azffhunter

I think if it were my son, I would ask him how he would feel if he put a stalk on a buck...maybe didn't make a great shot on it and then another hunter killed it and took it. I think any of us would hate to be in this position...but it happens. I would also take the opportunity to reinforce the importance of proper shot placement to my son, as well as only taking ethical shots. I would reiterate to him that this would help minimize just wounding an animal. Granted...even if everything is perfect we still occasionally make bad shots...which is why we practice then practice some more. I think this conversation could be a wonderful teaching moment that could encompass everything we do in the off season right up to when we decide to let the arrow fly. Ultimately I would tell my son to take the shot of he had an ethical opportunity. If another hunter came looking for it, I would give him the option.

They may have the right to it according to rules and regs...but I think giving the first shooter the option if they were still pursuing the deer would be a show of good sportsmanship and in my opinion just the right thing to do. Just my two cents...

Ya know...it's knuckleheads like this that just ruin a lot of what hunting is supposed to be about. In my opinion, these are the same type of hunters who hunt in people's back yards (literally) making them hate ALL hunters, the same type of hunters that piss off open ranches to the point they consider closing it, and the same type of hunters who poach. Yes it's public land and they have the right to hunt there, but I don't think that gives them a right to use something that doesn't belong to them. If they would have put up their own stand...well I think it's still BS and cowardly but at least they would be using their own equipment. I'm adult enough to not be confrontational, but I would absolutely ask him to get out of MY stand and I would remove it. If he refused, I would contact GW and would stay there until they arrived so I could retrieve my equipment. Neither one of us would be hunting while we waited...that's for sure. I once found a water hole with 4 blinds on it...that's just dumb. No one is going to have any luck with a new housing unit in place. This is why I spot and stalk. To me it's more rewarding and I feel like I earned the animal I harvested. I'm definitely not implying that those who use blinds or stands don't earn their animals because I recognize that using those tools is an acceptable strategy that obviously works. I have sat in a blind before...but it just wasn't fun for me. To me...if its not fun them I'm gonna find something else to do. And if anyone who reads this acts like a knucklehead and reaps the benefits of others' work and tools...you should be ashamed of yourself. Do your own work or stay home and quite ruining it for everyone else.

So...there I was. Minding my own business archery hunting coues in 36A today near Caballo Loco Ranch off of Sasabe Hwy when I encountered 3 individuals (likely smugglers) in full camouflage packing assault rifles. First time I've come across this so I thought I would pass the word. It's not unusual for me to run into border crossers...they just don't usually have machine guns! Reported it to Border Patrol who dispatched a team to hopefully locate and intercept these chumps. Be careful out there and happy hunting!!

Thanks!

I too have hunted in the Southern units and for the most part I'm not too worried. I carry a sidearm and usually hunt wil others. 36c definitely has beautiful country and without heading too far north...for us in the southern part of the state, it seems to me that 36A B and C have the most deer in it. I will definitely continue to hunt down there...I will continue to be vigilant and maintain situational awareness.

So this story is about my sons first deer hunt last year. I read about the Jr. Camp sponsored by SCI and thought it would be a good experience for my son to be around other youth hunters so we gave it a shot. I have to say....what an AMAZING experience all around. The volunteers were incredible and camp was very well organized. Huge kudos to all who were involved in the great camp, and a HUGE THANKS for helping to provide an unforgettable first experience for my son. Well...to start things off, my son broke his foot about two weeks before his hunt while playing football. When we found out that is was indeed broken, my son teared up and looked at me asking "am I still going to able to go hunting"? dang near broke my heart...and as any father would I assured him that if I had to carry him, he was going hunting. The first day we glassed up several herds of does...but no bucks. Overall had a good day (at least we were seeing deer). The next day we were introduced to one of the volunteer guides, Joe, who said he knew of a few areas to try and joined our efforts that morning. Well, it was pretty windy which resulted in minimal deer movement. As the morning slipped away with little luck in finding deer, we decided to head back to camp for lunch. We thought we would just glass a few ridges on the way back...you know...just in case! Turns out, this was a GREAT idea! We no sooner set up our optics on a ridge when Joe said "freeze"! He had spotted a nice buck in a saddle at 500 yards. The winds were blowing hard, but that buck was just standing there...looking over the valley as if he was "on guard". So we decided to sit and watch him and just see where he is going to go. Well, 60 minutes later....there he stood. The only movement he made was the occasional lifting of one of his front legs. I can remember at one point thinking it was a decoy because he stood so still for so long. Finally I told Joe that my son and I would try and slowly put a stalk on this buck and see what happens. So, I took my son...leg cast and all and we slowly started to crawl through the cover to see if we could get close enough for a clean shot within my sons 300yd range. It took us about 40 minutes and we made it to exactly 300 yards...from this point forward there was no cover and any advancement would easily be seen by this "guardian". So I told my son, "well buddy...this is it. You're gonna have to shoot from here". So he settled in for the shot. The first shot of his .243 missed its mark. "put another one in pal" I whispered. The buck stood fast as if he didn't hear a thing. "Now just relax, breath, and just slowly squeeze the trigger" I told him. The second shot rang through the hills...miss! The buck was startled a little this time but he didn't know why. He trotted a few yards...stopped, looked around then started walking right towards us! My son says "can I shoot again"!?! "No" I whispered, "relax and take a deep breath. He's walking right towards us. Let's let him get closer...he's coming right to us!". So the buck walked down the ridge line and stopped at 250yds broadside. "Can I shoot can I shoot"!!!!! It was more that my son could take. "Be patient buddy, I know your excited....me too! But let's just see what he's gonna do but be ready". So the buck stood there for a good 15 minutes and finally I decided it was time. "Ok buddy...this is it. You're doing great, just take a deep breath and relax. Tell me when you have him in your sights. He's exactly 250 yards so aim a few inches high". "Ok dad...I got him" he said. "Alright buddy, whenever your ready go ahead and take the shot and put him down". The rifle bucked against his shoulder as the unmistakable sound of the rifle bounced around the hills. Everything seemed to be in slow motion for that instant. The bullet found its mark....PERFECT SHOT!!! He dropped the buck dead in its tracks!!! I was SO excited and proud. My son jumped on top of me yelling "I did it I did it"!!! I was overcome with emotion and could feel the tears of joy streaming down my cheeks. In that moment, I held my son tight and told him that I loved him and was so incredibly proud of him. Truly one of the best moments in my life that I will NEVER forget. Thank you to everyone at the SCI Jr. Camp 2011 that helped make this memory possible. My son drew the same tag again this year and we can't wait to be a part of camp again this year.

You draw a Coues or Muley tag? I would definitely try and camp either with or near others...safety in numbers tactic is good advice. It seems that I have seen less illegal traffic on the eastern part of the unit...but they can be anywhere. Just be vigilant and pay attention...try not to hunt alone but if you must...may text your coordinates to someone.

Great job!!!! Any buck with a bow is a good one in my book!!

Wow...what an awesome experience...congratulations Dillon on an awesome buck! I definitely applaud you all for setting a good example of the right way to conduct yourself as hunters. Many of us could have easily flown off the handle at those other guys....and regardless of whether or not they knew about the blind, you definitely handled it like a pro. I'm a relatively new hunter but have had some awesome experiences with my son who took his first buck last year...I cried I was so proud. Can't wait for many more of these experiences to come! Again...CONGRATULATIONS DILLON!!!!!!!!!!

I have a lot of contact with illegal border crossers in my occupation...I don't think they were Minutemen....I'm pretty confident in saying they were dope runners. But...just my opinion.

I was driving down a dirt road making my way back to Sasabe Hwy...I saw movement so I looked and saw three men about 30 yards from me hit the ground trying to hide from me. I saw the weapons and packs. I just pretended not to see them...drove right by them. Marked the coordinates with my GPS and gave it to BP. Would have been awful if I was on foot and had the encounter...who knows what would have happened. I had a sidearm...but three guys with those kind of weapons could've been bad. They way they hid I'm guEssing they did want the encounter any more than I did.

Yes they had backpacks....was it drugs...? Wasn't gonna ask.

Did you follow-up with the BP to fide out if they nabbed them? I spoke to BP at the Sasabe checkpoint on my way at about 20:00...they said they still were working it.

It looked like something of the AR platform..but didn't stop to ask. Didn't matter to me either way. They were obviously not hunters...that's all the info I needed.

Deer action was very slow....but I expected that. Since it was mid day. Never been in the area so I was mostly exploring it. Gotta be some big bucks though. Lots of cover and water.

I'm a newer hunter with only a couple of seasons under my belt. I live in the Tucson area and have put in for some of the southern AZ unit rifle hunts for general white tail and the Jr. hunts in the same units. My question is...I know there is a lot of illegal trafficing going on, but have any of you had trouble hunting or think it is a bad idea to take a 10 year old down there to hunt? Thanks for any idvice you can offer. Jeremy

Im a relatively new hunter...but I've been shooting the Slick-Trick Magnum that seem to fly pretty good. I saw a program on TV the other day that "field tested" several mechanical heads. The program was clearly an advertisement for the Schwacker broadheads...but the tests and the footage was interesting. If the testing was truly done unbiased then I would say the Schwacker would be a no brainer strictly based on the footage. The RAGE heads came apart in almost every test...would be very interested in others opinions about these "field tests".

Thanks for the reply. I have to stay somewhat local to Tucson because of expense. I drew an archery bull tag this year so that's going to take most of my hunting funding for the year. I also found that the 36's have a lot more deer than other areas around Tucson. Do you have another area you could suggest with descent deer population?

Wow...thanks for that offer! I will definately keep that in mind.

Thanks for that great info Amanda! I really hope my son gets drawn...if he does I think we will definately be checking these youth camps out. I have hunted the southern units by myself several times during the past archery seasons. I always carry a sidearm...but have never even seen an illegal.....saw LOTS of BorderPatrol there though. I looked at other units, but the units that are close to home just don't seem to have as good deer population as the 36's. Guess we'll wait and see when the results are in!

He will be using a Savage 30.06. I know it's overkill for a Coues...but it's what I have. May borrow a friends .270...but will decide once I see if we get drawn or not.