Cabelas Spring Thunder New Season

Its time for another season of Cabelas Spring Thunder.  Follow along every Monday thru May as JSO friend, Aaron Warbritton, hosts a great turkey hunting webisode.

AZ Bull Elk Up Close

Check out this bull elk that I called up close on the Arizona Unit 9 Muzzleloader Hunt last year with Craig and Lori Benson.

AZ Archery State Record Rocky Mtn Bighorn Sheep Video

Brian Rimsza had his AZ Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep panel scored today and it ties the current state record at 176 4/8 Official Net and 178 1/8 Gross.  This is a great honor for Brian who is a very accomplished bowhunter and he worked really hard on this hunt and I am very proud of him.  He put in lots of time scouting and was totally prepared for this hunt.  He literally "left it all out on the field" on this hunt.  His goal from the beginning privately was to find a ram that would rival the awesome current state record ram held by another very accomplished archery hunter Barry Sopher.  I have to say that the wind was let out of our sails a bit when both our #1 and #2 rams were harvested on the first hunt.  We thought that the #3 "Long Ram" was going to be very close but we were really worried about the large chip on his left horn.  Check out the awesome video below that our friend Jed Larson produced for Brian of his hunt.  Congrats to Brian and Nicole Rimsza for this accomplishment and thanks for letting me be involved with your adventure!

Bugling Arizona Elk at 2 Yards

This was a Arizona Unit 23 bull elk that got a little too close.

KUIU LIVE-Super Down Sleeping Bag Video

I got a chance to see the KUIU Super Down Sleeping bags on the Mexico Coues hunt with Jason and I was impressed.  I have been using the Montbell UL Spiral Down Hugger for years and really like it but am excited to get my KUIU bag.

SCI Convention Photos II

SCI Convention Photos I

I went up to the SCI Convention on Thursday and Friday in Las Vegas.  It was great to see some old friends and make some new ones.  Sometimes I forget how many hunters we have in this country and its nice to see people booking hunts and enjoying themselves.  The KUIU guys and the Outdoorsmans both had booths and lots of interest from patrons.  The new KUIU Sleeping bags are awesome looking and I can't wait to try one out!

Easy packout of a Coues Deer in Sonora Mexico

Notice how much work the cameraman is exerting on this strenuous pack out of Jack D's coues deer buck in Sonora, Mexico.  Good times!

Video Joe D's Mexico Coues Hunt with Colburn and Scott Outfitters

Check out this Coues Deer hunting video of Joe D's buck with Colburn and Scott Outfitters in Sonora, Mexico.

Official Score of Claude Warren's AZ Super Big Game Raffle Desert Sheep

The official score of Claude Warren's incredible AZ Super Raffle Desert Ram is in!  His official gross score is 185 3/8 and 181 1/8 Net.  I believe this makes his ram the largest Nelsoni Desert Sheep ever harvested in the State of Arizona.  Honestly, this ram never ceases to surprise me.  It was an honor to video and photograph him and then get a chance to hunt him.  He did his best to vanish and zig when we zagged but we were very fortunate.  Darr and I would like to thank Claude Warren for putting his trust in us with his coveted tag and being such a great guy.  Thanks to Fred Ashurst for his friendship and hanging with us.  We would like to thank the AZ Super Big Game Raffle, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society and the Arizona Game and Fish Department for taking care of our precious wildlife.  I can't wait to see Claude's ram once it is mounted by Clay Goldman of Mogollon Taxidermy.

Official Measurements:
Right Horn-40 0/8, 16 0/8, 15 4/8, 10 4/8, 10 0/8=92 0/8
Left Horn-38 7/8, 16 1/8, 15 1/8, 13 6/8, 9 4/8=93 3/8
185 3/8 Gross and 181 1/8 Net
An interesting thing to note is that the 2nd quarter on the right side fell smack dab in the deepest part of the chip and he loses 3 2/8 on that measurement alone.

I would be lying if I said we knew this sheep was as big as he is.  The simple fact that sheep even close to this big aren't known to be in this unit.  It would be like a 440 bull elk coming out of Unit 4A.  When I first saw him, I was just trying to get good footage so that we could evaluate him later.  I can tell you that the last time I saw the ram right before Claude harvested him he looked like a monster.  This hunt was so much more than score but it sure was exciting to get to be a part of a once in a lifetime experience.  Lord willing we will be back on the mountain chasing sheep soon!