rocky

I hate seeing that kind of pic but it does confirm that they are tough animals.

Holly Crap! Lunatic got a mounter? Great looking deer and mount buddy.

Pattern your shotgun. I set up my older friend down from me a couple of hundred yards. After he had 3 misses and a lot of excuses in two days the turkeys left and I never filled my tag that year. Plus if they are coming in let them.

New Mexico is better than most states. They charge a $13.00 application fee for each species and then the rest is refunded if you do not draw.

I am 55 now and I never thought that health issues would ever slow me down chasing big bugling bulls but, this is the first year that it ever crossed my mind. My one hip and both knees are giving me issues. I do a lot of back country hunting alone so if something happens it can be a life or death matter. I remember when getting bit by a rattle snake was my only concern but now it is my body holding up. Here is a little advice for you younger guys out there.......Take care of your body because it will come back to haunt you if you don't. Plus don't put your dream hunts off. I have several friends that said "I will do it in a few years." 25 plus years ago and, they never will now.

Most of the areas that I hunt out West is Federal land which means it should be owned and accessed by everyone equally no matter what state you live in. That is not the case obviously. Many states have very limited non-resident quotas which I think is unfair when hunting federal land. Arizonas non-resident quota is 10%. New Mexico is 16%.

NM Resident elk $90.00 NM resident deer $41.00 NM resident sheep $160.00 I honestly like when other states charge a non-resident what "THEIR" state charges non-residents. I am not sure if some states do that still but it made a lot of sense to me.

I am in no way rich or poor but, I feel sorry for the young guys starting out hunting and want to hunt out West. The pic below is just what I had to put upfront to apply for one state and I do apply in several others. When I started buying elk landowner tags in New Mexico years ago I could pick up a land owner bull tag for $500.00 dollars. Now they go for $5,000.00-$12,000.00. How can a young man afford this type of hunting that I enjoyed as a young man at those prices? Now if you think the money is the worst part of it Nay Nay my friend. The bonus point draw is pretty crappy also. I have been applying for tags that I will probably never see in my lifetime and they charge you every year to maintain and accumulate these bonus points. These numbers below are from last year so I have been applying for 24 years now without drawing a dessert bighorn tag and I probably never will.

I saw a jake mount and breed a hen this morning while 2 other jakes and, a nice tom circled them. Three other hens were pecking the ground nearby.

When I was young I was told not to play with my nuts and I listened. There has to be a nut expert on this site.

More non working, baby making, lobster eating, Escalade drivers will be getting more "Free" money.

I bow hunted for 5 years before I got my deer. When I brought it home my family was shocked because they thought it was impossible to do.

Remember having to save deer fetuses during doe day and giving them to the Game and Fish people at the check station. To get a doe tag back then you had to enter a lottery also.

Awesome find thanks for sharing.

I know Nick. You missed a lot of sea bass that day so I figured there was no way you were good at hooking fluke buddy.