Thanks to a collaborative effort between a broad coalition of OHV enthusiasts, sportsmen, conservationists, elected officials and the public, new laws that will help better manage Arizona’s rapidly growing OHV use will take effect Jan. 1, 2009. For the complete story and information please visit: http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/ohvFAQ.shtml

The class they took was a two-day class, which I really prefer. Although you only have one evening to prepare for the test, it really beats spending several evenings over several weeks in the classroom. In addition, you can always use the nes online course materials to study leading up to the course.

Day One: In the classroom covering topics such as safe handling, wildlife conservation, and hunting ethics.

Day Two: During the field day, students witnessed a shooting seminar performed by the instructors, shot a .22 rifle in three positions, and experienced a simulated hunt. Finally, in the afternoon - the TEST!

As I stated, the boys did good: Seth - 98% and Colton - 96%. Good job guys!

Here is my warning! Since the kids passed, especially the young one who needed the course to hunt; I have fielded every question in the book: When can we go hunting? What tags can I just buy? Can my uncle take me hunting next week? Can we buy a tag in New Mexico? …and so on.

If you are looking for a hunter education class in Arizona, visit their site.

Recently, I saw a TV show or read an article about teaching kids shot placement. Instead of having them simply shoot at a target, they had them shoot at a simulated deer. The deer, just a shape painted on wood or a box is easy to construct. I just took a white box and spray-painted the shape of a deer. I believe the most important step is to make sure you have the front leg included so that they can start to use the leg as a guide for proper shot polacement.

Below is the target I made, and their shots.

Each boy shot five rounds, (2) at ~85 yards and (3) at ~100 yards. All shots were taken either prone or sitting in a simulated field position using backpacks for rests. To be honest, I was surprised. The youngest, Colton hit the target 4/5 times (yellow above), and his older brother, Seth was 5/5 (red above). I am now confident that either can make a shot out to 100 yards. However, we will continue our practice.

I am really excited for this hunt!

With that in mind, I offer this small survey: Click Here to take survey

I will post the results in a few days. Enjoy!

We arrived at the set a little late, about 2:30 PM.  I positioned the blind to the side of my tree stand, and hid it behind several trees in relation to where I believed deer would approach from. The first 30 minutes or so passed, and to my amazement Colton was being quiet. The night before he had spent the night at a friend’s house and they stayed up until 5 AM, so I knew he would probably fall asleep, which he did. He slept for almost two hours, and all he missed was a group of turkeys that passed behind our location.

A little after sunset we still had not seen anything. Shortly thereafter, we heard a bull bugle. At that point we were a little restless, so we took a small trip to see if we could see the bull. We had only gone a couple of 100 yards when the bull let out another loud bugle. Luckily, I caught the movement of the bull, and Colton and I hunkered down near a small pine tree. Using my bow to conceal our faces, we waited as the bull approached. Colton’s body was shaking with excitement, a little “bull-fever!” Soon after our encouter with the bull it was dark enough to head back to the quad, and then the truck. Even the brief moment of excitement that Colton and I shared was well worth the trip. The excitement, even though it was not an animal we were or even could hunt (legally at the time), was hunting.

Colton and I both live for these types of experiences. I encourage you to take your kids hunting as often as you can. It is a wonderful experience!

A picture taken with my cell phone of Colton’s hiding spot.
   

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4 X 3 Coues Buck in 2008.

In August of 2007.

In January of 2008.

Here is Geoff admiring his 122″ buck!
 

Needless to say, I was impressed. I was also motivated to score on a big buck of my own. That evening I sat a different stand, but no deer showed up. At the end of the evening I checked the Cuddeback to see what had been coming in. I was excited with a couple of the bucks the Cuddeback had captured.

A nice 4 x 3.

A decent three point. 
 

A 4 x 4 that I would like to see in a couple of years.

For the remainder of the weekend I hunted these bucks, to no avail. This afternoon I was driven from my stand by severe lightning, unwillingly I may add. So now I am home “hunting” vicariously via The Outdoor Channel.

More to come…

Photo by Jason Coil

Elk season is approaching quickly. If you are one of the lucky ones who drew a tag in either Arizona or New Mexico, please visit Rocky Mountain Game & Fish Magazine online to read my forecast, Southwestern Bulls In 2008.

Southwestern Bulls In 2008 - By Darren Choate
Arizona and New Mexico are fired up for an elk season that promises very good opportunities for trophy back-scratchers. Even in what most would consider a drought, the 2007 elk seasons in Arizona and New Mexico were grand, to say the least. Many factors have changed since the end of the season, but the outlook for the 2008 season looks exceptionally promising.

          Read the full story.