I see I am a little late with my story :D
I sent out a little note to my friends this morning and have been trying to catch up on all the work I have missed for the past two weeks.
I did manage to set up a Photobucket account, so we will see how that works.
First off, everything you have heard or read about AZ is true. IF you can draw an archery tag, in any unit, I think you are going to have an experience you will not forget. My buddy and I actually saw and judged 36 bull elk in our 2 days of scouting and 12 days of hunting. 27 of those would have made P&Y! We had probably an equal number of encounters with bulls we could not see due to cover. It was an amazing experience. The bulls were very vocal, but did not really come in to our calls. We did a lot of stalking and ambushing by talking with and listening to them.
Here is a nice rub. I am pointing to branches that are broken out of my reach. I am 6'-1". The bulls were rubbing on trees the size of my thigh and snapping pines thicker than my wrist.
My gear: 53# Super Shrew Chameleon with bamboo limbs and elk antler tips from a shed I found on my last trip to AZ (good karma). This bow has the Bevel-Lok takedown system and is a dream to travel with. Gold Tip 35/55 XT with 250g Wensel Woodsman. They weighed 550g total. I love that CatQuiver fanny pack, but if anyone wants to trade the Mini Quiver itself that attaches to it for a Great Northern bow quiver, give me a PM.
My bull. He is everything I ever dreamed of. The pictures really don't do him justice as I am not a big fan of the Chuck Adams pose (standing behind with outstreched arms)
. I cannot get my hands around the main beam until after the last point. He is a mature bull elk and that is all I really ever hoped for. The taxidermist scored him at 363" gross and 352" net and his main beams are just a smidge under 55".
I hope these pics work so I can share with my "friends" here. This is a wonderful place and I missed checking in to see what I could learn while I was gone.