COOSEFAN

Alright, I pick up my new ride tomorrow! I'll post pic's but it won't be totally built yet. I am installing all the accessories myself to save money, so I'll do a before and after. I need to get a smaller CWT.com sticker from Amanda for it also! Thanks, JIM

That sends chills up my spine just thinking of a place like that! I had a similar experience on my dads Buffalo hunt on the House Rock Ranch about 20 years ago. Shed hunting wasn't even close to how popular it is today and a previous winter had kept all the deer down off the rim right where we were hunting Buffalo. Everyday and every time we went out, I came back with more than a 10 year old and two adults could carry. I didn't realize how special it was to experience that and didn't comprehend the size of some of the sheds until years later. I hunt the same area every year and can still find a few sheds but nothing close to that of the good ol' days. I have heard that there are places in the NW end of the Grand Canyon you can hike to that you can't shed hunt and few people have ever been to, that are as you describe, sheds laying all over, from fresh to ancient. I would guess your spot is a place like that, but I'm sure it's not the Canyon, cause' you wouldn't have carried them out. Would love to know where though, maybe a state? Or a part of a state? Or a unit #? Or the exact coordinates?!!!!!! JIM

Congrats on the "brownies" guys, and AZP&Y, your post makes me feel a little better about being stuck at home! Headache, great job spotting that one in the snow, and that set is what I dream of finding every time i'm in the woods, thats awesome! JIM

Thanks Rick, I am waiting on a call from my bro, he has a buddy that owns a gun shop here in town and is getting me some prices. I figured that could get me somewhere to start in deciding as well. I know they are expensive and can see how you could get well over a $1,000.00 invested in one, so I need to be carefull in deciding what I can/should do. I really think we are going to end up taking our bows, but I could pack a "Git-R-Done" handgun in my pack as a back-up just in case. That way we're not hauling in rifles but still have a gun that will do the job. I still have your number and will call you soon. Thanks again, JIM

Hey Bass, I just bought a custom rear bumper for the Prowler last night on ebay. It had a light kit available for $120.00 that had all the wiring harness stuff you would need which hooked up to the reverse switch, and two small lights. I didn't buy it, too much money, but was curious how hard it would be to buy it cheaper here and install lights myself. I also wondered what the maximum would be for adding lights, front and back, as far as wattage goes? Is there a limit to size/output etc.? Post some pic's of your Rhino when it's done! More D, I think the Prowler looks the best out of all, but the Rhino with upgraded 14' aluminum wheels and bigger meatier tires looks even better, they are very similar overall, and the marsh green Prowler does seem to be the hardest one to get, I got lucky to get mine, that flourescent green is pretty bright! Thanks, JIM

Congrats, that looks like a coues-killin' machine! JIM

Ultramag, I never got a straight answer on price for the 700 Ranger, I talked to 4 different dealers and they all gave me a price range between 11,00.00 -13,000.00 out the door, but wanted me to sit down and do the paperwork to find out exactly!? I really wanted the full cab kit on whatever I bought and that is what narrowed my search down to the Ranger and the Prowler. The Rhino had some aftermarket cab kits that were fabric with zippers available but not what I was after. The Ranger cab kit would have been difficult to track down and $3,000.00 just for the kit, not installed. The kit looked awesome though but is almost exactly like the Prowler kit which is around $2,200.00, not installed. It's alot of $ but will be worth it on a late Kaibab hunt especially with a heater! I wasn't having the greatest experience dealing with the Polaris dealers around here, if I were to buy one I would go to the one in Rye, south of Payson. I have heard nothing but good stuff about that guy, Bass would know more about them. I think if you could melt the Ranger and Prowler together with the Rhino, you'd have one heck of a machine! They are all good. If I had the same add-ons as I got on the Prowler on a Ranger XP, it would have been over $16,00.00 from what I heard. I never sat down and crunched the numbers with those guys, a little too agressive for me! Azhuntnut, A Samurai would be cool! I just don't have the mechanical know-how to work on one if it broke down or fix it up, but, I could replace every peice of glass in one, blind-folded! BTW, How did your trip with Manny to the Rez go? Thanks, JIM

Thanks Rick, I wrote it down. Is he a dealer that I could buy from as well? JIM

holy crap! I was wonderin' who was pickin' em all up! Thats alot of bone! Good Job! JIM

Hope you had a great B-day! Thanks for the great story's and incredible pic's last season! JIM

I would like to second that! I have not been blessed with kids yet but I live to hunt with my dad! It's very sad to see kids that don't have a father to take em out or have one that doesn't take em out! I've been very fortunate to have a dad that sacrificed his own desires in hunting to make sure his kids were there every time, no matter how many deer or elk we spooked off. JIM

I can't wait to be back from that hunt to share the experience, hopefully it's a good one, odds are it should be. I have been really kickin around the idea of taking my bow. I have taken most of my animals with a bow and would love to add an archery moose and/or caribou to my wall. I'm just leaning more towards getting these animals under my belt and then go with a bow later? I like adding the challenge of limited weapon and have even been thinking of doing it with a handgun this first time. Does anyone have any thoughts on moose or caribou hunting with a handgun? What would you think would be the best gun for the task? Thanks, JIM

I knew I shouldn't have gone to the expo today! I booked a Moose/Caribou combo hunt today with my buddy. There was two last minute openings available and we snatched em up. The hunt is this Sept. 5 2006 in Alaska and they kill book bulls of both specie every year. It is a un-guided hunt so all they are doing is flying us in to a already set up and furnished camp and dropping us off. They said and have pic's to prove it, that the Caribou success rate is usually 100% and they boast they have the highest rate for un-guided Moose success at 50% and the world record was killed in the same area last year! I have always thought these hunts were very expensive and never thought I could afford to do it, but I'm getting this hunt with airfare and all combined expenses for less then I spent hunting Mexico this year! I have always dreamed of hunting these animals but never paid much attention to any details about these animals in regards to hunting tactics or habits or anything else related to hunting them. Does anyone know of any books or videos I could check out that would help me? Any suggestions on what I should do to prepare, gear I should have, preferred rifle caliber/bullet weights, things to avoid? My dad knows the guy I booked with so I feel comfortable with that choice so far but I don't have the slightest clue where to start now, I only have 5 months to get ready. Sorry for the long post but I'm real excited and can't wait to get started. Thanks in advance for any info! JIM

Thanks for the reply dogman68! I agree one of the reasons I love reading everyones posts here is that I might learn something new. That is the main reason I reply'd to your post, to possibly learn something new about something I know little about. I have only been on dry ground hunts and watching the dogs work a track was incredible, there bawls echoing through the canyons, and not knowing what will happen next or where you'll end up is a rush. You guys deserve alot of credit for producing what you do, there is an incredible amount of dedication and perseverance that goes in to it to be as good as you guys are. Congrats on all your success and thanks again for your insight. JIM

I doubt dogman68 will be afraid to type, someone already took a jab at him and he came back, it was in a different discussion but similar topic. I am mearly stating my thoughts/ideas in relation to what has been said, and I'm curious the reasoning behind it. I have hunted and killed lions but I am not a "lion hunter" so I don't know much about the details. These guys are the best out there right now and what they say has alot of weight, and for dogman68 to say anything, I know there is alot of experience and knowledge backing it up, so I'm sure he's got good reasons and that is what I'm inquiring about. I always thought all lion hunters prayed for snow, even if they had dry ground dogs, and for one to think it should be outlawed? That made me curious. You are entitled to your opinions, as am I, but yours is hilarious, thanks for the laugh! JIM

Did you get mine? My computer has been acting up and I can't tell if my last few emails were sent. JIM <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Disregard....... I just checked my inbox and saw you got it, thanks for letting me know and good luck! JIM

Did you get mine? My computer has been acting up and I can't tell if my last few emails were sent. JIM

You are right. It sucks. Should be outlawed. You can catch a lion in the snow with a sorry hound no doubt. I agree 270 <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers here, I have just been thinking about this since I read this and other replys similar to this one. I understand it's easier to hunt lions in the snow but why suggest outlawing it? Or stating it sucks? I'm just curious. I have heard more than once from reputable lion guides that dogman68 (Randy) is the "lion king", and by Josh's posts and pic's and what I've heard, I would agree. You guys obviously have the expeience, dedication, and great hounds to acquire such a reputation! But why knock the little guys that don't have the experience or great hounds that rely on the snow to help them. I know for a fact that just because there is snow and a really fresh track it doesn't mean your certain of a treed cat, no matter how good the hounds are. I see it as at least being a great time for less experienced guys to train their dogs as well as themselves. I can see why you would state it "sucks" because when it snows you have every lion hunter of all skill levels out runnin the roads creating competition, I understand that, but most of those guys put there hearts into it and are as dedicated as their individual lives will allow, and have every right to be out there. I have read several replys calling these guys "WANNA-BE's", and I think that sucks, because everyone starts somewhere and EVERYONE is a "WANNA-BE" in the beginning. We should also be very carefull about outlawing anything related to lion hunting or hunting in general, because that may very well be a "foot-hold" for the anti's to use against us! I'm just tryin' to stick up for the "wannabe's" with the "sorry" hounds and I mean no disrespect to anyones opinions!. JIM

Exactly right. I believe it's all in what shoots and feels the most comfortable to you. There are alot of great bows out there today and I don't know of an archery shop that won't let you try them all out. I'm a Mathews guy all the way as well, I shoot the Legacy. It's a heavy bow when all equipped but I've never shot a smoother shooting bow. Best of luck, JIM

Ditto!

Hey Bill, if I shoot a Caribou, my buddy and I will be doing exactly that except with some jumping and yelling involved, all in celebration! I have used that trick on Elk and Antelope and it actually works! My dad and I were stalking a good 'lope and could not get within rifle range because he knew we were there. My dad did just as you described and "meandered" in a non-threatening indirect route around the 'lope. It worked perfectly and at around 300 yrds he set up and took him. I had 2 female clients on a cow elk hunt a few years ago and found a herd smack dab in the middle of the "pool table" flats with not a bush for a mile. There were 4 of us and I had my buddy and I holding our tripods and the ladies holding their rifles over their heads. Zig-zagging, we went from 3/4 of a mile to 200 yrds from 2 big bulls and 6 cows, all bedded and half of the herd watched us all the way and never got up. Even at 200 yrds, I think we could have gotten a little closer but didn't want to push it. We set up the tripods for shooting rests and set the ladies up and had them hold on cows at opposite ends of the bedded herd so there wouldn't be any mistakes or confusion. I then had to start cow calling to get the herd up! They seemed very convinced we were not two legged animals and/or had horns of some sort. That particular set up resulted in 1 cow down and had to hold the other lady from shooting because the elk still didn't know what was going on and were running in a circle in front of us with two bulls mixed in, and I wasn't positive she missed her first shot until later. That is a great tactic but it definitely doesn't work every time, but you never know! Thanks again for all the info guys! JIM

A big congrats to you guys! I know of several guys that were out runnin dogs last weekend and have one bobcat to show for it! You guys worked your butts off and were well rewarded! That last hunters name is Shane May , just for the record, and he has been trying to get a cat for several years now with Randy, sounds like teaming up with you guys did the trick! Great job! JIM

Thanks for the info Josh. I have heard of the club before but I don't consider myself a serious shed hunter. I can't get out enough this time of year and seems like alot of antlers are being picked up before they hit the ground. Nothing is more frustrating than hiking deep in the woods on your limited time off, thinking you're there first, and seeing all the quad tracks zig-zagging around and over anything that got in there way! I even know guys that are out right now "flying" units looking for the obvious sheds which are usually the big ones! I don't believe you should be allowed to use ATV's and ultralights or paraplanes to shed hunt. I can't compete with those guys so I pick up the leftovers when I scout in July and August. Good job to the guys that hump the hills and find em' though! Just my $.02, thanks again fo the info Josh. JIM

hey coosefan, I have a nephew that does the skulls, he doesn't use beetles but he does a great job of boiling and bleaching, the skulls come out great, he has had alot of practice doing them for all of our freinds and family and doesn't charge a whole lot of cash, if youre interested I can send some pics. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks bowcrazy, I appreciate the offer but I am trying to avoid the boiling to minimize shrinking. I don't honestly know to what extent boiling shrinks skulls but it appearantly is enough that alot of guys don't do it to skulls they plan on having scored and a fraction of an inch can make a big difference. I applaud your nephew for his desire to do that, it's very tedious work! JIM

With everyone killing pigs now, I was wonderin' if anyone has had their skull taken to have the beetles clean it. We took a lion skull in once a few years ago, we took it to ASU. A supply warehouse for ASU around the 202 and the 101 interchange was the pickup place. My buddy(taxidermist) called them several times and they never called back. We were going to take our 2005 archery pigs in and mine is still in the freezer because I don't know where to take it. If anyone has had it done lately please let me know where and how, I appreciate it. This is my pig from last year, it is right at 15" inches using calipers. The hunt was in unit 21 and was the hardest one I've had, very warm and wet last year, and this was the first pig I had seen in 8 days! Thanks for any info, JIM