huntswnm

No, to be honest with you I try to stay away from all of that northern area of the Gila. There are way too many hunters up around the Reserve area for my taste. Seems to be a popular area for those of you from AZ who don't draw a tag over there Jeff

Well, It might depend on where you are hunting. Where I am, in SW NM, locator calls don't work real well, for me anyway. If I get a chance I try to locate turkeys the night before by roosting them. If I don't have time, like this year, I will be going to areas that have held turkeys in years past, hoping that they will be there again. I try to get out right at first light on a high ridge and listen for birds. If you hear them and can get with 150 yds or so of a roosted bird you are doing good. If not, get as close as you can and try to get his attention with soft calls. I try not to over call, unless you can hear hens in the area, then I start calling to them. If you don't hear anything at first light then just move on to other places, stopping and calling frequently. I don't usually use decoys, its extra stuff to carry around and I have not seen where they have actually sealed the deal on a hunt. Even the bird in the first picture, he came in strutting to the decoys, but I gaurantee he would have come even if we didn't have them setting out there. I mostly used them as a point of reference for my brother-in-law so he didn't take a shot that was too far. Other than that, I try to set up above the turkeys whenever possible. It seems they will come up hill to a call more readily than going downhill to one. I am sure it has something to do with predators and that they can get away easier by flying down hill rather than running back up hill. Anyway, sorry this was so long but it is highlights of how I hunt.

Sounds good to me as well. Weekends are good for me, just depending on my work schedule. jeff

Now that I think about it, that is the last weekend of turkey season I will probably be done by then, , but if not I will be out camping and hunting the real thing, not foam drumsticks! Jeff

Just wanted to let everyone know that the NWTF banquet went really well in Silver City this last weekend. The numbers are not fully calculated as far as how much money was raised, but we had 106 people attend, ate really well and everyone had a great time. The Gila Gobblers donated $750 to the Grant County 4-H and we are looking forward to planning some more habitat improvement projects on the National Forest. I want to thank those who came and supported us and let everyone know that we will be doing it again next year. Jeff

J- Thanks for passing this along! Jeff

If you are coming into Silver City, I would not count on Wally World. Heard the other day that they are sold out, don't know if they got anymore in or not. The gas station in either Glenwood or Cliff will be your best bet. Jeff

I am probably biased to the burros, just cause they are what I know. I am sure 27 is a wonderful unit, but the times I have been down there it seems like access to the public land is limited. You might have to deal with illegals, BP and rachers. Other than that I am sure it would be great. Jeff

Neither......All the coues have been removed from those units....... Jeff

TTT.... Just a reminder that the banquet is this weekend... Going to be a lot of fun!! Jeff

AG, Please tell me you are NOT kidding! There is still hope! Jeff

Nothing for me either My wife draws the first year she puts in for it, and I can never draw it. Oh well, always next year, right? Jeff

Hey guys, thanks for the help getting it out there for us. All the above comments are TRUE and it is a great time for all. We are always looking for help the day of or the day before the banquet. Also, if anyone wants to help out asking for donations, or has anything they would wish to donate, that would be awesome. Here is a link to something I posted a while back in the Wildlife Projects page that shows some pics of a water project we did last summer. http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/in...?showtopic=8223 Jeff

Thanks guys. The meat is wonderful. I have heard people say that it is the best game meat out there, and I would have to agree. I like the flavor of elk and deer, but Oryx is much milder and almost tastes like beef. Jeff

Well, she did it! My wife had an Oryx hunt this weekend on the WSMR. We saw quite a few Oryx, but they were pretty spooky and it was tough to get within even 500 yards. We had time for about one more stalk on Saturday evening and found a lone bull that had not seen us yet. We were eventually able to get to within 200 yards of him when she put him down. He is a decent size measuring 30" and 31". Due to the time restrictions we were only able to gut him and had to leave him overnight. Luckily when we got back this morning nothing had eaten on him through the night and the meat was cold. We ended up having to quarter him out and pack him out about 3/4 mile to the truck. These pictures are once we got home. Jeff

Good job to your son! Looks like you guys had fun Jeff

tjhunt2, we had until two hours after sunset on Saturday, but couldn't get cell phone service to contact the dispatch to let them know, so we opted to leave it. You have to be out by sunset on a Sunday. Kevin, yeah man that would have been awesome to have met up with you. We were in the Rhodes Canyon area, in the Northern San Andres unit on the north side of Rhodes. What were you guys driving? Tommy, I don't know what she sees in me HA !! Yes, I will be doing the Taxi work on him as well, so we will see how it turns out. Jeff

Thanks alot, I thought so too! And the Oryx isn't half bad either jeff

Hey Tommy, For some reason it is not working. Just shows read X in the frame. Even went through his site, and still same thing. May need to contact him and let him know. jeff

Thats Awesome! Congratulations Gabriel! Jeff

Hey guys, that is a great job! I assume the other one is yours Tommy? Take it with your bow? Jeff

This is a water project that the Gila Gobblers-NWTF put in over the summer of 2007 with the cooperation of the USFS in South West NM. Jeff

Congratulations guys, that is awesome. I have been wondering how you all have been doing down there all week. We should all hook up sometime, look at the bucks, and tell some stories! Jeff Can't wait to see pics and read stories

Jason, Again man....Congrats! Taking your first Coues with a bow is quite the accomplishment! Can't wait till you get back from Mexico! Be waiting for you to write two stories! Jeff

Tony, I am with you on the mention of scents in the law. I bet not many people here in NM know that "scents" are included. So yes, putting scents in a mock scrape, or real one for that matter, and hunting over it is illegal here. However using the same exact scent, but on yourself as a "cover" scent is ok. Wierd if you ask me. The tarsal gland.......OK as long as you are carrying with you, second you hang it from a tree and watch it....illegal! What about if someone is sitting over a "natural" salt lick? Natural meaning that more than likely some other guy made it. Maybe it is a true natural area that holds natural minerals the deer need. No one put them there, can someone still sit there? The way I read the statute the only person breaking the law is the one who puts out the salt, feed, scent, etc. not necessarily anyone else who comes along years down the road. I don't know, I think in some ways the laws make sense, but can also be confusing if you start breaking it down. One other quick point, if you look at the regulations, page 9 I believe, it says it is illegal to: "Take or attempt to take game mammals or game birds over ground baited with any material or scent distributed there to entice the animals, except quail or turkey on private land. Scent-masking agents may be used on one's person, but not to attract big game." So what is the deal with turkey? They are considered big game in NM, and apparantly as long as you "bait" them on private land it is OK!?!? I don't get it. Jeff