Flatlander

Congrats on a terrific bull.

Man, this thread was a blast from the past. Glad someone resurrected it. Some great reading here.

Oh man, what a shame. Someone really needs to invent a taxidermy undo button. Not saying this is a bad rug, I have seen much, much worse, just saying its a huge disappointment when things don't turn out like you had hoped.

Oh man. That was pretty good.

What tag do you have? I started hunting by myself about ten years ago when my Dad decided he was done bailing off into the unknown depths of wilderness that coues call home, Have done it many many times in the years since. It can be a very rewarding experience, challenging but rewarding. Taking my first buck all by myself thousands of miles from home in an area I figured out on my own was as rewarding an experience as I have ever had. Good luck, be prepared.

Flatlander, what is the max pool for 2012 for archery 9? I haven't seen the data released from the 2012 draw yet so the most up to date info is from 2011. Everyone with 13 points or more got a tag that year. Everyone else had less than a 10% chance. You guys got me thinking and I went and downloaded the 2012 info reports. Looks like 16 was max last year and 13 points once again was good enough for a tag.

Flatlander, what is the max pool for 2012 for archery 9? I haven't seen the data released from the 2012 draw yet so the most up to date info is from 2011. Everyone with 13 points or more got a tag that year. Everyone else had less than a 10% chance.

I have had the desire to hunt as long as I can remember, even though my Dad never did much hunting before my brother and I got old enough to tag along. He was with me for every animal I took until I left for college and killed my first Idaho forky all by myself in 2007. He hasn't been with me for a single one since. Although early cow hunts with dad were the first hunts we ever went on, I would say that I really started to learn how to hunt when I drew my first whitetail tags as a senior in high school. My sisters husband at the time is a member on here and an excellent coues hunter. Spending those december days with him behind a tripod and pair of 15's was where i would say I really began my education in how to really hunt. After they seperated I sort of had to go back to self educating myself, luckily I had a great buddy to do it with and we had a solid foundation. I owe both my dad and former bro in law a big thanks for all they taught me, he was a lousy husband but a pretty good friend and a really good hunter.

Great story. I enjoyed every word. Its invaluable to have buddies who can stay calm in a heated moment and get the job done. Cool heads are hard to come by in those conditions.

Those late hunts are tricky. On warm dry years they can sometimes be patterned around water sources. On years with snow they are usually on the move to lower ground. On normal years they are in nasty steep canyons and thick cover. Lots of fun though. I have never been on one I havent enjoyed.

Holy crap your right firstcoueswas80, I hope you get there in time to prevent the murder! Wow, your law enforcement skills are unparalleled. Hahaha" +1, hahahhahahaa! Casey, I he never really said he was going to kill him, he simply stated a hole was dug and he owned a shovel. That could mean so many things, maybe they are going to pop a squat together, maybe they are going to build a swimming pool at the blind site, maybe he dug a hole as a new ground blind and he is daring someone to try and steal that, and maybe the hole is an underground layer where they can join forces and hide all of the things they are going to steal together. This is the problem with the internet today, everyone is always jumping to conclusions.

Early Rifle unit 1 is 18 points to get in the bonus pass, single digit odds until then, unit 10 was the same, unit 27 would be in the same ballpark. Early Muzzy in 3B (there are no rifle hunts in 3B anymore) took 15 points last year (2011) to get in the bonus pass and everyone with 16 points drew.

6B, 7E, 4B and maybe 5BN early archery should all be realistic possibilities as you will be close to the bonus pass in those units. Those can all be decent hunts if you do it right. Another option is 11M, not a premier unit, but is definitely within grasp at this point and plenty of good bulls are killed there. You can probably draw most of the late rifle tags, and there may be an option or two available in the limited opp. hunts if you are familiar with any of those units. They can be solid hunts, if you know the unit and where the elk go once they get pressured. You are at a crossroads where you have the option of drawing a few different tags or sticking it out for 2-3 more years and having a shot at some of the more popular tags (6A, 3B, 4A, 5A, 5BS, etc.). Does anyone know when the updated draw draw by pass info comes out?

Thanks Coach, great story!

Great buck. I wish I could get caught up in the moment and shoot a stud like that! Thanks for the story, I for one have looked forward to this since draw results came out.

Good luck. Go glass a canyon you should be able to find a bull.

Congrats on your first deer. A good lesson learned here, once you have fired a round at an animal, only shoot at that animal until it is dead or you have checked for blood. This scenario could have been a real bummer if you had shot more than one buck. A lesson I have learned the hard way.

Sweet

Bump for a couple sweet guns

Sick bow. Just bought a CRX32 or I would be all over this

Killing me

Plunkett does awesome work. A guy I work with just brought home his 220ish Kaibab from your shop, and boy does it look good. I have always thought open mouth was my preference but now I am not sure. Antmo you got any pics?

I shot a buk this year with 5" eyeguards. He was nowhere near 128 so those things just look giant. I agree with the other post, put some pictures up of that beast.

Thats about as good as you can ask for. Nice work.

Why not just put in for a unit with better access that is a high draw. Find a unit close enough to home that you can scout regularly and one that isn't steep as a cows face. It says right in the regs that 30A has access issues. Just my .02, good luck in your endeavors.