IA Born

I hope that if I'm ever in a similar situation and have to bail on a camp, its someone like you who comes along, and not a different personality. I would do the same thing if I were in your shoes!

I don't have the regs in front of me, but I'm pretty sure they have to be 10 before the hunt ends, not before it starts. If they turn 10 during the hunt, they should be legal to start hunting during the hunt as soon as they turn 10. I could be wrong, but I'm sure I've heard AGFD discuss this at our Hunter Ed classes we put on up here. Looks like you are correct. They can apply and get drawn, and then hunt in an open season as soon as they turn 10, even if it is the last day of the hunt, but not before they turn 10. For BPs only, they have to be 10 by the application deadline date. Straight out of the 2017 Elk regs. No one under the age of 14 may hunt big game without having completed a Hunter Education Course. No one under age 10 may hunt big game in Arizona. To hunt big game, anyone 10 to 13 years of age must have in their possession a valid combination hunt and fish license, a valid Hunter Education Course completion card, plus any required permit tags or nonpermit-tags. Obtaining a Bonus Point Only To apply for a bonus point only, the individual must be 10 years old by the deadline date as specified in the hunt permit- tag application schedule on page 7. ​ If only I could get my wife to admit that so readily!

If you're at the Friday morning breakfast, you'll definitely see at least her! Let's make plans to meet up at some point, though!

I received the official email yesterday and found out NWTF is flying us (me and her) out to the National Convention (giving us travel expense up to...) in February to recognize Sydney and present her accomplishment on stage at Friday morning's Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. breakfast. I have to call today to get everything squared up, but it looks like we're going to spend Friday night there, too (hotel on us that night) and enjoy the convention on Friday and then come home Saturday. I realized with all of this travel (convention and hunt), that I will be eating quite a bit of my annual leave. It doesn't look like I'll be turkey hunting in 2017 since I won't have the time off, but its totally worth it. Watching my kids succeed in life is the top of my bucket list! To say she's excited is an understatement!

I'll have her send it over to when she gets a chance. She's finally going back to soccer tonight (limited duty), which is also exciting, but I'll have her send it to you as soon as she can. I know it will be published in the NWTF magazines, especially the JAKES Country!

I don't have the regs in front of me, but I'm pretty sure they have to be 10 before the hunt ends, not before it starts. If they turn 10 during the hunt, they should be legal to start hunting during the hunt as soon as they turn 10. I could be wrong, but I'm sure I've heard AGFD discuss this at our Hunter Ed classes we put on up here.

I'll find out when I get the call and start making arrangements, but I know Syd won't care. She's excited to get her first bird, finally, after having hunts busted by snow storms, soccer tournaments, and being sick all three of the last opening weekends of her youth hunts, and then having uncooperative birds in other tries.

This may be a stupid question, but I'm going to ask for insight, anyway. To preface why this is probably stupid, I've never used a bipod on a rifle of mine. I've avoided them because 1) I wasn't sure how to make them work with a sling; and 2) I've always found a way to make do with a solid rest because that's how I was taught. Admittedly, I've never looked at a bipod to see how a sling will still attach, but I know they can still be attached. Now, as I'm working on redoing my daughter's rifle to help her, especially as we work on shooting longer distances, I'm thinking a bipod is the right thing. I have a Primos Gen 2 Trigger Stick tripod (18-38") for when she's sitting and/or kneeling and she likes it. I'm thinking that a bipod and shooting prone (whenever possible) would be a better long-term solution for steadying her. So, with that, what bipods and heights do you recommend, especially ones that won't break the bank and will be easier to justify to my wife! I've seen that they have all kinds of height ranges. I'm assuming a 9"-13" bipod is too high for prone, especially for a teenage girl. From the research I've done over the years, just testing the waters a little, Harris and Caldwell seem to have the best reviews. And I've thought about the Triclawps adapter, too. Thanks!

I'm with you. A while back, one of my supervisors was telling me about a podcast related to some crazy subject, suggesting I listen to it. I told her I didn't even own an iPod, so I wasn't sure how I could listen to a podcast. The look and response I received shows how much I know about what a podcast is. When I first moved to Arizona, I pronounced it "Coos" just like everyone else, then I learned the real pronunciation of Elliot Coues' name. I started pronouncing it correctly because 1) out of respect for the man; 2) I'm a biologist/taxonomist; 3) my last name is hard enough to pronounce for many people, so I figured I'd give him that much more respect (I want people to know my last name 100 years after I'm gone); and 4) I'm one of those that will purposely go against the "norm" because I have authority issues. Having said that, I crack up every time I see "the name debate", but its good to see people so passionate about something. In the last year or so, I've gotten lazy and started saying "Coos" again. I could care less how someone pronounces it and I certainly wouldn't make someone sit in the back of my truck or not take them hunting because of it. That, in my humble opinion, is being too judgmental, especially when we're supposed to be on the same side (hunting/conservation). With my biology/taxonomy/wildlife management background, I'd be a lonely, lonely man if I got buthurt every time somebody pronounced something wrong or used the wrong common names (like "timber rattlesnakes" in Arizona). I've even learned to refer to javelina as "pigs"...but I do get a little defensive when people try to tell me they are rodents. It always takes me back to the time when one of my dad's army buddy's girlfriends proceeded to tell me that she had a "chicken hawk" flying all over her ranch. She knew (adamantly) that it was a chicken hawk because every time it swooped over, her chickens acted crazy. All I could do was nod my head and say something like "They're effective predators; that's for sure!"

ordered And if you're hunting over DSD hens, I'm hunting with you! I went with the Avian X hens because I couldn't justify the price of DSDs to my wife. I have several friends back in Iowa who use nothing but DSDs! Good luck and have fun!

I think most people have an FFL lined up, but I know my recent purchase had stipulations like "...contact seller within 5 days..." and "...make payment and arrangements within 10 days..." or something like that. I've also seen where there is a drop down menu to pick an FFL from that is near you. I don't have any recommendations for the Valley, so I can't help you there. Here in Flag, I could hook you up.

Not much to add that hasn't been said. Recently bought a pistol through Gunbroker and used a buddy here in Flag for the FFL. Was extremely pleased with the results and would do it again in a heartbeat! And, yes, go with sellers with good feedback reviews!

If you're spending the money on DSDs, you might as well spend the money on either a DSD jake or the Avian X Jake you mention. I have that Avian X jake and its AWESOME!

I was thinking the same thing and was going to offer up my wish list to choose from! "Mother's Day 1983 Love, Clark"

All youth camps will coincide with the youth hunt. All three camps will be April 20-23, 2017. I normally volunteer and mentor at the Happy Jack Camp, but a friend who mentors at the 1/27 Camp invited my daughter over to hunt his favorite spots. Hard to beat that, so we're heading over there this spring. I'll take her out and then mentor others after she's filled her tag. Awesome! That means I can hunt New Mexico AND help at the Youth Camp next spring. Thanks IA born for the dates! No problem! I'm looking at hunting NM, too, but have a very limited window of availability. If you need a hunting partner over there and dates line up, let me know!

All youth camps will coincide with the youth hunt. All three camps will be April 20-23, 2017. I normally volunteer and mentor at the Happy Jack Camp, but a friend who mentors at the 1/27 Camp invited my daughter over to hunt his favorite spots. Hard to beat that, so we're heading over there this spring. I'll take her out and then mentor others after she's filled her tag.

I thought you were going to put them under my tree! This isn't the raffle that I bought tickets for on Nov 29, is it?

Not to hijack the thread, but does someone know someone here in Flagstaff that can do an appraisal? A friend of mine has a Winchester 1873, manufactured in 1896 that she got from her dad when he passed away. She'd like to get it appraised and I told her I would help her. I have seen a couple of pics, but not the rifle in person, so I can't say what caliber it is and she's not gun savvy (yet).

Say when... I did. Always good chatting with you!

Started my daughter off with a Cricket when she was 7. It was cool, but I regret it, now. She outgrew it so fast. Definitely look for the Rascal. We can talk more during the archery javelina hunt in 19A or when you help us on the youth javelina hunt in 19A!

Yep. I love my Avian X. I recommend a Jake decoy, though, if you are going with a mixed flock. Out here I've seen too many toms run from a full strutter decoy or anything remotely resembling a mature tom. Back in Iowa where I grew up, mature, dominant toms are thick and won't hesitate to challenge a strutter, but I don't see it enough out here to feel good about using a full strutter. Jake decoy all the way.

The one I covet most, is my S&W model 41. Like the SW 622, its out of production, but its so sweet to shoot! By far, the best .22 pistol I've ever owned. They can be found used, but they aren't cheap. http://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/pistols/smith-wesson-pistols-model-41.cfm?cat_id=1244

I have a Mk II bull barrel that was my dad's and is almost as old as I am. I love that thing. My kids love it, but its also quite a bit heavy for them. After a couple of years of shooting it, my daughter saved some money and bought herself a Mk III 22/45. She absolutely loves it and so do I, especially since I shoot mostly 1911s, but I will be the first to admit that it needs a new trigger. I've shopped around and there is a replacement for about $100. The trigger is my only gripe on that pistol. My son really has his heart set on the 22/45 Lite, but we're not ready for him to have that at 9 years old. Maybe next year. I'm guessing it has sucky trigger, too, but I could very well be wrong on that one. As for ease of taking them apart and reassembling, I'm the wrong person to ask. I need someone to teach me!

Any non-turkey tag drawers interested in a trip to NM late April/early May? I have a limited window and am doing my best to not miss turkey season. My backup plan to head to KS with a buddy in Pratt isn't looking good.

Nine years ago this Christmas Eve, I was blessed with the absolute best Christmas gift ever. Our son was born at 0830 on Christmas Eve morning. We had to tell his older sister (3 back then) that Santa promised to make a special trip back to our house since we wouldn't be home on Christmas Eve. We came home and celebrated Christmas a day later, on the 26th, when my wife gave me my custom muzzleloader. He was three weeks to the day early. Nine years ago, Jacob was born on Christmas Eve. A year later, Christmas Eve fell on his birthday. We've been very good at keeping the two separate and I've made it clear to family and friends that I have zero tolerance for a combo gift. Our Christmas' will never be the same and, like you, Explorer, I cherish every minute now that he is finally showing the strong interest in hunting. A couple of weeks ago, we gave him his birthday present a month early. He's been begging me to get him out shooting his new 7-08. We're supposed to be taking him fishing on his birthday in Cozumel this year. He'll also be joining me on my archery javelina hunt this January, and he'll be one of my students in a Hunter Ed Class in February. With his older sister, its also like you, in that I end up getting them better gear and equipment than I have. We do what we do to make it fun, exciting, and enjoyable for them, right?!? My daughter had an MRI this morning after busting up her shoulder six weeks ago yesterday during keeper training at soccer practice. We finally get solid answers and a solid path forward in a couple of hours. Two weeks after her injury she said to me: "Dad, I'm going turkey hunting this spring, no matter what. You'll back me up and support me, right?" How could I not? Christmas Eve 2007 Nov 2016