AZ ELK, Mule Deer & Pronghorn NO EXCUSES!

CraigS · Aug 18, 2010

Been uploading & editing all day... I still have to pack alot of stuff for my hunts, but I wanted to get this online before I left for my first two hunts.

No EXCUSES! AZ Archery Mule Deer Episode #1
http://www.monsterhuntclips.com/video/979/No-EXCUSES-AZ-Mule-Deer-Hunt-Episode-1

CraigS · Aug 18, 2010

LAST EDITED ON Aug-18-10 AT 06:09PM (MST) by Founder (admin)[p][p align=right]Thread Views Counter....[/p]

Well, I drew x2 awesome Arizona Hunts and I will also be hunting Archery Mule Deer. My archery pronghorn & mule deer hunt starts this Friday. My archery elk hunt starts September 10th.

I am putting together a little video series called No Excuses for my elk hunt adventure. The first Episode will show you guys my last elk hunting adventure. Then I will hopefully upload the first mule deer episode tonight.

I will be updating stuff with pictures and some short comments but when I get back from all of my hunts I will finish the video series. I hope you guys enjoy my story & can relate to my experiences.

[URL]http://www.monsterhuntclips.com/video/978/NO-EXCUSES-AZ-Elk-Hunt-Episode-1[/URL]

CraigS · Aug 23, 2010

Just got back yesterday & I have been working non-stop in the office. I hope you guys enjoy this Episode & #3 will be posted up in the morning!

http://www.monsterhuntclips.com/video/986/No-Excuses-AZ-Archery-Elk-Deer--Pronghorn-Episode-2

CraigS · Aug 25, 2010

Okay, it was uploaded over night & here is the link. I will post some pictures when I get time.

Here is my Pronghorn-Antelope footage from August 23, 2010!

http://www.monsterhuntclips.com/video/991/No-Excuses-2010-AZ-Elk-Mule-Deer--Pronghorn-Episode-3

CraigS · Sep 5, 2010

Here is a couple photos of my 2010 AZ Goat:

I will post of some more story shots in a few weeks. I head out Tuesday morning to finish up my AZ Archery Muley Hunt & My AZ Archery Elk hunt starts Friday!!!

CraigS · Sep 23, 2010

Just shot my AZ Archery Bull yesterday morning, it was not as easy as my Pronghorn hunt. I will have more story pics & some video to follow.

CraigS · Sep 27, 2010

Great meat & horns!

Clean it! Cool it! Cover it!

CraigS · Sep 27, 2010

After a short break it was back to deer hunting for me...

I found this young buck for the third year in a row. I bet next year he will be a TOAD!

Even with the full moon I was seeing good muleys, but I wasn't seeing the right one.

One of my best friends returned to camp to hunt muleys, but everytime we went out we couldn't find the good bucks I had been seeing. That's MULE DEER HUNTING for you!

CraigS · Sep 27, 2010

I went home for a day or two & then came back to find Mike Collins had found a good one. He tried a stalk, but the southerly wind swirled & that was all it took.

After several blown opportunities by both Mike & myself, the 2010 Early Archery Deer season had come to a close. We both had a lot of EXCUSES! You will be able to see some of our deer footage on Episode #4.

CraigS · Sep 27, 2010

It was opening day for both Archery Mule Deer & Pronghorn. We glassed up a few good Muley's that night, but we couldn't get it done.

Over the next few days we saw some good muleys & I almost got a shot at a big 85+ pronghorn, but it just didn't work out. We did a ton of glassing...

Then Episode #3 happened

CraigS · Sep 27, 2010

Checkerboard Land... It's good & bad, but a GPS with a land status overlay will help keep you out of trouble!

After a lot of waiting the Monsoon showed up in Late July, better late than never!

The end of July & begining of August was a muddy mess! Many of the areas were to muddy to get too, which wasn't a bad thing!

My kids got to see their very first live Black Rattle Snake. My 3.5 yr old son wanted to kill him, but I just let him be. I was scared he would try to be like dad the next time he saw one.

CraigS · Sep 27, 2010

Feed & Water are major issues when hunting the desert. This picture was taken during the second week of August. The old feed was good & the new feed was sprouting up.

By the third week in August it was super green & looking very good...

Around August 16th we found our first elk rub, which was a good sign.

CraigS · Sep 27, 2010

After the Arizona Draw Results were released I knew I was going to be hunting Elk, Mule Deer & Pronghorn all in the same Unit. I was very blessed & lucky! Most of Arizona had received good winter snowfall & precipitation, but the spring months were dry & colder than normal, so the grass growth was slower than I anticipated. Tanks were almost full & the browse feed was great. The above picture was taken in April & the elk were pounding this tank.

A 350 type shed we found on May 2, 2010. It was snowing at 5,500 ft on this day, but it didn't last long.

Our totals for May 2, 2010! I try to get my family involved when shed hunting, as it is something they can all do without being quiet & at a slower pace. My FAMILY is my world & I truly believe that getting your family involved in the outdoors is the single most important thing we can do to help preserve the outdoorsman's way of life! PERIOD

Working opposite & two jobs; means I have the kids with me a lot. It was mid-July & I had to get out. I loaded up some food, my gear & my #1 hunting buddies! We didn't see much...