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Coming out of St David just a bit ago a young couple took out the front end of their Ford fusion. We saw airbags deployed and stopped to see if they were ok. Right at mile marker 310, couldn't be any more exact actually because the cat bounced off the car and took the mile marker sign out.

What unit, so I can stay far away from it

Thats what it gets for drinking bud light

I did not see any WT bucks bigger than 100. I killed a nice mulie , however. Deer numbers were good but buck to doe ratio was terrible and many does were tended by 2 and 3 year old bucks. The horses aren't helping either. Far more horses than deer or elk.

Completing the circle of a unit post, just because I feel like it is the right thing to do, especially for us non residents. To sum up our hunt, in over our heads and not enough time. About 2-3 weeks prior to the hunt my dad’s cancer doctor notified him about some concerning findings in his levels/bloodwork and told him that he needed to get in before the first of the year. Well they scheduled that appointment for mid week of this first week of the season, it was the only available time for his doctor. That might seem crazy to some of you, but this doctor is the reason my dad is still alive and he travels a lot as he is an expert in his treatment of myeloma cancer. Anyway, we were cut short before we even started and because of where we live and the holidays this first week was our only chance. I didn’t really have any information but my own, and I never had any specific spots or anything, just general information. I don’t know anyone down here and don’t have any inside info or experience with hunting desert whitetails. So I just had areas that I had pinned on my maps that looked good for glassing. We sold out in those areas and I really thought we would see some coues through the glass. The information I read online eluded to the fact that coues deer were everywhere in this unit in high numbers and that mule deer were dwindling and maybe they are, but that’s not what we found. We found mule deer, and lots of them. We found mule deer in every spot I pinned and we found some really good bucks. We couldn’t get away from mule deer it seemed. The first coues deer we saw was two days in after we hiked out of this bowl that I thought looked good, it was, there was a stellar mature 4x4 hanging with some does and another young buck at the bottom of it. Leaving that area and heading to another glassing spot we saw a coues doe and fawn off the road. That felt like a small win! We finally had some validation that coues deer existed. All the OTC guys we ran into stated they were having troubles finding bucks, so I tried trading info on the mule deer we were seeing for info on coues. Not a lot knew or wanted to share where the coues were or what type of elevation band or terrain we should focus on to find them, but since we couldn’t hunt muley’s we tried to line everyone we could on where the bucks were. The day before we left I glassed up a young forky Coues with a doe, my dad passed. That would be the last Coues deer we saw. On our last evening of our hunt, just before dark we were heading back to camp… lo and behold, I saw a big bodied deer leaving a tank. I pulled over and took some film, another mule deer buck, cruising by himself. Anyway, 4 coues to 40-50 mule deer, that’s what we were able to turn up. It’s clear to me, I don’t know what the heck I am doing on these whitetails and I wish I had more time to figure them out. Not sure if I would have been able to anyway in a full week, but I definitely didn’t in a half week of hunting. If I had any advice for a non resident in my similar situation, with no experience or a friend who hunts them, I’d say don’t put in for this hunt unless you book with a guide or have solid reliable info on where to start and what to look for. This is a tough hunt for sure and coues ain’t like any other deer species that I have ever hunted. The terrain is nasty and mean. All in all, dad and I had a great time together and we made some memories together that are worth a lot more than a tag filled.

Thanks so much for the follow up as I know we all appreciate when someone follows up after first asking for assistance. Best of luck to your Dad.

Been chasing deer in Arizona with my bow for more than half my life, never been able to connect until yesterday. My first coues in nearly 10 years. Very grateful to share the experience with my parents, couldn’t have gone any better - 48 yard shot, buck expired in sight. Already looking forward to doing it again January 1st!

I've can't imagine being to hammered to hunt. Good luck on your quest.

Looks like Pacific to me.

My wife is making these home decor pieces from natural items we pick up in the Arizona desert/mountains. They are an awesome conversation piece and unique to AZ. They are made with cholla or saguaro cactus skeleton, Ponderosa or Pinion pinecones (cut and painted to resemble flowers), Juniper berries, Locust seeds, acorns, bird feathers, local unique stones, etc... Wreaths are decorated with same materials. Also, bearded Gnomes made from pinecone, seated on a base made from Devil's Claw. They would make a great gift for out of state family, or anyone that loves AZ natural beauty. Some have hooks on the back for hanging, which will be noted above the picture along with the length. Prices are in image description. Located near Val Vista & Southern in Mesa. Willing to ship if necessary. Accepting cash or Venmo. Can do special orders. Please reply here or IM with inquiries and feedback. Thank you. Note: I did get prior approval from the site admins to make this post. ** PRICE REDUCTIONS ON CHOLLA PIECES and WREATH. NEW PRICE LISTED IN IMAGE DESCRIPTION. #2 - 24" saguaro, with hanger hook $30 #4 - 17" Saguaro with hanger hook $35 #5 - 25" Saguaro with hanger hook $40 #10 - 19" small cholla $30 #11 - 19" small cholla $30 #13 - 16" small cholla $30 #18 - 29" Saguaro w/ hanger $30 #19 - 21" Saguaro w/ hanger and hand painting $30 #20 - 21" Saguaro w/ hanger $30 #21 - 21" Saguaro w/ hanger and hand painting $35 #23 Wreath - 11" $25 #24 Wreath - 10" $25 #25 Wreath (made with White Mtn. Aspen twigs) 14" $40 Gnomes: pinecones set on a Devil's Claw base. $20 each or 2 for $35

Looking to sell my outdoorsman’s pan head. Asking $275 shipped or $250 face to face. Pics posted.

I also knew a guy that got a dui on a quad in 23, this was about 18 years ago though...

Had a buddy get a DUI on a quad while elk hunting in unit 23 several years ago. It was a WM that gave him the citation.

I spoke to a AZGFD agent about this subject several years ago. He told me yes.you can be charged for using dangerous weapons while under the influence.

If your not going to kill a coues deer , this is the next best thing

Congrats!! Good looking buck

Awesome! One down and 50 to go! They’re thick in there!

Congrats on the success, and thanks for posting a follow-up with your results!

Anyone rifle hunters in 23? Weather forecast looks promising . Csnt wait to get back up there

Thanks man! This one took off like a rocket and was down in less than a minute, crazy stuff!

gone

Figured. Seems early still. Thanks for the info.

these are taken as of now

G&F decoy or no?