Rembrant

I saw a statistic once that stated 90% of the women that get bit by rattlers get bit on the ankle; 90% of the men that get bit, get bit on the upper torso, face, and arms/hands. We just gotta mess with 'em don't we? Mike

Here is the real problem: Arizona is an arid state. It is not like the Mid-West or the South where there are liberal bag limits on deer. Even with the most favorable management techniques for large numbers of deer, Arizona will never again produce enough deer for all the people that want to harvest them. Meanwhile, Arizona's human population has gotten out of hand - and we ain't seen nothing yet! The Dept must manage these deer, AND make money to run the Dept. They have gotten real creative over the years and especially of late to maximize the resource and the potential revenue it provides. The opportunity vs quality issue is coming to a head. We've been spoiled. A lot of us have grown up here and have seen the best days. Those days are gone. I don't like it either. We want the quality AND the opportunity that we have enjoyed all our lives. It isn't possible any more. Mr Quimbly thinks the Dept is stingy with the tags. Most of the rest of us want our herds managed for quality, yet we still complain that we don't get drawn. Outlawing bait/salt for deer is another example of keeping the revenue coming in and protecting the resource. Check the stat book. Archers in AZ have finally figured out that hunting Mr. Coues like our Eastern brothers do is effective. This is a new pressure on the herds that wasn't there before, and in the places where it didn't occur before - in forested areas. The Rim country and places like it were pools of virtually untouched whitetail populations. Now they are getting leaned on. Nope the archery kill ain't nothin like the rifle harvest. But it's a heck of a lot more than it used to be. The Dept ain't stupid. They're watching this, and have been watching this all along. Again, Arizona at its best, will only grow so many deer, yet the human population growth won't stop till kindom come. Big Game hunting can only get stretched so far in this state before we lose opportunity and quality. This is what the future of big game hunting looks like in Arizona, and guess what? The future is already here. Get used to it, or move because these issues will never get better. Humans tend to be so selfish that we depleat resources and then think about it. We complain that the Dept only thinks about money. What do we think about? What do you think about!? What is your motivation for writing into this forum? Isn't what we want, is to just hunt deer? We want to hunt deer so badly that we we will stoop to disrespect the agency that provides us this prividge, instead of looking past out own selfish interests to understand the big picture and what help we can provide. Jim Hefflefinger offers his time to open dialogue with us and we reward him by calling him and his dept personel fish/bunny cops? What in the world is wrong with you guys? Mike

That is a real good point. How will a law like that be inforced. People will surely cheat. I think if the dept wants to control archery kills they will have to make it a draw tag. At least that's inforceable. Mike

I play in a recovery band every Friday night, so it looks like I'll miss the beer party (darn!), But I will look forward to driving out to the lake to meet people on the Saturday. Sounds like fun! Mike

There's an old Christian pastor in flagstaff, named Fred Cashmir, who was raised in Hitler's youth program and fought as a Nazi in WW2. He sometimes gives a lecture about his life, and I have had the privilage of hearing it. After the talk someone asked him if he saw any parellels with whats going on in the world today with what Hitler did. He answered by saying that Hitler was under the control of Satan, and that the things that Hitler did were not unique to Hitler but instead consistant with the evil power of Satan. And that from time to time throughout history these horrible things have flared up and will continue to flare up in various places throughout the world. When I see these massacre episodes, I think about what Dr. Cashmir said and realize that the Evil One has his hand in them. Sure there are physical, chemical, and physological reasons for why people wig out. Sure this guy in Virginia was a nut, but think about Columbine - two nuts in the same high school capable of what they did? The social experts and shrinks can study these things all they want; but realizing that there is a force of evil in the world that wants nothing more than to kill, destroy, and rob the human soul from reconciling with a Holy God, is the only possible explanation that makes any real sense of such things. Mike

We could all learn something from our men and women in uniform. Regardless of who is the president, wether they like him or not, they respect the high position and do what he says. Nowdays when people hate the president, they disrespect the position as well. This is selfish, childish, and destructive to our country. Clinton couldn't keep it in his pants. If I did that stuff on my job, I would be fired. I don't like Clinton for that, but he was still the President of the United States and all of our armed forces would jump when the Commander and Chief ordered them to - out of respect for the position. The media and a whole lotta democrats are showing the rest of the world just how screwed up we really are. This is discraceful. If we don't stay on the same page, we'll someday lose the whole book. I say "stay respectful, or stay quiet". Mike

Uh, That's not the Easter Bunny. That must be the Easter fawn. Those aren't rabbitt ears, those are deer ears. That dog is a poacher!!! Mike

When Bush 's term is over, we will find ourselves missing a president with balls. We may never see another one. Mike

Awesome, Amanda. Simply awesome! Thanks, Mike

When I was seventeen I was backpacking down Chevelon Creek - blazing the trail. Heard the rattle about 3 feet away. It was the first time in my life that I had ever heard that noise, and within a mili-second, I was in mid air (with 50 pounds on my back), I had the snake pinpointed, and was scanning for others, looking for a place to land. Amazing! Let someone else lead after that. Mike

Hopefully you retracted those pics to keep them from being spread all over the entire world and becoming "Public Domain". You should look into copy right protection. Mike

Those pics are an absolute treasure! Take care of those. I'm sure those guys would get a citation for doing something like that today, Harrassing wildlife or some such. Some western artist ought to do a rendering from a compilation of all those pics. Thanks for sharing!! Mike

Oh yeah, my brother almost stepped on a really big one while we were walking off a hill down in 36A in November - whitetail huntin. Biggest one I ever saw. Hurt me not to take it home with me, but I didn't have my tongs, and I try not to do stupid things anymore. That sucker had 17 buttons on its rattle. The old, before mentioned rancher said he has a rattle at the ranch house with 24 buttons! I think I could talk about snakes all day. Mike

I love snakes too. I like catching bull, and king snakes and letting them go on my property in Tonto. I love catching rattlers, skinning them, with head, and mounting the flat skins on quality wood. Beautiful. Ain't never seent a black. I'd like to know where that den is, Gamehauler. I won't lean on 'em too hard. Also looking for a Mohave. Kilt one once while deer hunting in 6A. Don't know what ever happened to that snake. It's hard to hunt deer when you keep looking around for another snake to surprise you. Ran into the guy that owns the Salome' ranch (forgot the guys name as soon as he said it!) I hate when I do that. We had a great talk, lots of snake stories. He came around a corner to find me harrasing a red racer in the middle of the road. Told where a diamondback was that he killed that morning. Told me how he got bit once. Said there are mohave rattlers all up and down Salome' Creek. Wish I didn't have to work for a living. I'd be cathcing crappies, or snakes, or sniffing out whitetail scrapes from this past rut. Ain't life great though? Just don't get bit, it's a bad deal. Mike

That's way cool missedagain! There is something wierd about winter turkeys. They group into hugh flocks and lose fear. I stumbled (drove up) on a flock of about 150 birds on the N. Kaibab in Dec., got out and walked up to within 20 yards of a part of the flock. They could'nt have cared less that I was there. Mike

I have something that will help the anxiety. Take a deep breath and take a minute to think about what you put in for. Remember? Now go look at the draw percentages. What are the odds of getting drawn for what you put in for? Dissapointment = reality colliding with expectations. If you put in for something that has bad draw odds - and we all did, because were talking elk, and antelope, then our expectations should be tempered accordingly. This will be directly related to the degree of dissapointment. The days of getting ticked-off about not getting drawn are over - at least for me. Mike

Maybe in the forseeable future D.C. wont have more gun killings than Iraq. Strange that some common sense would prevail these days. Hooray! Mike

I really do hate peeing in everyone's corn flakes, BUT... Getting drawn will only get worse from here on....AND.....The non-hunting public in this state will continue to dwarf the hunting public from here on. Count your blessings - appreciate every tag you get! Mike

You are right Lark. Heck, Dog the Bounty Hunter went down there and did the right thing, and now Mexico wants his butt for showing them up! Why should a government care about a cat, when they don't care about their own corruption, drug trade, economy, or in short; people. Sorry to hear about your son and his buddies. Mike

If I was an animal activist, working for the International Wildlife Coalition (or any other animal activist organization), I would have people scanning hunting sites like this one, looking for illegal activity. To find a taxidermist in Mexico, or anywhere else, that is mounting jaguars and having him busted, thrown in jail and out of business, would amount to being a real animal activist trophy. Who in Hermosillo wouldn't take $100. to identify all the taxidermists they know of? Just a reminder that anything posted on this site can be read by anyone and everyone - globally. And you know what? Busting people that kill or mount jaguars would be a good thing. Mike

Come on Lark. Break out of that shell. Tell us how you really feel! Mike

They are already in Walnut Canyon and Anderson Mesa, and in the cinder hills. Got a buudy that saw a big buck on Hart Prarie road 20 years ago. Another friend of mine has a 90 incher mounted in his house that he killed on Chino Point, North of Seligman, about that long ago too. Used to be some absolute toads on McMillan Mesa in the middle of Flagstaff (still have pictures of a 120" road kill), but I think they ALL got road killed out since I ain't seent any for about 5 years. They just aren't in any numbers in these fringe areas to get excited about. I do have a couple of salt licks in.. uh, ..*... !!@#$ 0 -- Dang! my typing finger's cramping up! Mike

Polarization is the work of the Devil. Devide and conquer is the strategy. Keep this in mind as you live out your days in this time in history - you'll see it everywhere. Especially with things that are righteous and good you will see this polarization working for its demise. America, politics, church, education, national defense, hunting, everything, everywhere. Don't get caught up in it. Don't be played like a puppet on a string. Use your head. Zumbo screwed up. Zumbo apologized. I forgive him. He is still one of our leading ethical hunting heros. He is not a poacher; he let his tongue fly off disconnected from his brain. Haven't we all done that? The second ammendment still stands. And it will always stand as lond as we do - together. Read Tony's posts again. Mike

BP's oughta get $10/20 a person brought in. Then you'll see them on the hillsides glassing. Mike

Way to be you guys!! Love your story. That's what the late Coues archery hunt is all about. You just gave me a shot in the arm. My buddy and I know all about those deerless days. Your story is soaked in perseverance, and you guys aren't afraid of, or discouraged by hunting your butts off. Congratulations! Mike