Scooter

Haha, Gambels do bust out pretty far away after you start hearing them talking. I guess you need a good pointer to get them locked up until you can get to them.

How does everybody determine whether they're flushing a Gambels, Scaled or Mearns??? I don't have a dog but I got a new 20ga and I wanna give it some exercise this fall. I just don't want to mess up and shoot up a covey of Mearns out of season. I know what they look like on the ground- but when you step on that covey and they flush, how can you tell species apart?

Anybody find 2013-2014 duck stamps yet in SoAZ???

That's why I love CWT.com!!! Never even met y'all but looks like there's lots of good sportsmen around to help!!! Another question- what's the best way to learn how to quarter an elk (I keep hearing about the gutless method?) other than waiting until you shoot an elk???

Thanks guys... yeah I want to maximize my time looking for elk because this will be the only time I get to chase them for a few years since my job will probably be sending me elsewhere next spring. I know full-well it won't be an easy hunt, so I might be way in over my head as far as planning. So many of you have mentioned refridgerator trucks... how do you know where they will be?

I don't really want to say the area because I don't want people to think i'm E-scouting... Its a late archery bull tag. We'll just say it's in the Payson/Strawberry/Pine area. I've already got a hunting area in mind and I know it pretty well so I'm not looking for hunting tips- just logistical stuff.

Yeah, had pretty good luck down there since I was a kid. I used to hammer the browns on super-sized march brown and stonefly nymphs and olive bunny leeches. Good to know there's a guy on here that has experienced the good parts of NY state like I have. I caught and released a steelhead out of Cayuga Creek in Lancaster on a yellow sucker spawn that weighed in at 16lbs- and it was a male!!! I should go find the picture...

Which Ontario trib was that salmon from? I used to fish Eighteen Mile, Oak Orchard and Sandy.

Very Jealous... I wish I could bowhunt on my old stomping grounds in Genesee county this season.

Seriously??? Wow... I used to shoot every two weeks, and reload 40-60rds at a time, but I just can't see wasting ammo anymore knowing that it will be VERY difficult and expensive to replace. I like my muzzleloaders

Congratulations!!!

Nice!!! Now you got me thinking I should buy a tag for the archery season down here... Very cool and congratulations!

Saw an orange camo sticker today and chased down what ended up being AZVTR on his way to work so that I could say hello! Nice to meet you Matt! good luck this year...

In my opinion, new hunters tend to move around a lot, they're typically noisy, get bored easy, fall asleep, and are less apt to use adequate scent control techniques. I personally feel that I can stave off all of these negatives more easily inside of a ground blind than I can sitting 25feet up in a tree stranded on a small metal platform. My vote would be ground blind on a well-used trail on the way to the water.

I won't tell people anything online that I wouldn't tell them if I met them in person. I really follow the golden rule with hunting area tips. One day, I might draw an elk tag in an area that they might know about- so I won't burn bridges by stonewalling what seem like decent folks.

You shouldn't need too much help with a December WT Tag in 34B. Use your optics and do some rifle practice at the range... That hunt would be pretty hard to screw up if you know what you're doing and you're not a lazy half-wit. The deer aren't going to be everywhere, but you can find 'em pretty easy with good optics and they'll be chasing does around by then or at least starting to. Everything but the Northernmost section of that unit is accessible by 4X4 or ATV. Lucky man!

no i didnt, do you have a link to the story? edit: i found some old forum talk about it from other sites. well, i guess it just piss's me off to think i cant hunt down there due to illegal aliens and drug smugglers? i think you could could easily get in trouble down there. but i still go, its exciting. if i get killed maybe ill the one dead guy that makes them do something about how jacked up the border area is. also, if i was archery hunting down there id pack a side arm, i dont care if its not legal. i dont think law down there would either. Bowhunters can carry any handgun with a barrel length 4" or less. Seldom Drawn, my opinion is that if you see a bunch of guys doing a drug deal with AK's at 3am, you probably should not chase them down wielding only a .357 and a spotlight. I don't care how tough you think you are (or what colorful words you use to describe how tough you are) it's an incredibly stupid reason to get shot at and possibly killed. I camp in a tent if I stay out overnight and I go where the deer are- meaning if they are up high in the Huachuca's- that's where I go. I'm not scared, I'm vigilant. Do you actually know why those smugglers carry weapons? It ain't because they want to start shooting at hunters or BP... It's to keep their drug trains safe from rival smugglers. The cartels know very well that no news is good news. They aren't about to enter a gun battle or harass and murder hunters, hikers, birders, and campers because of the negative attention that will certainly bring to their area of operations. If they mess up a route by bringing too much heat and attention to it- then they have to chart a new course and that takes too much time and effort.

I've given up... Just sticking with black powder and substitutes now since that's all I find at a decent price anymore. I still have enough 4895 to reload for my rifle, but what's the use shooting it? Every bang is a reminder that round will not soon be replaced

I ain't scared. I solo hunt 35A because I have no hunting buddies. I've run across several groups and no confrontations or stolen property yet. The REAL issue with hunting these southern border units is the complete lack of deer...

Do you really think the bobcats, foxes and coyotes care the firearm doesn't match your outfit? I currently shoot a black 870 with wood furniture. They seem to love it. They come in awful close to take a look. I'd like to think they care deeply about it... Then they die.

Tubing the Guadalupe River...

Yes it can... you'll have to take my word for it.

Draw only as far as I know- check the TPWD website for sure... Aoudad are an exotic so there's no tag required. Just a license. I think you have to draw a Big Bend Javelina tag or a Mule deer tag and you get to hunt Aoudad while there. I always wanted to go, but never could get it together... That area is absolutely gorgeous for camping though!

I was stationed at Ft Hood (45 mins N of Austin) for a few years and I can honestly say I've been doing everything in my power to get back there to CenTex. Yes, deer hunting is mostly conducted on leased land. There are some public spots within easy reach of Austin and they are all Corps of Engineer lakes and properties which require a special permit and they are limited in number. Not impossible to get though. Let me make a lengthy post here so that I can share some of my CenTex outdoor knowledge on you: The deer hunting is not that great- Williamson and all of the bordering counties are antler-restricted counties which means legal bucks must have an inside spread of no less than 13". That makes for slim pickings, very slim pickings with the addition of almost NO public hunting opportunities. If you can get on the list for COE lakes Granger and Georgetown you will have a chance at a doe harvest every year. If you are retired military there's always Fort Hood- which has some great bucks, but getting them is tough. Save your pennies and get on a decent deer lease in three or four years. Or, make the LONG drive SW to Big Bend State Park and hunt deer and Aoudad sheep in the rocks. I used to do A LOT of waterfowl hunting in CenTex. It's fantastic quality hunting and there's lots of public opportunities. COE lakes like Granger, Belton, and Stillhouse Hollow offer some of the best duck hunting I've ever seen. There's a September Teal season that is to die for, and let's not rule out the entire Gulf coast which is only a few hours drive east. Doves too- lots of sunflower-stuffed doves. You asked about the fishing... well, that depends on what you like. If you like Bass fishing- you are in the 2nd best state in the union for Bass. Lake Austin has some great bass fishing so buy a kayak or a canoe and get after them! Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir offers some trophy opportunities every winter and spring- and I mean 8-12lb bass are caught out of that lake regularly. Hybrid Stripers and white bass are awesome on just about any lake that has them- and they are good eating. Gulf coast- the trout and reds from Port Aransas down to the border are fantastic with offshore oil rig fishing being another option for some big grouper, kings and all manner of jacks. Now, the city of Austin is what I consider to be the "San Francisco" of Texas- but the wierdness is far overshadowed by how cool the music scene and the food are. Traffic can be a real bummer too unless you live right in the city. Look man, it's Texas and that is the greatest place I've ever seen on God's Green Earth. Plus... dare I say... LONGHORNS FOOTBALL!!! HOOK 'EM!!!

What, no Antelope tag??? The nerve... Looks like your season will be really busy!!! Good luck on those early Elk hunts. Get 'em!