TLH

Garth, Absolutely beautiful buddy. Thanks for allowing me to be privy to such an awesome post.

I'll be at the Phoenix meeting.

Funny how that animal drops money when he craps!!

Looks like the hair plug from a bear David--they pass these after they come out of hibernation.

The majority of the people you see at the range are either volunteers or part time employee's. You can get a part time job right now for the game and fish and here is the info Job title Job type Location Date posted Salary Range Apply by Department SHOOTING RANGE ASSISTANTS Government Phoenix Mar 01, 2007 $8 per Hour Game and Fish Department Go to the state job link and apply if interested. I know that some of your numbers are way off because i have applied for several jobs that would cut my pay that i make now at least 15 grand and that is if they paid me the top pay for the chief range master which is 55 grand a year. This job has a Bachelor Degree minimum for education and you must have extensive safety training. You would be in charge of over seeing all of the ranges--work with all of the contractors and make sure that the sportsman groups are pleased with whatever range they use. Along with that job you are in charge of a budget--several employee's and volunteers in a place where people shoot all kinds of things that could ruin your day and get you sued in a heart beat. True, the WM's are underpaid but then they could get another job if thing were that bad---me thinks they are happy in the job they do--who wouldn't be if you loved the outdoors--and got to drive a new Dodge everyday with out paying for gas? People are always bagging on the game and fish and i agree they could do much better but then again so could any other company couldn't they? I would love to hear someones suggestions on how to fix these problems that are always brought up--but you know, almost 99% of the time all you hear is a complaint and no solution-- How about it--got any solutions?? I think it would be a great thread if we all could come up with some way to help the game and fish be the company that we want.

I have an 06 and it does the same thing--used it going down through wolf creek pass two weeks ago and loved the option. I am not sure what dealer you are going to but i use Sanderson--they have the best diesel mechanics in the country and they specialize in super duty trucks.

Cool find Josh--did you find the sheds from that big bull in 21 yet??

Looks like a Timber Rattler--

Buash&Lomb Sight Savers. They are a pre-moistened lens cleaning tissue that really gets the muck off of your lenses. I keep about 30 in my back pack at all times--if you ever get blood on your lenses you will want to have a few of these little dudes with you.

OK, so what did he say about her that was bad enough to delete the thread?? Come on man, he has the right to say that he doesn't feel that someone is or isn't an expert--if you put any worth into it then you are just giving credit to someone that you say is "scum" Remember, i said a personal attack--kind of like calling a person "scum". So, i won't be deleting any threads on AZOD because a person doesn't think a person is an expert--i doubt that Amanda really cares whether he thinks she is an expert or not. Amanda can defend herself just fine. If she wants to waste her time shooting back at this dude then let her--i bet she doesn't though.

Didn't know him but this last part in his obituary tells me all i want to know about this man--he obviously was a big hearted human with a soft spot for kids that have no choice. Sad to see one of the good ones go.

I was there this weekend with Amanda and we had a blast--Amanda is a person who puts her time where her love is--WM is a guy who is looking for power on a chat forum--nuff said. I won't delete the post because he has not mentioned Amanda's name--if that happens it becomes a personal attack and i won't put up with that on AZOD. Amanda is an asset to our hunting community and she should be rewarded for what she contributes--

Hey David, thanks for the great deal on the table--man, i really don't know what all the excitement is about!! Really, this is one quality piece of wood!

Bone will not burn until it reached about 1800 degrees--that is why the crematoriums have to be so hot when they turn us to ash. The bones are very tough and can take an enormous amount of heat. I would say that most if not all antlers will survive a forest fire--there is just too much atmosphere to get that area that hot--or at least that is what i am thinking.

He was my pick--between him and someone else you know it was a toss up. I am happy to see Robbie get a shot at the seat!

I'll be there on Friday until around 2 pm working in the Hunt of a Lifetime booth, then i will be helping with the Arizona Deer Association either Saturday or Sunday so i guess we will be working together Amanda. I will be in the Arizona Outdoorsman booth for a while on one of those days too. Hope to see all of you there!

I have used the 10x42's Geovids for two years now--the only draw back with these is that they do not pick up antelope at long ranges. I use them to guide antelope hunters in New Mexico and in AZ and my Bushnell's worked better out to 500 yards than my Geovids. For deer, elk or any other critter i have had no problems. I like the ease of having my binoculars and my range finder in one unit. This past Friday i used these for a Javelina hunt and they worked very well--no problems ranging the pigs but then again they were only 227 yards out in front of us. The guy i guided was a little miffed at the distance because he had never seen a javelina in the wild so he thought the range finder was wrong--he thought the pigs were out there at 1000 yards or more--that is the main purpose of having these baby's--

Amanda, Fighting back the tears as i read this post. I had to put my best friend down last Oct and i have had a very difficult time getting over her not being there to nudge my hand to pet her. I miss her so much. This morning i went up to Prescott and met with Jim McCasland, he had been given a GSP that was 10 months old. She has been abused by her previous owner and she was about ten pounds under weight--when i saw her i had to choke down my feelings because she was a spitting image of my old girl. I decided to take her home with me and now that i have i have been having a devil of a time keeping the emotions in check. Yea, i am a big tough old fart but i got to tell ya, those dogs are our family and when they pass away it is just like loosing one of your own blood. I have to tell you that Jim is a real good guy--he loves his animals and he did a great job getting this dog where she wasn't afraid of people---we will see how long she will be with our family but i am sure in the end i will be sharing the time when we all have to do what is right for our friends. I hope you can make it through the long days and a few weeks that lay ahead for you--i feel for you i truly do.

Not even your Avatar is showing?? Cool topic!!

Hawkeye, Man i feel your frustration i really do. I have been very lucky in the draw for antelope--2 archery--1 rifle and 1 muzzy tag--my Dad on the other hand is 0 for 18 and that is just wrong. I still say we can do something about the draws and i think it is a very good point that needs some fine tuned attention. I personally wouldn't have an issue with the antelope being a one in a lifetime hunt if you kill a buck--but i know a lot of folks that would cry foul if that happened. I am all for holding out 5 years if you were drawn for a quality tag of any kind and i really don't think the game and fish would lose any money if they did that. You have a had a bad run at tags man--i have only been drawn for spring turkey twice but i still get the bow out and chase them during the fall--along with deer, bear and tree rats. I guess i have adapted to the ways of Arizona by hunting with any type of weapon i can and with a bow i still can head to the Kiabab and hunt deer or any other unit that i would never get drawn for rifle in. I usually get a tag for elk because i like hunting in the limited opportunity hunts--you get a any elk tag and man it is a blast!! You may not see a lot of elk but you only need to see one and we see way more than that each year. I have never really been a trophy hunter--just a hunter and i have a hard time not killing the first legal animal i see--i know a lot of guys who will pass on 360" bulls to get that 370" bull--heck not me, give me a spike and see what happens--just never put the trophy in the animal more in the hunt. I guess what i am saying is maybe reevaluate where you put in and see if that helps your draw odds. Now, if you drew a quality tag and you wanted to hunt a cow then i say that would work for me too. I am not sure why the game and fish didn't listen to the folks at the ADA but i will try to find out the reason. As passionate as you are i would want you on my side in a fight and as a hunter you will always be on my side of the fight even if we disagree on some things--that is the gist of the whole conversation--make sure we can disagree without betraying any of our fellow hunters. Not sure about the preference point system but i did speak with a young man and his Dad last year when i was guiding the Hunt of a Lifetime hunter and they said it is a little over rated and the Dad said it was the worst thing that ever happened to Colorado hunting. We never did get into why he thought this way but i will give him a call and find out why he is against it so much.

Hawkeye--born here 48 years ago--hunting was great back then--buy a tag, go hunting--things change. You yourself state that people don't like change--could that be why you don't like what you see?? I have had a lot of luck the past 15 years hunting--in fact, i have done better the last 15 years than i did for all the years before that. I find animals everywhere i hunt and i usually get what i go after. I hear people say that the hunting is bad--i hear them say that it will only get worst but i don't see it. So, to answer your question--i have been right here in my own state hunting deer, elk and antelope and a turkey from time to time. I really have no issue with the game and fish. Yes, they run their place like a business and sometimes they make mistakes just like you and i, but for the most part they do a pretty good job. The survey was sent to everyone that put in for deer and elk--the majority of the game and fish customers stated they wanted more opportunity's to hunt--what would you expect the game and fish do? Should they ignore what their customers want? Or should they just listen to the minority of us who would rather hunt better animals with less hunters?? I think if you know anything about business then you know what that answer is--the ADA did a great job with their survey--why the game and fish didn't listen i have no idea--but they did listen to the Arizona Elk Society didn't they? So, why do you think that is?? I am very active in all of the meetings that game and fish have--i am very active with a lot of groups including the Arizona Deer association--i am actually the youth chairman now that Stan has left. I also do a lot of things with the working people of the game and fish like working on water hole projects and fence removal--i spend the time out there helping the wildlife and making their habitat better in every way i can. You sound as if you gave up and that is too bad. If you love the wildlife and the outdoors as much as you state then why not get back in to it and help some of these groups. I hunt in other states and i can tell you that Arizona is better than all of them i hunt for quality of animals, maybe not in numbers but quality for sure. I think you said it all when you said you do not trust government--but where would we be with out our government??

Apathy is the downfall of hunters--yes, we can make a difference with numbers, yes we have the numbers, no, the numbers will not respond when the time is here. The trapping law was put in place by a barrage of anti-killing commercials that were all over the TV--it wasn't through facts and we as hunters screwed ourselves because we were sitting on our arses waiting for some of our other fellow hunters to keep our trapping in place. We did not respond because most of us do not trap so, if it doesn't affect us then why should i care--that was the first step of the anti's and they won--why, because we have a bunch of apathetic lazy people in the sport we love who wants other people to take care of their hunting future. The only thing that Hawkeye said that really shows he has no understanding of government is when he said we elected the dumbest SOB into office--really? And i bet Hawkeye thinks the Pres actually runs this country too?? Now that we have a new batch of dems in the Senate we can look forward to more anti hunting and anti-gun laws to be passed. Bush might not be the brightest bulb in the pack but he is what he is--and, i think i can go on record and say that when the war all went down we were all for going over there and going to war. The three new people that are up for vote in the commission will all be good. I don't like politicians so make sure you look at all three and make up your mind who those politicians are--these people all have their own agenda and they scare me. Supply and demand is just what the price hike is all about--that is the way of business and they could care less how much you do or don't like it. The game and fish are doing a decent job and if any of you have any ideas how to make it better (real ideas) they would be happy to hear them. Just make sure you have some facts to base your theories on because without facts you will be looked at like your pulling things out of your hat and they wont even think about what you have to say. We all need to be concerned about the future of hunting but i don't see it getting any worst or any better in the next 15 years--of course that is my opinion.

I picked up a Double Bull blind for less than $250.00 from the Bargain Cave at Cabela's and i can honestly say that it is far better than any of my other blinds. I have the Doghouse and it works great until it starts to rain--then it sounds like a mini drum that does not have a natural sound to it. I also picked up one of the Cabela's lightening blinds and it has a better material and it is super fast to set up and tear down. I let my hunting buddy use that Cabela's blind during the archery antelope season and he had some good things to say about it even though he did not get a shot at an antelope from the blind. You are always taking a chance leaving your blinds or your stands in the woods but in hunting you have to take a few chances to be successful--most of the guys i know who set up their blinds do it far away from roads or trails--Ron G. is one of them. Be sure you mark your blind on your GPS so you can locate it in the dark!!

Hey all! I just wanted to send an invite out to all of you folks on CW.com to join the AZOD Big Pig Contest. Here is the link if your interested. Last year we had a blast--lots-o-raffle prizes and the top three in the rifle/HAM--Archery--and Youth categories will come away with some gift cards that represent the amounts that were brought in from the entry fee's. Any way, here is the link--come on over and check it out and if your an archery hunter time is running out so hurry!! http://www.azodchat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12972 So far we have some dufflebags full of goodies from Cabela's--three subscription from Rusty Hall over at Trophy Hunter Magazine (by the way, i will write a story and send pictures of our top three pigs in each category to be placed in the magazine!!) I have a laser shotgun sight--fishing tackle boxes--tow straps--gift cards from Sportsman's Warehouse (thanks Bruce) A HuntScout Map for any unit in the state (gift certificate from Bryan Yorksmith of HuntScout) and a bunch of other cool things--and i am still getting things in as i write this post. I'm telling you guys and gals--if you miss this you will miss a lot of fun and a chance at winning something that cost more than your $12.00 entry fee!!

I use the Jim White head and have used it for over three years without any issues--as far as panning goes, well, i can tell you i have not problem with the ability to pan as slow or as fast or be as incremental as i need to be with the head. The head is attached to the Outdoorsman Tripod--i love this tripod because it is built strong, it is light and i like the adjustments for the legs a lot better than my old Bogen tripod. This setup is expensive but in the world of hunting i have found that you can waste a lot of money on so called great deals that are not what you want or you can pay the bucks and get something that will last a lifetime and you will never, ever, have to buy that particular hunting tool again. I also have two bino's i top the head with--one is a pair of Minox 15x58's and the others are the Swaro's 15x56's--both are quality glass that will last a lifetime. Oh, one other thing i like about the White head--the adapters--i have one on my spotting scope, on both pairs of big glass, on my camera and i have one on my window mount--very, very, easy to attach and are very well built.