IA Born

I'm questioning the AZBGSR. The NWTF raffle we're selling cards for definitely includes Rios, per Comm Order 29. From our flier: HUNT A GOULD’S, MERRIAM’S, or RIO GRANDE TURKEY FROM AUGUST 15, 2016 TO AUGUST 14, 2017 IN ANY UNIT WITH A TURKEY HUNT AS PRESCRIBED BY COMMISSION ORDER That's why I'm questioning the AZBGSR. If our comm tags include Rio, AZBGSR should, too.

Here is what it says about hunting in AZBGSR Rules.IfYou can hunt statewide, with some exceptions. Hunt units for each species are specified in Arizona Game & Fish Commission Order 29. Please refer to our Rules page for more specific information about Commission Order 29 and where you can hunt. "with some exceptions" are the key words. My guess this is AZBGSR rules not GnF and as you can see it states Merriam's or Gould's. I saw that and that's why I left a message with someone from the game branch at AGFD. The Comm Order is very clear, but the caveat language is not clear and is not consistent with the Comm Order. As a wildlife management professional I've seen lawsuits lost over unclear language just like this one and you can bet I'll hold them to task on clarifying this one. You and I are all about "by the book", so I'll be holding them accountable for clarity!

That's very interesting. Not sure why I didn't notice that, but under "Rules" it clearly states any open unit per Comm Order 29. I think I'm going to call AGFD on that one. I wonder if that "Goulds or Merriams" is a relict from the pre-Rio days.

I'm trying to look at the rules right now (website moving slow). I could have sworn that those tags were the same as the commissioner's tags: any open unit, including Rios! Edit: Just checked the regs (Commission Order 29) and Rios appear to be fair game: TK01 Any bearded turkey: 1 General: Aug. 15, 2016–Aug 14, 2017; Open Areas: (1,2,3,4) 1, 3B-10 (except Camp Navajo in Unit 6B), 12A, 13A, 13B, 17A, 17B, 18B, 20A, 22, 23, 24A, 27, 29, 30A, 31, 33, 34A, and 35A (except Fort Huachuca in Unit 35A)

Rios were included last year and have been included since those units were opened. I figured Jim hooked you up! As for how many cards are left, I'll have to get an accurate count and get back to you. Most our chapter's deck remains, though. As long as 10 is an open unit per commission orders, its a valid unit for the commissioner's tag.

If you go around the backside, up by Peppersauce and that area, you can probably get away from the weekend hikers better. There should be birds up in that area, too.

I've been out twice around town and, after maybe 12 total miles, haven't found anything. My weekends are pretty solidly booked from here on out, but I have a day or two open if anyone wants some company. Going to try next Friday (8th) on my day off after I take the kids to school.

I'm just glad you replied so I can look at your avatar!

2nd on the Thermacell. LOVE mine!

PM answered and thanks again, Phil!

What they said. As for warmth, that cannot be emphasized enough with kids. A cold kid is an unhappy kid and that makes for a bad experience. I've learned to keep hand warmers and toe warmers at all times. Those are the first things to get cold on kids and sticking toe warmers on the bottom of their feet, inside their boot makes a huge difference. Seat pads help with comfort on long sits and keep butts from getting cold, too. As for calls, a good slate and/or a good box call and learning the basics of yelping and clucking, like Coues179 said, is best until you have more time to practice. Keep It Simple Stupid the first time out and, once you're hooked, then you get into the cutting, purring, and other great parts of what makes turkey hunting so fun. If you love chasing bulls in the rut, you'll definitely love turkey hunting! It may sound strange, but I'd give up everything to spend the rest of my life chasing turkeys! Lots of birds get taken at that camp. I tried to talk my daughter into that camp instead of the Happy Jack camp for that very reason, but we're going to Happy Jack. I did encourage a friend to skip Happy Jack Camp and go to the 1/27 Camp because of the higher success rate and him wanting to get his kids on birds. You'll love it!

Sorry about that. I dialed the wrong number again. That was meant for the elk draw line...

I don't know. It doesn't actually look overly balanced. I should test it for you so you have a good second opinion! Beautiful rig!

That's awesome! I was there with my daughter and she had an absolutely great time, too! Which time slot were you there for? We were in the first one, at the ranch by 0530.

Awesome! I had to miss last year because of a soccer tournament for my daughter. No tournament that weekend, so we'll be there. I'll be taking her out and mentoring other kids, as well! Good luck!

I saw this yesterday morning, and took an unexpected break from a meeting to get my 4 (one of them the winner) tickets!

My heart jumped and I started to reach for the phone to check my credit card. Luckily (or not), the thread fully opened as I was reaching. DesertBull beat me to it. Funny, but not so much...

Thanks! I just had to get to my work computer after being in an all-day meeting and I went to bed after posting that last night. I just converted them and posted the flier and registration form. Please consider mentoring!

Am I the only one that caught this and was both bothered and giggled a little at how that came out? Sorry, Tim adn muledeerarea33, I certainly don't mean any disrespect, but that hooked my funny bone pretty hard! I'll go sit in the corner, now, but I'd keep that Husqy handy if I were you, Tim! At the same time, those articles have been popping up lately and it got me to thinking that he discovered a new type of spicy Italian foot long.

This is awkward. I bought my winning ticket about 10 minutes before you posted this. Either one of us is wrong (not me) or there is a problem with the raffle! 😉

That's awesome! Congrats to Jaycie and you, dad!

Mike, did you buy me a shotgun???

I won't be down in the valley until March 19 and I'll be up at Reach 11 Complex all weekend. If azbow takes it great. If its still available by 19-20 March and you can meet up, let me know.

Where are you located? Full box? What kind of .22 trade are you thinking?

I don't remember the road number, but I take the first road to the west south of Jacob Lake (FR 461) west and down the hill to FR462 then west to FR22. Then I take the 22 to my final destination. Its usually very washboardy in the spring and I've beaten my popup on there by driving too fast the first couple of times I did it (learned since then), but its definitely driveable. One thing I learned the hard way is to take a chainsaw up there. I had to jackknife my pop up to turn around after backing up 80 yards on a narrow road after getting caught by a downed tree. A saw to remove two dead branches would have made life so much easier!