Our winter was doing well until March and April which amounted to basically nothing. I believe March, which is normally the wettest, ended up being the driest in 133 years. We did get 1"-1.5" of moisture in May though.
I have not been out to the area you hunted. Perhaps I should go to Dry Lake and see if that DT bull is still around.
These were the bulls in front of the house 3 weeks ago.
Went down to the Kachina convenience store to get some dog food for breakfast (for Rica, not me) and her breakfast was delayed by 17 bulls in the meadow this morning.
Eighteen Boyz stayed aroud the meadow for this evening's audition, so here are some reasonable closeups of them to show the miscreants. They are cauliflower heads, devil tined, missing bezes, extra daggered nontypical mutants. Those of you with 11M and 6A&B tags, sharpen your broadheads and beware. I'll try to get some night pics to see if their eyes have alien glows.
Great photos thanks for sharing. I look forward to seeing your pictures of the Kachina bulls every year. Hopefully the big ones move south come archery season.
Doug
As usual, greatpictures and thanks for sharing. Keeep them coming. By the way, have the weather forecasters started giving any estimates as to when the Monsoons might arrive? I know it is early yet, but I know it has been hot and dry in Arizona, so I imagine the forest is becoming a tinder box.
Jim,
There were some thunderstorms from south of Tucson to Globe yesterday, with orange and red on the radar. Our 20% chance never precipitated here in Flag. No fire restrictions yet above the rim on the Coconino NF.
Four bulls were in the meadow this morning. So I interrupted the drive to the Max Hamilton 3D shoot to snap a few since the nontypical was in the group. The bull with the nice whale tails was not present.
Someone will be happy if they get this NT during the archery hunt.
Hey Rabbit, I have an archery tag for that unit. Maybe you could just lead that non typ. bull into that little fenced in area and keep him happy 'till september !
Thanks. The camera is a Panasonic FZ20, which is only 5MP, and was on a tripod.
The elk were about 50 yards away Saturday morning, so I was able to zoom in well.
Chip,
Wonder how the gal's horses would like the elk company. Right after the bulls rub, they tend to disappear. I have not tried to find where they go, so good luck on your hunt. Some have a harder time avoiding the traffic on I-17, than the bowhunters.
LAST EDITED ON Jul-22-08 AT 10:02PM (MST)[p]Took a bike ride up to the Kachina Wetlands with Rica on heel. Some of the bulls were in the southwest corner so I rode around to get evening light in my favor. Caught the 7x7 and nice 5x5 on the edge of one basin. Those of you with 11M tags may like these 2 bulls, in addition to the NT.