Coach

So, some of us got tags this year and some of us (me) got skunked. I've got my apps in for leftovers, but check out what I have to be jealous of ... Buddy #1 draws one of the "2" units in NM for mulies AND a 3a/c AZ archery bull tag. Buddy #2 draws a unit 13 NM goat tag, a Navajo Res archery muley tag AND a 13B AZ Strip rifle tag. Not green yet??? Buddy #3 draws the same unit 2 NM muley tag as Buddy #1 PLUS won the Sunrise 3D shoot raffle for a Ft. Apache Rez Throphy Bull tag. Pretty hard not to go "green", huh? All kidding aside, these are all great guys and very deserving. I can't wait to see how their seasons end up and hopefully we'll see some great trophy photos from all of them. To those of you who have great tags this year, congrats and make the very best of them. I was fortunate enough to draw a unit 16 NM Muzzy tag, and thanks to input from fellow CWT members, I've got a good jump on it. Good hunting, bro's! Jason

If you come to the White Mountains, you have to check out Jed Larson's Bowtech shop in Show Low. I don't even know what it's called, as he has only recently renovated the better part of a cell phone store as an archery shop, but I can tell you unequivocally, that Jed knows more about setting up and fine-tuning bows than any other archery technician I've ever met - he SERIOUSLY knows his stuff. BTW, his custom, pre-stretched bow strings totally eliminate the "creep" that you sometimes get with a new bow causing your peep to rotate. I've shot thousands of arrows from the bow he set up for me and the peep still always aligns perfectly without a rubber tube. If you want to check out his shop, PM me and I'll get you some good directions. Jason

What do you like about the triumph, specifically? Don't worry, it's not a loaded question - I'm just trying to get as much info as I can. I've never even shot an inline ML. Both of mine are Hawkins style - one flint and one percussion. Hopefully, I'll put a piggy to rest with the flintlock next Spring!

I'm on the verge of getting a new muzzle loader, so I'm already thinking about what kind of scope to top it off with. Right now I'm leaning toward the Knight Long Range Hunter but also looking at the TC/Omega and the Savage ML-II series (they shoot smokeless as well as BP substitutes). Anyway, I just had a chance to look through some Vortex binoc's and was really impressed. They advertise their Diamondback scopes as being able to stand up to ML recoil, and the price is really attractive. I'm also looking at the Leupold Ultimate Slam and Nikon Omega. Any suggestions from those of you who have experiece with these muzzleloaders/scopes is much appreciated. Thanks, Jason

Wac-em's seem to be the most copied BH out there. A close look at the G5 Striker, Cabela's Copperhead and RedHead (Bass Pro Shops) Blackout will tell you that this is a very solid design. I don't think I've ever seen so many "knock-offs" for a BH. Personally, I'm sold on Slick Tricks. They shoot like darts out of my Bowtech and the ferrule is like a freakin' nail - not to mention the razor sharp blades out of the box. But I shoot a LOT of heads and when my bow is tuned well, Slick Tricks, Wac-Em's and their clones, Muzzys, G5 Montecs and Magnus Buzzcuts all group like field points. It's kinda like most of the gear out there, you have to figure out what you have confidence in, and I'd shoot ANY of the BH's I mentioned above at just about anything that walks with confidence. BUT, if I had an elk tag, or I was going after bear, I would probably be shooting the Slick Tricks simply because you have 4 blades instead of 3 and they are more solid on impact than any other (aside maybe for the buzzcuts) than any other I've shot. I really like Montecs but after a pass-through they look like cookie dough - just not hard enough steel. One BH I haven't shot and am dying to try is the Magnus Snuffer SS. It's the same shape as the Montec, but much harder, welded steel. Just my $.02

Hey guys, let me first start off by saying that I have absolutely nothing against quads or side-by-sides. I'm just trying to figure out why they are so expensive compared to other off-road vehicles. A good *used* Ranger or simlilar side-by-side with lots of goodies can go for $12-15K or more in some instances. You could buy a really nice Jeep or similar "real truck" for that amount or a lot less. Again, I'm not bashing, just trying to understand what is driving the price of these things. Here's the skinny. I spent all last summer converting my 1987 4-Runner into a "rock crawler" with the idea of having the ultimate AZ hunting truck. Overall, it came out really good (solid axle swap, 35" tires, lift, etc.) but it suffers a little now "on-highway". So I can't use it for commuting and it's a little rough driving around town. Luckily, my lovely wife decided it was time for me to get a new Tacoma (lucky me!!!). So now, little sweety wants to sell "the beast" and get a Polaris Ranger or similar side-by-side. I'm all for it if that is what she wants, but it seems a little weird to have to sell a serious off-road truck AND put up extra $$ to buy a vehicle that has to be towed on a trailer and doesn't really seem to offer anything "extra". My personal dilemma aside, what is the appeal of these things that makes them cost more than a good used truck/jeep/etc.? Do they really offer some advantage above the "traditional" off road trucks and jeeps? Just wondering. Jason

Wow - thanks again for all the responses. You guys have me conviced (not that it was my choice ).

Thanks for all the responses so far. Keep 'em coming. I have to admit, when I see a family of 4 or 5 riding around in one of these it does look fun! How are they on really tough roads, like the mining roads? Top heavy, enough clearance, etc? BTW, I'm starting to see a lot of them buzzing around town - is the gas mileage pretty good?

Can you drop off your apps at the local office on Aug 11 or do they have to go through the mail?

Thanks Frank! I'll definately be giving you a call.

Hi all, I was fortunate enough to draw a unit 16 muzzle-loader mule deer tag. I'm from Lakeside, AZ and this will be my first time hunting unit 16. I'll definately be making several scouting trips but it's one heck of a big unit, so I was hoping to get some ideas to help focus my scouting efforts. Thanks, Jason

Neither my son or I got any tags

Is this a joke? I just went to the website and it said they are not available yet. Wassup?

I've been using it for years and I really like it. While I have, on occasion found some things that weren't 100% accurate I'm usually blown away at how amazingly accurate it is. I don't usually use the 3D and fly-through stuff - you're right about the slowness of that feature. Overall, I think it has a lot of great features - not quite as good as Maptech, but much cheaper. One of my favorite ways to use it is in a laptop connected to a GPS when exploring some new country. You always know exactly where you are and what is coming up. One of the probably less-used features that is also pretty cool IMO is the ability to download maps to a PDA/Pocket PC and connect to that with your GPS - pretty cool but sometimes you lose a little bit of the "big picture" when using that small of a screen. I hope you like it more as you use it more. Here is a link to a site you can download all of the hunt unit boudaries. http://www.trailsillustrated.com/topo/search.cfm

I've got a Cabela's Alaskan Guide in 4.5-14 on my Savage 25-06 and I really like the combo. I think the scope was around $350. J

Sorry, try this link - you'll have to select Arizona from the dropdown but then you'll see all of the overlays available for AZ. The first 2 are the hunt units. http://www.trailsillustrated.com/topo/search.cfm

Great job and thanks for sharing the pictures. You can tell those kids are having the time of their life - just beaming! So, with those steenbok, do you just put the whole thing between two peices of bread and eat it like a soft-shelled crab sandwich, or do you skin 'em out like a squirrel?

BTW, the hunt unit overlays as well as some others can be loaded here: http://www.trailsillustrated.com/topo/searchlist.cfm Have you guys noticed with 4.0 that at level 4 it doesn't pan smoothly anymore?

I'm not sure if you are asking me or RoughCut, but I put in solo - I don't know anyone named Chris that has the hunt (or anyone at all for that matter).

Yeah - Vince from ShamWow! - "...you following me camera guy?" RoughCut, my hunt is at the very end of October so I may overlap with you.

Looks like they're packing too much weight to haul out the camera.

Hmmm - that's a pricey blind. I think you need to take me in to each of those water holes so I can help you determine which one might be too risky to leave such an investment sitting unattended. JK - Enjoy that hunt and post pix of that huge bull (or sasquatch) that you arrow!

Desertbull - that's what I was wondering! I'm sure by now the guy has already gotten his insurance check. Time to go pull it out - I'm your huckleberry!

Here's a picture from last week of the only other fisherman I saw down there.

So is it too late to buy Spring turkey tags for next year?