IA Born

Its been a long time since I’ve posted anything on here due to being busy with work and family obligations, but I’m finally getting around to posting my 2013 archery javelin hunt. After being as restless as can be since I didn’t fill my elk tag last September, I’m proud to say that I have redeemed myself and started off 2013 on a high note. A good friend of mine and I had archery javelina tags for 18B. Because of family commitments (family trip and my daughter’s soccer schedule), I only had 2-5 January to hunt this year. That ended up being perfect timing because it was during our kids’ winter break and my daughter could go with me. My buddy (Bill) and I had this tag last year, but, again, because of family commitments, I had one weekend free (MLK weekend) and was going to pull my daughter out of school on that Friday to make a nice, long weekend of chasing javelina and desert mule deer (my buddy’s sons have taken some BEAUTIFUL desert muleys from this unit and 2 years ago, I put a stalk on one but it didn’t end well). Well, last year, my wife managed to get extremely sick the only weekend I had available so I ended up staying home to take care of her and our son. Bill went out with his son and glassed up a herd one evening and found them again the next morning, taking a nice, big javelina! I was happy for him and extremely jealous at the same time! The desert muleys are my big draw to the area, so I end up getting my archery deer tag to keep in my pack just in case a nice buck shows up while we are looking for javelina. So Bill and I made our plans to meet up over there Wednesday morning, 2 January, and start hunting with the time we had. Just like me, he is busy chasing two kids everywhere. Bill had to be back in town to get his son to basketball practice Thursday afternoon. Although his son admitted that he would rather be out hunting (I admire his compassion), we assured him we’ve all been there and he’d have plenty of time to hunt in life. He’s all ready an accomplished hunter and Bill is one of the best at glassing for wildlife I’ve ever seen! If memory serves me correctly, Bill grew up in Kingman, so he knows these hunting units better than just about anybody else and he knows where to go to get away from the road hunters! After getting camp set up and relaxing a bit, Bill’s son asked when we were going to head out hunting. We got geared up and drove to the area where Bill and his son got his javelina last year (and saw a nice buck). As we were walking up to the ridge top, I happened to turn around just in time to see a big javelina across the wash from us, a couple hundred yards up. We kept an eye on that area and started glassing both sides of the ridge top as soon as we got situated. Being out there always makes me forget how much I actually love the desert. As we were glassing, I was thinking about how proud of my daughter (Sydney) I was for doing her first real hike up a desert mountain, avoiding most of the spiney stuff (I carried her pack for her, though to make it easier for her) and her attempts at glassing. Of course, who can say no to a good bag of beef jerkey? Bill was keeping an eye on the area where I first saw the javelina and where he saw it last and we started talking about a game plan. Going after this javelina kind of excited me because he was probably less than 200 yards from where I parked and I could stop by my truck on the way to get my javelina call, which I really wanted to try out (forgot it when we took off). I looked over and there was Sydney sitting next to Bill, learning the finer art of glassing. She’s also all ready working on him to help take her out when she’s 10. Bill loves getting kids out as much as I do and we’ll be making plans for a youth hunt in this unit in about a year! We had been there less than an hour when Bill got up to look at the opposite ridge and, within 5 minutes, says “I see pigs!” Turns out he glassed up a herd of about 14 javelina in about the same area as the ones he saw last year. They were feeding their way across and down the opposite slope from us. We grabbed our gear and headed for the next little knoll, cutting some distance. On the way, Sydney fell once and landed with one of her legs in a prickly pear, but she got right back up and got moving, with the idea that she’d get the cactus spine out while I was stalking. I’m so proud of how tough that girl is! We reacquired the herd moving and formulated a plan. I quickly grabbed my radio with the earpiece so Bill could keep me posted on where the javelina were and guide me closer and took off down the near slope. As I got directly across from and slightly below the javelina herd, something spooked them and they started heading back the way they came. They couldn’t have seen me because I was in the shadows of the opposite slope. Despite their excellent sense of smell, the wind wasn’t carrying my scent across the canyon and up to them. It’s possible they heard me, but who knows. I regrouped at the bottom of the wash and discussed my options with Bill. I didn’t really want to get into a game of chasing them over adjacent ridge tops, but I didn’t want to walk away, either. The plan was to angle up the slope, keeping down wind and work my way back up the spine of the ridge to where they crested. When I was ready, I put on my newly acquired Safari Sneakers to keep from doing another stalk in socks like I did 2 years ago (took me a week to get all of the cactus spines out of my feet and socks) and made my way to where I thought they crossed. Bill confirmed my location and I crested over the ridge top, following fresh javelina tracks and remembering their smell. Within 5 minutes, I looked up and saw a nice one quartering away just over 70 yards. I worked on closing the distance and then started seeing more of them bedded under oak shrub, cat claw, and yuccas. Something happened and several of them spooked, but there was one slightly quartering to me at 64 yards. I closed some distance and was contemplating a longer shot if it turned full broadside, but then all heck broke loose and I was in the middle of a scattered, frightened herd. I remember praying that none of them would go on the defensive and cussing myself for not having my call with me when I looked up and there was a HUGE boar running away from me. I drew my bow and tried to stop him at 30 yards, but he kept on running. After I let down, I picked up another javelina moving to my right. I drew my bow, waiting for him to hit an opening 10 yards in front of me, but he kept moving and came to a stop in a small clearing 5-6 yards in front of me. I remember thinking “Man, he’s small, but he’s a filled tag and he’s RIGHT THERE!” Before I knew it, I pulled the trigger on my release, hit him square and he took about 4 steps, turned the opposite direction he was facing at the shot and dropped right there, 5 yards in front of me. I got on the radio to let everyone know what was going on and tagged him. That was the first time I’d tagged an animal in Arizona since May 2008, the second fastest hunt I've had in AZ, and it was a great feeling! We decided I’d gut him when I got back to the group since he was on the smaller side as far as javelina go. As I was walking back up to crest the ridge, Sydney got on the radio to congratulate me and talk with me a bit. That right there was the highlight of it all! I didn’t care how big or how small the javelina was, I had her there to watch most of it and create those memories! As it turns out, after going up the ridge, down the near slope, across the wash and up the far ridge (all through cat claw, cacti, and other wait-a-minute-bushes) to get back to Bill, his son, and Sydney, I was very glad to have gotten a smaller javelina. The exit wound from my Grim Reapers left a huge channel and his guts were hanging out so throwing him over my shoulder was out of the question. I’d have probably died trying to carry one of the larger ones back. Next time, I know to field dress it on the spot and throw it in the meat compartment of my Black’s Creek pack! I forgot how much javelina stink and then throw in a gut-shot one and Sydney got a chuckle out of me dry-heaving, trying not to puke at the smell! After field dressing and pictures, I threw it in a garbage bag and then stuffed it into my meat compartment, hiking was so much easier. I couldn’t actually tell I had 20 extra pounds in my pack! When we got back to the truck, I went to rearrange my gear and noticed that my spotting scope was not in my pack. Sydney spoke up and said she carried it all the way back for me, which explains why she was moving a little slower down the slope to the truck. When I told her she should have told me so I could have carried it and taken the weight off her back, she was very clear that she felt like she should help me out since I had the javelina and my bow with me. Don’t know what I’d do without my daughter. I can’t wait until its her turn! All said and done, we were back at the truck before 1730 (left the truck around 1500) and had some chili warming up on the stove and a nice campfire! Life doesn’t get much better than that. This will go down as one of my favorite hunts ever because I had my daughter there with me for it. I wish she could have been on the stalk with me or seen the final part, but she said she had a blast and really liked watching the first part of my stalk through binocs and my spotting scope. Because Bill and his son had to be back, we decided to head on back to town rather than stick around and try to fill my deer tag. Sleeping in felt good, I won’t lie.

I will call you this week. We'll be down in Mesa this weekend for a soccer tournament. Maybe we can meet up near the field? My daughter's games are at the Quail Run Soccer Complex at Greenfield and 202. Cash or cashier's check.

ptt

Winchester M140 Ranger semiauto 12 ga for sale. Often referred to as the "poor man's 1400" because it doesn't have the fancy carvings in the stock and only holds two shells in the magazine (plus one in the tube). This shotgun has been in my family for decades (dad was original owner) and it is still in 98-100% condition and I have the original tag that was hanging on the trigger guard. It has a 28" VR barrel for 2-3/4" shells only with 3 Winchokes (IC, Mod, Full) and the choke wrench all in original factory container. It holds 2 shells in the magazine tube, plus one in the chamber. I have seen 20 ga and other 12 ga versions of this gun with one choke tube at 80-90% condition listed from $250-$400 on various firearms sites over the years. I'm asking $300 for this shotgun. I won't lie, I'm too lazy to get pictures posted, but if anyone is seriously interested, I can get you pics. I'm in Flagstaff and I'm not sure if I'll be heading to the valley anytime soon, but we could work something out.

Treestand has been sold. Thanks!

I have a Gorilla Silverback hang-on treestand that I don't need anymore. I bought it new for my Iowa archery deer hunt last October/November. Its only been used maybe a dozen times (probably less), including some practicing in my back yard in Flagstaff. I only actually hunted from it 3 times. I have the original strap, plus an extra Gorilla 6' ratchet strap for it. I paid about $170 for everything and am asking $100 for everything. I can get you pics if you are interested. I'm in Flagstaff and don't make it to Phoenix often, but I have a meeting in Mesa (AGFD office) in a couple of weeks on Wednesday, 6 June and could probably work something out after my meeting is over.

I also forgot to add that is the Magnum that has the original smaller (thinner seats), not the big thick ones they come with now. If I could figure out how to get a picture up in here, I'd post a couple. I can email pics to anyone interested.

Some of you saw the results of my Iowa archery deer hunt from last October/November. I thought I would provide an update with photos of the taxidermy I just got back a couple of weeks ago. About 4.5 weeks ago, as I was driving back to Flagstaff from a meeting in Phoenix, I get a phone call from my taxidermist in Iowa letting me know that by the time I send him a check, my buck will be ready to ship and it was a couple of weeks earlier than he expected. Check went in the mail the next day, but with my work schedule the way it has been, coordinating a time when I was actually around made it 3 more weeks before I could get the deer. So my taxi shoots me a text on 7 May with the tracking number for FedEx and the tracking info says the package will arrive last Wednesday, 9 May with signature required. No problem, I know my boss will let me work from home so I can be there. To confirm, I checked the tracking info Tuesday morning when I got to my office and it says the package will be shipped that day sometime. A quick phone call to FedEx to try and get it rescheduled or delivered to my office tells me the package is all ready loaded on the truck and I'm basically SOL. Fortunately for me, I lost a "discussion" with my wife over hiring a cleaning lady and the cleaning lady was there Tuesday afternoon when FedEx arrived. To say I'm happy with the work Rick did is an uderstatement. Thanks to Wayne (Bowman) for getting me in touch with him. Our living room is a completely open floor plan (both stories) relying mostly on ambient light from the big picture windows so I had to go up to the 2nd floor outside my kids' rooms to take the best photos. And a close up from below of the detail: I'm looking forward to having an elk to put next to it after this September and I'm getting motivated to get my Coue's whitetail mounted (just a skull plate plaque now) to keep this one company so I can have 2 whitetail subspecies on one wall.

Sorry, forgot there were 2 models. It's the Magnum. Scout is too small for me!

Every time I hear stories like this, it turns my stomach inside out and I squeeze my own kids tighter. As a former Tucsonan and a decent human being, my thoughts and prayers go out to this little angel and her family!

Nice first buck, Jake! And I admire you for ignoring your dad's suggestions and connecting with your first buck!!! Lord knows I've done my share of trying to ignore him! He sent me an email the other day and you can definitely tell he's proud of you, as he should be. Now go get one with a full set of antlers!

For the most part, I think its a great idea, but, like others have said, it should be limited to species. I have buddies back in Iowa (no age limit for kids) who take their 7-10 year old kids out archery hunting for those big midwestern whitetails. Inside of 20 yards, pulling 30-35 lbs, the kids are getting complete pass-through shots on does and a smaller Iowa doe is still bigger than any Coue's whitetail I've ever seen. For that matter, a "typical" Iowa doe is about the size of most "run-of-the-mill" muley bucks I've seen. Its up the parents and mentors to guide them on ethical shots based on the equipment set up. I don't think a 40+ yard shot at an elk with 30-40 pounds is going to be lethal. Maybe a 30 yard shot with 40 lbs will at least get both lungs, but again, its got to be up to us as parents and mentors to set ethical parameters. Some of the newer mechanical broadheads are designed to open with lower KE resulting from lower draw weights and I've seen them work from my buddies back in Iowa. A 20-30 yard lethal shot on javelina, Coue's whitetail, and many mule deer should not be a problem from a 30-35 lb draw weight, IMO. Elk and bison should definitely have a higher draw weight or I agree that we'll see more lost animals and discouraged youth. I recently told my daughter that as soon as she turns 10 (she'll be 8 this April and is pulling 18 pounds on her Nuclear Ice), I'll get her an archery tag if she can pull the minimum weight and she practices consistently (likely to upgrade from the Nuclear Ice at that point), but I'd rather her be closer to 35 lbs, if possible. Will I let her take a 40 yard shot? NOT likely. 30 yard shot? Depends on the circumstances and the species. 20 yards or less? Let it fly!

It doesn't get any better than Bull Basin here in Flag! I could fill pages with the great experiences I've had there!

Great job to Trevor! That's a bull of anyone's lifetime! Congrats!

Another shout out for Bull Basin! I know the guys up here that opened up the shop down there. When I first started going into the shop up here as a relative noob, the owner told me he didn't really care if he made money as long as he got people into archery. Of course he's made his fair share of money from me, now! They know how to run a shop, take care of customers, and love getting people into archery. You can't go wrong with Bull Basin.

Great looking Georgia buck! And I know Stacy will do a great job on the mount!

Very nice buck! And I agree, that's a beautiful rifle!

Newton, Iowa where I grew up. Its about 30 minutes east of Des Moines. The farm was a whopping 6 minute drive from my mom's house. It was nice to have an actual bed to sleep in for once and hot daily showers..and warm food, good coffee...!

Just over 3 years ago, a buddy of mine from Colorado and I decided to plan an archery hunt up in Iowa for those midwestern monsters its known for and that I remember from my youth growing up there. I never deer hunted growing up there, but I helped my dad process tons of deer after school every fall. I was also never into archery until about 8 or 9 years ago. I'd been working pretty closely with my "guide/advisor/dear friend" that I went to high school with about what all I need, how to hunt Iowa deer, etc. After 2 years of buying preference points, buying all new kinds of gear, and lining up family farms to hunt, my CO buddy calls me up last spring and says "We're going to have to postpone our hunt a year. Money is tight and I can't afford the NR tags". I stewed on it a while and talked to several other friends about my dilemma. I had been saving money and vacation time as well as buying bonus points in AZ just because of this planned hunt. Next year (2012) I have a genuine chance at an archery bull tag and a trophy mule deer tag in AZ. All roads came back to the same junction. I called him up and said "sorry, buddy, I"m going without you." He understood and encouraged me to go on. I went to Iowa up last March with my family for some family obligations and to start scouting my properties with my Iowa buddy. This past summer, after buying 3 more tree stands and a trail camera, my IA buddy worked his tail off scouting my farms as he would hunt them, hanging stands, trimming lanes, marking aerials, and writing up descriptions of how to play the wind with each stand. I was shooting like a fiend to get ready and about 1.5 weeks before, I decided I'd better shoot my broadheads. That's when it all started to go south (so it felt). My broadheads were all over the place and not grouping at all, let alone hitting near my field points, which was the prior norm. A quick trip to my pro shop revealed my bow was in need of a tune up. Problem solved, so I thought. Still no groupings, so I went back to the shop and we suspected my hovering on the boarder of being underspined was now the culprit. He went to take my poundage down a few more pounds to match my spine and found out that my bow, somehow, was set to 75 lbs instead of the 71 I thought it was. Took it down to 69 lbs and problem was SOLVED! Big sigh of relief is an UNDERSTATEMENT! So after a 19 hour drive last Friday/Saturday, I climbed into my first real treestand hunt this past Sunday evening with every intention of filling my doe tag first to get meat in the cooler and then concentrate on antlers. The winds were howling and I was thankful, again, for taking my IA buddy's advice and grabbing some hot hands to keep in my pockets. 3 does came out with 15 minutes of shooting light, but stayed 100 yards away. After getting out as quietly as possible to avoid busting them, I had my first tree stand hunt under my belt, but was nervous about doing all of that setting up in the dark for the first time. Monday morning (Halloween) came here and it took me a while to get all set up and ready. I was sitting and ready by 0707 that morning morning knowing I was a little later than I should have been. I heard another hunter rattle in the neighboring timber and I looked up and saw a doe walking the fenceline on my side of the property, but she's too far away and not coming closer. About 10 minutes later, here comes another doe, within range. I stood up and got ready. When she was broadside at about 40 yards, I let an arrow fly only to hear the distinct sound of a miss. Strangely, she ran to about 30 yards from me, still broadside and let me nock another arrow. I settled the 30 yard pin right behind her shoulder and watched her jump at another clean miss. She ran behind me and apparently caught my wind and busted big time. A little dejected, I sat there stewing on it and decided to give a good rattle sequence of my own. As soon as I quit rattling, I looked up (about 0725) and saw a huge bodied deer standing there facing my direction, seeming to come out of nowhere. Somehow, I managed to hang my antlers up without getting busted. Then I managed to get my binocs on him without getting busted. I counted 5 good points on one side and he was just outside his ears. My heart jumped and I knew I wanted to go after him. I manged to get my bow off the hanger without getting busted and I sat there unable to move for what felt like eternity. I kept praying he'd walk to my left (south) so I could stay seated and get a good 20 yard broadside shot without having to stand up, feeling pretty confident I wouldn't blow one that close. This particular stand actually requires seated shots to the south because of a big branch that couldn't be removed to provide good cover in the stand. Low and behold, he starts moving to my left and when he went behind a particular tree I had ranged earlier, I drew and followed him. He paused for a minute and I let the Easton ST Epic/Shuttle T-Lock fly and saw what appeared to be a good hit and him bounding off, followed by a distinct crashing sound. I was freaking at what just happened. I sent my buddy a text saying "I'm pretty sure I have a buck down. Nice 10 pt." I waited 5 LONG minutes for him to call me back, got impatient and called him, risking ruining his morning hunt. Surprisingly he answered and we talked about what all happened. He was a such a good coach asking me all the right questions, except "How big was he?" I can't judge midwestern deer so I replied "I don't know. A nice 10 pt that I really liked." We talked about the hit, the buck's reaction, and all that, which kept me calm, except for me not being able to move beyond the crashing noise I heard 40-50 yards from me. My buddy wasn't hunting that morning due to the wind and his stand for that wind coupled with family obligations, but glassing from his truck. By the time we got off the phone, he was headed my way. After a couple of more calls between us, we agreed that I should climb down and wait for him near my stand. I tried to find my 2 doe-miss arrows, but couldn't so I walked over to where I hit the buck and found my arrown covered in blood from tip to nock and that really got me excited! I got out to the timber edge and there was my buddy walking down to me. He stopped halfway down the hill, put his binos up and I could tell by his reaction, he found my buck! I hustled that way, looked in that direction and was ecstatic at what I saw laying there near a tree. Laying right there about 50 yards from my stand was my first archery buck ever. It turns out the shot was a little far back and high, but I cut his artery and he pumped out quickly. Someone once said, its better to be lucky than skilled sometimes! We got him field dressed and then spent the next 30-40 minutes taking trophy photos. He's a 10 point (barely, but it counts) with a very nice bladed left main beam, a dark face, and a beautiful cape! I've never had a hunt go this smoothly, especially involving a true trophy! Almost forgot, my buddy gross scored him at 144 5/8"! Enjoy! None of this would have been possible without all of my buddy's hard work and willingness to help a friend; the support of my loving wife who let me miss our 11th anniversary (I actually got back that morning); the love of my kids who had several fishing trips put on hold so I could get ready for this hunt; my cousins who let me hunt their family farm; my mom for keeping my room and being just as supportive of my passions; and, of course, God and that crazy guy next to Him up There, my dad, who I know was also watching over me! P.S.: I went and shot my bow the next afternoon before trying to fill my doe tag to figure out the problem and found out my sights were off by 4" to the right at 20 yards. Dumb move on my part not checking my sites before hunting after traveling, so now I know just how truly blessed I am to have harvested this buck!

Great buck! I've been through the "dropped rifle, dinged scope" ordeal and it sucks! Way to correct and get it done! Hats off to your old man!

Great buck for your dad! He sent me an email (co worker in Flagstaff, used to work with him in Tucson) that said it was a long, interesting story. I want to hear it!! Hopefully I'll congratulate him in person next week, but give him a slap on the back for me! Again, great deer!

I had all kinds of last minute, unplanned family obligations the next day and the temps were in the 70s. I decided to take the day off after a long travel and full day Monday caping him, getting him to the taxidermist, etc. I went out Wednesday (2 Nov) sat in the rain and cold for about 3 hours and missed another doe at 30 yards. At that point, I started laughing, got cold and went in for a hot lunch and coffee. The weather report back here in Flagstaff called for lots of snow so I decided I got what I really came for and packed my stuff to hit the road and beat the storm. As much as I would have loved to fill a doe tag, I still had 125 lbs of meat (boned out) and an unfilled archery tag back here. When I get drawn up there again in 2-3 years, I will most certainly be going after some good, tender, doe meat! I actually got into town up here on the morning of our 11th anniversary and was able to spend the day with my lovely wife!

July 15 at 1330!

Definitely well put cdenton and jdnuts!! I'm a Fed, too, and I was on the Horsehoe 2 with a Type II IA crew and we busted our butts. In that steep country, there weren't many options but to back out and burn without putting firefitghters' lives at stake. There are way too many armchair quarterbacks. I've been on both sides, working to protect sensitive species and stop the fire. I can tell you first hand that a Federally listed species will NEVER be a reason that dozers are not used, that burn-outs are not done, and that fires are not suppressed to the fullest extent possible. I can point anyone to the portion of the ESA that says so. I watched fire crawl and run right through slurry drops on the Horsehoe 2. Yes, the flames slowed down for maybe 5-10 minutes in some areas, but they certainly didn't stop. We got all kinds of updates on the Wallow Fire while down there and you have to ask "How do you stop a fire that makes an 8-mile sustained crown run?". I've spent a great deal of time in the Chiricahuas, including Rucker Canyon and I've spent a great deal of time in Unit 27. Like cdention, I took it very personally and it was very emotional. If anyone really wants to point fingers, how about pointing them at the 2 individuals that didn't put out their campfire in red flag conditions?

I agree with billrquimby regarding the turkey pic. Use whatever species is in season for marketing, but use a better turkey pic (full strut tom or profile w/beard). Otherwise, as others have said, the only thing to really make it better would be the addition of a clearance/sale page. Its very well organized and seems like it will be easy to follow.