Coues 'n' Sheep

I know I am sure having fun with my Kowa's... They are Wicked!! The guys at the Outdoorsman (Cody & Cody) are certainly the guys you wanna see if you are interested in changing your game in ways you never thought possible! On a separate note: AZGF are going to have to make a rule change for guys like Jay, Darr, myself and others who own these.... Like "...those possessing these binos must only use and opperate them within 100yds of a paved roadway as to reduce success rates in the other portions of the unit." .... Bah HaHaHa :P Good opics kill more game than any other tactic we use!!!!!

Bah HaHaHa... that is awesome!!

This sucks! Nothing worse than being stolen from! Hope you get the mounts back...

Nice!

Nice Buck! Like Coues Sniper said 110"+!! Depending on how big his body actually is he could be closer to 115". Good luck on him... Dandy buck!

And.... my point.... We all have common ground here... and we must all stand together on the topics that continue to pick away at our way of life. Moral of the story is: If a douch bag & key board pitbull, like Lance and a guy like me can agree here, on this one topic, then so should you all. Please join your fellow hunter and write letters to anyone and everyone, go to the Commision meetings, and fight for all hunting not just your hunting. This is our state and our wildlife we should have access to it wether we are an able bodied young man or a crippled old man, or whatever... we should all have a chance to do the best we can and acheive our deams in the outdoors. Cheers!

Funny I normally get fried alive on this forum anytime I am fired up about the things that matter to me and the people I care to hunt with.... and on this topic I am the only one with an oppinion?? Not even big mouth AZ Lance has a sharp word for me??? I am feeling way too in the right on this topic with out all the pot shots... Maybe for once we all really do think that BIG Government is just slowly strangling us all and taking everything from how we get to the woods, where we camp, and how we do it once we get there??? Bust out the pitch forks! A sold one voice from all hunters saying this is Enough is really the only chance we have, if any. HaHaHa

That is also on the agenda. As part of the same revisions to the rules, you'll now have to have all cervid meat boned out or "packaged" before bringing it into the state. Also, any skull coming in has to be completely free of "soft tissue." As for your earlier points, I totally agree that the areas people are baiting are areas that are not, and probably would not, otherwise be hunted. I hear people complain that X number of deer were shot off a certain bait site each year, yet no one seems to care when 10-15 bucks are killed out of a single canyon during the rifle hunt. Yeah... and exactly how are they going to enforce that??? Are we going to invoke border crossing checks from one state to the next? How about border units? We have a huge deer migration into our state from Utah each year... we can transport those animals bone in all over the state. There are sooo many "What If's" and so many holes in this entire deal.... IT STINKS!!! All of it stinks!! Plain and Simple... Big Government finding more ways to spend our money on enforcement of uninforcable rules/laws, instead of simply managing & educating. I am Tired of them all!! And soon you will only be able to walk from a paved road with a sharp stick in hand for your "Hunting or Outddoor Opportunity" if you combined all the Big Government Agencies and Greenie agendas that are stacked against us!! Lat time I checked, I paid my fair share of taxes to every dam agency with thier hand out, and paid all the permits, lic. fees, use & parking permits required by Big Government and they still wanna reduce my access, and how I use MY (our)LANDS AND MY (our) WILDLIFE!!! I am gut full of it... QUIT MAKING MORE RULES AND LAWS.... PERIOD!!! That needs to be the American public's stance on EVERYTHING!!! Enforce what we have, punish accordingly, and let's keep it simple!!!!!

The bucks are 2 different colors??? ....all I saw was big grey antlers!!! :lol:

GBA, I have liked the "harvest objective" idea for a long time... It suits all and is a better management tool than any other option being discussed. And although I know they (AZGFD) and the other major supporters of this rule are targeting "Eatable Baits" and are now selling it as a "Herd Health" issue (CWD), but my point is that there are FAR worse concerns at water and salt sites then at locations were someone is tossing a little corn on the ground. I have not seen anywhere that they have any data to support their claims or agenda. I see it as a scare tactic and I don’t believe we have far less to fear from CWD by way of local bait sites than we do from careless importation which has ZERO monitoring, BTW…. There are unboiled heads & unprocessed (bone-in) meat being brought into this state all fall long and absolutly no monitoring. So lets inforce the littering law that is inplace on the excessive Master-baiters, and focus on CWD in the other manners in which it really should be. Just my $.02....

Opening day of Deer season would be my first really day of scouting... every day before that really doesn't matter much as soo much is changing and new deer will more through as the hunt progresses...

I find it Ironic that the AZGFD and the pushers of this rule have no issue with forms of hunting which bare "advantage", tactics that they personally use. I find it sad that the WM's that are the driving force (and have been for some time) are fellow hunters. Years ago when I began speaking with some of these guys on this topic (in central AZ), they were for banning bait because bow hunters were killing too many deer (most of which were in country that rifle hunters could not productively hunt). Your spot and stalk hunters hunt the country that is more conducive for rifle hunters and have the lowest success amongst bow hunters. My argument to them was always that we are hunting different deer populations and the response was that it was too much success and an unfair advantage. Yet they will hunt over water, use spotting scopes, and big guns... Let’s face it folks!! We all like our “personal advantage”!!! This argument has gone on soooo long and so many hunters have picked up the tactic in recent years that the amount of attractants being purchased by hunters and placed in the woods has doubled, maybe even tripled! For Example: Unit 22 north in January has so many different forms of attractant every square mile that the “advantage has literally Vanished!! I think hunter success in the January bow hunt has almost decreased in unit 22 and if not it has certainly stabilized, even though more hunters than ever are hunting it each January! The “advantage” is not nearly as great as it once was and frankly on some deer it is a deterrent and not an advantage at all! Pretty interesting when at least one doe that comes in looks up at every tree looking for a hunter…. HaHaHa… We as hunters extinguish our advantages by over use and poor practices, that is why the sport continues to evolve and new “advantages” are discovered. EVERY piece of hunting gear we use could be called "unfair" by someone!!! I know old traditional bow hunters who hate just about every other form of hunting and consider it all to be less than honorable.... I respect their opinion, but I completely disagree!! I think we all have to respect one another and our individual participation or ability in the field. Example... I have a good friend who is disabled... he has an early archery bull tag this year, and is going to be hunting with a crossbow and a champ permit. I think he should be able to use every "advantage" under the sun to fulfill his hunt expectations. All hunters should be able to use any method of hunting that not only allows them success but also a fulfilling hunting experiences. Now I know this can also be misconstrued to the point of being over board… but what I mean is that all hunters regardless of age, sex, or physical ability should have the opportunity to succeed, to not only get to experience the outdoors, but to harvest. AZGFD loves to use the word “opportunity”, however their definition of it does not include success for the hunter, just the opportunity to attempt success. And let’s face it… Even if we employ EVERY “advantage” known to man it does not guarantee us success. There are folks every year that do not fill tags in the Premier “trophy” hunts, the hunts that by some would be referred to as “slam Dunk” hunting opportunities with a happy ending. Lastly…. CWD…. Come on… if trick tanks and salt licks are not the biggest threat for the spread of any saliva borne disease then I don’t know what is… Let’s just leave it as it is we don’t need any more rules or laws!!! Big Government SUCKS and this is just another example of the Government wanting us to do as they see fit!!! This is really no different than outlawing large fountain drinks…WHY? WHY? WHY!!!!!!!!

Congrats on an Amazing tag! We tried to get someone in our group drawn for that with no luck. We spend over a 100 days a year in 23 so we have extensive knowledge of the unit as well as a full time hunting/scouting camp there. Let me know if you are looking for any help on the hunt, we will already be there for your hunt as it is at the same time as the Coues deer late hunt. Judging by what my Cameras & Glassing are showing me we may be seeing some pretty dang good antler growth this year in 23. Again, Congrats on an Amazing AZ hunting opportunity!!!

I also see it as a witch hunt... Amazing how baits could spread CWD only if eaten??? ...so water and salt does not hold or transfer saliva? I knew they were gunna go after scent attractants next, HaHa.... Hypocracies... lots of them... they can "sell it" any dam way they please. Truth is that the Central AZ WM's units 22 and 23 have been telling us for years they were after the bait and they were only interested in driving down the harvest numbers.... only in the last few years when we trumped their call with the "Opportunity" they would be affecting did the CWD come up... typical politics.... "Sell It Boys!!" I will fight for my fello sportsman, and Sportswoman till the end and call BS on your Crony politics!! Anti Harvest is ALL this is about!!!

Amen! Congrats Sparky!!

Here we go again... I agree with many that this is just the begining... we all know that they are gunna go after water sources next.... what better way to end the "first come first serve" dilema, and the added "advantage" than to outlaw water catchments, tanks and springs from being hunted over. What happens if you shoot a critter with a rifle that is standing on a rancher's salt lick? What happen if someone dumps bait under a bush cause they don't want you hunting there?? And what about opportunity???? Women hunters, kids, new hunters, the handicapped? They are the ones that REALLY suffer the most from this rule change... How we "out smart" our prey should be our choice based on our own definition of a "a hunt"... Bottom line they wanna sell the tags, but they don't want you to fill them....Do Mountain lions care how, or what advantage they used to close thdeal on a meal??? NO... Survival of the fittest and smarest... lions take more deer each year than all hunters combined I bet here in AZ... This Idea of a rule has more Hypocrisies than anything I have seen yet... and swings a door wide open to wage war on all hunters/sportsman and any "advantage" that the AZGFD and the Greenies see as "too much". I know we all don't see eye to eye on many things, but we ALL must stand together now, they are coming for us! AZ hunters are some of the most inovative outdoorsman in the western US and that is why they want this rule... they want control the things that they deem as an "advantage"... Cover sents, calls, urine & tarsel glands.... whay 10 items do you carry in your pack that they might start adding into this rule as time goes on???? One Voice as Sportsman... That is where we all need to be!!!

I sold my 15's for 10x50's and have no regrets... but I also just aquired a pair of Kowa 32x82's so the 15's would have gotten no use anyhow.

I got one of those notes this recently, just got off the phone with the guy and am glad we got to talk. He was cool and so was I... and we will be trading info rather than trying to screw eachother over. Life is too short to play games with others hard work and effort. Best of luck, I have also had letters like yours that imply rudeness... that makes it a much tougher deal. If you can't hunt along side them then, Out hunt them is what I always shoot for.

Way to Go Brady and Company!!! The Nation, this State and most Definately his home Town of Payson AZ is Very Proud!!!!!! Prayin' for Gold in the individual!!!

Congrats on drawing one of the most history rich sheep hunts in the state! I shot my P&Y desert ram there in 2001 and it changed my life forever and that hunt lead me into many other great sheep hunting opportunities! I love that country and the hunting that lies within it! If you are looking for help please don't hesitate to contact me. CONGRATS AGAIN!!!

Whaaa Burger and French Cries??? It certainly is closed for the right reasons...and yellow tape closers should mean CLOSED to all of us... to protect us all from that "one guy" (or gal)... Geez I can't believe this is even a topic... Who in there right mind would wanna kill anything in this HEAT, that isn't 10 feet or less form the ice chest or walk-in right now anyway... Sorry I just had to finally put my 2 cents in... Ridiculous!!!!

Whenever I have a problem with any Covert: I put an empty card in, brand new batteries, turn it on, and then remove the batteries... I was told to try this by someone at Covert and it has fixed everything from runaway pics, to overexposed photos, and control paddle issues.... They called a a "hard reboot"? That is all the advice I have for you Pal. Good Luck.

Congrats to all the lucky Elk tag holders!!! I once again struck out... but my wife finaly drew her first choice bull tag! Best of luck to you all and if any of you need anything reguarding your central AZ hunt feel free to contact Jeremy or myself at any time! BTW... for those wondering... (with no score shopping) Colton's Bull Grossed a shade under 383" B&C!! Congrats Son!!

Sorry for the long read.... My Good Friend and hunting buddy Jason (CW.com member JasonClay) called me when the results came out and excitedly told me his son, Jett, had drawn his first choice juniors deer tag…. That is how it all began. After months of talking about it, Jason and Jett met Colton and I at “camp” 2 nights before season and the scout was on! We went straight to a couple of my favorite glassing points at first light the next morning and by 10 am Colton had turned up one possible shooter and we had turned up one (maybe 2) more shooter Coues bucks. You see Jett had already made up his mind that his “Any Antlered Deer” tag actually meant, “Any Large Antlered Coues”… So we didn’t even count the large framed 4x2 carp that I videoed! The next morning was lots of rain and I turned up a Giant 3x Mulie and in the PM after the worst of the storms passed Jason and Colton glassed another great Coues that they felt was in “too Rugged of country for a juniors hunt”… Opening morning dawned with much excitement as Jason and Colton would return with Jett to where we had seen all the bucks on the first day… and I would go in an opposite direction with another CW.com’er and son (Mike and Jarred) to chase some of the great Mulies to be had. By mid morning Colton had spotted a new buck that he and Jason dismissed as “too far and not quite big enough for opening day”… 4 hours later Jason re-spots the same buck who is obviously on a mission... and is now getting very close to them… They now get a better look at him and realize that he is better than they thought and they should try for him. As they ease a bit closer the buck keeps coming… once they were as far as they could go without losing site of the deer they set Jett up and waited for the buck to come. The buck was done closing the distance now and was at 405 yards. We all knew that Jett shoots “lights out” at 300ish, he has proved it every time he picks up his .243, today Jett was begging Dad to let him shoot this buck at 405… Jason and Colton agreed that if he was Sure he was steady then he should take the shot. Jett got the rifle on the tri-pod and one elbow on a knee and then immediately got the buck in the scope… then he professed that he was not steady enough and needed his other elbow on his other knee, so Colton placed a rock under his foot to elevate the knee to the desired height and then Jett settled in… “Jett, do you see that bush? He is right below it.” … “Yeah, I got him.” … “Are you sure you are steady enough?” … “Yup.”… Colton could hear Jett’s long labored breath and then the bark of the rifle… Whop! The buck lunged forward about 10 paces before piling into the dirt! Jason and Colton were Speechless… they looked at each other then at Jett who was barking for orders after he racked another shell into the chamber… and then the mountain side erupted with their praise and excitement! Of course the buck was 400+ yards down off in the haired over canyon and they knew they had the rest of the day of hard labor ahead of them and lunch was over a mile away on the Ranger. But I don’t think that all caught up the them till they were half way out of that H e l l H o l e… Jett’s buck had NO ground shrinkage so the adrenalin rush kept them moving. They took great photos, processed the deer and the split everything up for the trip out, Jett of course packed out his head and cape, Jason packed all their gear, and Colton packed out all the deer meat of the Big bodied buck… We were eagerly waiting for them at Camp and it was worth the wait! Congrats Jett!! We are all Sooooo Proud of you and the Lil’ Man you are have become!!! Jett's Buck was camp scored at 98 6/8" gross and let me say that you have Never met a kid who is more Thrilled about his deer than Jett!! (see below) On a side note.... Jason, Colton and I discussed that evening around the camp fire how amazing it was that twice Jett had, with ease, aquired the buck at 400+ yds with little effort and Jason made a great point by saying that Jett has been shooting a SCOPED bb gun since the age of 6... and has always had a gun in his hands at every chance... target shooting, bird hunting,coyotes, rabbits, squirrels... Jason has nurtured the shooter in Jett since he was old enough to safly handle any weapon.... And it Shows!! Way to Go Dad... this deer is a success years in the making!! Thanks for Reading.

$1200 would probably be a safe bet for a Coues that big...maybe more to the right buyer...