Coues79

I would much rather have a pair of 10 power swarovski or leica binoculars than a 15 vortex. Clarity and edge to edge quality are much better. For a few hundred more, you can find swaro 15's nowadays with folks selling them cheap. Unbelievable glass as a great price. I've never been impressed with vortex binoculars. Just my opinion.

I've owned one.... Had to sell it. It was hard to see it go. Anyways, it was a great tent. Get double doors and a window or two if you will be in warm weather. Also consider buying the joints from them and making the frame on your own. Save money in shipping costs. I loved my 12x14!

Can be a difficult hunt depending on weather. If there's snow or heavy rains the roads get real bad real quick. No UTV or ATV allowed. Elk are getting into their normal wintering grounds. Lots of folks out during the hunt. Yes they are difficult to draw and its not a guarantee elk in the freezer.

So, will they switch out old lenses for their new swarovision lenses..... Even if the model is not the most recent? It'd be interesting if they did.

I don't think Amanda has done anything wrong with redirecting this particular forum back to where the forum was purposefully intended to be. I for one wouldn't mind another forum that is specified for political discussions outside of the hunting community. That would satisfy the folks that want to discuss politics; a disclaimer on what the forum would be about would be good etc.... However, its her site and she can set it up how she wants. It may be that she doesn't want it here period.

Although lions do play a big part of the decline, I would say the biggest problem is the loss of access in the northern portion of the unit. The southern portion gets absolutely hammered. Stockton pass always has deer and a lot of hunters. Might want to start there. The road up Mount graham will hold a few deer. Get off the road and glass. North part of mount graham is big and pretty nasty country but holds some deer. Sure wish access could get worked on cause theres a ton of country getting locked up in the northern portion.

Amanda, Its not letting me send messages to you. Please PM me. Thank you

I will take the spot connect. I will PM you.

Lots of raghorns. There will be a very large number of hunters or "spotters" all over the northern portion of the unit. I couldn't believe how the tag increase affected the quality of this hunt. I would try to focus on the high portions of the western side of the unit if you're physically able to. Or find a pocket down south. I've heard of bulls way way far down south in the unit.... Much further than what others have posted in this thread.

I heard unit 27 for both bull. Don't know if that's for certain.

Again Congrats on a great bull! I hope you guys are stoked to see the issue come out in Eastman's. Your daughter deserves to be one happy young lady, as do you as a father. I'm glad that bull was taken by a good DIY hunt. Good to see.

I'm confused. . When has it been illegal for someone to set up spotters and act like they are there with a hunter? I also don't think anyone has a right to try and force someone to show you their tag. If an outfitter has 100 guys surrounding a hillside with a buck on it I'm pretty sure there is nothing azgfd is gonna do about.Are they being paid? Are they working for a guide? Do they have a guide license? If they are being paid by an outfit and "spotting" does that meet the term for "guiding" and is that legal under the laws that we have for guides? I honestly don't know the answer.... I am wondering. I've seen this being done quite a bit around Payson. And no, I'm not trying to stir the pot. I'm wondering the legalities of it.

I'd like a helicopter to just drop me and my stuff up on the mountain a couple days before the hunt so I don't have to carry a 100+ lb pack on my back for miles!

I love my 15's and 10's.... But, lately i have really been wanting to have just one pair of glasses. I've heard excellent things about the new 12's. Lots of folks would give up 15's for them.... Makes me think.

How much rain fell?

That's a very cool picture! Sure is a gorgeous looking hawk.

I have heard that the plan does call for paving it all the way to big lake.... I sure hope you're right about it not going all the way. I don't like seeing it go in period.

Got a Dec 27/28 tag in the house. Score.

I don't think it'll happen today. Hope I'm wrong

Don't overload Dustin with facts. His brain might explode.Or waste your time with it either..... It won't do one bit of good.

I feel your frustration 110%. The problem is that their hands are tied in having to call all those declined cards. With the system that is setup now, there isn't a faster way that they can get results out. If the law changes to where they can charge upfront fees, then this wait that we experience will be gone. I imagine they want results out as bad as we do as to stop fielding calls about the draw! But until then, get used to the wait.

Exactly. This is the solution for the wait.

What's difficult is that out of those 800 that are rejected, they allow the time to make the three calls. Then, if they don't get that rectified, they move onto the next card.... well what if that one gets rejected as well? They have to make those same calls again..... a vicious cycle could ensue. I am sure the dept is just as frustrated as we are, but, unfortunately, it is something we have to deal with. Too bad for those that applied for archery hunts that start here in a couple weeks.....

That's really cool. It sure would be awesome to have things run smoothly from here on out. There's been issues for years.

Isn't it so kind of them to be delivering mail to good ol b.o. the old fashioned way! A buddy and I got some on TC last year with the same big totes. Sure makes me sick seeing that crap coming into our country. Makes for a less than a good nights rest when on a pack in hunt down there.