CouesWhitetail

Antler point restrictions are just a way to reduce hunter success and thereby allow the same number of hunters out in the field while reducing harvest. So I think the real question is do hunters really want the opportunity to get out there and have less success? I personally do not like instituting more complicated regulations just to reduce hunter success. I also think that there are several pitfalls to antler point restrictions including an increase in illegal harvest (people shoot something that doesn't meet the regulations so they leave it in the field) and an increase in harvest pressure on older bucks. Antler point restrictions reduce harvest of young bucks, but increase harvest pressure on older age bucks because now all the hunters out there are being forced to try and harvest an older buck. Someone from the forum posted a PDF from NM a while back about the antler point restriction debate there. I have copied a portion of that article into this post. They give some data from other western states that had antler point restrictions. To read the entired PDF, click on the link later in this post. Option # 1 – The Current Bag Limit - APRD Antler Point Restricted Deer (APRD)—at least 3 visible points on one side; established in New Mexico beginning with the 2004-05 season. This restriction was put in place in the 2004 season and was expected to: • Allow for a relatively high number of permits to be issued assuming the 3-point restriction would reduce the overall number of deer harvested. • Allow younger bucks (spikes and forked-horns) to survive the hunting season resulting in more mature bucks and improving hunting in subsequent years. New Mexico has not completed any research to determine what impact this point restriction has had over the last 2 years, but other western states have. Based on their experiences, it is expected that, over time, the following will occur in New Mexico as well: • An increase in the number of “Illegal” bucks killed and left in the field. o California found an illegal harvest ranging from 100-120 percent of the legal harvest. After the restriction was abandoned in 1990, the number of bucks with more than 3 points increased by 25%. • An increase in the number of “Mature” bucks killed, which will have the opposite effect with fewer, not more, mature bucks surviving the hunting season. o Oregon (with a 4-point restriction) found the average antler spread of legal bucks was reduced from 24” to 17”. o Montana (with a 4-point restriction) found that all the older, mature bucks were completely shot out. No bucks survive once they reach a 4x4 antler. • An increased harvest of bucks showing more desirable genetic traits. o In New Mexico many yearling bucks are fork-antlered or even have 3 points, so a “3 points or better” restriction may actually encourage the removal of the best bucks, or the bucks with the most potential, from the population. • A prolonged breeding season because more inexperienced males were left to breed. Prolonged breeding seasons result in fawns being born later in the year. Fawns born later in the year have a much harder time gaining weight and growing big enough to survive the winter. As more fawns die, deer populations drop. • A reduction in overall hunter success with fewer legal deer to harvest. The entire PDF can be read here: http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/documents/...estionnaire.pdf

Wow, that's quite a group of coues killers having a birthday on the same day! Hope you each enjoy your bday! Amanda

Love that successful snowman hunter with the CouesWhitetail.com sticker in the back! Good one Bass! Excellent use for your tag! Amanda

Merry Christmas everyone! Amanda

That's great. Nice to know not everyone who sees one takes them. Amanda

AWESOME! Great pics and love the commentary. Thanks for taking us along with you on your adventure!! Amanda

Please do not bash people or outfitters in this forum. As Allen stated it's far too easy for words to be taken wrong on an internet forum like this. At the same time, if you know of a problem with an outfitter here on this site, you can email me privately so I can verify the information. If I find there is a significant problem with clients not being satisfied when using a sponsor of this site, I will not allow the outfitter to continue advertising here. I have privately asked Couesmaster to provide me with the name of the outfitter. He is unwilling to do so because he says he does not have all the details and that he thinks he shouldn't have made this post in the first place. He also said that the clients of this outfitter he is referring to "are always satisfied. The only ones that don't get deer are the ones that miss or don't see their outrageous trophy". Couesmaster, if you find out more details about this issue, you can email me or Allen and we will look into it. Amanda

If you want a complete list of outfitters in AZ, I imagine you can get one from AGFD. Call 602-942-3000 and ask them. Please keep in mind that this website wouldn't be possible without the outfitters that support it. If you appreciate this website, and you are looking for an outfitter, why not support those that are spending hard-earned money to maintain a site that is useful to you? Amanda

Last week some friends invited my husband and I to hike the grand canyon with them. They had reservations for 10 to stay at a cabin in Phantom Ranch, but some of their group had cancelled so they had openings. My husband and I only had a few days notice, but we still managed to clear our schedules and get ready for the trip. I sure am glad we went! What an amazing experience. We had 8 people in our group and here is a photo of us in the early morning light as we are getting ready to drop down the South Kaibab trail. and here are some pics of the beginning of that trail. we had some snow and ice on the trail in the first half mile or so, but nothing that caused any trouble. Here are some more pics of us on the trail. The first is of my husband, otherwise known as superman and me, resting my tired legs: Some panoramic views:

Hi all, I just posted a promotional clip for the Dead on Elk and Coues DVD. It is over 5 minutes long and will give you a great idea of the quality of the video and bucks and bulls on the DVD. Check it out in the video section of the bookstore. Dead on Elk and Coues is the 2nd DVD listed on that page. http://www.coueswhitetail.com/bookstore/videos.htm Amanda

Thanks for posting it, I was headed here to do the very same thing. Amanda

Coues certainly do love barrel cactus fruit. I have a few pics of them eating the stuff as well. And since you mentioned them eating cholla fruit I thought I would post a couple pics of them doing just that. I took these years ago during a javelina hunt. I am always trying to get pics of deer eating a particular plant (weird biologist thing.....).

I use a GL2, but I agree with Jim that you can get some excellent video with some of the smaller cams and they are certainly easier to pack out. I also suggest you contact Doug at Cameraland. Cameraland is a sponsor of this site and has great customer service and can give advice on choices of cameras to suit your needs. He should be able to give you a competitive price too. http://www.cameralandny.com/ here is his contact info: Doug Camera Land 212-753-5128 gr8fuldoug@aol.com Amanda

Very nice buck and welcome to the forum! Don't forget if you want me to post the photo and info in the main photogallery of CouesWhitetail.com please email me the photos along with hunt info. Amanda

The stickers are free. For information on stickers, please visit this link in the CW.com bookstore: http://www.coueswhitetail.com/bookstore/stickers.htm Amanda

No, I don't think I will be carrying them, so feel free to buy them from HuntScout. I am still hoping we will come up with a CouesWhitetail.com tshirt eventually. Rembrant is supposed to be working on a design for one. Amanda

Anyone wanting a sticker can email me a request for one. Include your name and mailing address with it. Most people get the 30 inch white ones (as shown in the photo), but you can get them in almost any size or color. Smaller 15 inch ones are great for ATVs. For toy haulers, you can get ones larger than the 30 inch standard. click here to email and order a sticker. Amanda

That is a very beautiful photo. Nice job! And don't forget if you want the photo posted in the main photogallery, rather than just the forum, please email the photos and info to me. Nice to see so many CW.com members out there helping each other out on the hunts! Amanda

I agree with Allen. And if you are looking for a good hunt in Mexico, check out the many excellent sponsors of this site. You can find them on the righthand margin of every page on the main site, www.coueswhitetail.com Amanda

That's funny headache!! Good one! Amanda

Wow, you can't find your truck! That is some serious snow. Send us some photos of that blizzard marlon! Amanda

It snowed a small amount in Globe yesterday and there is some snow still in the Pinals. Amanda

Maybe tape would pull them out in groups? Amanda

Great to hear from you Mike. Glad you are home again! I hope your shoulder heals up strong enough to shoot as soon as possible. Amanda

Great story, great buck. I am very jealous!!! Amanda