Sneaker

I hunted the archery 2011, 12, and 13 with just my hunter ed point each year. (didn't apply in 2014 because of elk hunt) Phenomenal hunting with plenty of mature bucks to be had if you find an area you can hike into with no roads (or no longer any passable roads).

^^^ YUUUUPPP

Wow, doesn't that go against all hunt recommendations and guidelines as far as established seasons of hunts and getting public input etc? See page 15: http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/documents/huntguidelines.pdf

I have a good luck with mine without running any lock boxes. I think I have 9 currently, run them off and on depending on the time of year and what hunts I have coming up. I think I have had one stolen out of maybe 160 "camera months" if you counted one month for each time a single camera was out for a month, and that stolen one was because it was on the strip... haha. There is always a chance of theft, but the further you are from roads, and the less often humans come to the area, the more likely your camera will be fine. Also watch out if cows, bears, or elk can easily access it, it will likely be facing the wrong way or be laying in the dirt when you get back.

I guess there is some truth to #3 as you get an extra bonus point for having done hunter safety.

I think most know this, but none of those are true. They put everyone in a software, then it uses random number generators to assign you numbers for your bonus points. If you are the first or last person in the draw before it begins, or on the list, or entered into their draw system etc, you are just as likely to draw a low number( per bonus point) than anyone else. The programs don't know how to make exceptions, its whole purpose is to be exactly random and recognizes no attributes or history or favorites. Its all zeros and ones to the computer. The only thing that causes you to be more likely to be drawn, statistically speaking, over your neighbor, is having more points, and therefore more chances at drawing the lower numbers when they are generated. Its all just statistics and chance. The funny thing about randomization, is by definition, some people will always "BEAT THE ODDS!" Thats what makes it exciting. Can a resident draw an Early Rifle Bull in unit 9 for 2, 3, or 4 years in a row? Can you win the lottery twice? Can you be hit by lightening 5 times. Yes, yes, yes. Is it likely? No, but is it possible and does it happen? We all know the tag gods smile on some more than others;)

I thought you were talking about a tree scrape. Looks like a mineral or salt scrape, either natural or someone had put salt there in the past that is still in the soil. Nice spot! Maybe the buck will be back next year!

How many bucks that are this large have been killed south of the ditch on OTC tags??? You may be in very, very lonely company in that respect. Amazing buck, congrats

Small 6 this year, maybe 280-290 range? If it was a good/average moisture year, what would be his normal expected results for next year, assuming he is still young? This is not in one of the prime trophy units so genetics aren't off the charts or anything.

Obviously a ton of factors go into this, but if he is still alive by the beginning of September next year, Lance thinks best case could be ~340. Seems possible to me. What about the average bull/unit/feed/year/growth, what percent growth or point differential do young but "nearing maturity" bulls put on? I don't even know how old bulls usually are when they first hit 6x6, 4 to 5 maybe? I'm still just in the learning stage on the species. I know some just stay 5x5 because of genetics etc.

Wow, looks like a whopper desert buck!

Are hooves like that normal?

Its been snowing, though just very lightly most of the time, for around 16 hours straight in Kingman.

Awesome year

I'm waiting to get my elk back from the Taxi. My first ever mount... I was the second bull into their shop this year since I was done at first light on the opener of the archery. Bull is supposed to be done within the next month or so. Do Taxidermists just find it annoying if customers ask for a mid mount progress pic, or is that not a problem and something they do all the time? I'm sure they get calls and emails all the time being asked when the eta is, and where progress is at, and have to get annoyed with that part of the job. I just think it would be sweet to have a progress pic for reference and the memory, and I'm just excited to see what its actually going to look like. Do any taxis send progress picks just as part of their standard operating procedures if the customers wish? That would be kind of cool What do you guys think on the subject? Thanks, Ty

Big Brown is right

In my experience, the most common attractants being used before the ban were salt and water, and you are still allowed to use both of those, so I don't know if that alone will change success rates much. But yes, when they shorten or take away a season, it is almost always because archers killed more than the departments target percent of total kills for the unit on an annual "all season considered" basis.

If you put in separate, the chance that at least ONE of you getting drawn is much greater. But if you both want a tag, put in together.

I need a starter predator rifle, figured a bolt 223 looks to be a good place to start. Anyone in the area want to unload one?

I would love to go there, just figured it probably out of the budget of what I want to spend, around a few hundred bones... Maybe after I get a few dogs under the belt I can justify a better tool of the trade.

Rifle: 4 mule deer, 2 cow elk, 1 turkey Archery: 1 Bull Elk, 2 Mule Deer, 1 Javelina

Is that an AZ buck? The thirds on that last elk are Crazy! Great year

Around Kingman they seem to be in higher concentrations in the rolling hills and flat washes areas...

The edge of the mesas shown appear to be higher and better vantage points for more glassing coverage than where the picture is taken from, but maybe those are the spots you are talking about? Higher the better.

In the desert where I usually hunt mulies during the runt, I don't really see dedicated scrapes and have never heard of anyone using them in their hunting arsenal around here. But maybe I'm just missing the tactic, its happened before