your next move, please - please, don't just start driving around the backroads. And if you know someone who is inexperienced, try to let them know that giving up and hitting the two-tracks through prime habitat just won't get them what they're looking for, and more importantly might hose someone's setup who was out there long before you ate breakfast. Main roads are obviously going to be full of "plan-B" guys getting from place-to-place because their first setup didn't pan out. That's a given. But for crying out loud, smaller back-roads that happen to skirt or bypass burns and cienegas are not the place to be driving around at first light. With some luck, I'll post pix of a nice bull for this guy. He's already passed on several bulls that make most elk hunters drool. He's a great guy and gives a TON to his community and fellow hunters. Just venting about the road-situation. We'll get 'er done. Great luck to all on their Fall hunts!
  23. Coach

    San Carlos Lake 9/19

    Thanks for the update Brian. I've always been a Spring fisherman, but obviously you've found out how to make the best of the Summer and Fall months too - hat's off to you bro.
  24. Coach

    Hello From Bear Mountain

    Welcome Ed. I bought my first bow from a pawn shop and second from a garage sale When I finally started to figure out what was going on, I went to Bear Mtn. and was treated very well by your guys. They were very knowledgeable and helped me out a lot. I hope you get a lot of new CWT traffic by sponsoring Amanda's awesome site.
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