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Wasn't the biggest we saw, but he decide he liked this buck. Took a lot of crawling and a 200yd shot. It was a great hunt.

We set out on my son’s 4th Jr hunt this week. Plenty of scouting during the archery season paid off but also made for a quick hunt. Small hike into our first glassing spot and right at first light my son found 3 bucks. A friend was helping and thought the best buck was a small 2. Later we realized he was on different bucks. We had several bucks in this canyon now. After an hour my son pointed us to the bucks he found again and told us that was a tall 3x3 and he wanted to try and get to him. We closed the distance to about 600 yards and discovered his young eyes to be correct. A very nice 3x3 in full velvet. We managed another 40 yards before the canyon dropped away from us and set up for the shot. 569, one practice shot, 540, one hit. Unfortunately the buck took a nice tumble and luckily got held up on a century plant otherwise it might have found the bottom of the canyon. Most of the velvet was damaged in his fall. We didn’t realize exactly how steep and high these bucks were until we got there. It took over an hour to get down from the ridge and back up to the other side of the canyon. 1 hour+ to get 550 yards. My son loaded all the meat and the caped buck into his pack and we were back to the truck at noon. Quick work of his Jr tag. This is his 4th coues and his best to date. This deer is all his too. He found the spot, found the deer, made the move, handled the shots, and packed him out. He’s asked to have this deer mounted and I am really looking forward to having a memory of this jr hunt forever. Gavin is confident he can give us a velvet mount. Can’t wait to see how he turns out. Thanks for reading. pics coming

Got a short video of this guy chasing something by the camera. Didn't appear that he got it since 1 minute later he's walking by. Would have been cool to get a kill on cam.

YES!!! ADOT often over estimates repairs to rent space in your head! Way to go ADOT!

https://www.azdot.gov/mobile/media/news/2018/10/06/adot-reopens-us-89-north-of-flagstaff-through-around-the-clock-effort

Hate to admit it, and with all due respect to Amanda for creating this awesome place that has been a part of my daily life for decades, it just doesn't feel and look the same. Every morning I get my cup of coffee and come on CWT. I've shared countless hunts and stories, and even personal struggles. It just felt like a second home. I'm trying to adjust to the change but it just doesn't seem like the same place anymore. I just want to thank Amanda for what she created, The community of people who would never have met without this forum. I'll support it and keep trying to post, but it really feels like you went on vacation and came home to find your home was remodeled without being involved or even part of the process. But in reality, as much time as I spend here, I'm a guest, and as a guest I respect the wishes of those running the site and will do my best to adjust.

yea they can be friendly little shits, they usually cuss me the first time they get a mouthful of spicy beef jerky, but always come back for more......

Looks like possible 6"+ snow up in the BAB this weekend, will the deer move early??

Some days I call in more fox than coyotes. But have no interest in killing them. Once had one follow me at my side from a stand to my vehicle a mile and a half away.

After purging a bunch of gear to replace a 12 year old vehicle, I got a postponement. Jesus (mechanic, not the one upstairs) applied some bad aids and shes back on the road. Sooo, I made an executive decision to use a couple of those car payments for another rifle. Here’s what I ended up with. (Gunbroker is a dangerous website BTW) started with a new CZ 557 trued action and tune the trigger to 2.5 pounds add a #5 Bartlien straight fluted barrel chambered in 280AI ( 8 or 9 twist ??) finished at 24 inches action and barrel were surface hardened using nitrading process ( some kind of science beyond my pay grade) professionally bedded into a Manners carbon fiber stock I don’t have any info on the smith or what reamer was used. The ad included a pic of a 3 shot group that appeared to be 1/2 inch or so. No verification or notes on the target pic. The rifle was built for Tom Mack who is part of CZ skeet shooting team, which explains the choice of a 557 action. I spoke with him and he said the round count was less than 40 and it was a “shooter” with 168s. The rifle looks and feels like a brand new one. Action is a little stiff and needs cycled.

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Nice buck! Congrats to your son.

Congratulations can't wait to see the pictures!

I'm with you. They seem really easy to call in, but I don't see a reason to shoot them. They are harmless little guys. Coyotes...now that's a different story

I pretty much quit the forum with this new layout. 90% of the time I access on my iPhone. Now the add banner at the top of the forum takes up the entire screen and scrolling down to read comments is a pain. I also miss the new content section that is default on the home screen.

Make room for one more and I'll take you both to Christies afterwards. The one on Washington.

i want to hug it

Glad to hear she is doing well and adjusted to her new home.

Those targets were made for trphyhntr, just in time for this years late archery hunts.

Thank you for the advise! It appears its going to be an all day hunt behind the binos! Cant wait!

They often go to water at mid-day (11 am to 1 pm), although it seems they do that more during the summer than winter. But they definitely move the most at dawn and dusk. I have sat waiting on bedded bucks to come out of cover for many hours....from when they bedded in late morning until dark. Often I find they don't get up until just before the very last shooting light of the day. You will think it's impossible that they could still be in that same clump of bushes you saw them go into hours prior. Years ago, a member (Shortypants, I think) had a quote that I often think of...."coues deer are always where you last saw them" and it's true more often than not for sure. Rifle hunting Coues is definitely not like hunting elk. You spend a lot more time sitting and glassing and waiting than you do stalking. When I elk hunt I cover many miles everyday, when hunting Coues the majority of my hiking is done just getting to the glassing spot. Patience is key.

I'll take a peice of hard earned gator bark in the stove over a piece of kitty litter wood pulp any day.

Yes...the mine is on both sides of harshaw road in 35b. Getting bigger every day. Lots of land, roads, and gates are now locked up.