Brent Hill who graced these pages with his successful 2008 African bowhunt headed over to Arizona for a January Coues deer bowhunt.  He joined Jeff of  Desert Bull Scouting Service with four days to hunt the elusive Coues deer with a bow.

 
We glassed in the mornings and sat his treestands during the afternoon. On the second afternoon, a doe came in behind me on the trail. I ranged her at 22 yards, hoping a buck might be on her tail. He was. I looked at the buck through my 10x at 40 yards and he looked like a respectable 8pt.

I knew that Jeff had photos of a 110 – 120 inch buck that was using the same trail. But, he’d been coming in after dark. For about 5 seconds I considered holding out. Then, I realized that to kill a coues buck with a bow on a four day trip is hard enough. I decided that this buck was plenty enough and put the pin on his shoulder as he stepped into the same spot the doe had stood.

Thwack! The buck went down right where it stood.  Wow. Second day and I’m tagged out! I was very stoked. 

The Coues deer is one of the hardest animals in the West to harvest with a bow.  Brent made a good call by not passing on this buck.  Who knows if there would have been another chance?  But as far as I have heard,the 110 inch buck is still spreading his genes.

Congratulations to Brent on getting out when most of us have put our weapons and packs away.  Goes to show that for the dedicated hunter, there is always SOMETHING to hunt!

If you are interested in applying for the Draw antelope and elk seasons in Arizona, the regulations are online now.  While a few units are under subscribed, the trophy quality units may take a few years and points to draw.  Do your research and in a few years you will have a chance at some areas that have held some record class animals.   

12/18/08

Hunters can start submitting applications now

PHOENIX — The 2009 Arizona Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information regulations booklet is available online at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at http://www.azgfd.gov/draw. Hunters interested in obtaining a hunt permit-tag via the draw process can start applying now.

All applications must be submitted by mail or hand-delivered to a department office – no online application process is available. Applications are due by 7 p.m. (MST) Feb. 10, 2009 – postmarks do not count.

To assist customers and reduce errors, a PDF application form can be filled out using a computer and keyboard, but must be printed, signed and submitted (along with the correct fees by check or money order) by mail, or by delivery to any department office. The form can also be printed and filled out using an ink pen.

Early applicants can take advantage of the “grace period” – those who submit an application by Jan. 22, 2009 will receive up to three calls from the department in a 24-hour period if an error is found on the application. If the applicant is reached by phone, the department will help fix the error to ensure a completed application.

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials said printed copies of the regulations should be available at license dealers across the state by mid-January.

For 2009, there are 26,474 elk tags available, a slight increase of 385 tags from last year, and 1,007 pronghorn-antelope tags available, a 1-permit increase from last year.

The elk over-the-counter nonpermit-tags (for limited areas) will continue to be offered in 2009. These tags are akin to a “limited opportunity” hunt in areas with very low elk populations. Hunters interested should thoroughly review the regulations and visit http://www.azgfd.gov/otc to download the “2009 Elk OTC Informational Handout” PDF for frequently asked questions, hunt area boundary descriptions and area maps before purchasing.

A 2009 hunting license is required to apply. Department officials encourage hunters to get their license before applying for an elk or antelope hunt permit-tag if they wish to do any other hunting in early 2009. Licenses purchased through the draw process will not be mailed out until April 24, 2009, regardless of application success.

Those who’ve never heard an elk bugle often get confused and call authorities. A woman who lives in Mesa Del, a subdivision just northeast of Payson, called the Gila County Sheriff’s Office early Monday morning to report a fight, saying she heard a lot of screaming.

Read the News Story from Associated Press HERE

No, no, this isn’t about the way I wash my hair (or lack of).  Instead, I wanted to give you readers some tips and tricks for preparing a skull for a european mount.

For an all inclusive instruction, the University of Arizona Cooperative extension has prepared a 4 page instructional sheet in .PDF Format that deals with all the various ways to turn a “bloody meathead” into a shiny,white, bright. keepsake.

Some quick hints for “Boiling” skulls:

When doing a hot water maceration, simmer don’t boil

Keep the skull off of the bottom of the pan or pot you are using.

• Keep the antlers out of the water to avoid discoloring them.
• Don’t use your wife, or girlfriends cooking pots.  For large skulls like a cattle or elk, a #2 washtub on a coleman stove outside is your best bet.
• Keep an eye on the water level. 
• Be mindful that this takes nearly a full day, and doesn’t smell all that wonderful. 
• To add a nice white color use Hydrogen peroxide once the meat is “off the bone”
• Glue in any loose teeth.

There are operations that have Dermestid beetles and do an outstanding job of cleaning a skull.  One such place is High Desert Skullworks.  Their page details the shipping procedure, prices, and services.