IA Born

Thanks for the heads up! I just bought the associated bonus points and applied for the various hunts for me, my daughter, and my wife. My head freaking hurts now. But I still can't wait until next year when I'm applying for my son, too! Also, be on the lookout for a plume in Flagstaff. This is the time of year, every year, that my wife forgets about this particular moment and then craps when she sees all the credit card charges from applying for all the different hunts/bonus point purchases. If I don't sign in tomorrow, she may have finally killed me! Someone here that knows me personally should probably check on me to see...

Exactly. The 870 and 1187 youth models were too heavy for my daughter at 9 and 10 years old. 870s are a great option if youth have the upper body strength and reach (it was also too long in the pump for her).

Bought my daughter the Mossberg 500 Superbantam. It shoots up to 3" shells and has a 22" barrel. She loves it and has grown right into since she was 9. I put fiber optic turkey (rifle style) sights on it (https://www.truglo.com/firearms-turkey/tru-bead-turkey-universal-dual-color.asp) and an extra full turkey choke and she loves it. She shoots the HeviShot Magnum Blend (#5, #6, #7 shot). With her set up and the way she's practiced, I'd have no problem with her taking a 50 yard shot at a tom. The 500 Superbantam has spacers for the shotgun to grow with her. She's already said she doesn't want a new shotgun, even though I've offered to get her a semiauto now that she's stronger. My son turns 10 December 2017 and I'll be getting him that same set up or the larger 500 Bantam (24" barrel).

It just dawned on me to post that up on our chapter's Facebook page to help you promote it. Sorry it took me so long to figure that out. You've probably figured out I can be a little slow on the uptake sometimes!

Can you send me that "Individuality" clip, Tim? That's awesome!

I was referring to those two idiots, too! I've been following that herd since I moved up here. Some great bucks running around up there.

Nemo, Frozen, whatever works to get them interested! The selection is amazing these days. It was Cars for my son when he turned two. He caught an Apache trout on it before I could get one on my fly rod! We must be from different generations (or my dad was a hard-a$$) because I was handed a full-length rod as soon as I was old enough to fish. I always kinda felt cheated out of the Snoopy pole experience!

Let's bump this back up for a great cause and two hard-working people committed to conservation. I bought my 3/$25 the other day. Let's get these tickets sold out!

Is that a Nemo fishing pole? Because that's exactly what we got our daughter for her 2nd birthday and she's loved fishing ever since. I'm taking her on her first real fly fishing trip at the end of this month. Way to go, dad!

It has a lot to do with the number of people who come up out of the heat to chase deer in 11M in the early season on top of the "hunters" who have disregarded the relatively new (2 or 3 years old now) urban archery rule and hunt in and around neighborhoods within the city limits, including some of the urban parks. We always teach in hunter ed about the 10% die hard hunters, 10% ant-hunters, and the 80% of folks who don't really care, but are swayed by how we act as hunters. The hunters shooting deer in neighborhoods affected the 80% and contributed to the decision to make 11M a draw this year, sadly. I used to love getting up early and heading out closer to home or getting a couple of hours in after work.

Our daughter was born on April 25th, 12 years ago. It makes planning turkey hunts interesting, but she always comes first. Congrats on your new daughter and your bird! That picture of mom, daughter, and your son (big thumbs up) is AWESOME!

Post of the day, right there! Now please hurry up and draw my name so n2horns can rub it in my face!

3, I bought 10. Buy more, remeber statistics say, more tickets you buy, more chances to win! That's why I only buy 3ish at a time! At the rate I'm buying tickets, I'm about halfway to my own pair! Raffles are FUN, that is why we do it. Not to mention these help out wildlife, conservation, projects and ground money. I have a blast trying to win, I look at it all as a donation and if I win it is a bonus. I don't disagree with you at all and that's why I keep buying a few tickets here and there. I do a lot of fundraising raffles for our NWTF chapter up here as well as for my daughter's soccer team. I'm all on board. In fact, our NWTF chapter is going to be raffling a shotgun off soon. I'm just acknowledging the irony of how much I've spent so far. And I'll likely buy tickets for the next one because I want a pair of 15s.

3, I bought 10. Buy more, remeber statistics say, more tickets you buy, more chances to win! That's why I only buy 3ish at a time! At the rate I'm buying tickets, I'm about halfway to my own pair!

I bought my three earlier today. Hopefully this time!

Looking at the regs for my daughter's hunt and she's made it clear its buck or nothing after 2 doe hunts (both successful). She has her mind on one particular unit, but I finally noticed the 20C youth hunt. Not sure why I've never noticed it, but it got me to thinking and wondering. I don't know that area at all so I'm wondering if there is a youth camp organized there with mentors, etc. that can show us around and/or help us out if I do put her in for that hunt and she gets drawn. Thanks in advance!

Absofreakinglutely jealous!

Thanks for that perspective. I forgot about the private land/land locked issues in that area. Much appreciated!

Sorry, I was looking at the November youth hunt with better draw odds. I didn't see a companion tag or youth lottery tag for 20C, but I also didn't look too closely today.

Thanks for that tip! I just saw the two general hunts right before this. I've hunted desert terrain quite a bit, but never in this area. Lots to think about and talk about with her, now. Thanks!

Just bought 2.

Thanks! She and I have lots to talk about, now!

Its a great little "lake" that I discovered on my first Unit 27 turkey hunt. I've fished it once unsuccessfully, but its on my list to get back to!

Congrats! I'm hoping that's me next year: "A long time to draw for a short hunt!" Love that area!

They should still be good. Back in 2011, I was on a wildfire assignment in the Chiricahuas in late May/early June and I would kill down time by calling in Gould's toms without any calls; just doing my best hens yelps by mouth. My crew boss heard about this and had me show him. I called in a group of 5 toms to 40 yards as we were getting ready for the morning (roosting near our spike camp), two of which were strutting like crazy. You shouldn't have any problems getting them to talk!