Chef

MAN! WHAT A BUCK!!!!

You beat me to it Amanda! Thanks for clearing things up. You must have posted while I was typing.

I think you are confusing Tracey Martin who is the administrative assistant to the ADA. She does a tremendous job and I adore her for being there through the years. I assure you, if Susan Gilstrap was in attendance, she would not have sat back quietly as Tracey did.

Way to go on sealing the deal on a tough hunt. Congratulations! Even better he was so close to the truck. Way better than packing out any day!

That was freaking awesome! They were coming from a couple hills over at full speed! Good calling and filming job.

Great footage and super sweet buck. Congrats again Cade!

First and foremost, I want to thank the ADA board members for allotting time for us to voice our concerns. I thank them again for extending the time limit from one hour to practically two hours of discussion. I hope they realize this was in their best interest and that we as sportsmen have serious concerns with the implications that may result if they do not distance themselves from AZSFW. Thank you to all those that attended and especially those that traveled long distances. It is always good to put a face to a name and even better to see old friends again.

From talking to people that were there, you all sure had a blast! Everyone mentions the songs that the young ladies sang too!

That's awesome man. Congrats on the luck and I look forward to your success.

Nice catch on the fawn. I missed it at first... Click Picture to Enlarge

That's a great video. I totally felt your excitement and loved the way you ran a little after you saw him! I'm happy for you. Congratulations again.

Below is an email sent out by Pete Cimellaro - Chef --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mon, 20 Feb 2012 To All: I know all of you are not on the AZSFW email list. Those of you who are, and have read the letter below, can disregard this email, or better yet, forward it to someone you know does not get it. Unfortunately with the Blow-Up over HB 2072, we never did get to discuss the merit of what was being proposed and why it was being proposed. Yes, the manner in which the legislation was handled was at best foolish and perhaps even stupid. The outcry from active, engaged sportsmen and women was justified and certainly to be expected. However, now that AZSFW has had their bashing, I would like all of you to read below why AZSFW says they were attempting to pass this legislation. The information presented in this letter should be alarming to all sportsmen and women. To those of us who are passionate about wildlife and our hunting and fishing heritage, this is not something we can dismiss! If we choose to focus only on bashing the supposedly bad people who tried to pull one over one us; then the really bad people, the extremists who want to end what we enjoy will clearly be the winners. I am biased, admittedly so, because for almost twenty years I have fought to engage sportsmen and women in all phases of wildlife management. This effort includes politics because this is unfortunately where most wildlife management begins and ends. I learned this in the fight to preserve trapping in both 1992 when we won at the ballot box and in 1994 when we got our heads handed to us. Both then and now the Arizona Game & Fish Department was and is restricted from being involved in political campaigns. While the Commission voted to support our efforts the expertise and resources of the agency had to be withheld. The same would happen today! You cannot expect the Arizona Game & Fish Department to be our saviors in any political issues. They have their own agenda and are restricted in how they can participate. Sportsmen and women must stand up for themselves and be prepared to be both proactive and defensive in the protection of hunting, fishing, and wildlife management. I am also biased because of my past direct association with AZSFW. As a founder of AZSFW, I am a believer in why we formed the organization. I know well the people who are involved and they are passionate about preserving wildlife, hunting and fishing for all of us. I am also dang mad that they did not see what they were doing would be viewed by most active sportsmen as an assault. This clearly has diminished their ability to function and be successful at what is so important to all of us. They need to rethink how they are doing business and rededicate themselves to actively working with sportsmen and sportsmen conservation organizations. Sportsmen also need to accept a more positive role in this process. So far what I have seen is people only taking shots at AZSFW while not advocating for a coming together to create a better working relationship among organizations and individuals. I have seen so much misinformation, inflammatory language, and implied threats, etc. that I am embarrassed for all of us sportsmen. Active sportsmen are the key to the defense of hunting and fishing and we all must recognize this and be a part of that defense. It's up to you, you can continue the rhetoric or work in earnest to be part of a much needed solution. Let's try to bring all of us together to address issues that are about to bury us. Pete

Stan! Hope you are enjoying your day! 40 is the new 30!

REGRETS OF THE DYING - Bronnie Ware For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives. People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them. When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five: 1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it. 2. I wish I didn't work so hard. This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence. By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle. 3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result. We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win. 4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying. It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships. 5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again. When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying. Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

Great great buck! Congratulations to Steve and thanks for sharing your trophy with us!

Top notch buck and nice mount to boot.

Way to go Jackson! That is one beautiful buck and you will have a great time chasing a bigger one! Much congratulations and welcome to big game hunting. Nice to have you.

I brought up the idea of a "pre-meeting" so that time is not wasted. Amanda has John's number, I had to get with her, to get his number when I had direct questions/concerns to address with him. I know Amanda is open to giving you his number privately as I'm sure John doesn't want to paste his personal contact info on the world wide web. If I gave the impression that I would arrange this, I apologize. I do not know either of your schedules and I am a busy man myself. Last I heard, you two were both open to a pre meet.

I received your PM. Thank you so much for sharing that with me. You are a blessed man.

Now THAT was fun! Love the powerwagon. The oysters fresh from the ocean...yum!

Wow Coach. I'm intrigued and happy! Looking forward to hearing about it.

I will be there. I hope to see the fine gun room at Bass Pro filled to capacity. It would speak volumes if people would actually show up. Otherwise it's the "same old story" and people only talk the talk. It would send a clear message to the ADA and the others looking at this, that when people get pushed, they'll push back.

http://worldnews.msn...onservationists A conservation group demonstrating an anti-poaching method for reporters in South Africa accidentally killed the rhinoceros they were using in the demonstration. The rhino, nicknamed Spencer, went into convulsions and died after he was shot with a tranquilizer dart in front of a crush of TV cameras and photographers who had been invited to document an operation to insert a poison capsule into his horn. The private reserve near the capital, Pretoria, calls in veterinarians to sedate rhinos so their horns can be treated with a dye and an insecticide, and tracking and identification devices can be inserted. A male in his mid to late 20s, fairly old for such an animal, could not be revived after being sedated Thursday, said Rhino Rescue Project spokeswoman Lorinda Hern. "The rhino had an unfortunate reaction to the anesthesia," she said. "Every time you dart a rhino, you take a risk that the rhino might not wake up and unfortunately today was one of those days." Conservation groups insert poison capsules into the horns of rhinos, which release poison into the horn when it is removed from the animal and are meant to render the horn value-less for hunters seeking to sell it on for use in traditional medicine. Conservation groups sometimes remove horns from rhinos to deter poachers, as msnbc.com's Dara Brown reported in the video below. The horns are similar to hair or fingernails, and grow back after several months.

Chris, I never used to think about life & death & our limited time we have in life. That is until I had a close hunting partner and friend pass away. It made me think about things and how I was wasting too much time on things that, in the end, wouldn't matter to me. I began to start investing more time with important people in my life. My Grandpa was getting up there in age and I spent a lot more time with him and shared more great conversations. I also began telling him how much I loved him. With me being from a Mexican "machismo" culture, it was a little hard to do at first, but boy did it make me feel good. I could really tell the effect it had on him too. Towards the end of his life, he would thank me everytime I said it, and I said it everytime I said goodbye. When he passed, I felt like I had really done my part and given him the best of me, while he was still alive, when it counted. It is a great feeling and one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I try to be that person to many people. I don't waste time with "ugly" personalities and appreciate the honest and true individuals in my life. Don't think about death and see the negative (morbid), but as venadito said, think about death and ...start livin'!