IA Born

Will keep you posted. Looks like we'll be coming to the valley Sunday. I'm meeting someone here in town to look at the shotgun Saturday, but can bring it Sunday with me. Can also bring the two scopes and rings if anyone wants to look at them closer. I'm also meeting the first person to PM me Sunday in the valley about the 25-06, but will let you all know.

This right here. I used to take all kinds of crazy risks when I was younger and had an "I'm invincible!" attitude with my '78 F-150 4x4! Then I grew up and realized that some risks just aren't worth it and 4x4 only gets you so far and so safe. Like NTS, the only times I've been stuck in mud or snow were when I was being driven by a desire to show off for friends. Also like NTS, I'd rather cancel a trip than risk being a statistic or make someone else be a statistic trying to bail me out. I also listened to my dad's advice from 18 months of combat: "Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valor."

Exactly what I was thinking!

We got just over 40 inches here in Flagstaff. Yes, we set a single day record, breaking a 100-year record for the most snow in a single day, but we've had much harder storms over the last few years. 2-3 years ago, we had 48 inches in three days and we've had multiple storms that were 30+ inches over a 2 day period. ADOT absolutely did the right thing and for every reason everyone else has already stated. I don't know how many folks both here in town and from the valley haul a$$ around in their 4x4 thinking they are invincible because they have a 4x4. The storm started Wednesday night and our street finally got plowed today. We live on the main road of our neighborhood, but some of the side streets still haven't been plowed. ADOT is not being lazy, they are strapped for resources and trying to save lives.

Rifle is already SPF. Will holler if deal falls through.

Bump. Hunt isn't happening, so scope is available now.

Scope Sold. Can delete please.

Ever since his first hunt was filmed for The Mountain Project last year, Jacob has been excited to get back out javelina hunting. Due to circumstances out of our control, hunting with our friends at The Mountain Project were out. Another good buddy of mine reached out and offered to take us to a favorite pig spot of his. As we were prepping for the hunt, Jacob told me he was going to hunt with my AR this time, following in his big sister's footsteps from two years ago. Who am I to say no? Opening morning came and we rolled out of the house, getting to the spot my friend marked for us by shooting light. It was cold and windy, so we didn't expect much. We glassed up three cow elk, a forkey muley, a muley doe, and a good bull way off in the distance. We covered both sides of the hillside and surrounding areas from several different angles and sat on water for a bit. Somewhere in the middle of it all, we had the following conversation: JW: Thanks for getting me into hunting, dad. Me: My pleasure. Thanks for getting into hunting with me. Why do you like hunting so much? JW: Because its great time with you. My heart melted. In the middle of that, we got the news that the shutdown was ending and I was going back to work, finally. We didn't find any pigs that day, but had plans to head out with my buddy Saturday morning. My buddy arrived bright and early and we covered the same hillside and surrounding areas again from different angles. At one point, I looked over from glassing and saw Jacob working on a book report for his homework. I love that he is still that dedicated to his schoolwork and finds balance with hunting and his home responsibilities. We had to make some adjustments to our plan and glassing spot, but finally found the herd of pigs milling about 120 yards away down below the cliff with a 30-40-foot sheer drop. We figured we'd worry about how to get down there after. We finally got Jacob set up and waited for one to turn broadside. When it finally did, he made a great shot and the pig dropped straight in its tracks. I was watching it patiently before we celebrated. It kept struggling and trying to get up, which I figured to be the norm, but the struggle lasted way too long. I was just about to tell Jacob to shoot it again to finish it, when it stood straight up like nothing happened. All I could hear in my head was "I just got the wind knocked out of me!" as it started to trot off. Jacob let a second round fly, but missed the trotting pig. I could see blood on its snout as it was struggling, so I knew it was a dead pig, but that caught me off guard. We finally picked our way down the cliff through the safest route and, after some hands and knees searching, found blood. The javelina only went about 15 yards and piled up. What a great day! A huge thanks to my buddy, Clay, is warranted. Jacob has already started making plans to hunt with him next year, and he's told me that he will be using my Garand for that hunt. Good Lord, what have we created!?!?! Selfies have become a hunting tradition now. A boy and his rifle Homework time Success!

That's awesome, Nick! Congrats!!

One of my best friends works for the BLM in Kingman and I work with that office on wildlife management (ESA) issues. Will be over there chasing pigs with him and my son at the end of the month for the general season. Need to get back over there to hunt pigs and deer in 18B sometime soon! Welcome to CW!

Our son, Jacob, who turns 11 next month, started his year-long journey to get his black belt through our TaeKwanDo studio this past Wednesday. I can't speak for other studios, but I know getting your black belt in this studio is a difficult process. Among the many things he has to do, he has to raise the $550 black belt promotion fee on his own. One of the ways he wants to raise that money is to tie flies for fly fishing and accept donations for them, since we technically can't sell them. He does great with woolly buggers, and does pretty well with elk hair caddis, parachute adams, foam beetles, griffiths gnats (down to #22), and a couple of nymphs. He recently tied 12 woolly buggers for a friend in Iowa (4x#10, 4x#12, 4x#14) for farm pond bluegills and the guy sent him $20 to start his journey. I explained to my wife that we, as parents, are probably going to lose money on this deal, but we have to support his journey and his thought process. You obviously won't hurt our feelings if you say no and pass this, but Jacob would appreciate any consideration. You can PM me or text me if you have my number if you are interested and want to place orders. Below are some samples of his work. Thanks for reading this and, most importantly, considering helping Jacob. These are not even close to professional-grade flies, but, as an avid fly-fisherman, I think he's off to a good start and I've helped him figure out he can make them look more like what they are supposed to. The top left fly in the middle pic is his first attempt at an elk hair caddis. I told him it was a good start, but it needed work. The elk hair caddis in the bottom pic is his second attempt, after getting a better "how-to" video on Youtube. That's my favorite fly out here, so I was very critical of how he needs to tie it.

Its time for an update and a HUGE THANK YOU!!! Because of the generosity of many of you, Jacob reached his goal from tying flies. He has two orders to finish up from another friend outside of the CW community, but he reached his goal thanks, in large part, because of the community here. We are humbled in our household. Jacob is still willing to tie flies since he is now working towards a new rifle build for when he outgrows his current youth 7mm-08. During the government shutdown, he offered to sell flies to help us cover the bills until I got back to work and paychecks started rolling back in. His heart amazes and humbles me. Along the way of this process, he also decided to learn how to tie bass poppers and, after a friend requested them, he learned Muddler minnows. It took him a few tries, but his #10 Muddlers are pretty darn good! He also got really good at parachute adams and pheasant tails. He's also going to learn the prince nymph (bead head) after another special request. And he keeps talking about learning crazy charlies for when we go back after bonefish! I told him to get good at the freshwater stuff, first. If you're interested in more or new, holler. Most importantly, THANK YOU for your support! Bass popper Pheasant Tail Nymph Muddler minnow

That's awesome, Tom! Congratulations to you and your grandson!

Congratulations! Team efforts are my favorites!

Congratulations and that is awesome!

I've never crimped on the loads I've put together for my M1 Garand and never had a problem with the rounds stacked and waiting.

Looked right over it. Thanks! Still, don't wait on us, Tim. It will be later tonight, if tonight, before I'll be able to talk to my wife.

If you're getting PMs, don't wait on us. What model is it? She wants to look at them online.

Lemme talk to my wife. Now that I'm finally back to work and have paychecks rolling in, this could work. We used a friend's Carnivore 3/4hp grinder to do my son's javelina and we're talking about investing.

I recently acquired a Mossberg 500 20ga that belonged to a friend of the family. My daughter doesn't like the way it fits, we are all set for shotguns, and there is no sentimental value. Its a 28" VR barrel chambered for 2-3/4 and 3" shells. It has pitting on the barrel, a little bit inside the bore, and the butt is scratched from use and poor care before I received it. Action works great and it was used for a kid's high school trap team before he had an accident. I'm working on funding a rifle build for my son and need the cash, so this one is the one to go from the safe. $200. Located in Flagstaff, but trips to the valley happen occasionally. Buyer must fill out Firearms bill of sale and present DL or CCW. To those of you who chimed in on whether or not to keep my grandpa's 1100, thanks. Its staying.

Post-shutdown bump...

Back in 2003, my wife and I took our belated honeymoon to Alaska. She let me book us a halibut fishing trip. I hit the button on the Homer Chamber of Commerce website that said "I'm interested in fishing". The postcards and letters from everyone with a raft started piling in. I opened one letter and it had a hand written note from the captain. He was born in AZ, tried UofA and NAU, but decided to move to Alaska to go fishing. He saw that we lived in Tucson, named a couple of choice restaurants, and hoped we were safe from the 2002 Bullock Fire. I knew immediately that was our guy. Had one of the best days of fishing ever with him. Great guy with a great perspective on the world! http://www.fishinghomeralaska.com/

That's awesome, Sean! What's even better is you letting your daughter use your headphones! Congrats!!!

I can recommend a great guy, born and raised in Arizona, for a charter out of Homer. PM me if you're interested.

One of my wife's coworkers offered us his house in Rocky Point and we're looking into a spring break trip in March. Can anyone recommend a fishing outfit down there? The last time I was in Rocky Point was almost 15 years ago, and the fishing boat I found had a mostly flat tire on the trailer, the motor quit working a mile from shore (fixed with a ball peen hammer), and we sat in one spot catching tiny trigger fish for a couple of hours. I'd like to find something a little less exciting on the boat-working/trailer front, but way more exciting on the fishing front. I did a Google search last night and found 3-4 places, but only one had consistently high reviews. I know several of you here go to Rocky Point regularly and fish, so I'm hoping you'll help me out.