P.O. Box 87153 Phoenix, AZ 85080-7153 (623) 434-5299

PVCI IS RAFFLING OFF A MOOSE HUNT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA!!! The hunt dates are September 24, 2006 – October 6, 2006, that’s 10 full days! Plus your airfare is also included in the prize package! Raffle tickets cost $50 apiece and there will only be 500 total tickets available. If you think that is a lot of money then try pricing just the roundtrip airfare alone or with today’s gasoline prices just what it would cost in gas just going one way to B.C. and you will see that $50 is really quite a bargain! Ticket sales are really expected to be fast and there is NO LIMIT to the amount of tickets you may purchase be it 1, 2 10, 20 or more!

As a bonus on the hunt you may also get a chance for a wolf or two. The hunt has an 80-90% success ratio and the racks run from 50" to 60". The hunt is through McGregor River Outfitters of Prince George, British Columbia. Again your airfare is included in your prize package. The guide will pick you up at the airport and drive you back to the airport for your return flight home. You are responsible for tips, trophy fees, processing and shipping and any taxidermy work that you want done. Make sure that you pack plenty of clothing as weather conditions in B.C. can change almost immediately and make sure that you pack a BIG enough gun! Good Luck! P.S. The fact that there have been no physical tickets yet is to be remedied very soon. Expect tickets at the May Monthly Meeting.

Governor Janet Napolitano has nominated retired wildlife expert Bob Hernbrode to serve on the Az. Game & Fish Commission.

Bob is a Tucson resident who has worked in the wildlife industry for more than 40 years. His experience includes wildlife management in Southern Arizona and prior work with the Game & Fish Dept. He also spent 20 years with the Colorado Game & Fish, including being chief of wildlife education and Colorado wildlife planning. He is supposed to be a lifelong hunter & angler. His 5-year appointment was created by the term expiration of Tucson’s Sue Chilton. Truthfully members his name was a last minute surprise by the governor, as he was not on any of the original lists of candidates. He says he likes elk & deer hunting but is not too keen on predator hunting the way we do it. He supposedly has no problem with hounds for bear & lion although Colorado has had a ban on using hounds to hunt bears for years. Well Arizona, what the Governor wants the Governor gets. We can only wish Bob the best and trust that he will make sound decisions based on scientific management and not on emotions..

The Arizona Deer Association in cooperation with the Arizona Predator callers, the Arizona Elk Society, the Antelope Foundation and with support from the Arizona Game & Fish Dept. would like to invite you and your organization to take part in our hunt.

This is a hunt with the purpose of helping the prey species and fawn recruitment in these units. Everyone that participates will receive a raffle ticket, you will also receive a raffle ticket for every predator checked in. We will have door prizes and a chance at $50.00 drawings to help with the rising cost of gas. There will not be an entry fee for this hunt and dinner will be provided on both Saturday and Sunday for all that take part. The Arizona Game & Fish Dept. will be there to collect scientific data from the animals collected to establish age and population specifics.

We held an event this past spring and with the success of that hunt we made the decision to make this an annual event. We can concentrate in these units to bring some much needed help to the prey species that live in this habitat. The following are the fawn to doe numbers from AG&F.

Unit 2A –18 fawns to 100 does, Unit 2B – 19 to 100

Unit 2C – 5 to 100,Unit 3C – 24 to 100, Unit 3A – 16 to 100, Unit 3B – I didn’t get a count but it also needs help.

Unit 4A – 21 to 100, Unit 4B – 22 to 100

Units 5A, 5B, 1 (Be careful not to shoot any wolves!)

To Pre-register: If you are interested in taking part in this event please contact Mike Burris, Vice President of the Arizona Predator Callers @ (480) 654-1411 or @ www.AZPredatorcallers.com We look forward to seeing you there as we really, really need your help!

JORGE M. JAVELINA STORY

Well, I must admit, year after year the Spring Javelina HAM Hunt has got to be one of my favorite hunts. With spring in the air, it's a great time to be outdoors enjoying a relaxing hike through the rolling hills of our beautiful blooming desert in mild and moderate temperatures. This year's hunt was not much different except for a little wind, rain and oh yeah that rash of crap that I've received from Eddie M. and most of my hunting buddies year after year due to my choice of weapon. Most of you might agree that a 9mm Beretta may be a little light for javelina. With plenty of luck and good shot placement, I've been fortunate not to let one get away yet. This year, I was going to prove to these guys that my trustworthy semi-auto and that 15 round magazine had nothing to do with my previous year’s success. This year, I finally broke down and shelled out a few bucks for an S&W .357 Magnum. God knows I've tried winning one at those monthly meetings. Maybe I just need to attend more often to increase my odds.

As the hunt progressed, Tom M., our partners Terry, Frank, and I humped hills leaving no rocks unturned. It was now Sunday and we were still pushing the hills hard hoping to run into some fresh pig activity. The ground was wet and conditions were favorable. Finally, mid morning, Frank & Terry spotted a herd moving through the hills. We drove to a point ahead of the direction where the herd appeared to have gone. We split up into pairs and went tracking for them. Tom and I soon lost track of our partners. We came to a great vantage point on top of a ridge that looked extremely promising. There ahead of us stood a mountain that looked like javelina just had to live there (you know-that feeling?). Tom & I were assessing how best to approach it. We decided to split up, go around the mountain, and meet on the other side. It was difficult to walk quietly on the side of that steep shale embodied mountain. I proceeded as carefully as possible, when out of the blue, I heard a snorting sound just ahead of me. "Tom," I thought for a moment, "is that you?" I stood still, looked and listened. Sure enough, not more than 25 feet away from me stood a herd of javelina. I spotted at least 6 pigs within range all perfectly blending into their environment. All of a sudden, as I stood there with my pistol drawn, something dawned on me that sent a cold shiver through my bones. In the weeks just prior to my hunt, I had been so busy that I never once took my new pistol out to the range. A little late to be thinking about that now - you think? (I told myself). Just then, a javelina that I had not yet seen took a step and revealed himself. This pig was standing broadside at twenty feet. I placed my sights just behind his left shoulder and squeezed the trigger. BOOM.....sure enough, I missed my target---instead, I drilled him right through both shoulders. He dropped instantly. I couldn't believe it! One of the pigs apparently did go over the mountain towards Tom. A few minutes later I heard a couple of shots ring out from his 44 Magnum. Unfortunately, Tom missed his target. Hopefully we will all have another good opportunity next year. Thanks Tom and also Frank & Terry for all your help in getting my pig back to camp. PS. I still carried my Beretta - just in case.

 If you have a story you would like to share? Write it up and give to Eddie M. or email Jim K. at jrkowalski@cox.net

Story by Brian R.

I had only been calling for a couple of minutes when I suddenly caught movement on a nearby ridge. Then she stayed behind a tree for 20 more minutes before it saw Amber moving from sitting so long. I have never called for such a long time yet I could still see the critter. Finally she stepped from behind the tree and came down the path. I waited for the bobcat to clear the bush and then I dropped her right in her tracks! TALK ABOUT HAVING A GREAT DAY!!! This bobcat was my 1^st call & kill

MY GOAL WAS A FOX by Michael (axle) L.

Well I hope that everyone had a safe and awesome season. I finally made my goal for this season; it was to get a fox. It nearly took me all season to get it as they came on the last 2 days. It started Wednesday morning while I was hunting with Brian R. (you know Amber’s dad). We set out that day with nothing but foxes on our mind. We hiked in about ½ mile to make our 1^st stand. I was up 1^st and called for 20 minutes with no results. Our 2^nd stand lasted about 15 minutes and a fox did come, only behind us! Shots were fired but nothing was harvested. The 3^rd stand was where I saw my first critter! I had just started to call when on the 3^rd note Brian saw movement about 185 yds out. As he raised his rifle another fox showed up on top of a closer rock. Brian shot this closer fox causing the first fox to disappear. On our way to the next stand, Brian said that he believed I was going to have success and he was correct. About 5 minutes into the stand, I changed the tone and a fox jumped up onto a nearby rock! My shot was true! Brian told me he had watched the fox behind some prickly-pear cactus for about 4 minutes but he couldn’t take the shot because the angle would have put me in jeopardy. That was a good day.

On our next day our two friends Jose B. and Tony met us. We continued our quest for more fox and also bobcat now as we had seen a lot of sign the day before. We called for a couple of hours with no action, so we had lunch and decided to split up. Brian and Tony went one way and Jose and I went the other. Our next stand was made in a promising-looking area near the top of a saddle. I started calling the stand but my call froze up. Jose took over and after about 10 seconds of calling, this fox popped out and started running down the hill at him. On and on it came and was in full stride when it hit the clearing where I had a shot. When I did shoot the fox it was only 5 yds from Jose! After the picture taking we moved down the pass about 80 yds. The area just looked too good to pass up so we made another stand. About 1 minute into the stand, a bobcat came running down the hill at a full run! Jose only had time for a real quick shot before the cat ran behind some the cover of some prickly-pears. At the sound of the shot I turned around just in time to see the cat jump 3 feet into the air! As Jose ran to the spot where the cat was hit I saw it running up the hill just before the ridge. I yelled at Jose and pointed to where the cat went. When Jose got to the spot where he had last seen the cat he found blood. The cat had circled back and hid under a juniper tree that had tall grass around it. Jose saw the leg as the kitty started to sneak away and shot at it again hitting it in the leg. Evidently the cat didn’t like this as it turned and charged Jose. The next shot hit the cat in the chest at a distance of 5 feet! 3 foxes and 1 bobcat made for a hunt but sharing it with great friends made it even better! Thanks Brian, Jose and Tony. What an ending to the last hunt of the season.

Every hunting trip the famous question comes up....WHO is going to Call? Since I love calling the answer is always the same. ME! My dad & I began calling when I was a teenager so he always let me do ALL the calling to keep my interest. The story is always the same. I call the dogs in and somebody ELSE shoots them.

I set my shooters up for the shots and rarely get to take one myself. Sometimes I am concentrating so hard on calling that by the time I realize something is in front of me BANG.... some one else gets the kill. In fact, I have yet to harvest one myself! I do enjoy calling in predators for others to shoot and know maybe someday I will get mine, but until then if you want some action you can count on me to call a dog or two in.

Happy Hunting,

Brandon Kowalski

At the April Monthly Meeting PVCI donated $500 to the Superstition Search & Rescue. They are a volunteer service organization affiliated with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office in Florence, Arizona. This non-profit rescue team was originally formed in 1985 as the Apache Junction Search & Rescue. In 1994, they incorporated and changed their name to the Superstition Wilderness Rescue, Inc. and later changed the name to the Superstition Search & Rescue.

The primary purpose of this volunteer organization is to assist individuals who may experience wilderness-related problems. These range from incidents such as falls or medical emergencies, lost or overdue hikers, heat or cold exposure and more. Their group is highly skilled in wilderness first aid, technical rescue, orienting and tracking. These skills enable Superstition Search & Rescue members to safely and efficiently move patients from the field to appropriate medical services in the event of injury, or to their families, in the case of a lost or overdue hiker. They currently have approximately 25 volunteers that sacrifice their time and personal resources to assist those in need. They are always looking for more people. To learn more about them visit www.superstition-sar.org or call (480) 898.4265

The Shooting For Women Alliance held their yearly conference in Phoenix the first weekend in April. The SFWA is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and motivating women and youth toward shooting sports, competition, conservation, personal protection and safety with firearms. This 4-day event included seminars on optics, shotgun chokes, pistol shooting, fundraising, self defense, basic handgun, cooking gourmet wild game and a rare appearance by Dillon Precision on the basics of reloading. 

Women from all over the United States came to learn more of firearms and the outdoor world as well as make many new friends. I made new friends from Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, Colorado, California and even here in Arizona. It was so exciting to meet so many women all in one place who enjoyed outdoor sports such as archery, muzzleloading, shotgun, cowboy action, tactical, rifle and pistol. We even had the opportunity to meet Olympic medalists and multi-time national champions.

We were given the opportunity to participate in a 10 event competition called "May the Best Woman Win". This event required that we participate in the following: Crossman air rifle, archery, Cowboy Action Shooting with SASS, high power rifle (AR15), Pro-Aim Glove comparison, pistol, rifle shotgun (trap), tactical solutions and muzzleloading. At the conclusion of Saturday, our scores were tallied and the top 3 overall shooters were announced at a western gala that night. The winners would each be able to select one of the available firearms as a prize plus receive free passes to next year’s event (valued at $500 each). After participating in several events for the very first time (archery, muzzeloading, tactical, and cowboy action shooting) I was shocked when they announced my name as the 3rd place overall winner taking first, second, fourth and fifth in several events. By placing 3rd I won a Henry Golden Boy lever action .22 rifle which I am itching to take out and try and 2 free passes to next year‘s competition. The most special surprise was participating in the Crossman air rifle event where you need to knock down 5 targets as fast as possible. Your best score is taken out of 5 tries and the winner would be announced Saturday night. Never having done it before I was not sure if my 1.48 seconds, 1.38 seconds, 1.28 seconds and two 1.20 seconds was good enough. Well to my surprise it was, and I placed first in this event and was awarded a Crossman air pistol!

It was so exciting competing against national champions and new friends. Several champions even talked to me about attending the Olympic Training Center and becoming more involved in competition. Right now I am still trying to get over the shock of taking 3rd place and haven’t been able to think about official competition yet. Just the fact of these women who are world known taking time to talk to me was amazing! Maybe when I come back down to Earth I’ll start thinking about it.

For more information on the Alliance, please contact Annette M (602-881-2252) or one2shoot@msn.com.

Who is the best shot in PVCI? That is what the 3-Gun Shoot is designed to determine. Each year this event pits members against each other in rifle, handgun and shotgun competitions. The shooting is usually quite fierce and scores often very close. This year was no exception. Many thanks to those who participated and Congrats to the winners! Here are the results:

RIFLE HANDGUN SHOTGUN SPORTING CLAYS TOP SHOOTER

1^st Place: Travis L 1^st Place: Bill W. 1^st Place: Gary A.M. Bill W.

2^nd Place: Bill W. 2^nd Place: Gary A.M. 2^nd Place: Tom T.

3^rd Place: Brian Z. 3^rd Place: Brian Z. 3^rd Place: Brian Z.

F.Y.I. the PVCI Gun-of-the-Month Raffle item for May 2005 will be a Ruger Mark II .22 cal Stainless Steel target Pistol with scope and rings and an extra magazine. The Gun-of-the-Month Raffle item for June will be a Weatherby Vanguard varmint in .22-250 cal. Custom synthetic stock! For those of you who may not know, currently each month PVCI raffles off a firearm that has been chosen previously by the PVCI Board of Directors. Tickets are only $5.00 apiece, no limit and the drawing is held that night! All winners must pick up their firearm at Randall’s Firearms, 5029 W. Olive, Glendale, Arizona. (623) 934-1164.

*** PVCI Members please remember that our Annual Campout & Barbecue is this month on May 21-22. We are still in need of a few things including wild meat donations and volunteers to 1) help run the shooting events, 2) be safety officers, 3) pull some trailer items, 4) pick up the j-johns, 5) also need someone to step up and cook and prepare the barbecue lunch, etc. in order for this event to be a success. To volunteer please call Ron Moo. (602) 237-9572. We sure could use the meat at this May Meeting! Bring to Meeting in cooler or call Ron Moo. (602) 237-9572 and make arrangements.

Apr. 22 – Arizona Spring Turkey Season opens in many hunt units. Check your Hunt Regs.

Apr. 26 – All Rifle Spring Bear Seasons end.

May 2 - The 2005-2006 Hunt Regulations & Applications forms should be on computer at website azgfd.gov. Download in PDF format.

May 4 - PVCI Monthly Meeting (12851 N.19^th Ave, F.O.P. Lodge #2) 7:00p.m.

May 14 - Payson Wildlife Fair at Green Valley Park in Payson.

May 18 – PVCI Board of Directors Meeting (8802 N. 19^th Ave., room inside the Royal Palms Baptist Church) 7:00p.m.

May 19 - All Arizona Spring Turkey Seasons end.

May 20 - The 2005-2006 Fall Hunt Regulation booklets or "hard copies" should be at Az. Game & Fish & licensed dealers.

June 1 – PVCI Monthly Meeting (12851 N.19^th Ave. F.O.P. Lodge #2) 7:00p.m.

June 11 – PVCI Fishing Contest (This day is Free Fishing Day) at Ashurst Lake. See map and more information inside.

June 15 – PVCI Board of Directors Meeting (8802 N. 19^th Ave., room inside the Royal Palms Baptist Church) 7:00p.m.

July 6 – PVCI Monthly Meeting (12851 N. 19^th Ave. F.O.P. Lodge #2) 7:00p.m.

July 20 – PVCI Board of Directors Meeting (8802 N. 19^th Ave., room inside the Royal Palms Baptist Church) 7:00p.m.

to be the guest host & main speaker. He will probably help judge some of the Contests also. Bet you will learn something!

Aug. 3 – PVCI Monthly Meeting (12851 N. 19^th Ave. F.O.P. Lodge #2) 7:00p.m.

Aug. 17 – PVCI Board of Directors Meeting (8802 N. 19^th Ave., room inside the Royal Palms Baptist Church) 7:00p.m.

Aug, 26,-28 – Jim & Darla Solomon’s Outdoor Expo. at the Phoenix Civic Plaza The PVCI Annual Varmint Calling Championship to be held here.

***MEMBER ALERT – Are you a new member or maybe an older member with no Member Handbook? Well we have copies available at the Monthly Meetings from Hunt Chairman Ron Mof. Please sign off your name and pick up a copy.

*** Also Remember – To stay a member you must RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP EACH YEAR! The cost to join is $35. The cost to renew is $25. I do allow a small grace period yet I’m still having to drop some of you. This money is Club Revenue and I Do NOT want to drop you but must if you don’t renew! If you are a member and are not receiving a newsletter like this one every 2 months then maybe your address is wrong? You are responsible for keeping your address current with me. Also don’t ignore your renewal notices! Two names still keep coming back as returned, Cavin C. & Derek P. Does anyone know their correct address?

PVCI WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS: Jerry G., Chris M., T.L. Thomas, John W., Toby W. & Mitch G.

PVCI MEMBERSHIP COUNT- 279 Members

The PVCI 2005 Membership Contest is currently underway. This Drive is in effect from Jan. 1^st to Dec. 31^st, 2005. The goal is 500 members. As incentive there are once again prizes for the Top 3 Membership getters. 1^st Place wins a 12 ga.Remington shotgun, 2^nd Place wins a complete Leafy Wear Camouflage outfit, 3^rd Place wins a Free 1 Year PVCI Membership plus a Free PVCI Cap & T-Shirt! SPECIAL NOTICE: Any PVCI member who signs up 50 or more people in this PVCI 2005 Membership Contest will win a Free PVCI Lifetime Membership!

UPCOMING EVENTS

 PVCI ANNUAL CAMPOUT & BARBECUE

 MAY 21 – 22, 2005 (Fire Regulations Permitting!)

Registration - 7:30am. See Annette M. - $2.00/shooter/event

*All shooting events in the am to immediately follow each other, times may vary

8am. - 8:45am 22 pistol - men, women, kids (10 - 16 )

8:45am - 9:30am 22 rifle - men, women, kids

9:30am - 10:45am Big bore pistol - men, women, kids

11am -12 noon Kids BB gun

LUNCH 12 - 1:30pm

1:30pm - 3pm. Archery

3:30pm - ? Muzzle loader - men, women, kids

DINNER 6pm. - ? Club provides soda, water, briquettes & grill.

Registration - 8am See Annette M. - $2.00/shooter/event

8:30am. - 9.45am. 5 pin

10am. - ? Jug shoot JACKPOT Rules : $1 per shot (buy as many as you like, but only 1

shot taken until your turn rolls around or the jug is hit ). Pull a number from a hat & that’s your order to shoot. No

scopes or range finders.

LUNCH 12 - ? Club provides soda, water, briquettes & grill. Bring your own meat & 1 dish ( pot

luck). KIDS CALLING CONTEST (free) - event certificates - gun raffle

1st place - certificate, t shirt & hat

2nd place – certificate & t-shirt

3rd place – certificate & hat

Note: All t-shirts & hats picked up at the club meeting.

• Please only camp on the right side of the road anywhere along ¾ of a mile as you drive in. Shooting will be on the left • Keep ALL dogs on a leash • Portable toilets and a dumpster will be provided. • Please clean-up your camping area before going home. • Please drown your ashes with dirt and scatter your camp fire ring rocks .

• Please bring canopies or tarps for shade and extra ice.

No loaded firearms in camp. No alcohol & guns. Shoot in designated area. Proper firearms for targets.

Route #1: On Hwy 87 go through Payson, Pine, Strawberry & Clints Well. Stay on Hwy 87 to the first right (FR 95) past the Blue Ridge Ranger Station. Take FR 95 south & go approximately 1 mile to FR 513. Camp on FR 513.

Route #2: Go north on I-17 to Camp Verde. Turn right on either exit 287 or 288 to Hwy 260. Go east on Hwy 260 to Hwy 87. Turn left on Hwy 87 & then follow the Route #1 directions.

PURPOSE: To find the best adult and kid fisherman in the Club.

DATE: Saturday June 11^th, 2005

TIME: Daybreak until 6:00p.m.

ENTRY FEE: None, in fact a fishing license is not even required as this is Free Fishing Day and no fishing license is required on all public

 state waters except on the Indian Reservations.

CONTEST OPEN TO: All PVCI members, families and friends.

There will be 2 categories: Adults – 14 & older. Children – under 13.

1^st Place prizes will be awarded for the longest fish and the longest stringer. The longest stringer will be the total of all fish caught. There will be a limit of one prize per person, so if the same person has the both the longest fish and longest stringer, he/she will choose their prize and the 2^nd longest fish gets the 2^nd prize. All fish species caught are eligible and boats are okay yet remember there is an 10-hp limit on the lake. There are rainbow trout channel cat &

 pike.

In addition to the fishing prizes there will also be a free Members

 and Guests Raffle! You Need NOT Fish in the Contest to be Eligible, However You DO Need To Be Present. As soon as we get the

 fish officially measured and the fish and raffle prizes are given out it’s time for our FISH FRY/POTLUCK DINNER at one of the pre-determined camping locations. Please Remember To Bring A Dish / also an extra frying pan & favorite fish fixings to help with the fish fry. We have really had some wonderful dinners in the past and this is the Best Part of the Day for many.

Come on up to the cool pines (Let’s see in June the temps in the Valley should be 100 degrees plus easy) and take part in the fun.

$10.00 per night, up to eight people with one vehicle. Second vehicle per night: $5.00 additional. Don’t forget that families and friends are welcome. Don’t forget the potluck dinner please. If you have any questions please call Brent F. (623) 582-6265

Each year about this time the town of Payson , Arizona host a wildlife awareness event that targets the whole town. This event is called the "Payson Wildlife Fair." The Fair is held at Green Valley Lake in Payson. Normally this lake is one of the Urban Lakes and an Urban Fishing License is required. During this event the lake will be stocked with trout (including some BIG incentive fish) and open to all for free from the hours of 9:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. There are also wildlife booths and displays, free fishing poles and instructions for the kids, games, prizes, some virtual shooting sports, etc. Smokey the Bear is another annual visitor you may see walking around. PVCI will have a booth at this event and volunteers are needed. What members do at the booth is promote varmint calling and let people know about our Club. We usually sell a few predator calls also in the process. There is always a lot of interest shown. We will ask for a show of hands for those interested in going up for a few hours at the May Monthly Meeting. Many go home after the Event is over. What I like to do is make it a weekend thing (since I’m already up there) and go camp in the turkey woods and see if I can’t get call in a bird or two for the camera. Hope to see you there!

The Arizona Trapper Association (ATA) will be having their Annual Convention on July 29, 30 and 31, 2005. This is a Great Big Annual Event that bring together many trappers and predator callers from all over Arizona and some farther away places too. There are usually trapping and calling demos, fur prep & handling tips, assorted contests some for which you can win $100 for 1^st Place, trapping and calling supplies some of which you won’t find anywhere outside of a trapping catalog, a Gun Raffle, a silent auction, a Great Live Auction, assorted kids competitions, ladies frying pan toss, Great Food and much more. If you would like to set up to sell or advertise your wares, the space is FREE! Just let Cindy or Bob know so they can schedule where to put you. Entry into the Convention is FREE also! PVCI will probably have a booth there to promote the sport of varmint calling. We set up a mounted coyote, throw out some skins, put out some photo albums and sell some predator calls. This Convention is the survival event of the year for the trappers as this is where they make most of their money. Predator caller, author and hunter extraordinaire, Major Boddicker is the featured speaker! I believe Major used to own Critter Calls. Look for a Schedule Of Events in the July Predator Tales. If you can donate some good items, wares or a hunt for their Auction, well they sure would be appreciated. Hope to see you!

The Outdoors Arizona Recreation Expo will be at the Phoenix Civic Plaza. There will be everything from archery to water skiing. This event is like the International Sportsman’s Expo with many, many outdoor vendors, clubs, etc. PVCI will also have a booth at this event, volunteers needed. The Arizona State Varmint Calling Championship will also be held here on Saturday. Should be lots of fun! Last year there were also squirrel, duck, turkey and elk calling contests. A rifle was awarded to the squirrel calling contest winner! Expo expected to be held in either August or September. Look for more details in the July Predator Tales.

Having only ever been on 2 turkey hunts in the past, I have only recently become enamored with the big birds. My first hunt was a 2-day hunt where I froze in the morning and sweltered in the afternoon and never even saw a bird. But hearing them was good enough to entice me into trying for my second tag. On my second trip both my son, Brandon and I filled our tags and the hunting "hook" was set for Spring Turkey. So it was particularly disappointing when I didn’t draw an Arizona Spring Turkey tag this past year. Then at one of the club meetings Eddie M. told me about going over to New Mexico where you could buy a Spring Turkey tag over the counter. Though my schedule wouldn’t permit me to venture over until the 3^rd week of the hunt or provide me more than a long weekend to go, I began making plans immediately.

I arrived at my New Mexico campsite around midday and was welcomed by snow even though it was April 30^th. Setting up camp as quickly as possible allowed an opportunity to try to figure out the terrain in the "Land of Enchantment". We decided to work the fringes around a huge meadow the next morning. Stopping and calling as we worked our way around the edges all morning didn’t even result in a single cluck, purr, cut or gobble. Nothing, nada, zip.

That afternoon, I decided I would embark upon a sign-scouting mission figuring that I would try to find them first, before I began to hunt them. Eureka! The scouting paid off. Finding Turkey sign showed me at least where they were. I wondered to myself if they would still be in area or if not, had they gone far.

The next morning I began to track the sign. At this point I hadn’t seen or heard a bird, but at least I had found sign. I tracked the sign up and down the mountains for about 2 ½ miles as my GPS unit showed me later. I counted, well ah, counted… Turkey droppings as I went. As I counted my 105^th "pile" my eye caught movement. I had been so intent on the job at hand, that I hadn’t even seen the flock of Turkeys only 20 to 25 yards ahead of me. They evidently caught my movement as well. There were Turkeys to my left and Turkeys to my right, running hither to and froe.

I sat down immediately, feeling a little silly about causing all this chaos. I called a hen back a couple of times but that was it. The gobbler sounded off a couple of times just over the top of the ridge. Wanting the birds as well as myself to settle down, I sat for quite a while. Convinced that things had returned to normal, I made my way over the ridge, set up and called again. In hindsight, I probably hadn’t gone far enough as my calling didn’t produce any results. The birds and I both realized my amateur Turkey hunting status. Abandoning my calling I fell back on my many years of hunting experience and decided I would try to find them again, flank them and still hunt them.

Studying the lay of the land, I determined the most likely route the flock would have taken. Using the mountain to my advantage, I hustled to catch up with the birds. My move paid off as I picked up the flock again. Following the flock this way, keeping visual contact as much as possible without letting them see me I planned an ambush. Emerging from the other side of the mountain I had circled I discovered the birds were nowhere in sight.

I decided I would stop for lunch giving me time to formulate a new plan. Not wanting to rush the moment, I took advantage of the solitude and rested my eyes for a short nap. Back on the trail again, my rest and full belly kept doubt and discouragement from settling in.

I set up for a little calling and realized it had been some time since I last saw or heard a Turkey. Getting up, I spooked some elk that were bedded not far away. I immediately sat down to let the woods settle down again. Watching carefully, I saw a Jake coming in. Slowly I picked up my shotgun and as I did, the bird that was walking parallel to me, turned and looked directly at me. Wasting no time I pulled the trigger sending my #5s on their way.

My GPS showed that I was only .35 miles from where I had started out the morning. All that hiking had brought me full circle which made for a short trip to haul that bird back to my quad.

• Between 5,000 and 6,000 feathers cover the body of an adult turkey in patterns called feather tracts.
• Approximately 10 to 20 percent of hens have beards.
• Wild turkeys have excellent vision during the day but don't see as well at night.
• Turkeys can run at speeds up to 25 mph, and they can fly up to 55 mph.
• Hens will lay a clutch of 10 to 12 eggs during a two-week period, usually laying one egg per day.
• A newly-hatched flock must be ready to leave the nest within 12 to 24 hours to feed.
• In the early 1930s this grand game bird was on the verge of extinction with an estimated population of only about 30,000.
• Today there are approximately 6.4 million birds, this intriguing species has truly made an awesome comeback.

MARCH (NOVICE II) MONTHLY HUNT REPORT : The end of the month of March means the end of the 2004-2005 predator hunting season for most PVCI members. In April both coyotes and gray fox have their young and most of us respect that and give them the summer off. It also gets HOT causing the critters to shed their heavy winter coats and wear their summer apparel. There are some exceptions: Coyotes seen in antelope country are usually fair game and woe be it to the coyote that shows itself in the front of me when I am calling turkeys! Invites from certain ranches, Game & Fish and Indian Reservations also usually have me reaching for my shotgun and calls. For the most part though I’m done with predators until the fall.

PVCI knowing this is the final month, likes to go out with A BANG by making March our 2^nd Novice Hunt! Novices are teamed up with experts for a day or two of hands-on experience and every team has to have a novice to qualify. Thinking back it seems like I can remember periods of off & on rain mixed with wind on our hunt. All total 13 teams with 29 people ventured forth to see what they could do. Even though most teams didn’t do so well there seems to always be some others that do. Here are the results:

1^st Place: Greg R. and Mitch G.      2^nd Place: Russ F. and Ken O.       3^rd Place: Rich H, Tyler H., Bob B. & Mark

Total: 5 coyotes, 1 fox. Total: 2 coyotes Total: 2 coyotes

1. The online application process has been suspended.
2. All applicants must buy a hunting license
3. Hunt permit-tag fees must be paid up front. 
4. A loyalty bonus point has been created
5. The bonus point pass percentage is higher
6. A set-aside percentage of bighorn sheep hunt permits for nonresidents has been created.