dave

Stanley, I wish I was as objective as you are. My wife says I am an opinionated-redneck-bigot and she is 100% right. A politician I am not. I also need to get all the facts before I get too twisted. Being from southern Arizona and seeing what the Sky Island Alliance is doing makes me all puckered up about this deal. They are still hard at work trying to make 36B a wilderness. I have not seen the maps yet but from what I have been told many of the forests around Arizona will not have significant major changes however the Coronado down here will have major significant changes. Below is an announcement from the Sky Island Alliance News letter. Makes me pucker right up. You can read all about them on their web site: http://www.skyislandalliance.org/indexSIA.htm The Roadless Campaign: Protect Arizona's Roadless Areas Over the last year, a coalition of conservationists, hunters, anglers, faith groups, businesses, and people that love our forests have been working tirelessly to protect Arizona's roadless areas under a new policy that requires state governors to petition the Forest Service for their protection from continued road building, logging, and construction. Arizona has 1.2 million acres of roadless land in our National Forests that offer a pristine landscape for hikers, birders, hunters, anglers, and campers to enjoy. They also provide critical habitat for 1,500 species of fish and wildlife, including many endangered or threatened plants and animals. In order to keep these precious lands intact for wildlife and future generations to enjoy, we need to support Governor Napolitano through the petition process. Please Act Now!! Now is the time to tell the Arizona Game and Fish Department that you want 100% of Arizona's roadless National Forest lands fully protected. Your participation at public meetings and writing comment letters will assist Govornor Janet Napolitano and the Arizona Game and Fish Department in developing Arizona's petition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to protect roadless lands in Arizona. What you can do to help: Attend a public meeting--Mark your calendars to be there!! Attending the open house meetings is perhaps the most important way you can support the Governor in this effort. We need lots of people to turn up and voice their support for protecting roadless lands and their value to you and your family. All meetings will be from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, July 5th-Safford (Coronado and Apache Sitgreaves National Forests), Graham County General Service Bldg. 921 Thatcher Blvd., Safford. Thursday, July 6 - Tucson (Coronado National Forest), Arizona Game and Fish Department Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road, Tucson. Click here for entire meeting schedule. Submit a public comment: By mail: Arizona Game and Fish Department - WMHB Attn: Roadless Area Comment 2221 W. Greenway Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85023. By email: roadless@azgfd.gov Written comments will be accepted until August 31st. Write a letter to your newspaper (LTE)- Click here for a list of newspapers and suggestions. Visit www.arizonaroadless.org for more information and spread the word to your friends!

Rojo, I agree, this was a great shoot. In my humble opinion, it was better than last year. I hate to say one shoot is better than another because we need everyone that can put on a shoot to do it. The shoot you can attend is the best shoot of the year!!! I will say this, I will make every effort I can in my schedule to attend this event next year. I shot it last year and this year was even better. I saw a lot of family envolvement. Is there a more beautiful place in this world? I can't wait until the BHH and the Happy Jack shoot!

audsley, I would roll on the floor and laugh out loud but I don't want to hurt anything and I may not be able to get back up.

If I was thirty, I could straighten this whole thing out.

It takes around 6 months. Some never get posted and you have to request them. At certain times of the year, it is a little faster. Maybe someone could make a motion at one of the meetings to have the whole Commission meeting for sale within 30 days on DVD. Heck, I think the Department could make some money just selling videos of each meeting. That way folks could sure learn the process and keep up if they are not able to attend or stay for the whole meeting. How many of us folks that work can attend Friday meetings? If the video was $20.00, how could I drive to Phoenix and back for $20.00? Think about it. Them ADLA and Sierra folks have filmed a fare amount. They all know who we are. Do you know them? Please state your name and speak into the microphone. How would each Commissioner conduct themselves knowing this was sent around the world on DVD? There may be a lot more accountability present. Think about it. Maybe they could just sell it in parts by agenda items??? Think about it.

Good words Steve. Time will tell.

Mr. Gaines, You ask good questions. I am thinking that for her to ride the ridge that has been placed before her...whether she just started out wanting to promote her own carrier....I guess she will have that chance. I would sure like to go fishing with her and Don sometime. At least if Don never was special enough to be our Commissioner, he at least has his last name pasted on all of our hopes. I kinda had hopes that Don would throw his hat in the ring next year since all them folks in Kingman are on the west side. One thing I picked up from Don last year is that he was reaching out to this young lady and respecting the position she may be in. Bottom line is we need to respect this young lady and see what she is up to. I believe she may be a good thing. Time will tell.

I hope so too. We all need to put our best foot forward and support her.

"Despite strong support from the National Rifle Association, four past commissioners, hunters, anglers and conservationists, the Arizona Senate took no formal action on her nomination during the 2006 Legislative session." I have no idea why the Department would make this statement on their web page. If they were trying to do some political PR, they would have just been better leaving that one out. Any of you know any of these hunters, anglers and conservationists?

Glad to hear you were there Mr. Gaines. Sorry I was not there. I am sure we will hear more feedback soon. I wished you could have been the for the Sandhill Crane vote to inform us all. Last year Hernbrode voted agaist the hunt. I wonder what the motions were this year and who voted for what? Kinda sad a hunt that is regulated federally is opposed on a state level. Earth first and any other group opposing this hunt including commissioner Hernbrode should take their message to the feds and not bug Arizona with their agenda. Looking forward to hearing what happened.

So for all the bowhunters that have to drive to Mesa to go the Bowhunting in Arizona awards banquet Saturday night and stay in a motel there, we got something to do for breakfast. I will just tell my wife "honey, I am going for an early morning walk, sleep in and I will take you to brunch when I get back"

I agree, wetmule has stated the facts about as good as anyone could.

Well I guess my 4" doinker and my 2" blazers will keep your arrows safe for another year

"You going to take all that junk off you bow and shoot what you hunt with!!! " Now BowNut, I saw that picture of your bow. What is that 3' long thing sticking out the front? Do you hunt with that? I guess if you run out of arrows you can just unscrew it and club the heck out of something with it

Well, I will be there again. I shoot the ABA triple crown for practice and dicipline, not too competitive. I am proud to say that I am not quite in last place yet. Every bowhunter needs to see how well he can shoot. It is good practice.

Josh, I believe you are right. Thanks for posting this. Hope to see you there. Dave

I always thought it was a blessing to have the opportunity to hunt coues in southern Arizona. I always hope that a young hunter may be walking along his path and something will step up in front of him. Wouldn't it be great if a young hunter was able to take the next world record. This is the beauty of coues hunting, the record is in hand of God and He lets us all experience it. The record is in the heart of every hunter that has taken a coues. Every coues is a throphy and the world record will go to God for His design.

Thanks BowNut, Can you buy that tape in black or did you have to die or paint it? It almost looks like ankle wrap stretch stuff. Who would have thought you would have to be a carpenter, machinest, engineer, mechanic, and a paramedic just to shoot the bow This has got to be better than golf.

Thanks BowNut, What is that stuff you have wraped around your handle? Can't tell by the picture but your bow looks like a trykon xl. I have a custom bow I wanted to put the new Hoyt wood grip on but it is too late in the process. Some of the previous machining just wouldn't mach up, however, that wrap stuff you got looks interesting. Dave

Thanks BowNut, If you do not make a ball on the end of the fiber optic and just cut it square with a razor, how do you keep it positioned in the end of the pin? Do you super glue it? Thanks, Dave

Hey BowNut, How about a picture of yours? How do you finish the end of fiber optic material that you see at the end of your pin? Looks like they are melted some how into a little ball. If so, how do you keep that little ball uniform, clean, not too big etc.?

I guess I will have to see if I will draw a tag. Your stuff looks pretty good there BowNut. What glue do you use to glue the blazers on with?

You all still got time left to buy Super Raffle tags. http://www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com/

What happened? Did we go back to the future?

Interesting. I like that halo idea. Gives you several reference points if you practice. Looks like you could sight in the halo for 40 and use the top and bottom of the halo for other yardages without moving the sight. Were you planning on eliminating your peep by getting the pin with it? I didn't see where they stated the diam. of the sight window or if they had a third axis.