rockymtnhunter
Active Member
- Messages
- 198
To my many MM friends,
Looks like I’m in a never ending chase in drawing a Kaibab tag. At 70, w/8 pts and another significant reduction in available tags, I’m not likely to draw this year again, but I’ll keep trying. The convergence of fewer tags, my age, and a significant health issue that’s been shadowing me during the past few years are all conspiring against me. The harsh reality is that every year could be my last year. With this in mind, I’m hoping that some of you may like to spend some time with me this year during the archery and/or rifle hunts. I’ve helped many hunters during the past years, but it seems that the time has come for me to pass on, as best I can, the knowledge I’ve gained during the past 50 years on the Kaibab before I’m not around. First of all, if I do draw a tag, I need someone to be with me – for safety’s sake, if nothing else. Secondly, I’ve tried to pass on what I’ve learned to the hunters I’ve helped, either in person or online. The past 3 years have been challenging for me – as caregiver for my sweetheart, who passed away last year and then dealing with the aftermath of that. And health issues. I have Stage 4 chronic kidney disease and am close to the point of needing kidney dialysis. But the Lord moves in mysterious ways, and ways that I don’t fully understand or expect. Someone new has come into my life and renewed my health physically, emotionally and spiritually. She is a blessing beyond measure and we will be married this summer. Hopefully, I will get back on track writing my book about hunting the North Kaibab this coming winter.
Some perspective regarding this year’s proposed reduction of Kaibab tags – this year would be the lowest number of tags since at least 1983. Just during the past decade, tags no’s have fallen from 1700 (total for rifle seasons & archery) to 460 this year - nearly a 75% decrease. Will it bounce back? Hard to say for sure, I’ve been on the Kaibab since 1971 and have witnessed what drought, human pressure and activity {both hunting and non-hunting), poaching, off-road travel, wildfire, and numerous other stressors that have affected the deer herd. I was there last year during the summer and the archery and early rifle hunts – saw usual no. of bucks, but antler growth was delayed due to drought. Monsoon moisture was good, but came too late. Then weather, human activity and pressure led to really tough hunts during the early and late rifle hunts. I saw some big bucks last year, but not nearly as many as in the past.
BTW my thoughts on the “opportunity” thread – IMO the original post and most of the responses were sorta off the mark. There is probably no one definition for opportunity, and there doesn’t need to be one. Opportunity exists across of a spectrum – and the Kaibab hunts exemplify that, archery is for hunters that want primitive experience, or nice weather, or see lots of bucks, or challenge, or… early rifle hunt is chance for a buck, or camping experience, or buddies, or meat or… late rifle hunt is chance for mature buck, or reputation, or unique landscape, or challenge, or “trophy”, or…
My time as rec. planner with USFS was about using the “Recreation Opportunity Spectrum” (ROS). Effective management of wildland/natural resources usually involves providing opportunities for numerous experiences, such as motorized, non-motorized, solitude, visual, and so on. Trying to capture a single definition regarding “hunting opportunity” is probably a fruitless exercise. “Opportunity” can be as varied as the number of hunters. The goal should be that there is opportunity that addresses various needs, and not just a monoculture of experience.
Anyway, these are my thoughts, and mine only. The application period for deer is coming in a month - good luck to all who apply, and please save a tag for me this year. A big thank you to all that I’ve had the pleasure to speak to, or be in the field with, or simply share knowledge and experience. These are the memories and experiences I carry with me that help me achieve and fulfill my opportunity.
Looks like I’m in a never ending chase in drawing a Kaibab tag. At 70, w/8 pts and another significant reduction in available tags, I’m not likely to draw this year again, but I’ll keep trying. The convergence of fewer tags, my age, and a significant health issue that’s been shadowing me during the past few years are all conspiring against me. The harsh reality is that every year could be my last year. With this in mind, I’m hoping that some of you may like to spend some time with me this year during the archery and/or rifle hunts. I’ve helped many hunters during the past years, but it seems that the time has come for me to pass on, as best I can, the knowledge I’ve gained during the past 50 years on the Kaibab before I’m not around. First of all, if I do draw a tag, I need someone to be with me – for safety’s sake, if nothing else. Secondly, I’ve tried to pass on what I’ve learned to the hunters I’ve helped, either in person or online. The past 3 years have been challenging for me – as caregiver for my sweetheart, who passed away last year and then dealing with the aftermath of that. And health issues. I have Stage 4 chronic kidney disease and am close to the point of needing kidney dialysis. But the Lord moves in mysterious ways, and ways that I don’t fully understand or expect. Someone new has come into my life and renewed my health physically, emotionally and spiritually. She is a blessing beyond measure and we will be married this summer. Hopefully, I will get back on track writing my book about hunting the North Kaibab this coming winter.
Some perspective regarding this year’s proposed reduction of Kaibab tags – this year would be the lowest number of tags since at least 1983. Just during the past decade, tags no’s have fallen from 1700 (total for rifle seasons & archery) to 460 this year - nearly a 75% decrease. Will it bounce back? Hard to say for sure, I’ve been on the Kaibab since 1971 and have witnessed what drought, human pressure and activity {both hunting and non-hunting), poaching, off-road travel, wildfire, and numerous other stressors that have affected the deer herd. I was there last year during the summer and the archery and early rifle hunts – saw usual no. of bucks, but antler growth was delayed due to drought. Monsoon moisture was good, but came too late. Then weather, human activity and pressure led to really tough hunts during the early and late rifle hunts. I saw some big bucks last year, but not nearly as many as in the past.
BTW my thoughts on the “opportunity” thread – IMO the original post and most of the responses were sorta off the mark. There is probably no one definition for opportunity, and there doesn’t need to be one. Opportunity exists across of a spectrum – and the Kaibab hunts exemplify that, archery is for hunters that want primitive experience, or nice weather, or see lots of bucks, or challenge, or… early rifle hunt is chance for a buck, or camping experience, or buddies, or meat or… late rifle hunt is chance for mature buck, or reputation, or unique landscape, or challenge, or “trophy”, or…
My time as rec. planner with USFS was about using the “Recreation Opportunity Spectrum” (ROS). Effective management of wildland/natural resources usually involves providing opportunities for numerous experiences, such as motorized, non-motorized, solitude, visual, and so on. Trying to capture a single definition regarding “hunting opportunity” is probably a fruitless exercise. “Opportunity” can be as varied as the number of hunters. The goal should be that there is opportunity that addresses various needs, and not just a monoculture of experience.
Anyway, these are my thoughts, and mine only. The application period for deer is coming in a month - good luck to all who apply, and please save a tag for me this year. A big thank you to all that I’ve had the pleasure to speak to, or be in the field with, or simply share knowledge and experience. These are the memories and experiences I carry with me that help me achieve and fulfill my opportunity.