IA Born

I hate to break it to you but there are several jaguars roaming southern AZ, not just 1. I know that at one point AZG&F had 5 collared. I know the guys that chase lions down there with dogs have treed many but purposely don't post picture of it nor talk much of it. AZ does not want any land in Southern AZ deemed habitat for jaguars. If the feds recognize it as natural habitat for a roaming jaguar then it becomes a non-huntable protected area and we're screwed. This is actually not correct. I made a similar post a while back when the critical habitat rule was first published. As I said then, I rarely talk about my job because I know there is so much ant-Fed sentiment on here, but I work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Arizona (northern AZ). I also spend most of my free time hunting and fishing and teaching my kids about hunting, fishing, and conservation. I try hard to use my status as both an endangered species biologist and hunter to educate folks about what Federal protections really mean. AGFD has not had 5 jaguars collared. We'd have been briefed on that and it would have been a big deal. There was one collared. Its entirely possible that there are multiple jaguars running around southern Arizona and they haven't been brought to the attention of AGFD or FWS. But if lion hunters are treeing them incidentally to their normal lion-hunting activities, they will not get in trouble for harassing an endangered species. If that were the case, you'd have heard about Warner Glenn and Jack Childs getting in trouble for treeing the three (2 in AZ, 1 in NM) jaguars they have treed over the years. They didn't get in any trouble and have been great conservation partners over the years. Unless a FWS Special Agent can prove that a jaguar was intentionally treed, the FWS can't and won't prosecute. We're really not bad to work with, I promise. As for habitat becoming non-huntable if it becomes federally protected, that's not true either. I guarantee you that 1000s of hunters in AZ hunt in land designated as critical habitat for some species protected by the FWS and they've been doing it for decades. A critical habitat designation simply means that that particular habitat is deemed essential for the recovery and conservation of the species, but does not, in any way, stop private land owners or, in this case, hunters from doing ANYTHING. All it means is that Federal land management agencies have to come talk to the FWS about their projects and how those projects can still be carried out, but in a way that ensures habitat remains intact. I hunt in critical habitat all the time when I'm off duty. Again, it has NO BEARING on hunters. I'm not posting this to start an anti-Fed debate or discussion. I'm simply trying to do part of what the American People pay me to do every day and educate folks as to what the ESA does and doesn't do. Anytime anyone wants to sit down and look at the ESA and talk about what it can and, more importantly CAN'T do, I'm happy to help out. Like I said before, once you take the time to listen and learn, you'll find out that (for the most part), biologists from the FWS, especially those who hunt/fish or understand hunitng/fishing, are great to work with. And to the original post, that's definitely a bobcat. Patrick Jr. nailed it on the head as to why.

This is a cool thread! I wouldn't even know where to begin with the stuff I've inherited over the years, although there is a bunch of stuff that was lost when our house burned to the ground when I was 5 years old in 1978. Several firearms, including some rare/collectors items. I have all of his good meat-cutting knives and sharpeners from his meat-cutting days. I have a pair of Ho-Chi-Minh sandals that my dad brought home from Vietnam. Said he got them from a VC that "didn't need them anymore." I have his original jungle fatigue shirt, too. The shirt and sandals tuned up at a friend's house many years after the house-fire. I have the H&R Topper single shot .410 that was my dad's dad's and was the first shotgun I hunted with. I have my great grandpa's (mom's side) WWI uniform, complete with leggings and C-cap. I remember my great-grandma giving me that shortly after he passed away. Before too long, I should be getting his original helmet that is hanging in my great-aunt's house. I also have his tackle box. I still remember the day he gave it to me. My grandma was one of 12 and he said I was the only great-grandkid that looked like him, so I was getting it. I have my grandpa's (dad's dad) tackle box as well. I aslo have the tackle box of a guy who helped raise my dad. Every now and then I crack them open and marvel at the antique lures in there. I need to get them in a display. And one of my favorites is the 1978 F-150 Custom that my dad brought brand new in August 1978. He paid $7k cash back then (bill of sale still in glove box). He handed me the keys they day I turned 16 back in 1989. It needs a new fuel pump, but otherwise runs great. It was my daily driver until 2002. It also needs some other TLC on the body and interior, but once I get the fuel pump replaced, its a champ!

As an instructor, I can tell you that I see kids in the classroom do much better than online kids, especially the younger ones. The classroom seems to hold their attention and there is a great deal of review for the test. The biggest issue with the online class and subsequent field day/test is that it can be weeks to a couple of months before taking the test. I highly recommend a classroom class if you can for your younger kids.

I use the non-hooded version of this bag and, with warm pjs, I'm plenty warm down to way cold during winter hunts. Its definitely a car camping/camper type bag, but with my cot or in our pop-up, its tough to beat!

Definitely not Crucifixion Thorn. That's more tree-form. This is definitely an Opuntia cactus and, from the pic, its most likely Desert Christmas cactus. With regards to the intoxication from the fruits, a co-worker walked by right as I was typing my original reply so I bounced it off him. He had a good point: its a fruit; if you let it ferment long enough, of course you can get intoxicated! For the life of me, after 20+ years of ecology, I can't see where Desert Christmas cactus would have any more intoxicating effect than any other Opuntia fruit! Knock yourself out, Oneshot (not literally, though; unless you have a GoPro to record it)! I'm going to make wine from the Sahuaro fruits soon, the fruits arent ripe yet, and I have an idea for making a flavored liquor also from sahuaro fruits... Coincidentally, a bottle of Saguaro fruit wine is my typical consulting fee for plant identification!

Definitely not Crucifixion Thorn. That's more tree-form. This is definitely an Opuntia cactus and, from the pic, its most likely Desert Christmas cactus. With regards to the intoxication from the fruits, a co-worker walked by right as I was typing my original reply so I bounced it off him. He had a good point: its a fruit; if you let it ferment long enough, of course you can get intoxicated! For the life of me, after 20+ years of ecology, I can't see where Desert Christmas cactus would have any more intoxicating effect than any other Opuntia fruit! Knock yourself out, Oneshot (not literally, though; unless you have a GoPro to record it)!

Definitely looks like a Desert Christmas cactus, although I've never heard of intoxicating effects from its fruit. None of my field guides or cactus-specific books reference that. I also wouldn't trust Wikipedia for the most accurate scientific information (no disrespect to JLW intended).

Another bump for a great deal on a GREAT gun. About 4 years ago, my uncle back in Iowa sold me his NIB 94 AE in .30-30 w/24" barrel and that was right after Winchester went out of business. I paid about that same price back then, but that was because he didn't know the full value of what he had. The price you have listed is a great deal, IMO, and I hope someone jumps on it. If I didn't have mine sitting in my safe (still NEVER fired), I'd jump on that. Good luck!

I was raised by a 2-tour Vietnam combat vet. Multiple bronze stars (one with "V") and severe PTSD and survivor's guilt. Pretty much every day in our house was Memorial Day, but we definitely honored them extra special on Memorial Day. His dad lied about his age to get into WWII and also received multiple (4, I think) bronze stars and 3 or 4 purple hearts. May God ensure that all who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who have since gone to join their buddies since have peace, comfort, and love for eternity. They've earned it! If Chadwick Kenyon was relation to you, I am truly sorry for your loss.

I agree that the .30-06 with a brake is a great option. Even without the brake, the low-recoil stuff is amazing. It will be a long-lasting rifle, too. I'll second the 7mm-08 option. My 10 year-old daughter has been shooting one for a year now. Hers has a brake on it and she absolutely loves it. It is the Savage Axis youth model and was under $400 with a scope. They are barely over $300 with the scope. My only complaint about that rifle is the factory trigger (very rough), but we recently had a Timney put in and she LOVES it! Of course, like sjvcon says, can't beat the .308, either!

I didn't get it yet, but am making do with leaving for the hunt tomorrow. If you have a jacket and an old pack that you'd be willing to sell me, let me know how much. He's going to need it for his elk hunt in the fall up in the Peaks Unit. PM coming your way. Thanks!

I will be taking a friend of the family on his first turkey hunt this April. His family does not hunt so I have a hard time telling them all of the clothing he needs or should have to stay warm. As we all know those things add up in the bank account fast. He's growing fast and we're not sure he will stick with hunting, so its hard for me to encourage them to go spend $60 on a youth jacket. He's 12 and a little taller than my daughter so most of the stuff she has won't fit him and he'll swim in my stuff. Does anyone have any youth large camo shirts or jackets they no longer need and are willing to part with? We just found out that he's got an elk tag with my daughter, too, so he'll get good use out of it. Thanks!

High Sierra Cirque 30 backpack. Torso size 13"-17". Brand new with tags still on it. I ordered the wrong size (too small) from one of my various pro deals and can't return it. Capitalize on my mistake. $85 shipped TYD.

Make sure and look me up. I'll be in a maroon Dodge with all kinds of stickers in the back window.

Some of the reports I've read on the Hevi- Shot magnum blend in 20 ga have comparable results to a standard (non-Hevi-Shot) 12 ga out to 50 yards. My daughter is going to use that load this year. Her shotgun is patterned and sighted in at 25 yards, but if a bird hangs up at 40, I wouldn't hesitate to have her drop the hammer!

If you've ever eaten bison from Arizona, you've eaten beefalo. There are only 5 or 6 genetically pureherds of bison left and most aren't huntable. Most commercial bison meat is actually beefalo as are most huntable populations.

Sorry and respectfully, but chuckwallas aren't even close in appearance. And the habitat isn't right.

Yep, the males do that during breeding season and that's definitely a male! Based on what you just described, I'd definitely say its a desert spiny. I miss those guys!

Clark's and desert spiny lizards are similar in appearance. You usually tell them apart by habitat and behavior. Based on habitat in background, I'd say its a desert spiny lizard (Sceloperous magister).

My beautiful soon-to-be 10 year old daughter got me good with an April Fool prank yesterday. When I picked her up from school, she had a dejected look on her face, said she got in trouble at school, and handed me a note that she said her teacher made her write, herself. If you knew my daughter and her teacher, both are very plausible. As I started reading the note, my blood began to boil...and I mean BOIL! After reading half of what was in the note (signed by her teacher), I was getting ready to turn around and lay into her something fierce, telling her that she would be missing a turkey hunt, a soccer tournament, and a few other activities when she decided she'd better come clean and smile and yell "April Fools"! I stopped for a minute and could do nothing but laugh and give her mad props for pulling a good one on me!

Is the leafy suit available? If so, I will talk to my wife, but I'm here in Flag and can take it from you (assuming the CFO/CEO says yes).

I'm going to throw another bump for this camp. Even though I'm working hard to help find mentors for the Happy Jack Camp, please consider this camp if its in your area. We always talk about how our youth are the future of hunting, so do everything in your power to retain them. Volunteering at the Happy Jack Camp has been life changing for me, personally, and I know I've made a difference in at least one kids life. Be that mentor this turkey season!

The .243 is an accurate and deadly round. I agree with Ron on the .243 for your purposes. It will also work on elk if she gets an elk tag. On a note related to others, my 9-year old daughter shoots a Savage youth 7mm-08 with a brake on it and absolutely loves it. It will definitely do everything your wife wants to do, plus elk just as well.

Couestracker reminded me that we still need mentors and help with our Happy Jack Camp this year. Whether you're closer to the Colcord Ridge Camp or the Happy Jack Camp, please consider volunteering your time to help the kids. It really means a great deal to them and encourages retention of their generation!

All- I just got the flier for the 2014 5th Annual Juniors Turkey Camp near Happy Jack, AZ. This camp caters to OTC tags in 5A and 5B as well as draw tags for 6A. The camp will be 18-20 April and is free. The downside of the youth turkey season this year is that it is over Easter Weekend. We are hoping to still see plenty of kids out there and we really need mentors who are willing to give everything they've got to get kids on birds and teach them basic outdoor skills, hunting ethics, and turkey hunting. Camp will be at the V Bar V ranch and you can contact Tim Denny of the Mingus Mountain Longbeards (Cottonwood) to register (928.301.0853; longbeardsaz@gmail.com). Flyer is attached (hopefully). I can tell you that volunteering to mentor at this camp has truly changed my life for the better. Please consider mentoring! 2014 Jr Camp Flyer.pdf