Swivelhead

Which Apache side of the river you going too?

10X40's are a "default" binocular size. I'd tell you to get the 12X50's but hang on to the 10X40's too.

Bearded hens are not that uncommon. I shot one a number of years ago during a spring hunt. Fellow turkey hunters let me know that I'd likely taken a hen away from her clutch. Felt pretty low at that point.

Congrats to your daughter on a fine deer. 30 years ago in the Kaibab I had a fellow hunter stop me to show his female "buck." He had field dressed the deer but left the genitalia attached. Different for sure. The rack was "feminine," a decent 4X4 with little mass. Later when getting checked by a warden we mentioned the deer. The warden said they see a few every year hence the "antlered" deer notation in the regs.

Over the years I have accumulated a small number of quality optics, primarily binoculars. I began tripod mounting binos in the 80's. Gridding AZ's landscape with tripod mounted binos is one of my favorite ways to hunt. Fast forward to 2010, the year I drew a sheep tag in southwestern AZ. Although I felt I was equipped for such a hunt with my stable of binos, in fact, I wasn't. The distances involved required higher magnification than my most powerful glass was capable of. 15's just didn't have the oomph to X-ray the mountains a mile or two out. Large, "big eye" binos were not an option due to cost. Packing the tripod & head required to handle such glass up and down mtns did not appeal to me either. So, it was time to break out my basically unused AT 80 Swaro scope that I'd purchased 10 years prior. Up to my sheep hunt I'd never spent any real time behind a spotter. Using one eye quadrupled (or worse) the eye fatigue I'd experience using two eyes. Prior to the 2010 sheep hunt, the spotter got used sparingly to say the least. My father is a lifelong amateur astronomer. When I was young, he encouraged me to look through his telescopes with both eyes open. Dad said I'd see more detail and be able to observe longer if both eyes were open. I was able to do this (although it was not easily accomplished) as my non-dominant eye was "in the black." Scouting for my sheep hunt was proving difficult and I was having a tough time finding sheep. Don't remember how it happened but I began corresponding with Nick Heatwole. Nick put me in touch with Tom Saad. Tom and I had a number of conversations about sheep hunting. Among other things, Tom was adamant that I use my spotter and learn to use it with both eyes open. Basically restating what my father had told me many years prior. Unfortunately, I am unable to get my non-dominant eye to shut off during daylight. Concentrating to the best of my ability I still get a double image. Currently, I have used the spotter long & often enough that I can comfortably close my non-dominant eye for long periods of time (hours). I feel confident that I am seeing the FOV well. I use my spotter often these days and when conditions call for long range observation, out comes the scope. Still, I'd like to learn to use both eyes as experienced scope users agree it is the way to go. My questions to those who have mastered the technique: 1) How did you train your non-dominant eye to shut down during daylight? 2) Do you agree that more image detail is seen with both eyes open? 3) Can you comfortably observe longer with both eyes open? Thanks in advance for your input.

Used to harvest puffballs (looked like the shrooms in the grocery stores) and shagamanes (sp.) Quit doing it because of the horror stories I've seen on the news. I buy/eat from the grocery store only. Should you choose to harvest wild mushrooms you dang well better know what you're doing. I'd eat wild shrooms after watching somebody else eat them but certainly won't be the guinea pig.

Are you talking about tuna at the pens? Bluefin off Pt. Loma or Yellowfin in the area already?

The only review I could find was from an Italian astronomer. http://www.binomania.it/wordpress/?p=6018 Compared Swaro, Docter and the new Ziess. Review was positive for the Zeiss but the new Swaro HD's took the prize. The comparison was reasonably subjective however definition charts were not used and some of the review criteria was basically worthless IMO. One of the upsides to the new Conquests is the 18 mm eye relief. Eyeglasses are definitely part of my future and the older Swaro 15 X 56's lose FOV when glasses are employed. Hopefully the extra eye relief on the new Zeiss will minimize that issue.

Thank you for posting your experiences and solutions. Contraction of the "in use" pupil does make sense to me. I'd be willing to believe that phenomenon would account for a degradation of the image. I've seen competitive shooters wear shooting glasses that had a darkened strip on the non-dominant eye. After reading Mike S's post, suspect a contracted pupil may be why it is done. Think I'll play with some eyeglasses, probably remove the dominant eye lens and vary the "blackout" on the non dominant eye. I'll let you guys know if it works, could be the solution.

Someone who: 1) Wants to hunt AZ Goulds or Rios really bad. 2) Has disposable income and wants to fund turkey restoration in AZ. I've got #1 covered, #2 well ... uh, my income is disposed of monthly. I do pick up a few raffle tags for turkey which does help with turkey restoration.

Lark, always good to hear your take on things. Personal attacks, not so much.

Congratulations Nick & family.

Nicotine patches really help. Don't chew gum, part of quitting is getting used to having nothing in your mouth but teeth & tongue. Patches provide nicotine to keep you from being a homicidal maniac. Once you get past the "something in the mouth" issue, stopping the patches is no big deal.

90% of the hate & discontent involved in our sport is due to motor vehicles, waterhole competition and trail cams. G&F dealt with thermal imaging, soon the drones will likely be specifically called out by G&F and public land managers. Technology must be reined in to some extent. We owe it to the game. I'm with Tony on this one, get out and HUNT.

X1

Dined with Larry & his wife at the ram recognition banquet last September. As I recall, he was at max points. I believe he visits this site periodically, maybe he'll chime in. Larry, congrats on your ram. Nice photos of 37B sheep BTW.

ASU, NAU, Grand Canyon College, etc.

Hunt as hard as you can and good things will happen. The whole unit is an elk pasture. Likely, you'll see bulls that will knock your eyes out!

Never heard of them. Contact Leupold & find out if they are an authorized dealer.

I was referring to backcountry meat preservation. A boned out bull will likely be 250 - 300 pounds plus cape & big beautiful horns. That's a lot of freight on your back!

Dry as it's been, water will be very important. Creeks, springs, tanks, etc. Hens usually nest on steeper slopes, ridges above previously mentioned areas likely will have strutters. If you have water, feed and cover be patient, birds will show eventually. Call softly and sparingly, don't sleep!

Thanks! Yup, got confirmation this morning. Permit #59 unit 27 Sept archery only bull You'll have a blast, 27 is a great unit. You mention backpacking into the Blue. Not sure if you'll be solo but I would advise you have a sound strategy for conserving your trophy (meat and cape). It can get warm in September.

Congrats on your 1st elk hunt, results are up. Did you actually draw 27 EAB?

Beautiful old sheep, congrats to your dad. Story?

I am not a fan of waiting periods whatsoever. Waiting periods are "feel good" measures for the unlucky and are statistically insignificant. Assume for a moment AZG&F did start waiting periods, G&F likely would allow the non-eligible to purchase bonus points during the draw cycles they were not eligible applicants. This move would force ineligible applicants to purchase a license and BP's just to stay competitive in future drawings. If G&F is taking my money at least give me an opportunity however slight, at the prize. Odds have a strange way of hitting the "average." Drew 12B late 3 out of 4 years in the early 90's, now sitting on 13 deer points. Drew 27 EAB 3 out of 4 years 02,03,05. It's fun to be "that guy" but it's now been 9 years since.