Might not go to Ben Avery

[onelastshot]

Forget Ben Avery, too much Desert, the only reason I go is that it's 25 minutes from my house!

 

[snowpro440]

The high desert in Sedona:

I was drawn for elk eleven years straight, and finally pink-slipped on year number twelve. 9 Times in unit 1, and 2 times in unit 27. There was only one time during those hunts that we didn't all harvest an elk.

6A three times 5X7, a spike and one cow , unit 1 once unsuccessful , 27 one small mulie 3X4 didn't see anye elk there .

 

[gme]

Northern AZ is a different world, I'm only a little over an hour from Ben Avery, shot this video while on a hike near where I live (unit 6A)

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1647343638628539

 

[JRS]

Thanks for posting the video, Gary.

 

[JRS]

Though the scenery is different, the Dragoon and Chiricahua mountains down south offer yet another view of Az. Lots of mountain lions in those areas.

 

[gme]

Though the scenery is different, the Dragoon and Chiricahua mountains down south offer yet another view of Az. Lots of mountain lions in those areas.

did you see game and fish got something a little different on a trail cam down there recently
https://www.ammoland.com/2017/09/jaguar-arizonas-chiricahua-mountains-video-male/#axzz4tFIprkN3

 

[JRS]

did you see game and fish got something a little different on a trail cam down there recently
https://www.ammoland.com/2017/09/jaguar-arizonas-chiricahua-mountains-video-male/#axzz4tFIprkN3

Thanks, Gary. I wasn't aware of it, but not surprised. While working some retrofitting projects at the smelter in Douglas many years ago, there were sightings of jaguars in that area. Former Cochise County Sheriff Jimmy Judd has a full mount of one that was killed just outside Bisbee.

 

[JRS]

After mentioning Bisbee… I have a chunk of Bisbee Blue that weighs 7 pounds 3 ounces

Edit: I also have a small stash of Apache teardrops that I scraped-up in Superior.

 

[snowpro440]

gme , Gary that must be on the snoopy rock side of 6A ?

 

[gme]

gme , Gary that must be on the snoopy rock side of 6A ?

west clear creek wilderness area

 

[jkl]

SHHHHH. Your right I wouldn't move to the Phoenix area. I have eaten as many snow birds as I can in the last 38 years. I am running out or recipes.

This place would be hard to leave you are within 100 miles of any type of climate you want.

John

 

[nmkid]

Raton NM, has trees, mild temps in winter.
Google for av monthly temps.

I don't know what Google says about Raton but...It's cold there in the winter time!!

 

[mr45man]

I don't know what Google says about Raton but...It's cold there in the winter time!!

Yes, avg high temp in Dec. 46 was the lowest
And goes up from there.
Might be some snow though

 

[M14AMU]

Stay in Northern Michigan....and tuff it out!

 

[expiper]

I was thinking about going to Ben Avery shooting facility this winter for a couple of months to do some comp shooting.
The pictures show nothing but sand and desert,now being a northern Michigan fella I dont think I could handle that type of scenery for two months.
So my question is what southern states offer semi warn weather and that has competition shooting.
Thanks Fellas
Bench

If you can stand Michigan winter for two months ,,,any thing would be a relief,,,Roger

 

[theMadAlaskan]

"Trees get in the way of the scenery"
Edward Abbey

 

[Matthew Schwartzkopf]

Yeah there is no scenery at Ben Avery. Except for the mountains and hills and saguaros and trees and bushes. Also there is the sunset. Every night is a different beautiful sunset.

 

[Matthew Schwartzkopf]

Although I like Ben Avery a lot, I wouldn't want to spend a few months hanging around there, I need to see green stuff. Of course Sedona and the Grand Canyon should be on everyone's bucket list so if you're there you might want to take advantage of them.

Having said that, ShootDots is right. I live 20 minutes from Bayou Rifle and I shoot all year around. The best weather is in the winter, because you can actually shoot without getting sweat in your eyes. In December- February (it's a lot like Ottawa in June -July) I occasionally have to wear a jacket.

However, your major problem is that Bayou Rifle is for member's only, unless you're shooting in a match on the weekend. Buying a membership is not going to be an option for you, because the sign-up list for new members is only open once a year. The last few years they've had to shut down the sign-up in 20-30 minutes because it fills up so fast. The BOD (Board of Directors) is pretty hard core about limiting the number of the membership.

I have been considering organizing the various shooting clubs directors into a group to lobby the Texas Parks and Wildlife to build a shooting center like Ben Avery (only better) here in Texas. But to do that it would take time away from my shooting, so I'm reluctant to do so. Given the number of shooters in Texas it seems like a slam dunk kind of project and could be sold as an economic stimulus for a rural spot somewhere. It wouldn't benefit me at all, but it would give shooters as a whole another destination to hold the big national matches.

Regards,

Joe

Let me know if you need any help. I oversee the AZ Game and Fish Departments ranges (10 total) and am very familiar with range design and standards.

 

[retired]

lol...mild compared to what?
6000 ft

Raton NM, has trees, mild temps in winter.
Google for av monthly temps.

 

[ClassCat]

It is 1:25 PM 12/28/17 Arizona Time . Conditions at the range are= 72 degrees wind SSE @2Mph, and a cloudless blue sky.

You're in the Desert. Try beating those conditions !

Joe Pipola Phoenix Az