Leaderboard

Hello folks, Call it dumb luck, but I have the opportunity to take 4 Coues deer this year. Yes LEGALLY. I harvested this stud buck in Mexico in late January this year. That’s Coues buck #1 for 2022 I was also fortunate enough to draw a unit B San Carlos coozy tag for the last week of December. That’s potential Couesy buck #2 Coozy buck tag #3 comes from an any antlered tag in New Mexico’s unit 16 Lastly, I just got word that we drew a coozy rifle tag in Arizona’s unit 33. That’s coozy tag #4 Here is where it gets fun. According to SCI and Boones and Crockett, no one person has taken more than 3 coozys in one year, most of those coming from Mexico. I’m going for something that’s never been done apparently. My question. What would be a respectable buck in each of the 3 remaining hunts? The Mexico buck scores just shy of 118 Thanks Donkeyman

The 2022 Hodgdon Annual Reloading Manual (available on newsstands or magazine racks) has load data for the 6.8 Western with a number of different bullets. The 165 gr Nosler ABLR is noted. The closest to the 150 is the Hornady Interbond, with 19 different powders listed.

The 300 win should have less wind drift but shoulder hits destroy too much meat so be careful. Some guys around here run smaller caliber rifles on low wind days and big stuff on windy days.

I put on a Nikon scope made for ARs. It’s pretty good and did t break the bank.

For 2022, I drew an early November tag for a southern AZ unit as my fifth choice. I’ve hunted this unit several times previously with tags I’ve picked up on the leftover draw, so I know of a couple areas that hold bucks, but numbers are usually low and good bucks are few and far between. Nevertheless, I was happy for the opportunity and excited to have a week off of work to do some glassing and, hopefully, find some bucks. Day one was pretty slow, hiking about a mile in and only seeing a few does and a small fork. Interestingly, this small buck was noticeable bigger than the two deer he was with. At first, I thought it was a doe with two fawns until I made out the antlers. I assume the fawns mother was killed (saw some lion sign in the area) and the fawns hooked up with the small buck. Day two started off slow, only seeing one doe before kicking up four deer out of the bottom of an area we had been glassing all morning. Should have climbed a little higher, so we could see the bottom of the hill we were on. The first two were small bucks, but I couldn’t ID the last two. That afternoon, we decided to try out a new area that I had wanted to check out for years. For the first couple of hours, we only found one doe and fawn, but just before dark, we found 3 bucks. One looked like a pretty good 3 point, with a smaller 3 and a fork horn. The bucks were too far for a shot and with light fading fast, we decided to wait until morning to go after them. Sunday morning started off with a half mile hike to get in to position to try to find the bucks from the previous night. It only took a few minutes to locate the deer, but they were still about 900 yds away. After crossing a small drainage, I was able to cut the distance to 600yds, but could not immediately relocate the bucks. I slowed down my glassing and started picking apart the likely bedding areas. I was confident they were still there because I had a good wind and felt I would have seen the deer if they had moved off of the hillside. After about 30 minutes, I was able to find a buck bedded behind a yucca cactus. I ranged him at 468 yds and decided to take the shot. The 140 gr Accubond from my 26 Nosler X-Bolt found it’s mark and the buck never stood up. It was a long, difficult pack out and we didn’t get back to the truck until after dark. We returned to camp to find it had been ransacked by a bear. It destroyed my brother-in-laws truck tent and got in to most of our coolers and food boxes. The bear returned that night and left a pretty good paw print on my truck window, but I never got to see it. FYI, bears prefer teriyaki beef jerky over regular, apples over bananas and Coke Zero over Diet Pepsi.

Already posted my buck but wanted to post up some pics of a hunters first deer kill. was able to glass up 3 bucks bedded and managed to move into 352 yards. Since this was his first chance at a deer I told him to pick the deer and when it gets up we will count down and shoot. His deer was bedded in the open, one was very small and the one I shot was in thick brush with only the head showing through an opening My deer was bedded but I could make a easy, clean head shot so I was not worried (looking forward to the haters on the shot), well his buck finally got up turned broad side and the rest is history. 1,2…..bang 2 dead deer.

Need walls at our Southern AND Western borders 😔

You get into the sauce tonight? 100% there are triggers that AD.

Pretty Ram. You definitely got a good look!

Got a chance to hunt the southern portion of the state this year for the second season. Such a beautiful area. Opening morning was awesome at a mere 28 degrees. Pulled into camp and started glassing from there. TONS of deer up on their feet until late morning. Only saw a few smaller bucks and not looking for a meat hunt yet as we had until Tuesday night before we had to pull out. Met up with some friends midday and headed back to a spot I had been eyeballing on Google Earth. Started picking up a few deer with one being a mid sized buck. Too far and too small for day one. Moved the glass to the North and picked this guy up at about 1,000 yards. I usually try to keep all my shots to 350 yards or less. I just don’t practice enough to do otherwise. There really weren't any good vantage points for a shot except for the small rise right in front of the ridge he was on that I ranged to be about 200 yards from him and getting there I was going to be in the wide open for the first ½ of the stock. I decided it was worth a shot. Down the hill and into the wash to the right trying to use what little cover I had until I could get behind the rise. My buddies stayed up top and let me know he was still there and feeding out into the open. I used the small hill to stay concealed and finished the stock with a 40 yard belly crawl just far enough to where my barrel would clear the brush and I had a good sight line to the buck. Almost like he knew I was coming he turns dead broadside in a wide open spot. I ranged him at 195 yds. “Click” goes the safety and he lifts his head startled at the noise. I couldn’t believe he actually heard that from there. Still broadside I centered the shot and “BOOM - - SHWACK”...... Buck Down! Great hunt with great friends. Need help with sideways pics.

Which one?

I would get a good wood stove and not look back. Nothing sucks the fun of hunting and camping out of me like sleeping cold, and I used to do it a lot growing up from improper equipment. I helped on a late 3a3c elk hunt one year and bought a big buddy heater for that hunt. It took some chill off but I was still miserably cold. After I bought my alaknak I started researching quality wood burning stoves and settled on a wilderness 4. Weighs 84 lbs but will burn all night and I can get the tent well over 90° even with a blizzard outside.

Wow thats cool. Congratulations!

Just awesome!

No, you poached a buck thanks to yourself. Change the title. Be a man, accept that you fukked up entirely on your own

I'm sure you've learned your lesson but next time don't take the shortcut, go straight to the source. There is no excuse not to read and be thoroughly familiar with the regulations, especially the parts that apply to you and your hunts.

This is 0% gohunts fault. And I hate those websites because they bring out of state hunters here who are flat too lazy read the regulations.

Not reading that wall of text but I find it hard to believe someone could be dumb enough to use Gohunt? As their source for state by state hunting regulations. I mean nobody is that stupid

In his original post, Scotty27 asked to be pointed in a general direction. He didn't ask anyone to reveal their 'honey hole' or 'secret place'. My grandpa taught me to hunt and a few things have stuck with me. He said (paraphrase) hunting is not about antlers or horns. It's about creating memories and building relationships. He must have been right, because the relationship he built with me has lasted through the years. He passed 48 years ago - and those memories of him still bring a smile to my face. For most of us, this website has provided us with a platform to discuss our passion and learn to become better hunters. But the real benefit, at least for me, has been the number of great men and women I have met here (yes Amanda, this includes you). At this point, many have become my friends. I do not have a clue, nor do I care, what their religious beliefs are. These are amazing people that I would never have met had it not been for coueswhitetail.com My life is richer. For me, the big takeaway from Scotty27's post was that this young man was excited about going hunting with his dad. That told me all I needed to know about him. Some people collect antlers. Other people collect friends. Welcome aboard Scotty27. I hope you stick around. There are lots of great people on here. Just give it some time and they will rise to the surface.

Had nothing to do with the mention of religion from the op. I could care less. Had to do with the response from members on the site. The Personal attacks is what triggered my response and willingness to help out.

sent you a PM - hunted 33 for a long time-

Hey man, a line was crossed today and you didn’t deserve that! That said, when hunters are asked to possibly give up spots that they’ve taken years or decades to figure out, they can get a little edgy, especially with our hunting areas shrinking due to more hunters. Game and Fish regs do give good general starting points and with a couple scouting trips, you should be able to figure it out. Good luck to you and your dad!

Shouldn’t bring religion or politics onto this website, unless you enjoy others abuse or opinions. Like grabbing a loaded gun from a strangers hand, sticking to your forehead and saying,” what ya gonna do”?

Wow new low for this site, bashing religions. Great job guys!

If I knew unit 33 at all, I would be happy to share that info with you. I suspect Coues deer can be found throughout the unit. But I have found they are usually located in pockets. Use google earth as a starting point to locate the water - the more remote, the better. Check these water holes for prints to confirm they are there in sufficient numbers. Now you have a place to start. They seem to like the ocotillo patches for some reason. in the morning, they will be bedded on the northwest side of mountains in the shade. Mid to late after noon, they often switch to the northeast side, depending on the terrain. Best of luck and welcome home.