Coach

I bought exactly the same 870 youth for my boys and it has been a turkey slayer. I got it a little close to the first turkey hunt and all I could find was a full choke tube, but eventually put on a super full/turkey tube and shooting federal #5 shot turkey loads it has done a fantastic job. I don't think they've ever hit and lost a turkey with it. Just make sure to remind your son to aim for the neck at the base of the head. Sometimes, when they get excited, they want to aim for the body. Best of luck to you. I'll be up there with 2 youth hunters this weekend as well. Shoot me a pm if you need ideas on places to go.

Ammon definitely makes great calls. His slates are hand-made with exotic wood and a variety of surfaces with nice hand-made strikers to match. His diaphragms all have a clean sound with varying degrees of rasp. Kind of hard to go wrong with someone who hand-makes calls for AZ birds based on years of local experience.

A couple of things stand out to me in the description. It's 17 years old with only 650 miles?? And if the body is only in decent shape after 650 miles, where did the wear-and-tear come from. Was it left out in the weather all this time?

Great pictures, Dan. I fish the Black every spring. Broke my shoulder there this year trying to get an early jump since it was so warm and I thought it might turn on a little earlier. The sidearm thing, I have a friend who contacted the San Carlos tribe and was told it was perfectly legit to carry - but here's where it gets sticky - it all depends on who you talk to. One person will tell you one thing, but that won't always jive with what the LEO you encounter perceives. I always carry a pistol down there. When other people are around, it's very discreet. When nobody is around it's more out in the open. As for fishing, I don't think the fires hurt the actual fishing that much. By that I mean we've been there year after year catching lots of fish and some really big ones. The biggest impact is the muddy ash-rich soil build up. It seems to make it harder for the crawfish to breed along the edges of the river, and the crawfish are what makes the smallies down there so awesome. That dense, protein diet makes them grow fast and fight hard. When the slack water with lots of river rock fills up with silt, it's harder for the crawfish to breed. They get forced into deeper water with less silt but more predation.

Honestly, I don't have a problem with anyone looking for some guidance. I have 3 sons and try to put them in for areas that they will have an opportunity to go hunting. That means sometimes it's in areas I'm less familiar with. The people on this forum have been extremely helpful in getting us in the right general areas on many occasions. No guarantees, but when you hunt a lot and have confidence going into an area you aren't familiar with, you can tell pretty quickly where and how you want to hunt it. It sure beats going in blind. At the same time, I do my best to repay that by helping out others to the best of my abilities. I don't divulge specific honey holes because that would wreck them, but just last night I spent around 4 hours sending out maps and strategies to some members here who asked for advice. I really like to see these guys be successful, especially the ones taking their kids out. My hope is those who ask for help and get it will learn from the experience and want to help others out later.

From everything I've seen, very little winter kill. Should be lots and lots of young birds, great conditions after the fire for hens. Places in 1 that usually have a decent to good populations look like a chicken roost in terms of droppings and tracks. I can't wait to get the boys out next weekend, use some of Little Creek's calls and get some birds on the ground.

Dang, you shoulda put in for someplace that has some elks in it. Iffen one wanders in there I figure you'll catch 'im 'fore he heads back on the rez.

Found this on another forum and liked it. Since I don't know how to "like it" on facebook or tweet it, or pin it, or any of that other BS, thought I'd just share it on the campfire.

IMR 4350 or h 4350 if the h4831 doesn't work

A guy I know who's an eye doc has one of these. Put a muzzle break on it topped with a Zeiss Scope - very sweet shooting rifle. Great trigger, he upgraded the recoil pad as well. You'd never know it was magnum until you started shooting further out. I already have a 300 WSM, and too many projects going on or I'd be first in line. Bump for a really good deal on a great rifle.

Sweet rifle.

Nice!

Best thing you can do is just hang back and wait for the results to be posted.

I'm just getting into reading the proposal here. Fill in the details if I'm missing something but it looks like we have two choices. The Feds take it over and designate it how they want, or the state takes it over and does what they want. The feds are looking to close off access to protect it, the state is looking to sell it private interest. I don't see an upside in either scenario for anyone who doesn't have a stake in the game. We lose, no matter what way it goes.

I really like camping just a little way up the Cherry Creek road. From there, you get the amazing sunset over the lake, you're not far from the cliff dwellings in the Anchas, A-cross road is close by, Black Mesa has some great drives and hikes.

Best of luck to your daughter. It's shaping up to be a super spring for turkey. All you moms, dads, grandparents, uncles and aunts taking out some youth gobbler slayers this year, best wishes to you and your hunters. IMO, one of the best youth hunting initiatives by AZGFD is the youth turkey hunt. It's exiting, the birds are talking, lots of opportunity for the kids and great family time together in the woods.

Last weekend I took my family to the Black river to see if, maybe given how warm it's been, the smallies would be active a little earlier than usual. Right off the bat, I'm going down a steep hill of river rocks, the one I'm standing on shoots out and immediately, I fall with my full weight landing on my right shoulder. At first, I thought I had a broken shoulder, possibly some ribs. After walking around a bit and getting my shirts off, it was obviously dislocation. After a lot of denial, and a very painful 2 hour drive out, I was in the ER getting it set back in place. So now I'm in a sling, and I'm hearing everything from 3 to 16 weeks before I can use this arm again. What's the best way to get healed up and working again? I don't want to risk long-term damage, but doing nothing for weeks seems nearly impossible. I spent all day today in bed and I honestly can't do that again, especially for days or weeks. How do you best work out a dislocation and get active again without derailing the healing process. I've got a lot to do that requires the use of that arm, but don't want to risk things like not being able to draw a bow again.

No post is complete without some pix. Heading to Flagstaff tomorrow, surgery @ 7:30 AM Monday.

Looks like we've got a tag or two and you and Peg have an open invitation to my camp any time.

Couple of hits. One elk tag for sure. What in the world would a $50 hit come from?

Confirmed glenoid fracture and a pretty sizable one at that. Rare and it seems not too many orthos have actually performed the surgery I'll need. A chunk of bone on the lower inside of the glenoid (socket) about 1.5 cm sheared off and pushed back about 8mm. The "fix" is to cut in and pull the sheared portion of bone back into place and maybe screw it into place while it heals. My orthopedic doc up here is very good, but he's never performed it and only one other guy up here has done it - but only once, so they are trying to help me find someone more specialized. Tomorrow I'll be frantically searching for someone in the valley that can do the surgery next week. It should have been done within 7 - 10 days and Sunday will be two full weeks since the injury occurred. On the off-chance that any of you know of a shoulder specialist who has experience with this procedure in the valley - or anywhere, please PM me with contact info. I'll travel to Vegas or LA, or wherever. This surgery scares the heck out of me and because it's so uncommon, it is very important that I find the right person to perform it. As far as insurance, lol, I've already met my deductibles. Ouch!

Depends a lot on the situation. First and foremost would be whether you can tell if the first shot was 100% solid and giving lots of blood. If it was high or back at all I would definitely try to get another arrow anywhere that would aid in blood trailing.

Thanks again everyone for the support and advice. It's potentially going to need surgery - I just got back from having a CT scan on it since my ortho found what appears to be glenoid fracture (very rare, of course) on the x-rays. The goofy thing is, it feels fine - a little stiff and sore, but oh well. He's supposed to give me a call this evening when he gets the scan from the hospital. At that point I just have to do whatever his recommendation is and "suck it up".

San Juan worms on light tippet in the white water has always been good - upper end especially. In the slower water, leach imitations, semi-seals and bead-head pheasant nymphs usually get a lot of hits. If you find the bite slow, and happen to have a spin rig with 2-4 lb fluorocarbon, rebel minnows cast at the shore with a smallish split shot 18" up the line works great. Cast shallow and let the weight pull it down into the edge where the water drops off into a pool. Never let the lure or weight hit the silt. If it looks like a natural minnow dropping off the edge, it will probably get hit. Best of luck!

World's tiniest violin playing just for you! LOL. Love it TJ, you and Peg smiling out on the water with a bass in each hand makes my heart warm.