AZ hunting

Time to load up on lead 6's and hope not to shit my pants.. Everytime I go out for quail, I damn near shit my pants when they come flushing out of a bush next to me... I really need to get a bird dog..

 

Went out for quail this morning. Bagged a male and female pair in the first 10 minutes, then spent the next half hour trying to get close enough to the rest of the covey to get a shot, but they're evasive little bastards. Finally started hiking into the wind, hoping to find another covey that was less aware of my presence. About a mile and a half later I came across these two...
Had the wife flower and bacon wrap them...
And smoked them up for dinner...
I hadn't had rattlesnake in 20+ years until tonight and I've gotta say... it didn't disappoint. I wish I would have had a .22 instead of my shotgun cuz we lost alot of meat and the skins aren't at all intact but it still made a good meal and I've got something in mind for the rattles that I think will be pretty cool. Im gonna tan the tail end of the skins, sew them together and hang the rattles over the rear view mirror. Never did get into anymore quail, but not a bad day for 3 hours in the desert.

 

Awesome! I’m going to have to read up on how to clean a snake, spot I go for doves has been known to have them.

 

It's as straight forward as you'd think it is. First and most importantly CUT THE HEAD OFF before you pick it up because they keep moving for maybe up to a 1/2 hour or so after they're dead and alot of lot people get bitten by dead snakes. Then just cut up the entire belly from neck to anus and pull out the innards. Then the skin pretty much just pulls right off. Try to shoot for the head, you can see what a 12 ga. does to them when they're coiled.

I'm interested to see how the "tanning" process goes. My dad used to carry fermaldahyde just in case we got one but it's not as accessable as it used to be so I found a write up that uses half alcohol and half vegetable glycerin. I'm gonna pick up some glycerin tomorrow and give it a shot.

 

Good luck Deer Hunters!
Be safe and drop a Big one!

 

T-Minus 18 hours before my elk season starts...

 

Good luck!
Leaving early Saturday morning for a deer hunt.

 

Good luck!

 

Good luck ya'll! Be safe.. I'll be up in the north part of 27, sing out if you're in trouble.

 

You probably saw this - but just wanted to make sure
Helicopter flights to cause traffic delays on Forest Road 25 near Alpine thru Oct. 29
Posted October 25, 2018
PINETOP — The Arizona Game and Fish Department advises hunters, motorists and recreationists that there may be brief traffic delays on Forest Road 25 southwest of Alpine, near the border with the Ft. Apache Indian Reservation through Monday, Oct. 29.

Intermittent traffic closures on the roadway in the vicinity of Forest Road 25F in Game Management Units 1 and 27 will allow helicopter operations to fly concrete to a fish barrier construction site on Bear Wallow Creek, a tributary of the Black River, for Apache Trout recovery.

 

Well i had not seen this yet, so thanks for the heads up!

 

I went quail hunting again on Sunday and damn near got tagged by a big ass diamondback! I was rounding a hack berry bush and almost stepped on it when it started rattling. It was in that "s" type formation and rattling full throttle, ready to strike. He was NOT playing with me. I started back peddling and side stepping and somehow made a headshot on the move. Fight or flight kicked in and even though I was thinking "you're out of striking range, you don't have to shoot it," my body was busy aiming and firing. I've had plenty of close calls with rattlers over the years but something about the way it happened with this one just put the fuckin fear in me. I ordered snake gaiters that afternoon. I'm not gonna say it's the biggest diamondback I've ever seen, but if I've ever seen a bigger one I don't remember it.

Check out his length and girth compared to the shotgun

Solid head shot, no wasted meat or skin



Total take for the day. I did find some quail but couldn't manage to actually shoot any of them. Lol. The two jackalopes will keep the pups happy though.

 

Yep I know that feeling . I wear these now https://turtleskin.com/outdoor-snake-protection/snakearmor-snake-protection/snake-gaiters-1.html

I have snake boots too but they are pretty hot and a little heavy.
Much of the fall until it gets much cooler , they are on the move. I find after the first 4 day freeze changes their pattern. But they also rattle less and can be easier to step on.

Stay Safe and best of luck on your deer hunt! Some nice coues have been hitting the ground.

 

San Carlos buck - I don't know the guy but Az has some big bucks...

 

What shotgun are you using there?

 

I'd actually prefer to leave most of them alone if they're not endangering me or anyone else. The two last weekend was a decision to shoot them for food. The one yesterday was just pure fight or flight reaction. It scared the hell out of me and I shot it as I was trying to get clear of it. Most of the time though I'll leave them be as long as no one's in danger. Having said that, I definitely understand your state of mind and I know others who feel the same. It's a scary little animal... and tasty!

 

Credit card got dinged for Spring Javelina. Waiting on the portal to update so I know which unit.

 

Those are the ones I ordered! How do you like them?

Tell me more about the deer... got any pics or just word of mouth? Me and my dad are hunting 36c Nov. 9-15

 

Jeeze! That thing is a fucking beast!

 

It's a Mossberg 930. You have to keep it clean or it won't run right but as long as I clean the gas system after hunting each day and run a bore snake through it, it's a damn fine boomstick.