huntjunkie

Trading Post Taxidermy did the mount. Trying to meet with the P&Y measurer. Tried yesterday but no luck. Maybe today, I hope! Very anxious to see what the tape says! Hard to judge with the velvet. I killed this buck in eastern Az OVC archery tag Labor Day weekend.

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Theres no maybe about it. "A lot" landowners shouldnt even get a tag! Let alone 1-5 bull tags plus several cow tags for a 40 acres. Really??! I've seen recent years were LO's have recieved a Bull tag with as little as 10 acres. Unit 15 is a perfect example. I have done a fair amount of research on landowner tags in NM. Its totally BS! It screws everyone(the current LO tag system). Especially residents. Easy fix, make LO tags "ranch" only. I have no problem with LO getting tags because there is "evidence" that a particular game animal uses their land for water, food, calving etc... all the criteria that is used to determine if one gets to put in for the landowner tag draw. Then "IF" they get a tag, they can sell it to whoever they want at any price they want. Even under the "old"system NM residents draw odds were awesome(except for a few units). Compare them to AZ. I hunted NM more than my own state(AZ) because the draw odds are better as nonres in NM than as a resident here. Sad.... This will hurt NM in many ways. I have done some quick math and in most units just the nonresident tags(non guided under the old system) generated nearly the same amount of money as the resident tags(just the tags). Never mind the revenue in gas, food, etc.. But if I was a resident I would be excited knowing my draw odds just went up! Congrats to you guys! I might be moving to join ya. Not knockin ya. We need a reciprocal agreement with our neighboring states on big game draws!! This is a sad day for me considering I spend 3-5 weeks a year hunting NM.

Wow! That makes my blood boil! Hope they get the word! Sorry that your salt was stolen. Guess they didn't realize that if your standing over salt your picture has already been taken. OHV laws are gonna get alot more restictive thanks to guys like this.

Post'em!! If its not yours, LEAVE IT ALONE!!! I'm starting to put a camera watching my camera. ETHICS ANYONE?!!

While scouting for elk in New Mexico we were climbing out of a canyon trying to locate a bugling bull I looked over my shoulder and across the canyon was a beautiful 340 class 6x6 bull and his cow staring at us. So we froze hoping we wouldn't spook them. As we played the staring game I heard some tree branches breaking down the canyon .Then I remembered that there was a lot of fresh bear scat and broken oak branches at the bottom the canyon. I slowly turned my head toward Kyle (my brother)and whispered "that's a bear breaking branches". We slowly started inching down towards the bottom of the canyon. We got to the bottom of the canyon and dropped our packs. Kyle grabbed the video camera and I knocked an arrow. The conditions were almost perfect a nice brisk wind was blowing up the canyon. There was also a fair amount of noise from birds, rustling oak leaves, and acorns dropping from the trees. We moved in about 70 yards and got a visual on the bear feeding. So we stopped made a game plan of how I should make the stalk. The next thirty minutes was slow going but I managed to get 40 yards from the bear. But I didn't want to shoot over thirty yards so I need to close the final 10 yards. While we were moving in the bear was moving around feeding on acorns that had fallen to ground. He would move in and out of that thirty yard range but never presented me with the shot I wanted. I would draw and let down, draw and let down we played this game for about 10 minutes. This bear was a really nice bear and a definite shooter. As he was feeding with his head down he started woofing and huffing. Why was he doing this? He had no idea we were there. What was going on? Then I caught movement to my left. I slowly turn my head. Holy Smokes!!!! A big bear was moving in and chased off the "small bear". I turned and looked at Kyle and I'll never forget the look on his face! The big bear began feeding in the spot he took from small bear. And small bear moved off just to my left about 40 yards and began feeding again. Within seconds I had two bears to choose from. Obviously I wanted the big bear. Now I had to keep an eye on both bears. At this point I was trembling like a leaf, we had the two biggest bears I had ever seen at 40 yards. When I would try to range find the bears I couldn't get a reading because I was shaking so bad. I had to range the ground in front of them. As I was closing the last few yards the big bear started moving off to my right. I ranged an opening he would walk through, 30 yards, perfect! As he went behind a group of trees I drew. As soon as he walked to the spot I ranged I let out a maaa… to stop him. He stopped and looked at me, giving me the shot I was waiting for. I settled in my thirty yard pin and….. WACK!!!! When the arrow hit him he let a bone chilling growl. Oh boy, I've done it now! He's ticked and my gun is in my pack a hundred yards behind me. He immediately spun in a circle and took off running right at Kyle who was looking through the view finder in the video camera. When he realized that the bear was running straight at him, he took off running ( with no shoes on)video camera still recording, screaming, OH, SHEEE, OH SHEEE, OH SHEE! As the bear ran by me at 30 ft I tried to knock another arrow while I'm screaming, shoot'em Kyle shoot'em! I see Kyle running up the canyon like the road runner being chased by whylie coyote! A few seconds later the bear turns and runs away from Kyle. His run quickly slows to a walk and then he falls over against a tree. I finally had another arrow knocked and drew for another shot when Kyle yells," he's done Stan, he's done". He ran a total of 80 yards and expired. After calming down and giving a few high fives we walked over to my bear. It was unbelievable! I couldn't believe I had just taken this monster. He has a beautiful thick black coat with no rubs or scares. His official score is 20 1/16 P&Y. Not bad for a first bear! VIDEO CLIP

PM Sent

Has anybody bought or used them (Vortex 15x50 Viper HD)? How did they perform? Pros and Cons?

WOW!! Can't wait for more pics!! Congrats!

What a great hunt and an awsome Bull! Congrats! Excellent video, I'll watch that a few more times!

Yea, gets my heart pounding everytime! Funny thing is that was my brothers 2nd time in 2 months having a bear come at him! Bad luck i guess, but it sure funny! Thats why he makes the comment " I dont know what it is with me and bears" Lol!!

FINALLY!!! Here is an edited version of the full video taken. Enjoy!!!

Sorry for the Novel, hope ya enjoy! Went deer hunting with my Dad this week(Sept. 5-7). Monday late morning we glassed up three bucks that were definitly worthy of putting a tag on. So after they bedded we made our stalk. While moving in on them I looked up to see three bucks walking right toward us. I looked at Dad and said, close the distance they have no idea we're here and the wind is in our favor. The bucks closed the distance fast! As the lead buck walked behind a bush Dad drew. Then the buck walked out and stopped broadside at 15yrds! It seemed like an hour as I watch the buck stare at Dad at full draw. Waiting to hear a wack, I'm thinking shoot.., shoot..., shoot....!!! Whats he waiting for?!!! He shoots and I hear, TWANG!!.. The buck snorts and bounds off. What??? I walk over and he explains(with an look of horror and about to cry)that there was a small twig he thought he would miss. What are the odds, 170 class 4 point buck (still in velvet)standing broadside has no idea your about to smoke'em and a twig the size of knitting needle completely deflects the shot. I wanted to cry!! A half hour later we glass up a heard of 21 bucks. The smallest was a giant 3 point, 24+" wide, deep forks, cool buck! The others were mostly 4 points and two bigger bucks a 5x6 and a 6x6 in the 200 in. range. We decided to leave them and try in the morning. Tuesday morning they were in the same spot. They began feeding off the ridge so we got the wind in our favor and positioned ourselves in front of them. Thirty minutes later I look down and see two small bucks. Just as I was about to draw for a 40yrd shot. I notice movement to my right and I see the bachelor heard feeding right to me. Within 5 min. I had 7 bucks feeding at 30 yrds. I noticed the 5x6 was in the lead! YES! Could this really be happening?! So I had a choice, do I take the giant 3x3 at 25yrds broadside, a nice 4x4, or the 5x6? It was like saying, would you like this camaro, mustang, or the corvette? Ahh... can I have all three? I settled my thirty yrd pin on the 5x6 feeding at 30yrds broadside. Shot went off and the bucks bounded off. I didnt here the WACK!! I was anticipating. Did I miss? The buck stopped at the top of the ridge and I saw red behind the shoulder and he bounded off. I stood up and another buck was staring at me 30 yrds to my left. I walked up to Dad and he said, I saw your buck go down. We walked over and there he was. My first Buck. I have always wanted a buck in velvet. The reason I didn't hear a WACK is the arrow passed beteen ribs on both sides. I found the arrow 15 yrds up the hill. What an amazing experience!! I'm hooked now. Sept 3 last year I took my first bear at 30 yrd which scored 20 1/16 P&Y. this year Sept 6 I took this guy. Can't wait till next year!

Wow!! Congrats on a Fantastic Bull!

Sorry to hear!! I had a similar situation, relived the shot for a year. It happens! Hope ya find him.

Thanks! Wish you were there. Next year!!

Dont know, I was in such a rush to get it to the taxidermy to preserve the velevet I didnt put a tape on it. Wish I did now. I'll post better pics tommorrow. But everyone that has seen it thinks it will go around 180??? I hope it does!! If it makes P&Y I'll be thrilled! Either way I couldn't be happier! First buck.... no complaints.

Nice Bucks! Way to go 2 for 2 thats awesome!

Thanks guys! I have 1 more deer hunt this year. I'm going to have to work hard to one up this buck. But that makes the challenge even better.

Nice job!! Great archery buck. Yes, Spot and Stalk is addicting. Congrats!

Sorry no video yet. Its in Mac format and I have a PC. Coming soon now that life is back to "normal". As far as weight and square on him I dont know. I'm doing a full mount on him. I tubed him out, so hopefully once he's mounted I can get an estimate. I know this, to roll him over it was one of those... ok, ready 1,2,3(gruntin, cussin, freak.....!!!!) Labor Day weekend is my lucky weekend! almost a year to the day I shot my bear I shot my first buck(archery). posting it soon on the Mule Deer Discussion Fourm.

Looking to buy 2005-2007 weekend warrior 28 FSC Aluminum Sides or Super Lite 2805 fifth wheel. Stan 480-688-9404

I couldn't find anywere that keeps state by state records. If anyone know if there is such a thing that would be great. According to P&Y it was the biggest bear taken in New Mexico last year(that was recorded). NMGF estimated him at 8 yrs old.I'll work on the video. I have my guess but what would you guys guess his weight? I know this much it took both of us to roll him over while skinning him. the hide and head was to heavy for a pack frame. We had to find a long staight branch to drape it over to carry it out. It only took 3 hrs to skin!!

I have been very happy with the 7mm-08. I was alittle leary at first but it proved to work very well for my 10yr old daughter Mady. I bought the T/C pro hunter. Theres no action so it shortens the gun and helps with weight(good and bad) I bought the 24" stainless barrel and a VXI scope. I also put a limbsaver recoil pad on it. For practice i bought the remmington managed recoil ammo. It worked awesome! Then for the hunt we used nosler 140gr accubond. She never complained about recoil. Never scarred of the gun. The only draw back is you have to look a little harder for ammo. My next choice a 270. Her pic of the gun and her elk are on the youth hunting thread. Good Luck.

I have one i'm looking to sell. Give me a call 480-688-9404