Southern Arizona: tell me about it.

[armoredman]

Tombstone is 100% grade A tourist trap. My wife grew up in Scary Vista, hated it, but it had grown up since then. C'mon down, AZ has a beauty most don't appreciate. Plus Constitutional Carry.

 

[Gord]

AZ has a beauty most don't appreciate.

I know what you mean - I always found something beautiful about the desolation in CA, at least on the occasions I managed to find myself in a place not covered in trash and litter.

You'll be happy to hear that I'm bringing at least two CZs with me.

 

[xcgates]

Nothing like a good reminder that I really need to take a road trip around NM and AZ now that I call TX home. It has been a long time since I've traveled in any environment that the northeast.

 

[thetoad45]

I live in Huachuca City about five miles north of Sierra vista. The summers are normally in the 90's from May through September but this year is above normal and we are having high 80's and low 90's in October. I work in pest control and this year has been wicked for scorpions. (and killer bee's) :banghead: I've been stung so many times through my bee suit I have lost count. Nasty little buggers. If you don't like bugs don't come here. Everything bites or stings. Trust me, I get it a lot.
The winters can get cold and snow tips the Huachuca mountains. There isn't all that much "public" land here in Cochise county. Get a good map because you will need to know where to go. There is some deer hunting if your drawn as well as javalina. Dove and quail hunting is popular also.
If your going to spend some time up in the mountains you will notice the signs stating beware of the drug dealers/smugglers. Pack a gun. If your going to just hike the more popular trails close to town then don't worry about it. Also this is basin and range land which means there are areas of high grass. Be very wary of snakes. Had a border patrol bitten awhile back while following a smuggler and had to be flown out. While we sport many species of rattler we also have the Mohave as do many counties in Arizona. These guys will ruin your day. We have more than a few horses and dogs bitten every year by snakes. Some live, some don't.
I have lived here for awhile. I don't plan on staying here any longer than I have to. I came from the northern states and in my honest opinion there is better hunting and fishing up there than down here. Pretty humble down here really. Sierra Vista is really the only "town" in the county worth anything. The rest, (Benson, Tombstone, Douglas, Nogales and so on) are either little dumps or run down border towns situated on our next war front. Yeah, it's great. Tucson (in the next county) is a war zone already. Ain't enough money in the world get me to live there. It's hot, dusty and full of drug crime. It also fits into my grouping of "a dump"......

 

[azyogi]

One should mention our Skyislands, mountain peaks scattered around the desert rising to 8,000 to 10,000 ft. Even in the middle of the summer a trip up the road and it's 20 to 40 degrees cooler. In the winter there is often enough snow for sking, the southern most ski area in the US is on Mt. Lemmon about 40 miles north of Tucson. {I don't ski so don't ask how good it is} These Skyislands are like going north thousands of miles, pine forests on top, tailing to scrub oak and pinion down below. Picacho Peak betwen Tucson and Phoenix is the site of the western most civil war battle. Mt. Graham just south of Safford has interesting hot springs. For star gazers these mountain tops are, dry, dark, and secluded.

 

[sernv99]

any good sporting clays/trap/skeet ranges in this area? I am thinking about applying for some of the DoD jobs at Ft. H........

 

[sohcgt2]

There is a giant and well maintained trap and skeet field just west of Tucson off Ajo Way.

 

[Rexster]

Interesting thread; thanks. If any place can lure me from Texas, this part of AZ might be it. Retirement will probably happen for me somewhere between one year and two days, to eight years, depending on several factors.

On going out into the desert to shoot: Don't just shoot at infinity, or into brush. Besides the hazard of hitting an innocent party, there could be the not-so-innocent who may be bedded down for the day, and may well return fire. Some acquaintances of mine had such an experience recently in southern Texas; the return fire was full-auto.

 

[millertyme]

That may be the prettiest area of the entire USA, a true Arizona Highways picture perfect spot

couldn't agree more. I lived on Ft. Huachuca for three years while my dad was stationed there from 1988-91. Some of the best memories I have are from hiking the canyons around base and in the immediate vicinity and the rich history of the area. I think the Chiricahuas have some of the most picturesque landscape and scenery in all the places I've ever lived. We always called it Sorry Vista, but we were Army brats and privileged to a better life than the civies in the areas. In all, I would love to move back to that area some time, but the current problems with the border could keep me away.
Lots to do with plenty of space to do it, I'd say.

 

[Bernie Lomax]

I think the Chiricahuas have some of the most picturesque landscape and scenery in all the places I've ever lived.

Never been to the Chiricahuas, but when I was in the Dragoons (next range over) I thought the exact same thing. The rock formations there are surreal. the Dragoons are probably my favorite place in Arizona:

http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/students/chiricahuas/6Image4.jpg

 

[DennisB]

Don't overlook the Whetstone mountains between SV and I-10. When I was stationed at Davis-Monthan back in '72-75 I spent many trips in those hills, south of what is now Karchner (sp?) Caverns. Nice deer country in there. A tour of the caverns is pretty cool too. I once found a stalagmite in the hills near French Joe's cabin, told myself that one day I'd find where it came from. Then the Air Force sent me to Germany and someone else found the cavern--
I still have in-laws from SV to Sonoita to Nogales and up to PHX and visit at least yearly. I'd move back, but the grandkids are all in Ft Worth...

 

[Gord]

Okay, solidly off-topic, but bear with me, we'll get back to gun stuff:

Where's a good place to stop in for a martini? Bonus points for Hemingwayesque atmosphere. Rowdy clubs ain't my thing.

 

[millertyme]

Bernie, Is that a photo of Cochise Stronghold you linked to? I haven't been there in 20 years. Found a stone spear head last time I hiked the trail.

 

[Bernie Lomax]

Bernie, Is that a photo of Cochise Stronghold you linked to?

I don't know. I found that pic by doing a Google image search for "Dragoon mountains" Cochise stronghold is in the Dragoons, so it's quite possible that it is.

 

[Gord]

Bump 'cause I'm thirsty

Anyone?

Okay, solidly off-topic, but bear with me, we'll get back to gun stuff:

Where's a good place to stop in for a martini? Bonus points for Hemingwayesque atmosphere. Rowdy clubs ain't my thing.