azhuntnut

I wish I had one, so I could fly over the Verde Hot Springs. I have seen some TROPHYS in there. If you guys ever met Jimmy face to face you would found out real quick that he is pretty nice fella. He will always send you in the right direction for some good hunting areas and never ask for anything back. It took some guts to say that he owned one of these planes and I applaud him for it. I even wanted to go up also, until he told me about the accident. Alot of us are using technology available now that our fathers didn't have back in the day. Even our clothing allows us to stay out longer, and keeps us dry for those wet days in the field. David

During bear season in August, I had about ten turkeys walk right up to my blind. Of course the season wasn't open yet. I am going to try and get one with my bow next year for sure. David

PM sent. David

Jimmy, I still like you no matter what kind of names they call you behind your back. David

Thanks for passin along the info. I really wanted to keep this quad since it has been so good to me. My new one is a little cold blooded and takes a while to get going, but this one starts right up and runs like a champ. I just wish my boy was old enough for it. Whomever buys it will like the way it runs and rides. David

All that means is Hoyt and Matthews gives away more of there bows than the other companys. I have had five PSE's and one old Bear. Combined I have killed 10 animals with one shot each. I would love to try shooting some of the others, but I won't fix it if it isn't broken. David

It doesn't matter what type of bow you shoot. I just matters if you know how to shoot it. I think my current bow is 38in axle to axle, and only shoots 254 fps. But I have managed to shoot several animals with it and a pope and young bull. I think these new bows look pretty cool, and I am sure they shoot great, but I can't see how they can charge so much for them. David

I thought it was a mule deer, but it is still OK to dream. I saw lots of tracks, but no mule deer on this hunt. David

I was helping a guy out on a rifle elk hunt this weekend in 5bn and thought I would take him to a canyon where I had seen a 310-320 bull last Sunday. I had also seen alot of digging and good bear sign in the canyon. While I was glassing for the bull this guy start heading down the canyon. I managed to get him on video and then took the picture off the video. He actually crossed the canyon and started coming up the side we were on. I got a little ahead of myself and passed the ravine he was coming up, but the other guy got a look at him before he turned tail. I did manage to find that bull later in the day, but it was to thick for a clean shot. I also saw about twenty pigs today at 6600 feet and some fat coyotes. David

He was a shooter for sure. I would think he was over 300 pounds. I took this video from 130 yards through my camera. I checked the bear hotline before I left and a sow had already been shot. David

Draws are available online. I am chasin piggies with my stick thrower in the 20's, WHOOHOOOO. David https://www1.wildlifelicense.com/az/

Who ever said you had to put in for every big game animal available. I currently purchase points for the animals I will not have the time or money for and then down the road when I am ready I put in for them. I have children also, but I save my money to allow them to put in also. If game and fish told me they were going to increase the tags the next, I would not go out to eat 5-6 times next year and that would probably cover any increases. David

The topic of increasing tag costs comes up every year. One of the biggest complaints I have noticed are from the folks with familys where there are at least three people that want to put in. Something I started doing about three years ago that has helped me when it is time to turn in my applications. Go down to your bank and open a seperate account(free at wahington mutual). Whenever you go in to make a deposit into your main account, throw in twenty bucks or more depending on what you can afford into your "hunting" account. When it comes time for the draw you will have the money saved and on hand. I usally have enough each year to cover my fuel costs and other hunting equipment. I know it seems like game and fish want to make more money, but have you ever seen what a game ranger makes. Plus they have to do four years of college to get the job. I like to idea of the increases. I think it will weed out the weekend warriors that like to get away and do some drinkin and road hunting. David

I have never hunted in 22, but I have spent two years and 30 days of hunting in unit 31 without ever seeing a bear. I put in some long miles on those days getting back into canyons, sometimes walking over 12 miles a day. If the weather is cold, I would wait until the last couple of weekends when they might be coming out. Try to find some old mine shafts where they could be hybernating. When they start coming out, they will stay close to there hole. Fresh grass will be there main food source, but I have noticed them eating pinon nuts and juniper berries. David

That is one big rodent. Do you have any idea what it weighed? David

I think you guys need more water jugs. David

Great story Jim. I can't wait to have you in camp on one of my trips. David

Dave, I will be in Flagstaff tomorrow and would like to buy it. I will send you a PM with my number. David

I have a 2000 model sportsman 500 with almost 3k on it. It has been one of the best purchases I have made. This sucker will go about anywhere and never leaves me stranded. It will even carry entire elk accept one hind quarter. I wanted to get a ranger, but I couldn't get past the cost. David

Looks like you Brittany has the honoring licked. Who did you buy your Brit from? David

I am glad to hear that somebody is getting a little customer service from them. I used to spend about four thousand dollars a year having them dismount tires for me. On two occasions they have damaged the bead while dismounting the tire. They replaced the $230.00 tire and then asked me not to come back to there store since it cost them so much to replace. Now that is customer service. This has happened at two different stores. I easily sent them an additional $5000.00 a year in customers, but they didn't seem to care about the little guy. The funny thing is, the guy who owns them started out small and he built his company on customer service. David

I love the design of the new PSE mach X and all of the number written on it, but I have also heard it has a ton of recoil and vibration. I have not had a chance to shoot one yet, but I am not in the market right now to buy one since mine has been killing animals for the last couple years with no problem. 250fps/72pds CE . My buddy is getting one for Christmas so I should get a chance to dry fire it a couple times.

Micheal, Did you guys see any lions while you were out? I want to try and get over there soon and find one before the weather gets to cold. David

I actually looked at those, but I didn't think the soles would hold up very well. I might just buy another pair of Danner Pronghorns and be done with it. David

I personally don't know anything about the area, but if you want to get around the scouting restrictions, just buy a varmit tag and act like you are hunting coyote. David