Az Coues Whitetail deer down

BOWUNTR

Well-Known Member
Nov 3, 2011
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The hunt story is real short. I sat in a blind for an hour on opening morning and shot this buck!

The long story is that I retired and moved to Arizona last year. I've been bowhunting Arizona for almost 30 years. Mostly southern and the Kaibab before it was a draw. In all those years I've only shot one Coues deer. I'd always say I was going to give it an effort and then I'd end up hunting the easy deer, mulies. Anyways, I didn't draw any tags this year so I decided this was my opportunity to learn how to hunt these little deer. Between the end of June and today I've spent hundreds of hours in the woods trying to figure them out. I had two expert Coues hunters tell me some of their secrets and helped me get after it.

I found a few spots that had several bucks coming to water. They weren't consistent on my cameras but I figured that if I put the time in, I'd get an opportunity. There was one buck that stood out and all the others were just Coues bucks. I had already said to myself that I would shoot the first P&Y candidate that I had an opportunity at. I have the rest of my life to shoot a giant.

Opening morning came... I was worried about other hunters in my spot and there was none. I also played dodge ball with the monsoons and my spot was relatively dry. I did something I knew I wasn't supposed to do... before I got into my blind I went and pulled the card from the camera. It had been a week and only one pic of a doe. I got settled in for a long boring sit. It was threatening to rain. Well, after my sixth or seventh game of solitaire I look up and he's at the water by himself. Holy smokes... I check him over and decide to shoot. He was out there a poke. I thought I hit him a little far back. Turns out he only went 50 yards.

This deer completes my second bowhunting deer slam... not that is what I was trying for but I thought it was pretty cool. This was just a warm up... I leave for Kodiak Island in 3 weeks for Sitka Blacktail deer and Caribou... Stand by. Ed FIMG_2012-1.jpg
 
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That's awesome Ed. We ran into a lot of Couse while Javelina hunting last year out there. They definitely are elusive and to get one with a bow is a real accomplishment. Way to get it done. Story goes to show that hunting requires a little luck just as it does skill. I can imagine what was going through your head after looking at that card.
 
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Awesome coues.. That hunt is on my bucket list... One day..


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Nice buck! I'll be hunting Coues for my first time in November. I love that country! Good luck in AK.
 
Congrats, They are hard to get close to, hunted with a guide up in the Payson area a few years ago and he swore that they were so skittish that they never sleep. He said he's never found a bed where there were antler marks on the ground.
 
Ed,

Always great reading about your bow hunting adventures......Beautiful Coues and look forward to reading about your Alaskan hunt.
 
Well above average my friend..well above average... looking forward to hammering this state with you...great buck!!
 

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