This tree is awesome








I've camped under this tree before and it's always something, herds of sheep driven through at midnight and a mule using the corner of the trailer for a rubbing post.

It has also become kind of a shooting range for locals I guess.

Funny thing is most the holes in the tree are beetles.

Two weeks of antelope and deer hunting starting tomorrow.

This morning made coffee, found one medium buck antelope in my #1 spot all by itself, no does. They dropped the tags to just 10 archery in this unit, numbers must be way down.

Monsoon has been heavy this year, grass is high, tanks full, sitting water may not work.

More scouting to do. I found a high spot to post from.

Adios...

Kent

Looks pretty homey on the inside of your trailer. I like it.

Good luck Kent!

Regards

Yes, good luck.

Looks great! Have fun.

I like your camp setup.
What kind of deer hunting, Mule/Whitetail?

Nice! Sure looks green out there.

Good luck there Kent.

That's a lot of grass, no cattle out there yet? Seems like whoever holds the allotment would have them getting fat on that stuff.

And yeah, your old trailer set up is cool.

Good luck & good times Kent !!

It’s nice to see some green in the middle of this drought.
Good luck with your hunts.

Got back and made breakfast.

Back out in the field and just glassed up another buck with a single doe. Season seems to be earlier than previous ones, just prerut activity.

Kent

Quick answers... mule deer can be in this area, not a lot but some, antelope of course is the primary target. I have lope, deer, turkey, lion tags on me. Turkey I'd have to go 20 miles to higher country to possibly find.

The trailer is the one I gutted and redid, calling it the wood trailer. It's cluttered this trip being up to two weeks and then move to elk camp.

So much water there's a lake where the road went through, I wondered why no fresh vehicle tracks.

Back after it.

Kent

Krp: Good luck on the Hunt and camping.
Enjoy.
Let us know how you do.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Cool little trailer.

Good luck!

Don’t see many trailers with wood like that inside - pretty cool.

Nice camp!

I'd let you be the camp cook anytime, Kent!

Is that a trap and drag on the shelf? I'm partial to steel.

👍👍👍👍👍

Nice setup you got there.

Beautiful country too.

Very nice setup. Good time indeed. Good luck in hunt. Keep us updated.

Like your set up! Happy Hunting!

Good luck Krp!👍

Very cool!

Like others have said, very nice.

Solo?

Cool old trailer. Just right for one or two people.


Clyde

😎

Good Times in that cozy camp .

That looks pretty hard to beat. Especially that breakfast.

Supposed to storm tomorrow. Found another single doe, then a bigger buck with 3 does. Moved 10 miles in lower country and have yet to see an animal in the usual places.

Archery antelope, trying to figure an ambush strategy now that water is so abundant.

Answers, yes there are cattle but it's so green they don't have to range far.

2 traps on a drag, can't use them in AZ for quite awhile now.

Yep solo, though the wife is warming up to it, a queen blowup fits nicely in the front area.

Thanks guys, I really thought the tree sign was hilarious, but threads just take their own path.

Kent

Ha, 2 raghorn bull elk got caught and took off running as soon I finally got the camera on them.

Low country elk

Kent

Agreed.

12 does with a huge 1 horned buck... darn

Kent

krp;
Good evening to you Brother Kent, thanks so much for the photos and bringing us along on your hunt.

Good luck on the chase tomorrow. I hope the storm isn't a bad one.

All the best.

Dwayne

Wish ya luck, Kent. Keep us posted.

Gorgeous Kent, jealous here !

Yikes.

Makes for interesting getting around sometimes.

Low country? That stuff is so flat and featureless I'm not even able to guess where you are.

Thanks for the answer about the cattle.

Why not go after the one horn guy? Sounds like an interesting critter. Then again, being one, I have a fondness for oddballs.

Enjoy the rest of the hunt and ( I won't say it as I don't want to jinx you)

I was in the area of ol one horn and this rain hit, just moved 10 miles and it's less dramatic rain.

Problem with one horn is he's in that flat country and a stalk is impossible, I was hoping to see them from a distance and maybe pattern. I did push a lone buck driving right after those pictures. He hauled ass in the rain.

I'll shoot any legal buck, got 2 weeks.

I enjoy the rain we need all we can get. Been wet most of the day, changed cloths once already.

Kent

Ah AZ hunting!

Is Jack going to help out at all?

Regards

Jack is trying to get his daughter a bear this weekend.

Kent

Saw what I thought were lopes shylined at 700yds, they were mules bucks.

Kent

I hunted antelope with a traditional bow one year over outside of Kingman. There's some pretty flat areas there too, but nothing like what you're in. Had a couple of close calls, but nothing I was comfortable with loosing and arrow on. I, at least, had some brush and mesquite trees and few draws to work with for stalking.

Happy trails and good luck Kent.

Well, OK, adios lucky badstid if you insist.

Good fortune on the hunt and stay safe. Rattlers gotta be getting fat now.

Looks familiar!

Have a good hunt, Kent!

Well double. Chit, went after the mules and had a nice antelope buck coming at me, was hid in the juniper and he was 103yds eating to me, a truck ces up the road and spooks him. I move a half mile after him and get 105yds then he spots me and hauls ass.

Kent

Better luck tomorrow partner!


Enjoying the pics, nice work.

I was impatient the second go, tired of the rain, wanting to hurry it up.

Kent

Wife made me chicken and dumplings to bring so I warmed them up, was really good, she does nice stuff like that to get me out of the house and stay out for a bit.

Found this in a store up here, didn't know they still were made... and a cool prize that'll keep me intertained for hours.

Sounds like you're getting your money's worth. That'll just make it sweeter when you get one. Good luck tomorrow.

What is all of that green stuf? Our landscape is totally brown here.

Good luck! Look like a beautiful area

OOPs.

Not your fault tho, right.

Next time!

Barry, you damm sure would if you'd ever eaten his cookin' - Chef in hiding!

Mark, looks like the rain went to you, how's your grass doing?

Kent

Thanks for all the reply, didn't think this thread would take off the way it did. Posting on my phone isn't as easy as the computer, autocorrect and all, it's tough to acknowledge every reply but I appreciate them all.

Kent

Time to get after it.

Good luck Kent

You probably already know this, but antelope decoy fairly easy as compared to other game animals

That camper is awesome.

Good luck out there.

Glassed up a herd of 10, saw my first fawn. Big buck was chasing a doe around, then another buck showed up and he chased that one off. Pretty good show while drinking coffee and eating my boiled eggs and banana.



They finally crossed over the horizon so I threw the pack on and took off, decided to go after the lone buck. Found him and watched him for an hour, he knew something was up, I was hiding in the juniper, he was out in the open. He finally left.




Taking a break, jerky and snacks, 4 miles back to the truck. Here's my brunch view.

Kent,

what unit? PM if necessary

Regards

Kent,

moisture going east today, if you are near NM, you will get plenty more.

check the drugstore in Springerville, all kinds of cool stuff there.

Sycamore

Good luck Kent.....

Unit 4b, I hunt between Heber and Holbrook.

Been in that drug store many times.

Thanks Greg

Kent

Thanks! Been in that unit a time ot two...



Have fun and be safe!

Regards

Just found one roomer, I know there's a bigger ruin close, I found it over 20 years ago before the burn took out all the juniper. Mostly black and white pottery in this area.

I always take a moment and look around, what did these people see and do here 1000 years ago.

Kent

Good luck when the rain clears and you able get back at it.

One of your scenery photos gave it away for me but I wasn't gonna say anything.. grin

I really like that unit...

Tons of ruins in 4b. Keep the pics coming ...

That’s awesome. In all the time I’ve spent hunting and fly fishing in NM & CO, I’ve only found one small sight and a couple of small pieces of pottery like that.
Never found a arrowhead there.
I’ve found a ton of arrowheads and flakes of flint here in TX. No pottery shards though.

I would have LOVED to have been the first ole cowboy to have road a horse into the canyons of Mesa Verde in CO or Chaco Canyon in NM. 🤠

Yeah. Just checking though. JLG, KRP, etc find some out of the way places at times.

Regards

4B is the unit that one day I hope to have a goat tag in if AZ still has goats when that happens. I try every year....lol

Thanks for bringing us along on your hunt. Good luck and Gitter done...

Shhhhhh lol

It don't matter anymore dude....

Oh, I know...been that way for a long time.

Regards

This is your "high spot"? Are you in Kansas?? Better get on top of that cool trailer.
All the best to you, bud - have some great hunts - you are deserving.

By God antelope can be boring, sitting almost 3 hrs on this smallish buck and 2 does. Closest they've gotten is 191, 1 hour of light left and they lay down again.

At least another buck could show up and run them around, but no...

Ahh well...you're not ready to go home already anyway, right?

Better luck tomorrow!

No, I came to hunt, rifle hunting it'd have been over first morning. Archery it could be 2 hard weeks and no kill... but a bunch of hunting...

Kent

Vehicle came to the impassable lake, turned around and left, antelope walked off in the opposite direction of me.

It was a slim chance at best.

Kent

I hope that you get one. I can’t imagine getting to within bow range with everything greened up and all of that water.

Ya, closest buck today was 135.

I did the decoy thing years ago and didn't work, not that I knew what I was doing, may have to give it another try.

Kent

Pulling for you, Kent.

Keep at it bud. Just maximize opportunity and it'll happen. All archery is....

Love the thread and what 24HC used to be...

Really enjoying this. Thank you for sharing your adventure. That trailer of your is very cool.

Thanks guys, did dishes, talked to the wife, ate a sandwich, enjoying a coke and 101, sitting by the fire looking at the big dipper.

Life is good.

Kent

Cheers. Hoping for success, but looks like you already are.

Oh, bino review... I picked up some Tract 12.5x50. They do fine. Side by side with the Leica 10x50 ultravids, the Leica wins out in sharpness. Utility wise I just carry the leica and a tripod for when I need it.

Coues hunting I'll take the 15s, but elk or antelope are like lightning bolts, easy to see.

The Tracts will work well for the grandkids to start out on.

Kent

looks like a tough hunt, what's your dont shoot distance.

norm

I'm good out to 70 in perfect conditions, 50 and in is optimal. Most importantly is body position on the animal, broadside or slightly quartering only.

Everything must align.

Kent

Morning

Small buck 2 does

Guy scouting for rifle hunt drives in and blows them out. That's why I walked in.

Kent, I just looked up where you are hunting and realized it is a hop-skip-and a jump from Show Low. Be careful!

I know, it's a fairly big risk, he's the only guy I know that drives his Mercedes to a campout and sleeps in it....

Kent

Taking a snack break, working around about 2 miles to get in front of those antelope, they had me pegged behind them. Fools errand most likely.

Kent

I know sombody that did that ....

If he shows up, tell him if he drives it fast enough, it'll make it through that road lake...

I know a guy used to staple his target on a particular power line pole until the pole fell over

Ha ha, I knew I'd get a pm calling his BMW a Mercedes...

Just checking to see if he was reading.

Kent

I wouldn't know how to hunt in all that flat!

Some for now and some for tomorrow out in the field.

Kent

How I miss these...

That looks good!

Great pics again.


I was thinking about you and your hunt today when a herd of about 20 pronghorn skirted around the edge of a field that I was swathing. They were too far away for any pics.

Pronghorn are finally making a decent comeback after the horrible 2010/11 winter.

You aren't in AZ anymore, right?

Kent

We have few lopes here, only 10 archery and 15 rifle tags in this huge unit, mostly it's fawn retention, some units will have zero, coyotes get them. I've seen 30 animals and 1 fawn.

Kent

Storm coming

Correct. I still come down to help etc during Fall and winter.

Regards

And for tacos...

Kent

I'll be eating as much Mexican this October as I can!

😉

You won't go hungry. They're crossing the border by the thousands.

I'm totally striking out on antelope this afternoon... but I'm seeing elk everywhere, one herd had 12 with cows and spikes, another 4 cows and these 2 small bulls.

Makes me remember my first deer hunt. All alone, southeast Idaho somewhere a little west of Pocatello. Drove out there and up a few dirt roads, took turns by-guess-and-by-gosh, left the pickup when I reached a place I could go no further. Started walking up a mountain in the dark...got about a mile up there, didn't even know where I was but found a place to sit with my back against a tree. As it began to get just a little bit light, I could see forms moving all around me but had no idea what they were. A little more light and I realized they were all elk. Everywhere. A damn wonder I didn't get trampled---they were everywhere. Didn't see a single deer all day long.

Don't get trampled, Kent. Them suckers are blind.

My nephew had killed a couple cow elk as a Jr hunter, aways with me along. He was 21 or 22 and not long out of the LEO academy, was a police officer in showlow. He was able to get an associate cow elk tag on the rez. I hunted the archery tag and knew the area, some big herds there.

We drive in and up on top of a flat. Tanner is walking ahead of my brother and I when a herd runs up from below, about 60 head. They split around him, he was swinging his gun back and forth as the flew by and couldn't get on one, finally when the stragglers came by he picked one out and shot her.

Brother and I were laughing our ass off. I walked up to him and said, you have hoof prints on your chest... he could only shake his head.

Kent

Thanks for the added photos Kent - and hang in there - archery antelope is so tough.

Your account here reminds me of several years of frustration trying to get a tag up in 19A - would drive up over Mingus rather frequently going to another campus and almost EVERY time on the way East early morning would se a very nice buck north of the road. he looked bigger and better every year - there were very few available tags in that unit and I could not draw one. Rats!!

Finally drew. It was rifle - I had not the needed skill for archery - and then never saw him from the road. Walked and crept a lot on that plain and in those foothills - he fell to the 25:06 on the last morning. Have not hunted antelope since.

I forgot you were in Prescott Paul. My great-grandfather owned the Winsor hotel late 1800s to his death in 1915, on corner of Montezuma and Gurley st

Great-grandmother was the school teacher, taught in all the schools around the area. Was Yavapai County superintendent. Her son my grandfather was also. He taught Grammer school in Clemenseau which is now Cottonwood, he was instrumental in getting a high-school in Clemenseau as the kids had to go to Clarkdale high. My mom was born in Clarkdale and went to the high-school there, it's a copper museum now, my daughter found a picture of my mom in some class pictures they still display there.

Anyway I ve had one rifle tag and killed the first morning. Cheryl was along and had to help drag it over a mile to the truck. She tells people I don't mind helping gut or drag, but I won't chew the hide...

Kent

Kent, Did any of your family know Jim Roberts? Clarkdale area.

No wonder it's so flat!

Nice antelope country.

Your family had quite a presence up there in the old days Kent. By the time I got to that area there was one consolidated HS, Mingus Union, which served Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, Cornville, etc - and the former schools were museums, public buildings, etc.

We developed a branch campus in Clarkdale in the 80s and it grew very nicely. I really enjoyed Yavapai County as a whole and our club had a very nice range west of Prescott.

By the time I was old enough and knew my grandfather he had retired and moved to Tucson. I'm sure they knew most everyone from the 30s to 60s.

Kent

Went through the pastures yesterday, Black Gramma heads are knee-high in places. Start dropping seed any time now.
8- weight heifers, laying down, could be missed - if they didn't pick their heads up.
Antelope hunters got "a BIG buck" last weekend. I didn't see it, had to be in El Paso. If the judge says he was big, I'll take his word (he's hunted on us for years).
Since the monsoons hit ~ June 21, we've had 9 to 10 inches. We've got water in some dirt tanks for the first time in 8 years!

Good to hear Mark, the seed heads are about to drop here also. About time you had some good luck.

Kent

Well I glassed a buck at about a mile, he was moving, searching, I went way around to maybe cut him off in a high meadow, he's not visible, I'll wait and eat my breakfast tacos.

Kent

Yes sir !

What a great and refreshing thread. You are a fortunate man, Kent. Please keep us up to date.

Do you mean the old town marshal?

By the time I knew anybody in law enforcement, it was Buck Snoddy in Cottonwood, and Noble Pirtle in Clarkdale.

I think Pirtle's nephew still has a small ranch at the foot of Black Mountain.

My daughter loves Cottonwood/Jerome, she goes a couple times a year for the wine shops and to get away. Wife and I went with her once a we stayed in Clarkdale. Early morning while everyone was asleep I walked the town, the park with the old bandstand, the school, looked out over to the Verde and old smelters I think below. We went to the high-school copper museum later, biggest copper museum in the world, copper from all over and different human ages. My daughter found a picture of my mother playing the piano in orchestra. My mother often played in our house growing up and for the grandkids when they were little, my daughter remembered it well.

Later I researched my family and the area. There were two mine barons, Clark made Clarkdale and the other Clemenseau.

Clarkdale was the first planned community in the US, Clark first was building wood houses down by the smelters, but they caught on fire. He then made a brick plant on the river and built Clarkdale up above. He wanted the best for his workers, the town was a modern marvel. The high-school built in the 20s I think was the most modern in the US with science labs and such. The brick houses are still there and well kept up.

After the mines quit the high-school eventually closed for lack of kids,

Kent

Is Cheryl getting persnickity?

Great pics!

That's sure great news to hear!

Oh she hasn't changed... except she won't help drag anymore, even on her pwn deer.

Kent

Watching these bucks scape and piss everywhere, rub their scent glands, rut is starting.

Kent

I find these old style cans occasionally, date back aways. I always envision a cowboy enjoying a can of peaches out on the range... could have been beans but peaches just sound better..

I don't do cans but do have the snack packs... I'm going to eat one right now to honor the old hands..

Well the buck kept going I guess.

I need to go home take care of a few things, buy a decoy and get back up here to hunt tomorrow afternoon hopefully.

It's been really fun so far, 10 days left.

Kent

Marcia says "you go girl!"

Do you mean the old town marshal?

Yes, that's him. He was a top gun in the Pleasant Valley War, later got into law enforcement.

Have a safe trip home and better luck when you get back to huntin'.

This makes 2 good years in a row!
Something to celebrate!

Living the dream!
I can't wait for a time 20 years from now when I can do such a hunt at my leisure.
Good going and good luck!

Loving the ride along Kent - Awesome thread, Mate !!

Got decoys, headed back up this afternoon, made another batch of jerky and a pot of stew. Start again fresh in the morning, 9 days left.

Kent

Thanks for the thread , great pictures, camp and country . Best of luck

Good luck Kent! You appear to be having a blast, hunt hard and keep us posted.

You gotta neak up onem.

Best of luck Kent.... hope the hunt is successful.....

like 6 weeks for our season to start for deer...

some antelope starting real soon, but the few times I went, didn't see much...

its weird hunting antelope in the woods, but that is what it is, on the east side of Crater Lake....

saw some folks bringing then out in the back of their pickups...

And I was thinking I should be there cooking

Sounds like you need woofs to clean the coyotes out.

PTL. Blue quail in that country?

Kent, no buck decoy to put up?

Great thread Kent, really enjoying it! Good luck with the hunt. Looks like you're having a blast. I hope the decoy works for you!

I bought both a buck and doe decoy.

Wife asked how much they cost, I said just over a tank of gas thinking I was sneaky.

She's like... WHAT! Oh my God...

Kent

Back in camp

Neat thread, thanks for the updates. 👍

Jim Robert's sounded familiar, he's in all the old Jerome museums and his story's are legendary.

My great grandparents would have known him, they knew Virgil Earp after he was shot in tombstone and went back to Prescott. They were fairly high society in Prescott. Popular school teacher and business owner, they were married in the Munds mansion 1900.

My grandfather was a famous hunter here in AZ, they ran dogs for lion and bear, teddy Roosevelt invited him and his partner to hunt with him at judge wheeler's ranch in California when he was president.

I know all this because the newspaper of the area was the miner journal out of jerome, it's digitalis up to 1922 I think, lots of articles about my great grandparents.

Just look up Jim Robert's in the miner journal and it'd like turn up a bunch of articles.

My ggfather died in a horse wreck hunting a cattle killing lion for a rancher, solo with one dog horse got caught up on a Boulder at night coming out of Smith canyon, threw him off, hit his head, landed in a pool and drowned while unconscious. Huge article about it in all the AZ papers from flagstaff to Bisbee. 1915.

Kent

Very interesting background your family has!

Another bit of family AZ history is ASU. It was first Tempe normal school or Arizona normal school a school for teachers. My great grandmother went there in the 1890s, then went to Prescott.

My grandfather went to asu to be a teacher and met my grandmother, who died of breast cancer right after my brother was born and before me, she also was a teacher and taught where my gf did in clemenseau.

My mother went to asu and met my father, he was an engineer for Motorola in Tempe and she taught kindergarten.

My sister went to asu and got her teaching degree.

My daughter graduated in biology, was a high-school teacher and now science administrator for Mesa public schools.

5 generations of AZ educators.

Kent

My ex had some kind of real estate function that I tagged along with and Marshall Trimble was the guest speaker, after he finished up he was selling his latest book, Az Outlaws and Lawmen, so I got a copy and it had quite abit about Jim Roberts in there.

I'm in the spot I've always seen antelope, naturally there's none here this morning, I'll give it a bit longer.

Kent

As you know, they could be in tge next draw over in that roller country.

Good luck!

Well F me, it worked, a buck showed up behind me, came right in but I was exposed on the wrong side of the doe decoy, he jump when I drew he was 30 yds, he stopped and I guessed him at 60, but missed the shot, overshot.

Well, that's encouraging!

He was honed in on the buck decoy

Very cool! A close encounter always helps!

This was his view he walked up to about 10yds from the buck decoy, l found my arrow then walked back, now standing in his tracks from where he was when I shot... 52yds ranged to my shot position.

He was one of my targeted bucks I suspected would be susceptible, scratch him off the list.

Gotta make the next one count, if I get a next time.

Bummed

Kent

Good work, Kent - tough situation, so forget that miss. Looks like you are going to score with this approach. All good fortune, bud.

Never underestimate the power of breeding...

Great thread, archery antelope is a lot of fun. Keep after them maybe you will get the next one.

Reset up, time to eat.

I was playing the odds, best place to setup and watching/sitting downwind of the best area a buck would come from, they must not be able to smell, that buck came from over a ridge and was directly downwind, he was closer than 30yds wind right at him, he never smelt me.

Lessons learned.

Kent

Antelope in the rut lose their minds, after sundown I’ve walked right up on them after chasing them around all day.
Seen the same with wild eyed young buck deer during the rut, directly downwind so close you can see their eyelashes, they didn’t care.

I had reset on a ridge instead of the valley, see able to more areas.

After eating I decided to pack up and hike to the truck, move some miles to another place I've see lone bucks.

After packing the decoys I see an antelope download at 150, with the naked eye it looked like a doe. With binos it was a small buck, he had been coming in and was below the horizon, I didn't see him he didn't seeme till he got high enough. I got the buck decoy out and shook it at him, he wasn't buying it. We both walked back to my truck, he's still out in the open about 400yds.

I'm not bummed about him, I'd of shot him but am more encouraged about decoying a bigger buck.

Kent

Glassed up a doe and small buck at noon, 1000yds with sporadic cover, made a stalk and got within 84yds.

Buck was the smallest one yet, I'd a shot him... but been embarrassed...

Kent

That looks to be like one cozy camper, Nice.

Ate my stew and buttered bread, I put a can of rotell tomatoes in it, it was damn good, I'm stuffed.

No fire tonight but the stars are great and a little WT101 in my coke makes for a relaxing night.

I glassed a really good buck right before dark, pictures aren't great but I'll try for him in the morning.

Gotta share the typical bs you have to listen to...

So I didn't get back to camp till 3 after all the morning events, ate and laid down for an hour. I get ready to leave again and a guy pulls up in an side by side. He's a local and knows all about this area.

He tells me to wear a white t-shirt and walk right up to antelope or they will run to me, he does it all the time.

A few years ago g&f were coming out of this area at 4am with antelope in cages. He saw them.

4th person to stop in camp to help me kill a deer or antelope.

Oh and he was out running the roads through the same area I wanted to hunt looking for elk, though he hasn't a tag this year... thanks buddy.

Kent

Yep, I've heard of the white flag thing too Kent !

A horn toad told me...

Beware the horn toads.


Cool story about the buck walking up towards you.


Not sure about them bucks, but on that hunt I had years ago near Kingman I found out how smart does are and how well they can smell a fella. The herd buck and a junior wanted to come in to the water I was sitting by, wind quartering away from me and the water, the herd coming up a small wash. Herd doe gets up on the flat and won't come in, kept working her way straight downwind of the water (and me). Bucks kept taking steps toward the water, really wanted to come in. Eventually that lead doe got into my scent cone, didn't like stuff, and slow trotted away towards the next water a mile away, taking the rest of the herd and the two bucks with her. I don't know if the bucks ever winded me, but they weren't leaving the girls.

Keep at it Kent, seems like you've found a solution.


Still, beware the horn toads!

Cool! Used to find them all the time as a kid...not so much anymore.

We've looked. Apparently there are a couple of places in out county where they've been found, just not in our neck of the woods.

Found them all the time up around Show-Low, Pinetop-Lakeside when we lived in that area. My wife loves the little critters.

Last one I found was up on Mt. Lemon near Mint Springs. IIRC

I saw a few up on the Kaibab close to the north rim a few years ago. Saw one on Mingus mountain recently. Neat lizards.

Jag, we'll get a covey every 20 years, or so.
They never last.
I've seen 3 pheasant in almost 50 years - once apiece.

For ANY critter - especially humans!

Darn. Thanks, Mark.

I saw it, right after Kent finished it. Cool little camper, only one draw-back.
About 2 inches too short for me!

Good fortune, Kent.

Said a little one for you.

Ya, if you are over 6' 1" you have to stoop. I've got about 3 inches to spare with my shoes on.

Keeps the rifraff out...

Kent

Windy all day then some rain.

This morning had a small buck out eating, setup the decoys, he saw them but had no interest.

This afternoon moved miles away to avoid the storm, tried to find a spot I found many years ago, didn't but hit a dead-end on a road, walked over the rise and a herd was right below me, the does had me spotted. They moved a half mile, I went back and got the bow from the truck, had cover for half the distance. They were still 500yds but that buck was the biggest one I've seen yet, they ate around, I finally left before dark.

Kent

Sooooooo....

What's for dinner?

Tamales

Kent

It was heat tamales or grilled cheese sandwich, getting in late I don't want to make a 7 course meal.

Kent

krp;
Good evening Brother Kent, just a quick note to say thanks for the very pleasant thread.

Sleep well and good hunting in the morning.

We'll check in then.

Dwayne

Thanks Dwayne, it's 8:30 tamales are almost ready, sitting by the fire, my phone doesn't work in the trailer, guess I built it to well.

Going in to eat, night all.

Kent

Beautiful country; those sunset shots are great.
I didn't draw a tag this year on deer or antelope so I'm enjoying your hunt virtually.
Keep it coming!

So cool Kent. We had a bunch in NW Nevada as a runt and a adolescent but I don't think I've seen one in the flesh in 30 years.

Kent, are you feasting on 'lope loin yet?

Not yet, this morning first off I had a good buck at 200yds on opposite ridge, he was moving, got the decoys out when he was behind cover, he saw them but wasn't interested. He eventually caught up with two other bucks. They were all on the prowl but not interested in the decoys. They would go over a far ridge, then the 2 bucks would run back, eat around, then run off, come back eat around.

I moved a couple times to try and catch them coming back... and once I was 1000 yds from my original position, that's where they ran to.

They weren't scared of anything, bigger buck chasing the smaller for a half mile, then they'd stop and eat side by side, continued for hours. I circle all the way back around and they walked back over my original position, by my truck and a lightning storm hit, so I left them about 11.

I have no problem finding them and staying hidden but it's become like whale watching, except it's antelope watching.

I moved camp 25 miles to where my hunting buddies are deer hunting didn't really want to travel so far but I need a change.

Kent

Storm coming at me, I got a little wet and lightning wasn't too close, been in a lot worse.

Kent

Great saga Kent.
Enjoying the play by play..... I am rooting for your success

Beautiful.

LOL!!! Not always, Kent. I'm the same height as you.

You guys talking about horn toads got me thinking about one I found on top of Shultz Peak up near Flagstaff in July 2020. The horn toad was almost as big as my hand. See photo

Kent,
I hope you are having an enjoyable hunt. Time spent doing stuff like that is what makes life worth living’. Keep at it, thanks for the photos, and hope you are successful

Ok, tall rifraff...

Kent

I am having a great time hunting regardless of killing.

Kent

Not tall, just rifraff!

The two running bucks came by me, I had to guess distance again and overshot again. Really tried to buckle down on a good range with my eye. Open range is deceiving and I guess the size of antelope isn't close to deer like I thought, been practicing ranging bushes and structure, been pretty close, just not tuned in on antelope I guess. Used my 55 pin, I guess he was closer.

Kent

Exciting!

Frustrating...

That's why they call it "hunting"!

Hang in there!

Gitum, Kent. I think you'll succeed.

Frustratingly exciting!

[url=https://postimg.cc/4KD4zDqm]

here's my decoy setup and where the buck was standing when I shot, he had walked all the way up to the buck decoy, then jumped out when I moved a few inches for an open shot close, I was behind the bigger bush on the left.

And here's where they came from all the way to that far ridge, there's still a couple does and buck in that picture watching me look for my arrow.

Kent

Regardless of frustrations, I have another morning with a pack on, exploring, opportunities,
can't ask for more than that.

Kent

Looks like a great time Kent. Remember, a successful hunt does not always mean that you have to harvest an animal. Good luck, have my fingers and toes crossed for you.

Normally, as in the last 10 years, I enjoy hunting but don't put as much effort in finishing the kill as I used to, I've lost a bit of that desire and edge I used to have.

This hunt will probably be my last full out archery hunt. And the tags for antelope are so hard to draw I am putting my full effort into it, someone else would had loved to have this tag. It's an animal I've killed but not archery, even at my age it's a learning experience, not like elk or deer.

Regardless of that I know I've lost the killing desire, my lifelong hunting partner said before this hunt... you don't really want to kill stuff anymore, you just want to go out.

That said when I take someone out I put every effort for them to kill and love seeing their excitement.

It's not I won't kill, I just don't go that extra bit most times... archery... rifle you just go out and pull the trigger.

I never have hunted for 'the one' every animal has just been another one. If I do kill an antelope it'll just be 'another one'.

My last archery elk hunt, likely my last of my life in '17, I scored the 13th day. I'm putting the same effort in this hunt.

Regardless of killing.

Kent

You're the man dude. I mean that.

This morning there were two bucks in the spot I've been able to decoy in, both probably had been the ones that came in before. One almost came in but hung up. I didn't see the two running bucks, one that I shot at yesterday.

No other spot has that many bucks and bothering each other. Other spots have one or two bucks and does, can't get any decoy response.

Kent

Thanks Greg.

Kent

Sounds like you needed to hunt, the challenge, the fresh air and the camp out and not the meat or trophy pics.

Sounds like you've had a real measure of success already. You have sure given a great story and shown some great pics.

We loved the hunt.

Thanks.

Watch out for the rattlers.

Yep, in spades.

I like your attitude.

Mine is quite similar.

Still enjoying the posts of your hunt.

Forgot to post this... strange, I wasn't sure a picture could show what my eyes were seeing but it does.

First facing east away from the sunset, then west into it, the sunset one has the orange cut off otherwise it's not as easy to see.

I have no explanation.

Kent

I have never see such a boundary layer in a photograph or in person.

I wonder what caused that?

Keep on having fun!

Hey Kent, thanks for taking us along on your hunt. It's been enjoyable! I've never hunted pronghorn before but sure would like to. How many days left in this hunt? Sure hope you can end the hunt successfully. With a kill that is. Sounds like its already been a success in other ways. Good luck to you.

I have till Thursday, took this morning off to cleanup and do laundry, reprovision, also let the animals settle down after the weekend road warriors left yesterday.

Pronghorn are visible and with a rifle tags fill fast, archery is totally different, no place to really hide that you can draw without spooking. It's an education, by the time I get it figured out the hunt will be over.

Kent

Time zone????




🤣🤣🤣🤣

leave it to Kaywoodie! ; )

Shadow from another cloud. Or rain storm behind the viewer.

It's so straight, I thought maybe an eclipse.

Kent

Whatever causes it, it sure is interesting.

And, you were out there to take note of it, which is, of course, the best part. Because we got to share in it.

Enjoy laundry day.

"I'm not saying it was aliens, but..."

It is interesting and I have never seen such a straight line...hope someone knows what is happening.

Regards

I think the antelope couldn't smell me, or they could but I smelled like an old goat.

Kent

Maybe Kent can send those pics to the National Weather Service?

Might get an answer we don't like?

Residue from the chemtrails?

Nah....the dividing line between severe drought on the right and rain on the left.

It's not some sort of camera defect or lens aberration due to Mr. Kent seeing it with his eyes as well, interesting for sure.

Regards

Kent,

“Regardless of that I know I've lost the killing desire, my lifelong hunting partner said before this hunt... you don't really want to kill stuff anymore, you just want to go out.

That said when I take someone out I put every effort for them to kill and love seeing their excitement.”

I know exactly how you feel and feel the same. I am more looking forward to helping my best friend archery bull hunt in less than 2 weeks and my son in law on his rifle bull hunt in November this fall then I was then I was for last years archery bull hunt that I had.

Thanks for the posts. Glad you are having a good time.

I have an elk hunt a week after this one, a guy I know is disabled physically, can use a crossbow. I told him I'd help him if he ever drew a tag, well he did. It'll be a real challenge as he can't move much, if they don't come in to a call probably not going to happen.... again can't sit water it's everywhere.

Kent

Pork sirloin chops were .97 lb, trimming the bones and fat off just meat was still under 2 bucks, roasted some hatch green chili, seasoned, threw it in the miracle pot for an hour.

Wife hates it when I call it the miracle pot... 'it's a instant or multi pot'... no it's a miracle pot, throw stuff in there and an hour later it's done... a miracle...

It's not like I would bug her on purpose really...

Kent

YUM. I love your cooking !

You're entering the "Twilight Zone."

You might wanna reconsider that sitting water not productive in a wet monsoon thing.

I thought that too last bull elk season as there was water everywhere. But I found a tank the elk were hitting. Would walk by other water to go to their habitual tank. I shot my bull off that habitual tank.

I rationalized it like human behavior. We all go to the same grocery store, same church, probably the same gas station. Figured they do it too.

Something to consider

Except on Friday or Saturday when they may be bar hopping.

Very true I shot my last archery Antelope like that, they are habitual.

Try a beef cow decoy to get closer to antelope, even bow range if you move slowly.

Yes!

Nothing exciting this afternoon, glassed a buck at 4 miles, I know the spot it's my second best area, I used hunt x to line distance, he was search moving, walk, trot, look over an edge.

Then a buck just showed up below me and passed by at 200yds, a coyote was following him, he moved a mile off and started eating as the sun went down.

Kent

Bad part of hunting the same bucks and watching them for hours.is they each have different personalities and kinda become your buddies in your adventure.

Kent

Hiking in at Grey light bumped the antelope herd, setup decoys but nothing.

Moved and glassed up mulies at 800yds, made a long stock, got within 65yds but no shot opportunity.

Refound the antelope herd, am well in front with decoys out again.

I know... exciting... bastards...

Kent

Short version of long day. Setup the buck decoy again after walking cirling around the herd about 3pm, another buck came to the herd and the herd buck chased him around. The lone buck was hanging around about 200yds from me, jnew my decoy was out and ignored it. I'm stuck hiding in the grass. Finally they all go over a rise, I go get the decoy and pull it out of the ground, herd buck chases a doe back over but now in front of me. I hide behind the decoy and get it back up. The buck and doe finally see the decoy and stare at it, about 175yds out.

My knees and ankles are tired from sitting on them and being ground into pebbles trying to stay low for hours/days. I lay on my back in the grass, I can see them from under the decoy, 15 minutes they stare.

Finally they start the chase again and get out of sight.

I sit up and the other buck and does are 20yds behind me, I scare the chit out of him and he startled me, needless to say I didn't get a shot. The first buck and doe were staring at them probably also.

I'm going back to camp and decide if that's 3 and out, maybe quit the antelope torture drill.

Kent

Hopefully, a coupla soothing 101's & a good nights sleep, charged you back up Mate !

Loving the hunt thread, Kent !

Well hell.

Maybe there's a lesson in that deal...could be the ones that stared from 175 were looking at the ones behind you. I've learned stuff kinda like that making mistakes while hunting hogs.

Thanks for sharing your hunt, Kent. Next best thing to being there.

Went out this morning, had a couple bucks interested, area with roads and I knew a risk, but wow the road scouters were out in force earlier than I thought, rifle tags start Friday. Just when they were coming in 3 vehicles drive in, stop to look at us all, drive around for better angles, bucks run off, the scouters see me but don't care. When I walk back to my truck one of them want to ask me about where the best antelope are... F them, if they haven't scouted yet and do it during my hunt... F them.

There's 15 rifle tags, half must have been on me, or their guides, or posse.

Kent

Stink bugs everywhere, can't step without getting one. Have seen these beetles also, I call them shield beetles as that's what they look like.

Field of flowers.

Kent

Last afternoon, saw no antelope, went to Andrea I've been before but years ago, it's some cool country.

The stacked rock was not from 1000 years ago, there is a ruin just 50yds away, it's been dug. Someone else stacked that rock to make a shelter years ago. Did find some shards and chips.

Last pictures...

Cool.

Love the camper set up.

I like more trees.

But that’s me. Different strokes for different folks:

Sure are some nice pics and sweet vistas.

I like it denser. Like forested.

Definitely my last archery tag I'll apply for, I'm sure I'll buy an otc deer tag every year and take a walk with my bow now and then, but no more serious draw archery for elk/antelope.

I'm glad I went out on this type of hunt, it was great, loved the animals I got to know, almost glad I didn't shoot one of my little buddies, wish I had shot one of the strangers though


Kent

Cool thread and great pictures. Thanks for taking us along.

I'll put in easier to draw rifle tags for elk, even cow tags. Elk has been archery bull mostly for me since '84, I've done well when I drew.

I've been waiting on a deer tag that I should draw in the next 2 years, then back to whatever I can get every year.

At 65 I'm entering a new era, soon I'll just be camp cook and hanger'on...

Kent

Any camp that gets you for a cook and hanger’on is a damn lucky camp! You’d be welcome in my camp and in any role you choose anytime! 👍

Yep, I'm now camped 20 miles away, heavy ponderosa pine forest, 7600ft elevation, be elk hunting in less than 2 weeks with a guy I know that drew a great tag.

Kent

Kent, thanks for the pics and story of how the hunt went. We've all had tag stew at one time or the other.

Tell Cheryl I said hello.

I remember when I was in my 20s and 30s, the old guys in camp, they would say, go up this ridge or draw for big bucks or where the they saw coveys of quail.

I'd think, why don't they just go themselves instead of sending me... I get it now, and really have for quite awhile now... they got more enjoyment seeing me come back successful than them. I owe them everything, they are all gone now.

God could they make dutchoven biscuits and gravy, from scratch. I do my best in their memory, the best hands they were.

Kent

Will do Randy.

I'm just staying in practice, my 7yo grandson can't wait to go deer and elk hunting, he has to be 10, we will go out for Jack's when it cools down.

Kent

Thanks Kent,

Just.................................Gracias!

Well done, bud - good hunting. Thanks for taking us along.

Great thread!!!

Thanks KRP

Went out for last morning, why not before going back to the rat race and responsibilities to life and people in my life.

The bucks were hanging around the does, two got into a huge fight, not just a tussle, the loser came my way and saw the decoy. But they are all decoy shy, not scared just cautious, he walked up to 92yds then and stared for 5 minutes, then walked off.

Fitting ending, pleasant morning.

th th that's all folks.

Thanks

Kent

Now go get your friend an elk!

Thoroughly enjoyed that Kent, thank you !

Thx for taking us along, Kent.

Regards

Yep, but that's like work and I have to deal with someone else's wants and expectations. My tags are my hunts, I hadn't had a draw tag since my elk hunt in '17, usually someone in the family has a deer or elk tag so we kill something for meat. No one had a tag last year for once, year before my brother had a cow elk tag and the next week wife had a deer tag... killed both.

Wife said after that hunt and her knees hurting so bad, she was done hunting.

This was my hunt and I needed it.

Kent

Thanks for sharing, Kent!

Oh boy do I understand that one Kent.

I recently had a birthday, I'm rapidly approaching 7 decades old with more than a couple of ailments and replaced parts. Not sure how many more strenuous hunts I can do by my lonesome, but that's the kind of hunting I need every now and again.

As mentioned already, your sharing of the hunt is most appreciated.

Kent, your last statement was prescient and poignant.

Various factors have intervened for the past few seasons and the string got broken - no such hunts for quite a spell. Finally saw a break in the clouds and applied this year - drew a MD tag for down this way.

So, to feel the stirring - planning, prep, reloading and sighting, scouting, etc.. Totally new area - so need to find a two-track into the foothills for the old Blazer, get out and sneak around to see what is going on and where to be. Never know which one will be the last.

Being taken on your hunt was fitting prelude. Thanks.

Thanks all...

Paul hope you have a great time.

I have one more hunt I'm waiting on as far as a specific hunt, thought I'd draw it by now but point creep has stopped that, should get it next year or the year after. Rifle mule deer, back to my roots after about 20 years coues hunting, including wilderness backpacking hunts the last 10, 2003 to 2013.

My first big game was a mulie above Roosevelt lake with my savage 99 as a teenager, my buddy and I borrowed a jeep and made camp in an old falling down homestead. My biggest mulie ever and no pictures or rack, gave most the meat to my grandmother, she would cut them up into 'little meats' and make breakfasts mostly, biscuits and venison gravy. Killed my first 15 or so deer with that 99.

As I stated elk hunting for me was primarily archery, started in '84, no experience, no mentor, just decided to do it, learned by trial and error out in the woods with elk as my teachers. I did kill 7 deer with my bow up to 2000 when I went exclusively to rifle coues hunting, mostly wilderness solo packing to get away from people. Elk stayed archery bull, hunted Az, Colo, NM and cow/raghorn on the rez.

So my personal hunting has taken different turns and paths. At 65 I'm going to lesser rifle hunts mostly for elk, just get out and make meat again like I did when younger, not wait 12 years for a state archery bull tag. Deer will be the same after this next tag.

Got the grandson to look forward to, always have someone asking me to take them out.

I'm very satisfied with this last antelope hunt, I learned a lot about them, same as I did elk hunting many years ago. Tags are about impossible to draw here in Az so it's my last, I may be to old when my grandson draws if ever, to pass on the knowledge... I'm glad I got to know my little buddies, they were great.

Kent

This. Thanks.

Best thread of the year. What kind of camera, cell phone. Beautiful pics.

Just a samsung S20, almost a couple years old.

Kent

Thanks, much better pics than my Samsung something.

Take care and God bless and may you get big blood and a short trail on your next hunt.

Really enjoyed this thread. Thanks!