AZcoues_addict

Nice fish and great pics! We've gone out last year and this year a few times to Pleasant and loaded up on the stripers, its great. We've also done the overnight fish, with crappie lights and really killed the stripers and whites that way too. I was told they want you to keep all the stripers too, even the small ones since they are really going after the shad. Tony's definitely right about knowing how to read the fish finder. We used to do it every year at Powell as well, but now its more like every other year up that I find time to make it up there.

I have the Harris 9-13" swivel model and use it almost exactly the same as CouesSniper. I've use it for years now and love it, highly recommended and very accurate.

I think the draw was needed in most of these units to reduce hunting pressure and increase the quality of the hunt. But I think they also need to further increase the heard for quality in these units now that there is a draw. Many of us archers have just rolled over saying it was the best thing, but the next step now needs to be made, and this was why I didn't approve of it in the first place. No proper future planning, just simple-minded management with short-term goals. I don't think it will affect the age class of the deer much, since once the buck population goes up, they will just issue more rifle tags. The buck:doe ratio is managed to be one of the lowest in the country, and it was approved to decrease it further. If you have to sacrifice your bonus points and draw opporunity at these tags, then they need to manage the whole unit differently, not just the archery season. This applies primarily to the units south of the CO river. It doesn't make much sense to manage quality archery units, that are not managed as such for rifle. I'd personally like to see the buck:doe ratio increase, and to see the rifle tags decrease in some of these units. I'd hate to think that we are only limiting archery hunters, so that just as many deer can be harvested but with a rifle, without increasing the heard.

Almost fell out of my chair laughing!!!

It says he can "kill or take" the animal, but obviously there should be some legal method or definition for killing or taking? Maybe there isn't or its hidden somewhere else? I assume you can't hunt deer in NM with a shotgun. If I'm right, and he can't legally hunt them with a shotgun, then he shouldn't be allowed to "take" them with one either. Just my .02

I wondered the same thing. I drew back to back lope tags last year, was hoping for the three some this year, but just didn't happen. Congrats.

Not drawn... Not drawn...

Congrats on a nice Stinky! Thanks for sharing

The bad thing is that these are most likely non-residents purchasing hunting licenses, so at almost $160 per application that might play a big part in the decision (if there is a decision). If it were up to me, I'd say Rules are Rules.

So, maybe "IF" this was to happen, they'd be better off omitting the Salt from baiting in general, it is everywhere. I know many places I hunt, salt is there almost year round from other hunters, and I'd have to personally move it to hunt there, then I'd probably get spotted moving the salt and get busted anyway. From looking at the general responses of this thread, it seems that Salt is one of the highest factors in the equation! Maybe I'm jumping the gun here, maybe not. I don't think so. Forums not only get the word out and get us talking with our peers, but get our thoughts and plans organized. For every person who talks about this on the forum, there are probably 3 reading who don't respond, and 5 more of our hunting acquaintances that we discuss this with outside of the forum. I think your influence on this forum is more than the influence at the meeting and this is why. I've been in a room full of sportsmen, every one of which was opposing moving tags from the early archery elk season into a late archery elk season; every one of which was opposing moving rifle coues tags from december to october; every one of which opposed moving archery deer tags to a draw. Our opinion seemingly made no difference at any of these meetings, and the attitude conveyed from the AZG&F at these meetings portrayed this. I assure you, they were not convincing toward any of the proposed changes, but they still acted like the proposals were a sure thing to happen. The problem now is, I feel that once we see the proposal, their minds are already made up and even though the discussion takes place, it makes little difference on the outcome. I fear many of us have this feeling as well. If they don't value our opinions at the meetings, then we can only resort to these types of forums to give our opinions to influence others to show up to these meetings and oppose these types of changes, or to express our opinions BEFORE we see it in writing. That is what this is about, the prevention, or getting the word out and all sides of the issue presented before the decision arises. When the meetings come up, many show up with little understanding, info, or with no organized plan of action or argument. This is a good place to voice our concerns and discuss it amonst ourselves, to plan and think things through. Then to get the support or join a group like the ADA to back our initiative. I respect your opinion Tony, you always have good factual information or relevant data to shed the light on these topics, but I feel that many of us oppose this hypothetical change in some form or another, depending on the specifics. I feel "IF" we feel this is an issue, it is good to discuss it here before the meetings, where it may be too late. Personally, I fee that we have enough laws, I don't think we need any new laws at this time. If baiting is generally stated as presented by Tony then I oppose it, although I don't totally disagree with all of its intent, I disagree with the complete package due to small inclusions; its too broad for me. Now that I've spilled the beans, that some low writer on this board (or however you said it) may influence more people than he thinks, don't go getting a big head.

Well here is another play on "substance", what about scents? It seems most scent-type attractants would be banned? It is not the actual bottle that attracts them, it is the smell not the substance? Are sound and smell so different? They are both physical in my mind. According to my logic, if calls are O.K. then scents should be too as long as they are on your person, and as long as a bottle isn't physically left in the field? Also decoys? I'd have a big argument with you if you can't use decoys. What are decoy manufacturers going to think of this? I know bird hunting is more specific, but how will this apply to big game as an "attractant". My point is just be careful with how you word things that might hang many of your fellow hunters, who have used attractants as hunting tactics for "eons", in your wording. The general intent might be good, but the overall result might not be such.

If this baiting law passes (which I hope it doesn't), then I at least want those to consider how it is worded, very carefully. Tony's example is excellent, there is an open mountain lion season 3/4 of the year, so chute planes should technically be banned whenever a "season" is open? Huh?

Well, either the right bidder didn't know about it, OR... its not worth 10K since nobody bid? I think its strange, but it is what it is.

Welcome to the site. Beautiful buck, congratulations and thanks for sharing! You've got some nice sheds too, thanks for sharing all the pictures!

I wouldn't buy any film trail cams, too much time and money. If you want a cheap one, Cabelas had the Wildviews in a double pack, 2 for $99. I think they are 2.0 megapixel, and are sd card cameras. Not bad for the money for a cheap one.

Trying to outlaw salt is going to be extremely difficult and I personally feel it should be allowed anyway. Its allowed in many other states, has been for years, feed too. Why do we suddenly need to reduce archery hunt succes even more? We've already instituted a draw for the high percentage archery kill units, itsn't that enough!? It should be all they need to properly manage their numbers. Discussion of reducing the season is also being planned for other units to further reduce archery success. The real question is what is the target, and where should we draw the line. 15% average success? 10%? I think its fine where it is and here's why: The numbers I'm seeing in the Hunt Arizona book show a consistent average of approximately 85000 rifle deer applicants over the last 3 decades. There aren't any more people applying for rifle, just less deer!!! The number of tags has decreased in about 3 decades from around 85000 to 37000. Meanwhile the number of archery tags has gone from somewhere in the 10000 range to 23000! That means archery demand is 21.3% and has increased 130% in 3 decades while rifle demand has remained nearly constant! The stats show approximately 12% of the total harvest is archery. They claim not everyone reports their deer, but even if we doubled their number of archery kills, it would only then equal the demand of 21%. This is with NO changes, and the archery draw is already on its way!!! Don't be blind, they want to confuse you and make you think too many deer are being killed archery, but its BS to me. More rifle hunters switched to archery for the "opportunity", and now they want to take away "opportunity" when it seems below the demand or right on target in the worst case scenario! The bottom line is tag sales are down and they want to bring them up. BS. Archery success is below or with skewed numbers just meeting the statewide "demand" that it should according to their philosophy. Surely some areas get more deer killed with a bow, and less with a gun, and the draw is in place to take care of those units. But what about the others? Should we cut the # of rifle tags in the other units and allow archery hunters to use crossbows to bring those archery kills averages up! Or reduce the rifle season to one day in those units and allow archery year-round? It ridiculous, just manage the heard according to best practices you know and stop trying to create computer model to show you how to maximize profits. OW, your example is exactly what they want, and its scary, more than triple the # of hunters in the field with nearly 1/2 of the deer of 3 decades ago? Think about it before you buy into it so quickly. We did have 2-3 times more hunters in the field a few decades ago, but there twice as many deer and the buck to doe ratios were slightly higher. There were doe hunts and archery doe was allowed too, but those are gone now because our heards are so stressed that we can't hunt doe anylonger (with the exception of limited youth tags). I'm so fed up with all conflicting information they're trying to feed us. Leave the hunts alone for the love of God!!!

Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on a beautiful buck! You sure are lucky on those late tags, I've only drawn 2 out of 6, but not in very good units. I'll guess he grosses around 94.

Bidding starts at 10K, that means its worth what the final bidder pays!

NO WAY! You are lucky, lucky, lucky. Glad to hear you got it back, you deserve it with all those pics you've shared. Now get that camera to work! Haha, just kidding, well not really? I use a small walmart chain ($4) with an inline combination lock on mine. It won't stop those who really want it, but neither will a bigger chain, they will use bolt cutters if they really want it. It only prevents the easy temptation for those who aren't so honest.

Welcome to the board. That is just great, congratulations to your daughter and thanks for sharing. And archery, non-the-less, I love it! Hope to see more posts from your family's success.

Beautiful buck, thanks for sharing! Gross = 84, Deductions = 1.75

I'm envious. Congratulations on a huge, beautiful buck and thanks for sharing!

1. Rangefinder! 2. Lots of practice shooting (and stalking). Practice on smaller bucks if you can't stalk the big ones. 3. Thick socks or something VERY quiet to stalk in. Go SLOW, then slow down some more. 4. Pay attention to wind direction and lay of the land before stalk. Plan the details of the stalk, including key landmarks (multiple if you can, not just 1 or 2). 5. Have a backup plan and his retreat area(s) in case things change. 6. Be ready before he is. Arrow knocked, release ready, nearest landmark distance ranged. Wait for him to bed or be in an area where you can stalk him. If he's not, get as close as you can and wait in an area where you expect him to be headed. When he stands up and feeds, watch, wait patiently, and close the distance or cut him off if you can. If the stalk is blown, watch their retreat and do it again. Get up high and glass for him or track him.

Great shot placement. Awesome buck, I'd sure be proud of him too! Congratulations on a trophy buck, and thanks for sharing!

Wow, that's an incredible buck, congratulations! Can you say expensive year / taxidermy bill? g1 1.75 1.75 g2 10.5 10 g3 8 7 g4 0.5 0 Beam 16.5 16 IS 14 Mass 26.5 Total 112.5