2010 Arizona Big Game Super Raffle Winners

The best part about the Super Raffle is hearing stories and seeing pictures of our winners. Whether it is elk, buffalo, mule deer, desert bighorn, Coues deer, turkey, bear, javelina, antelope or mountain lion, every winner has a great story, and better yet, a great picture. Here are some good ones from back in 2010. Remember, this could be you in 2012!

A note from the 2011 Swarovski Optiks Package winner- 

Words cannot express my sincere thanks for winning the Super Raffle Optics Package! Thank you all for having the Raffle and the fine quality of hunts and optics package offered in the Raffle. I have hunted all of my life and love every minute that I can be in the field and I can definitely tell you the entire package will be put to good use! It was like a dream come true! You often hear of raffles and such and always think that somehow just maybe it could happen to you. This was my time! The hunting gods were looking down on me! I hope your raffle generated the results you were looking for in raising the funds for such a fine cause. I definitely will be entering next year! Thanks again,

Jeff Murray, Magnolia, TX

 

On June 15, 2011 I killed a magnificent Bull Buffalo in the Kaibab. It truly was the hunt of a lifetime and I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity you provide to obtain such a tag. -Matthew Rohrer

Pete Shepley

Robert Currier- Harvested 8/9/11 in unit 13A

Jim Pomfret’s AZBGSR Bull

Pictured below is Jim Pomfret, our 2011 AZBGSR elk hunt winner. Jim and friend Corky hunted hard for this beautiful bull, and were happy to take home over 400 pounds of meat. This was Jim’s first ever big game hunt, and he was proud to harvest such a great bull. Congratulations Jim!

Remember, Jim’s smile could be on your face this year! Keep on grabbing raffle tickets. Click here to purchase!

Jim and his 2011 bull

Jim, with friend and guide Corky

Mike Schnable’s Arizona Bull

2009 Elk AZBGSR winner Mike Schnable from Virginia with his bull. Mike killed his bull at the end of the 2010 season. Congratulations Mike!

Bobby Boido’s Coues Whitetail Adventure

That smile could be yours this year!

Hello, my name is Bobby Boido, my wife Olga Boido was the winner of the Coues whitetail deer tag and she signed the tag over to me. I hunted a total of 23 days starting September 1, 2006. Over the 23 days, my hunting buddies and I saw 138 whitetail bucks.  Four would have gone easily over 100 inches. One went over 110, which is the one I took. I shot this deer on January 20, 2007. This buck scored 118 inches with a 5 inch drop tine. In the 23 days of hunting, we saw 24 herds of javelina,10 coyotes and 4 bobcats. We also saw one half albino Coues whitetail doe. We also saw numerous mule deer bucks, with one over 30 inches, the biggest desert mule deer I have seen in a long time. I saw this buck on 3 different trips to the area.

I want to thank the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle committee and the participating organizations for all their efforts and hard work. This truly was a once in a lifetime hunt for me. To be able to go anywhere at any time was a great experience. Along the way I met and talked to some great sportsman who were willing to help out and offer advice. I talked to a lot of people and told them of my good fortune.  I was very surprised a lot of guys and gals had not heard of the Super Raffle, and I was happy to help spread the word.

I want to close with another thank you. I have hunted for 41 years starting at 8 years old. I have never taken a buck over 102 and I have never seen a drop tine buck in Arizona or old Mexico where I started hunting! Thank you and let’s keep this Super Raffle going!

Bobby and his 2006 Coues deer

Congratulations Bobby!

Jeff Penny’s Mt. Lion Hunt

Jeff Penny was our 2010 winner of the mountain lion hunt. He harvested this giant cat in January 2011, outside of Young, AZ. Jeff, his friends and guides hunted on foot through rough country to find this lion, and it was worth it for this 175-pound trophy. Congratulations Jeff and thank you for supporting the AZBGSR and conservation in AZ!

Dream Swarovski Package

There is no arguing that Swarovski produces some of the finest optics available. However, the majority of us can’t just go out and stock up on all of their top products, short of winning the lottery or receiving some surprise inheritance. But there is an exception to every rule; thanks to the generosity of Swarovski over the last six years, your chance to get your hands on over $9,300 of Swarovski’s top products is just $10 away.

Tickets for the raffle are available on the AZBGSR website. You can buy tickets for any combination of hunts, the “all eleven” package, or put all your money on the Swarovski package. Whichever way you do it, this opportunity is one you cannot pass up.

So what’s on the line here? Let’s look at the details…

15x56 SLC Binocular

The SLCs have been the cornerstone of the Swarovski line for many years and with its new design it is bound to hold that station for some time. With a slimmer body and more sensitive rubber armoring, the SLC is better than ever.

New SWAROCLEAN external coating for lenses makes it considerably easier to clean objective and ocular lenses. Thanks to improved cleaning, the lenses need less intensive attention to achieve maximum clarity. This considerably increases the longevity of optical products.

• 3-lens objective lens with high light-gathering power for excellent picture quality, even in poor light conditions.
• Optimum color fidelity across the whole light spectrum with unique prism coating, SWAROBRIGHT.
• Optimized roof prism-system with P-coating.
• SWAROTOP & SWARODUR coatings.
• Phenomenal depth of field.

El Range 10x42 Rangefinding Binocular

The EL Range redefines hunting equipment. A single instrument combines the capability of razor-sharp, top-quality optics with precise measuring. Highest transmission values, low weight, and the widest field of view in its class literally set new standards for optics and precise measuring.

PRECISE MEASURING

A steady hand is required for measuring distant targets. The legendary EL wrap-around grip, the low, perfectly balanced weight, and the unique shape ensure the EL Range’s good handling characteristics and the display of the exact distance to the desired target.

INTUITIVE TECHNOLOGY

• Optimally positioned measuring button on the binoculars provides quick measuring results
• Small reticle for precise measurements for long distances
• Measuring scope: 33-1,500 yds ( 30-1,375 m)
• Measuring accuracy ± 1 yard (1 m) over the entire measuring range
• Display has optional fixed brightness level or automatic brightness adjustment for different backgrounds
• Simple and intuitive menu operation

UNSURPASSED ECONOMICS

• The EL wrap-around grip ensures binoculars can be held steadily and focus even the smallest targets at a great distance
• The ergonomic shape provides additional stability and permits single-handed operation

PRECISE HITS WITH SWARO-AIM

Many hunting challenges are caused by geographic circumstances. Firing an accurate shot uphill or downhill requires precise timing and ballistic experience. Or a precise measuring instrument. The EL Range with SWARO-AIM is equipped with a completely new angled-shot program developed by SWAROVSKI OPTIK, which determines the precise, correct distance and an exact aim – even in the most demanding terrain.

Swaro-Aim Calculates the correct bullet trajectory for angled shots on the basis of the program developed by Swarovski while taking into consideration the measured distance and angle to the target.

• Scan function, also for measuring angles
• Optional display of angle or corrected shooting distance
• SWARO-AIM display turns on and off easily as needed
• Not dependent on caliber

5-25x52P Z5 Rifle Scope w/Ballistic Turret & Plex Reticle

The Z5 from Swarovski Optik is a 1-inch rifle scope with 5x zoom – an innovative combination. Due to its high magnification and its large field of view, it is particularly versatile and eminently suitable for various types of hunting. The Z5 offers exceptional optical performance in a slim rifle scope.

With the new 1-inch range with 5x zoom, Swarovski Optik delivers performances that have only rarely been achieved previously by any other rifle scope of the 30 mm class. The slim, compact Z5 rifle scopes are designed for harsh everyday hunting – they are reliable companions in many hunting situations.

Optical System

• 5x zoom in a 1-inch rifle scope
• Maximum image quality due to completely innovative design of the optic
• Large eye relief of 3.74 in (95 mm) for greater safety
• Large field of view for greater overview
• Reticle in the second image plane: The target observed is magnified while the size of the reticle remains the same.
• Rapid diopter adjustment
• Microstructure surface: precisely defined ribbing to prevent residual reflections inside the tube for bright, high-contrast images, even in intense light

Function & Design

• Third parallax correction with 109 yds (100 m) mark for rapid operation, even in the firing position
• Rectangular adjustment range for greater range of elevation
• Patented Swarovski Optik 4-point coil spring system for absolute certainty of hitting your target – shot after shot
• Slim, stylish design
• Low weight
• All aluminum outer parts are anodized to be scratch-resistant.
• Ballistic turret

STM-65 Spotting Scope w/25-50x Wide Angle Eyepiece

Extremely rugged and unusually lightweight spotting scopes thanks to state of the art magnesium technology. The large objective lens diameter enables observation in razor-sharp detail due to excellent light-gathering qualities even at high magnifications. Fluoride-containing HD lenses minimize color fringing (chromatic aberration) and deliver high contrast images with razor-sharp outlines. Ideal for digital photography through the spotting scope. A straight scope simplifies locating and following animals and makes it easier to observe from a hide or car.

• Weight: 44.6 oz
• Length: 15.4 in
• Field of View (Ft @ 1000yds): 138 ft/ 89 ft
• Eye Relief: 17.0 mm
• Magnification: 25-50x Wide Angle
• Objective Lens Size: 65 mm

2008 Elk Winner Robert Dunn- Story by Jim Mullins

After speaking with Jake Dunn, Robert’s son, we could tell right away that this was going to be an incredible hunt with some incredibly nice folks! Robert had made it clear that he did not want to just show up and shoot, he wanted to work hard and experience all he could before pulling the trigger! With this being the case, Robert and Jake showed up about 2 weeks early and went to work! It was awesome to see and hear the excitement in their voices each day when they would return with great video of awesome bulls. The weather turned bad and changed our game plans which broadened our search for the bulls we wanted. Closer to the hunt, Jake’s cousin “Clint” and Jake’s son Caden came up to help also and by that time we had the rest of my family there as well.

Now with the hunt starting, the moon was full and the storms had dropped water in every last hole it could find which had the bulls scattered and difficult to locate. We had 3 bulls in a certain area that were all over the 400″ mark and Robert, my brother Matt and I would hunt that area while everyone else went different directions to catch the bulls in case they had moved.

A bull was still in the area but never showed while the rifle was on Roberts shoulder andeveryone had great bulls to watch in the areas they had gone to during the first two days. On the second day of the hunt, Jake and Clint had located a giant bull and we headed over there to see which bull it was. Once we saw it we told Jake it was just a little 385″ bull and that he should keep looking.

So with that we left and headed back to our original spot again. The storms were rolling in but we grabbed our jackets and stuck it out. On that night Robert passed up a giant 390+ bull at close range along with several 370-380″ type bulls. Right after taking his scope off the giant bull, a lightning bolt struck close by and the clouds opened up! They were about 1 mile from the truck and I was about 1 1/4 miles at that moment and we all had “lightning rods” in the form of tripods or rifle hanging off us, so you can imagine the speed in which we ran! It was definitely worth the risk and drenching we endured to see such amazing bulls, especially with a valid tag present!

That night we returned to camp to find that Jake and Clint had videoed another bull shortly after the 385″ bull. The video showed a giant bull tearing up a dry wallow in a clearing just before dark. They did an awesome job video taping and locating and my hat was off to them, they were quickly becoming elk hunters….and spoiled ones at that!

Robert really liked the character of this bull and especially liked the fact that his boys had located the bull. But what I think sealed the deal was that as a tribute to their Grandad, they named the bull “Skeeter”! We all sat around and tried judging the bull because we knew his pedicle was twisted which is a common trait in this unit, and this tends to stunt the front tines. The bull had an incredible top end and with certain angles we could see he had very heavy mass, so it was determined this bull had enough up top to make up for what he lacked and it was indeed a 400″ class bull! We now finally had a reason to pull out of our original plans and get a closer look at Skeeter.

That next morning found my brother Matt, Robert, Jake, Clint and Caden in the same spot as the evening before. Right at first light I found a couple bulls, including another giant 390-395″ bull! We admired this beast as he made his way into the trees, but you could tell Robert had his mind on Skeeter! Shortly after that Jake and Clint again located Skeeter and he had already made it into the treeline but was still feeding. Robert, Matt and I dropped our packs and took off on a mile long stalk that put us within rifle range but too low to pick out the bull. We learned that he had bedded while on our stalk and I crawled around two different knobs trying to pick out his tines but with no luck, so we decided to back out and get on them in the evening. Unfortunately Jake, Clint, and Caden had to leave that afternoon and that really had me thinking of a way to get Robert in on the bedded bull so Jake could be there, but it was just too risky.

That evening we headed back over there. It took seconds to re-glass the bull and with an early cloud cover the bull was up feeding at around 4:30. There was one small strip of burnt trees on the ridge and Skeeter was feeding toward it, so Matt, Robert and I again dropped our packs and took off as fast as we could. With sweat pouring off us we finally made it within rifle range and the bull hadn’t cleared the last tree yet before entering the burn. I had the camera set up and had Robert on the shooting forks, but he was visibly excited and unable to hold steady so we made one last dash to get closer. Now well within range and all set up, Skeeter started to appear right where we had planned. I reassured Robert that there was no rush and he didn’t need to shoot but if he wanted this bull, it was 400″ class and he’ll need to shoot now. Robert told me he wanted it and then waited for the perfect broadside shot…BOOM…BOOM…HE’S DOWN!!!! Robert didn’t even need the second shot, the first was perfect and the bull was going down as the second shot connected! It was one of the more emotional times we’ve shared with a hunter and one that we’ll never forget.

Robert and his family treated us like family from the first day and we all quickly became friends. To witness such a person harvest an animal that had special meaning to him, really was an awesome experience for us all and the only thing that would have been better was to have his boys there too! This bull is something you need to hold to appreciate. The mass throughout is amazing and the top end is world class! Robert had mentioned early on that he liked character bulls and this bull is definitely not lacking in the character department! The bull is just a giant and his body more resembled a moose, especially his head! He had 66 1/2 inches of mass, over 21 G3’s, and pushing 25″ on his G4, but all the “roll” that he has makes him very unique and gorgeous!

I do want to thank the Dunn family for allowing us to be a part of such an awesome experience! I’m not just saying it to say it, but I sincerely feel that Robert is truly a deserving person of that tag and that bull. It was refreshing to hunt with folks who appreciated all the little things that most of us take for granted. Robert wanted that bull not because of what it would score, but because of what it meant to him and his family. I knew it as soon as they named him after their Grandad it was all over, that bull was going to hit the ground and the bull will probably be more admired and respected than any other bull taken that is comparable in score! I think this sport and this world could be a little better place if there were more people in it like the Dunn’s.

Congrats again Robert!

 

 

Donnie Young’s AZ Big Horn Sheep Hunt

Donnie Young, winner of the 2011 AZ Big Game Super Raffle sheep tag, harvested this beautiful 9 year old ram in November of 2011, after 25 days of hard hunting. Check out the slideshow, and the videos of the hunt below.

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You Can’t Win If You Don’t Play- By Eric Hunt

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In June of 2007, I got an email from the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle committee reminding me to buy tickets because the deadline was quickly approaching. I hesitated a bit because I had always considered myself unlucky, but decided to buy some tickets since I knew the money would go to a good cause. I proceeded to buy five tickets each for elk, mule deer, antelope, and desert bighorn sheep, and then quickly forgot about it until a couple weeks later.

On July 7th, while watching a UFC fight with some friends, I got a call from a strange number and decided to let it go to my voicemail. After about fifteen minutes I checked my message. I just about passed out when I heard Chris Denham informing me that I had just won the Super Raffle desert sheep tag. I also heard everyone in the background cheering for me! It was the most awesome feeling hearing those sweet words and I listened to the message again to make sure I had heard him right. I’m really not sure who was in shock more; me for just learning I won a once-in-a-lifetime sheep hunt, or my non-hunting friends I was with who looked at me really strange when I stood up all excited and told them I just won a sheep tag. I know they were thinking along the lines of, “What the heck is Eric into?”

After a sleepless night, I started doing my research right away the next morning and called Garth Carter of the Huntin’ Fool. Garth gave me some great information and informed me that I would be hunting the nelsoni sheep units of northwestern Arizona. He wanted me to call back the next day to talk to Jason Carter so I could find out who he recommended for sheep guides. After speaking with Jason I had a great list of guides, so I started making my phone calls.

It took about a week of talking to some great sheep experts before I finally chose to hunt with my friends Chris and Tyson. I spoke with Chris several times over the next few days and in no time I was watching video of some huge rams they had previously seen in my units. Chris informed me that I would be hunting with Gino Wullkotte and that we would most likely start our hunt sometime in October. Gino contacted me a few days later and after speaking with him in length, I knew we were going to do well because he sounded like a very dedicated and hard- working guide. Many hours were spent at the range shooting and I was now very comfortable with my dad’s new Christensen Arms .300 WSM. Scouting started in a couple of units that had the possibility for a big ram, with only a few small rams seen. We decided to concentrate on unit 13b and start the hunt in October.

October came very quickly and we were hoping the rut would be going strong upon our arrival. We were joined on the hunt by Gino’s son Colton, good friend Lee Hop, and my dad, who would help us glass during the day, but was quickly elected to camp cook during the evenings because of his great cooking abilities! We hunted hard for three days and saw a ton of sheep, but with the rut going a little slower than expected we didn’t see the mature rams that we had hoped for.

One of highlights of the trip was having a small ram walk within a few yards of me while we were glassing. I didn’t see him until I pulled my head away from my Swarovski 15×56 binoculars and he scared the living crap out of me! He then posed for some great close up pictures! Another highlight was when Gino, Colton, Lee and I waded across the Virgin River to get into one of the canyons we wanted to check out and saw over twenty sheep. It was a great day! I remember thinking to myself that this sheep hunting is just awesome! After day three we decided to pull out and return in a few weeks hoping conditions would improve.

In the meantime, I just didn’t feel right sitting home with this type of tag burning a hole in my pocket, so my girlfriend and I took a few days off and decided to check out one of my units. It was just a couple of hours from my house, so loaded down with maps that I borrowed from Gino, we headed out. Within a few hours of the first evening we spotted eight ewes feeding on a ridge, so we went to bed with high hopes of finding a nice ram in the morning! The next morning the sheep were right where we left them and now had two awesome looking rams with them. We watched them for the next hour or so and it took all I had not to sneak up there and smoke one of those rams. With my terrible sheep judging skills and knowing that I had a whole year to hunt, we made a wise decision and decided to get out of the area before I did something stupid.

Gino and I returned to the area about a week later to try and get a better look at the rams, and the sheep were on the exact same hill. We were able to find one of the two rams I had seen and Gino commented that I must have been drinking the peyote tea on the first trip because he wasn’t close to what we were looking for, but he was definitely a beautiful ram!

In mid November, we headed back up north, and with some great info of some big rams spotted, we had high hopes that we were going to “get bloody,” as Gino likes to say. Gino had arrived at camp the evening before me and had spotted some sheep deep in one of the large canyons. Even at such a long distance, he could see a dark-horned ram that definitely needed a closer look. With no way to approach the area from down below, we decided to hike in and come above the area we hoped the sheep would be.

After a short quad ride the next morning, we began our long hike into the area. Our hike took 7- 8 hours and on our way in, we saw another group of sheep with two smaller rams and some very nice muley bucks. We finally reached our canyon and were slowly creeping along the edge looking below when Gino spotted a ram. As I peered over I could see a dark-horned ram feeding below. About that time Gino spotted another ram and said, “Holy crap, get your gun. I just found your shooter.” So I grabbed the .300 WSM and got set up on Gino’s pack for the shot. Gino ranged the ram at just over 300 yards straight down into the canyon, and I asked if he was ready for me to shoot. His response was classic, “Anytime after, NOW!” At the shot, he dropped immediately and we finally had our ram!

With the sheep down, that is when the fun started – figuring out how we were going to get to him. I still have nightmares to this day of Gino taking me 100 vertical feet off the cliff, down into the canyon below! That is when I found out he is referred to as “Spiderman” by his friends. I don’t think I will ever forgive him for that, but I soon forgot about it as I made my way up to my ram. He was just awesome and was a warrior for sure with all the scars and his big broken nose! Back at camp, Gino and Lee scored my ram at just over 164”, which is a very large nelsoni sheep. Again, thanks to Gino, Colton, Lee, Rose, Scott, and my Dad for all the help on this hunt. And a very special thanks to Greg Koons for some great sheep information, and to Bob Price and Brad Fulk with the Arizona Game and Fish, who gave up half a day of deer hunting on the Arizona Strip to help us pack out my ram! Also, thanks to Luke Thompson, Matt Pierce, Dave Conrad, and Victoria Gouldsbury who are with the Arizona Game and Fish for helping my team and me with some very valuable information.