EQUIPMENT

EQUIPMENT LIST: We have put together a short equipment list that will be helpful in organizing your gear for a successful and enjoyable hunt. Remember that the time of year that you hunt will dramatically change the gear you will need.  We will send you an equipment list, once you have booked.

RIFLE SELECTION: Rifles should be sighted in dead-on at 300 yards.  We suggest a 25.06 as the minimum caliber used on Coues deer, Mule deer, Sheep and Antelope.  A 30.06 should be the minimum on Elk and Bear.  We strongly recommend you bring the fastest and flattest shooting rifle that you can shoot comfortably.  Most trophy hunters in the Southwest use 7MM magnums or any of the .300 Magnums.  The openness of the terrain will often require long shots in tricky winds.  What ever your choice may be, please practice, practice, practice.  We would much rather have someone shoot a .243 proficiently than someone who shoots a .300 magnum marginally.

SCOPES: Scopes should be of the highest quality.  Many hunters show up in camp with a nice rifle equipped with a low quality scope.  Most of the animals we take are during those low light times.  The better the scope the higher your chances of success.  We suggest hunters use variable power scopes in the 3x9, 3.5x10 powers and up.  Again, the possibilities of making a long shot could rest on the magnification of your scope.

AMMUNITION: Don't bring several different kinds of ammunition: BRING ONE LOAD.  If you are a hand loader, use new brass and don't try to load too hot.  Those few extra feet per second are not worth a stuck case.  Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico have warm to hot climates and the heat may cause your ammunition to work differently.  Bullet selection should be made considering the species you will be hunting.  Coues deer, Mule deer, Sheep and Antelope hunters should use bullets that are semi-fragile.  These animals are not difficult to bring down, and we would rather see the majority of the energy expanded in the animal than on the ground behind him.  We have experienced good performance with Nosler Ballistic Tips, Hornady Inter-locks, and Sierra bullets.  Elk and Bears, however, require a very sturdy constructed bullet such as Barnes X bullets, Swift A-Frames, Trophy Bonded and Nosler Partitions.

FIELD GLASSES: We cannot over stress the importance of high quality binoculars.  They are as important as your rifle or boots.  The top brands that we have used are Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski, and Bausch and Lomb Elites.  The extended periods of time we spend behind our binoculars warrants our respect for quality.

 One of our main concerns is the use of compact binoculars.  Their light gathering capabilities are limited, and eyestrain can be considerable.

We also recommend that hunters bring a lightweight tripod with an adapter for their choice of binocular.  The ability to spot game with any binocular mounted on a sturdy tripod will amaze you.

 If you would like to purchase any of the above mentioned binoculars, please contact us as we can get any of them at considerable discounts.  We can also help you purchase a quality tripod and binocular adapter.