huntswnm

jeff

I just was thinking, does anyone ever use the "handheld" setting on your trail cam? I just don't see how it would work really well, and I guess you would just point it in the general direction of whatever you wanted to take a pic of? Anyway, just thought I would throw that out there. I bet they could use whatever space that setting is taking up in the cam for something else that might be more useful. Jeff

Just my opinion, but I would stay away from the Fermaldihide (SP??) in the preserving process. That is some nasty stuff, and very old school. I am sure that it works, but there are plenty of other things out there now that are just as good and much SAFER!! 6 months to a year in a frost free freezer, like a household style, basically freeze dries them, injectable velvet tan and the artificial velvet is all good alternatives. Jeff

J- That is awesome brother! I know you've had a dry spell trying to find those ghosts, but it will come together for you. Jeff

What do you do if you are sitting in your stand and a thunderstorm rolls in? Rain and wind don't bother me, but how do you guys deal with lightning? I know what the obvious answer should be...... but whats everyone's opinion? Jeff

Well, I admire you for putting these pics out anyway. I know of someone here who got a camera stolen last year and caught them on a second cam he had in the same area. He refused to show their pics, hoping they would just return it. Don't want to post a link to another web site, but over on monstermuleys there is a post in the general hunting section from an Arizona elk unit where a guy removed the memory chip from the camera, but left it on and the internal memory snaped a picture of him. That guy put the thiefs pic on the post for the whole world to see. jeff

Awesome man, I have said for a long time that we need to stand up against people that do stuff like this, or it will never get any better. Wouldn't it be better if your second camera was pointed at the other one so that you could get pics of them actually messing with it? Jeff

Well OK................Hold my sign, I don't want to loose it..............LMAO!! jeff

No, not sarcastic at all. I appreciate every ones opinion. Ground blind definately may be the way Jamaro, just have to see if we are still getting these rains that challenge those from Biblical times Thanks everyone, Jeff

Ok, Ok........ Thats kind of what i expected I am trying September hunt this year for the first time, but we are getting big lightning and rain storms here almost every afternoon. Seems like the best time would be right after the storm to be in the stand so maybe I will just walk back to the truck and wait for it to pass, then sneak back into the stand. jeff

Jason, I will not be able to make it. Dude, maybe you could donate one of your pieces to our local NWTF chapter's banquet here in Silver next year. We hold our annual banquet/auction every April. Jeff

Clay, Don't worry man, if I get the chance I will shoot Jeff

Thanks Tommy, Actually caught them on my trail camera. Hey, for those of you that are familiar with coues in velvet, what do you guys think the last two would score? And these are taken around th 11th of July, so they still have a couple of months of growing. How much more do you think they can put on? Jeff

You don't think they would actually allow that do you? jeff

Kevin, I am sorry for the way that I came across in my post. After re-reading it I know see that the way I wrote did sound out of line. I apologize. I don't question your involvement in hunter's safety classes, or how you may pass information along. You obviously do more than I. I understand that it is not the G & F responsibility to make sure that hunters know the bag limits, open areas, etc. Obviously I did not do a good job this year or last in reading every word of the one page of turkey hunting information. As a member of the NWTF, I have spent some time with members of the G & F on turkey projects and studies, as well as a weekend last year with the turkey biologist for the G & F counting Goulds turkeys in unit 27. I just find it a little frustrating that this was never mentioned, over the course of two years, especially when kids are the ones missing out. I understand the G & F doesn't promote hunts, but when youth hunts for deer, elk, antelope, etc are "created" they are atleast highlighted in bold indicating that it is a special youth opportunity. Why don't youth turkey hunters deserve the same designation in the proclomation, rather than just a side note with an asterik? Again, I apologize if I came across in the wrong way. Jeff

Everyone, I don't know why this information was not publicised by the NM G & F! I guess it goes to show we need to read the proclomations word for word EVERY year, not assuming nothing has been changed. Maybe others know about this, but it is the first time it has been brought to my attention! NM has apparantly designated one weekend, after the close of the regular season, as a YOUTH ONLY hunt that can take place in any open unit. Look for yourself, right off of page 46 (PDF version) of the proclomation: Take note of the first astrik at the bottom Open Areas For OTC License Hunts Spring Season-April 15-May 10* Units 4 (except Sargent, Humphries, and Rio Chama wildlife areas), 5, 6, 6B**, 7, 9 (including Water Canyon WMA but not Marquez WMA), 10, 12-14 (bows only in Sandia Ranger District), 15-18, 20 (except Doña Ana County), 21 (except Doña Ana County), 22-24, 29, 34, 36, 37, 39, 40-49, 51-54 (including Colin Neblett/south), 55 (including Colin Neblett/north and Barker but not Urraca WMA or Valle Vidal/Greenwood areas), 56, 57 (bow only in Sugarite Canyon State Park), and 58. *A Youth Only hunt is May 17-18 in any of the above open areas. **Valles Caldera National Preserve-Contact the VCNP directly for more information about this hunt. Bag limit is one bearded turkey We need to spread this around. I have been a big advocate of NM adopting a Youth Only turkey "weekend" hunt for a couple of years and apparantly they decided to implement one this year, with minimal exposure? Please pass this along, hopefully there will be some kids out there that can take advantage of this opportunity. We as adults also should jump on the opportunity to take a kid out hunting, especially during a time that is reserved for them. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Jeff

They didn't tell me that they didn't want it advertised. What they said was that it came up in the last ruling change and just "slipped through the cracks"??? But come on, I might be OK with it "slipping" through last years hunt, but this is a FULL year later and apparantly the second time this hunt has been offered! That to me is just ridiculous that there has been nothing said about it. Just to let you all know, they are considering extending the season begining next year to go through May 30, adding about 20 days onto the hunt. They said they are wanting to allow more turkey hunting opportunities. Jeff

Well Kevin, If you knew this last year....thanks a lot for helping get the word out. I am sure there are many kids out there who didn't get to take advantage of this opportunity becuase no one is willing to spread the word. I spoke with the turkey biologist from the game and fish and was told that they are not advertising the youth hunt and are relying on the hunters of the state to pass it along. He said that is how the youth hunt is going to have to be advertised. Forgive me if I think I am doing the right thing by getting this some publicity. YOU are the FIRST person I have heard that has known anything about this Jeff

Well, went out with a friend from work this morning, man was it windy! We got to our spot a little late this morning, and the wind was horrible. We didn't hear a thing at our first few set ups, we were just hoping one of the pine trees wasn't going to blow down on top of us. After a while of searching we finally got a gobbler to answer us, but he was a LONG way away. We cut the distance the best we could, but just couldn't catch his interest. He gobbled a few times over the course of an hour, and we were able to call in a hen from down his direction, but he just wouldn't budge. I am thinking they are mostly henned up down here in our neck of the woods. I bet we give em about a week or so and things should heat up! Jeff

Figured I would start a thread keeping everyone updated on my progress through the 2008 season. With Paramedic school going on I won't have a lot of time to go, but hey, this might keep someone entertained! My season started off last night with taking my 7 year old daughter out to a spot I haven't hunted in years. We didn't hear anything cause the wind was horrible, but it was nice to be out there with her looking at tracks and we even saw a few mule deer. As soon as I put the pictures on my computer I will update the post with pics. This morning I went out to another spot before class. For as bad as the wind was today it was actually pretty nice at daylight this morning. I got into this area a little late and there was already some people in there. I stayed on the main road just listening to the gobbling, not wanting to mess up the other hunters set ups. Most of the birds were on private land so I just left the area to who ever was there first. On my way out I was able to get a gobble from a bird not 150 yards off of the main road! It was tough to get far enough of the road to get away from the truck, but not too close to booger up the bird. I got to a clearing that I thought the turkey would feel comfortable coming into and set up. After about 5 minutes that turkey came in from my left with a thunderous gobble! I thought it would be over in a matter of seconds. But, wouldn't you know it that when that red head came out from the brush he was only sporting about a 3" beard. For being a JAKE he sure had a mature gobble. I struggled in my head to shoot him or not and decided to let him go. If my daughter would have been with me this morning I probably would have let the hammer down. It was neat just to watch him putting around, trying to strut and looking for that hen that had enticed him. So anyway, I won't be able to go out again till Sunday morning. Jeff

Thanks Jeremy, he wasn't outside long, just long enough for the mount to dry out I would agree that turn around time is not a good sign to determine taxidermy qualtiy, either good or bad. Jeff

Well, this is a NM buck that I took in January of 2007 with my recurve, so maybe it qualifies for this topic Jeff

PS it seems to a whole lot more crowded this year compared to last year... My Point exactly Jeff

I know this is a little late, but thought I would post a couple of photos of some birds I called in for some friends last turkey season. This is my brother in law, Justin, and was his first experience hunting big game. We had been out several times, with no luck, until this morning that we called in this bird. This bird came strutting in to the decoys and Justin laid the hammer down on his first turkey. This second bird my dad and I teamed up on to call in for a friend of the family. This bird actually came in once and busted us. After switching set ups, and calls, we were able to get him back in and Roddy hammered him at about 40 yards. This was a huge turkey for our area with a beard measuring about 11 1/2".