lonne

Met Bill, great guy. If it's true very sorry to hear but RIP Bill Q.

What is occurring with mountain lion populations in Arizona that lead AZGFD to make a change to lion season? Are there any other notable changes I might be missing? Thanks in advance. Perhaps something with kittens and nursing, but I didn't catch the full details. Normally, lion season is 1 lion per hunter per year. I do not have previous regs in front of me but I believe it is something like July 1 of previous year to June 30 of the following year. Well, there has been a change. For 2018 to 2019, lion season does not go continuously throughout the year. Instead, lion season runs from Aug 24 of this year to May 31 of next year. Therefore after June 30 of this year/month, there will be a lull until August 24th. There are also harvest limits in each zone, and a call in number, similar to bear. Good luck hunting, everyone! Lonne

+1 on Kelty. I don't know how they might have changed over the years (positive or negative). But I've always found them to be relatively affordable to other brands with good quality.

Best Bivvy is the Outdoor Research Alpine Bivvy. It costs a pretty penny but there is great ventilation. Any of the other bivvies and you will deal with serious condensation. I've slept through heavy rain, snow and serious sleet storms in it. Always wondered what would happen if a cow or a bear accidentally walked on me. I suppose if it was a bear they can smell so good it wouldn't be an accident and it might be more like teeth. LOL. I have never been disappointed with the inflatable super light Thermarest. Still have not punched a hole in it, in many years. The MSR Dromedary 10 Liter has been awesome for putting some days in. None of this stuff is on a budget though, sorry! I once somehow thought I could get away with a $99 sleeping bag at 10,000 feet and I ended up nearly hypothermic and nearly frostbite. Learning the hard way is not fun but somewhat required or else its easy to make a dumb mistake. Definitely do not skimp on the sleeping bag, although it does make sense to get one rated for the temps you will be sleeping in. But don't trust the temp ratings unless there is a price tag to justify it on the bag. Have fun!!!

I am not hearing any good reasons as to why this CAPAZ raffle/auction, or whatever it is or could turn into, is a good idea. I am willing to hear from people that are regularly on this site. Better sell it good though, because it smells right now and can't see it ending up to be a good thing.

Hunters should be suspicious and concerned about tags being taken away. Not hearing any good reasons why regular hunters should allow this, or any confirmation this grab couldn't escalate into something worse later.

Pretty cool Adam !!!

I sure hope you're way off, time will tell I sure hope I am also. It was nice to have rain this early. It will be a good refreshing reprieve for the wild game.

And now the realization sets in probably no more rain for 3 weeks. I sure hope I'm wrong!

Is this why AZ lion regs are changing next year?

You can. Some other states will honor it though. This and purchases are quicker.

Nice photos Shawn! Hope you get one. Good luck. Thanks for sharing.

Liars korner has the best worms hands down. + 1 Liar's Korner

My rain chances have went to 40% at 10pm. LOL.

Is there a better way??? An alternative. 7am after guzzling down 2 cups of Death Wish Coffee. Posting symptoms are similar though, be careful LOL https://www.deathwishcoffee.com/

I went to Apache Prime Steakhouse for the first time last year. That place was awesome! The Porterhouse was huge and good! Looking forward to going again this year.

Shoot it before June 30.

Be careful BP guys (L, C, you know who you are, any others!).

I could see that. Popular time of year. No hunted lion pics would show up in Arizona or occur in public in the summer time. Hmmm... And there is definite truth to when an animal is "out of season" we will see them more often...their fear of humans during that time will lessen and they aren't dumb. Last summer I was hiking up in norther AZ during monsoon season, around July 7, 2017 or so. I hiked a 30 miler. I was rained on, which was quite pleasant considering the heat. But the straps on my pack did not react well, and took a long time to dry even though they felt dry. I was nearing the end of my hike, carrying a lot of weight. And the pack straps kept slipping and causing me all kinds of twisted carry issues. I was pretty miserable and making it known, out loud. It was dusk and a really nice monsoon was coming in (It was fun driving home in that amazing thunderstorm!!). I had noticed some really spooked deer, does and fawns and thought I spooked them. Suddenly I realized a small deer-sized mountain lion about 100 yds away was crouched and checking me out. I did what they tell you not to do, I tried scaring him away, and he didn't budge. I was raising my arms and yelling at him. I finally started marching toward him with arms raised and very angry, and he turned tail and ran some distance, then stopped to check me out. I nervous as heck and basically walking backwards for the remainder 2 miles of the trailhead. Later I remembered I had my pistol on me and a lion tag (don't ask me how in the world I forgot that !!! ) and I could have filled that tag. Although it seemed to be a small lion so I'm glad he got away. Don't see lion often out there, but I'm sure they see us and I'm pretty sure I only attracted his attention by being alone and out loud miserable. I was basically calling him in :-) And he was curious. But, this year July 7, I would not be able to shoot that mountain lion as a hunt, as July 7 would be out of season. Lonne

COA, No - it has not been this way for sometime. But I am not sure I understood your question, exactly. Not sure what "has been this way for sometime." Please elaborate. As far as lion season goes, in the 2017 - 2018 regulations and all regulations in years prior (2016 - 2017, 2015 - 2016, 2014 - 2015, etc. etc. and so on, all previous years) it was year long July 1 to June 30 (so yes, if that is what you meant - it has been that way for a long time). In the 2018 - 2019 regulations, it's changing to Aug 24 to May 31. This is a big change. Example: the current lion season is July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. It has been this way every year for years, so basically a non-stop open lion season with 1 bag limit per year per hunter. And one unit even had a multiple bag limit b/c of threats to the sheep population. But, on June 30, 2018, this annual non-stop hunting season for mountain lion will end and the season will shorten a few summer of months of the year. From July 1, 2018 to Aug 23, 2018, mountain lion season will be closed. This is for the first time since I can remember. I don't remember when lion season was ever not year long, but some of the older hunting veterans on this site may remember and chime in. Additionally, there will be "harvest limits", and when reached the season will close. We will have to call in, in advance, just like for bear hunting, to determine if the season is still open. Lonne

it rained in Tucson yesterday. I got hit by 5 rain drops from one small cloud.Wow!Thats a lot of rain. Hope there was no flooding That's an Arizona 3 inch rain fall! 3 inches between the drops. I think you mean the rain hit a whole three inches of the ground in a 3 mile square area.

The amount of people racing dune buggies, razors, atvs, on some of the more crowded roads, absolutely amazes me...it's like these people have no sense whatsoever. I cannot imagine the injury and fatality numbers on statistics. I use my lights, flash going around corners at night, honk through the corners during the day, and I've still been nearly hit by these foolish people... Lonne

Rotated!

I second that! There are a lot of hard working hunters out there, and Keith works very hard putting his boots on the ground! Great job.

Good show. Rinella is a cool hunter.