CouesWhitetail

Love the CW.com sticker on the 30's! Sorry you had a problem with your gun, hope you got it all sighted in. I went and checked mine today and it was off to the left a little, maybe a 1/2 inch at 100 yards. Guess the bump it took when I fell and when the swaro 15s knocked it a few times moved it some. I never know exactly how much bumping a scope can take without going off. Hope you keep seeing some good bucks Scott! Amanda

Doug, Yes they are digiscoped, but at close range, like 300 yards or so. Amanda

Day 5 was a really nice day. I went to a new spot and unfortunately the hike in took me way longer than I thought. I walked up this large, bouldery canyon for a ways until I could get up and out onto a ridge. I didn't get up to a glassing spot until about 8:30 or 9 am!! Very frustrating to loose those golden hours of glassing after first light. Anyway, I got setup and almost right away saw a doe feeding a half mile away. Then a few mins later I saw a nice buck heading toward her. I judge him to be maybe 95 inches, but I didn't take long to look at him. He was in a huntable spot and heading down the mountain. So I packed up and headed over there. Took me awhile to get to a shooting position about 200 yards across a canyon from where I last saw them. But I couldn't find them anymore!! There were two options that I think happened, they either continued across the slope and around to the north side which made it impossible for me to find them. But would be a good thing for a deer to do on such a warm day. But the way they were headed when I saw them was down and into the canyon I was near. So I thought maybe they were just bedded and I couldn't see them. So I waited, and waited and waited. I was in a perfect spot to shoot, but couldn't find them. A couple times I thought I heard him raking a tree, but I couldn't see anything. I figured the rutting buck would get her up sometime during the day and I would spot them. No luck!! I spent the whole darn day sitting there looking at that slope and baking in the sun since there was no shade on my side of the canyon! Tough day! Anyway, I gave up around 3:45 pm since I had a long hike back and wanted to get back to the truck before dark. Some treacherous hiking even in daylight. I packed up and walked out, looking back frequently to see if they might spook. Never saw them again. On the way out I glassed an area that was nicely shaded all day. Right away I saw a doe and a fawn. Looked around for a buck, but saw none. I was hoping I would find one, because it was a shootable location, maybe 300 yards away. However, if I had shot one, I don't know exactly how I would have gotten it out of there. They were in mtn sheep country! Take a look at the cliffs this doe was in. Guess no buck was studly enough to join her in there. Amanda

Day 4 I was in one of my favorite places. Saw lots of does, but not many bucks. One was a spike and one was maybe a 75 inch buck. The larger buck was running a doe in the middle of the day. I decide to hold out for a bigger buck since the rut seemed to be just starting. This buck was a 3x2 1/2. He had a little nub on one side. The weather has been very nice. Not real cold, but no wind, which is what I love. Two years ago it was windy almost everyday during this hunt. Amanda

Day 2 was uneventful. I glassed the backside of the canyon where I saw all the bucks opening day. But only saw about 6 does and no bucks with them. I didn't hunt all day, but went out again for a quick glassing in the evening and didn't see anything. Day 3 I went to a new spot near Superior. Glassed some great stuff, but saw nothing!! Tough day. I did manage to jump a doe on the walk out in the morning. Only hunted the morning since we had a party to go to that afternoon. But I did find some cool old bottles near a mine shaft. I always enjoy finding interesting old junk by mines. Amanda

Here is the press release that Ernesto sent me. Allen, I never got an email from you? Is the press release you have the same? Amanda Press Release December 14, 2005 Stop worrying about those paperwork headaches! "Only Sonora" moves south and it's easier to visit Sonora Visitors to the interior of Sonora are now able to drive directly to such cities as Guaymas (San Carlos), Hermosillo, Magdalena and Santa Ana without the time-consuming process of obtaining a car permit. With the movement of the "Only Sonora" vehicle checkpoint, visitors to the state will no longer have to obtain a car permit in order to travel south of Nogales. Now, paperwork to obtain the decal for visiting the interior will be done at a new checkpoint on Highway 15, just south of the Guaymas-bypass on the road between Ciudad Obregon and Empalme. The change is effective December 15. For the next six months, Sonora will continue to staff a booth at the 21 KM checkpoint that will take paperwork from vehicles that are returning to the US. Minimally, the elimination of this paperwork means a savings of 15 minutes. However, around certain holidays, the measure may save visitors several hours. The "Only Sonora" program, unique in Mexico, allows Americans to visit Sonora without paying the customary (federal) fee of $27. "Our intention here is to make it easier for Americans to visit Sonora," said Gov. Eduardo Bours. "This measure should cut anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour off a trip to Hermosillo or San Carlos. As importantly, it removes psychological barriers -- the less paperwork required for people to get from one place to another, the better. Sonora --and other "free zones" in Mexico's border areas --have experienced incredible growth when we eliminate paperwork. By moving "Only Sonora" south, we're confident that we'll inspire new visitors and bring our states closer together." Travelers intending to go beyond Sonora will still have to obtain a so-called "Banjercito" federal permit. A permit is not required for travel to Rocky Point and other border cities, which are classified as "free-zones." Required for a permit: proof of US residency; a driver's license, proof of vehicle ownership. Motorists entering Sonora through Naco, Agua Prieta, Sasabe, Sonoyta and San Luis Rio Colorado will not need paperwork for their vehicles, either, if their destination is before the new 'Only Sonora' checkpoint. "Only Sonora" requires motorists to show proof of US residency; a visa to visit Mexico; a driver's license and proof of vehicle ownership. Americans going beyond the Kilometer 21 Checkpoint into Mexico's interior will still be required to obtain a visa, which is valid for up to 6 months and good for multiple entries. The Banjercito booth will remain at KM21. Neither a permit nor a visa is required to visit Rocky Point (Puerto Pe?asco) and other border cities which are classified as "free-zones".

I just wanted to remind people that I created some Christmas cards from Coues deer (and one mule deer) photos. Maybe you have some hunting friends who might enjoy receiving one? here is a link so you can check them out. CouesWhitetail.com Christmas cards Amanda

Blaserman, If you check El Halcon's website they say their hunts for Coues deer are $3950. But I don't see the point in debating which outfitters charge what. The point of this thread is to find out about a new ranch in Mexico. There are many others, of course, and some of them advertise on this site. I recommend everyone check out the supporters of this website when you want to hunt in Mexico. Each outfitter offers different things. El Durango ranch offers something others don't. A chance to hunt on an unhunted ranch and also some 5-star service and accomodations. Amanda

Bret, I don't think the open field he mentioned was a corn field, I think it's an old pasture for cows. And I don't think they are using feeders of any kind. But Alonso can address that if I am in error. No, B&C hasn't yet changed their boundary for Coues deer. They were supposed to address it at a recent board meeting, but they got into too many other issues and were unable to cover this topic. However, I have spoken with B&C about it and they don't forsee any problem with recognizing these as Coues Deer. And they expect to allow deer killed before their meeting to be recognized as Coues Deer if they are taken within what they determine is their new boundary. I have attached an image that the shows the boundaries of the subspecies in Mexico. Amanda

here they are:

Hi Guys, the Senate and House recently passed a bill that included sections to update the mining laws on fed. land. However, the House version included provisions for selling quite a lot of acres to private companies. The Senate version didn't include that. The Senate and House are meeting to settle the differences in the bill. I believe the final decision is to be made next week. I urge you guys to read over some of this info and if you feel strongly, please write or email your Senators! Most all of the hunting organziations in AZ are opposed to this and have sent a joint letter to McCain. Here are some files with info: Q__A_public_lands_sell_off.doc Dear_Senator_McCain.doc Sale_of_Public_Lands_fact_sheet.pdf

bowhuntcoues, What an interesting skull to find! That looks like a wild boar/feral hog skull to me. here is a link to a photo of one: Feral Hog/wild boar skull Amanda

Here are some measurements from the buck, as taken by the guide and a mexican biologist. They only measured the left antler. inside spread = 12 7/8 main beam = 14 6/8 1st point = 3 7/8 2nd point = 6 2/8 3rd point = 6 5/8 4th point = 4 2/8 1st circum = 4 6/8 2nd circum = 4 3/8 3rd circum = 3 6/8 4th circum = 3 6/8 You can see in the pics he is a 4x4 plus eyeguards. Has good mass, but a somewhat narrow spread. Amanda

Here are some pictures of the antlers.

TAM I have asked that same question of Alonso. The ranch has a variety of terrain and vegetation. I think it is going to be limited glassing, they suggested that some of the canyons you can glass 300-600 meters. So I don't think it's the kind of country that lends itself to miles of glassing. Maybe Alonso will add more information about this. Also, I have called many of the references they gave me and all the people who have hunted the ranch (for turkeys) say it's the best place they have ever hunted in terms of game and accomodations and service. They all rave about it and have gone back multiple times. And I can tell you that one of the partners in this business is the president of the US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, NE Mexico. This seems to be a very high quality operation. Because so many people have asked about the size of the deer they have, Alonso asked the guide to go shoot one and score it. The gross score of that buck was about 117 inches! He is trying to get the pictures to me to post here. The guide says it was a big one, but not the biggest they have. I am looking forward to seeing pictures. If you are interested in this hunt, call Alonso and talk to him about it. Amanda

Just figured I would let you all know that the public lands sell-off has been dropped from the bill. I have put in an email and article about it. The email was to the Wildlife Conservation Council by Mary Jo Forman Miller who is president of the AZ Wildlife Federation. Thanks to everyone who called or wrote about this!!! Amanda Greetings WCC Folks! > > I just got a phone call confirming that all proposed reforms to the > Mining Act have been stripped from the Budget Reconciliation Bill! We > WON! We killed it dead! > > A huge THANK YOU to all of you that assisted in this battle-give > yourselves a pat on the back. > > Then get ready for a go-round next year because if you look at the > last paragraph of the AP article below, Pombo and his friends are > saying "We'll be back". But then again, do they really want to mess > with us again after the uproar we created? > > Thanks again! > > Mary Jo Forman Miller > 602-743-9955 > > _________________________________________________ > > > By MARY CLARE JALONICK > The Associated Press > Tuesday, December 13, 2005; 7:05 PM > > > WASHINGTON -- House Republicans have dropped a provision in budget > legislation that would have allowed the sale of public lands for mining. > > Western senators had criticized the provision, which would have > overturned an 11-year-old congressional ban that prevents mineral > companies from "patenting," or buying, public land at cheap prices if > the land contains mineral deposits. > > Nevada Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., author of the mining legislation, > revised the provision Monday in an attempt to gain some Western support. > The new version dropped language that would have allowed the direct > sale of some lands that no longer contained minerals. > > On Tuesday, Gibbons said it was clear that even the revised provision > would not make it through the Senate, where some senators had > threatened to use parliamentary maneuvers to block it. > > Critics _ including hunters, anglers and several Democratic Western > governors _ said the legislation could prompt the sale of millions of > acres of public lands. > > Gibbons, a mining lawyer before he came to Congress, said those claims > were exaggerated and development would have helped boost the economy > in mining towns. > > The mining provision was included in the House version of larger > budget legislation designed to cut federal spending. House and Senate > negotiators are attempting to finish work on that bill this week. > > Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas, one of the Republicans opposed to the > language, said Tuesday that "the mining provision never belonged in > the budget reconciliation package." > > "It's important to give a voice to those who are so closely connected > to our public lands," Thomas said. > > A spokesman for House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo said > he would work with Gibbons to modernize mining law next year. > > > >

I have tried the Moultrie Digital, but haven't been impressed. It seems to not trigger all the time. Sometimes I go to check the camera and it won't go off with me in front of it moving around. But at other times I have gotten pics of rabbits far from the camera as if it is sensitive to motion. I just can't figure it out. And it has trouble with memory cards. I recently had one record 10 events but no pictures. Don't know why. And the next day I had 6 events and 6 pictures but they weren't viewable on the card for some reason. So I changed out the memory card. I like the moultrie because it's easy and cheap and digital. But performance seems inconsistent. Amanda

Hi All, I am thinking of getting a new scope and seriously considering the Leupold VX-III 4.5-14x with B&C reticle. I have a couple questions. One is...can I get away with the 40mm or should I get the 50mm. And the other is do I want to spend the extra money to get the Long range model with parralax adjustment? Is it worth it? Will the 50mm scope require me to mount it higher than the 40mm? I have read that it does not. And will the B&C reticle work for my handloads? I am using a .270 130gr but the velocity is 3140 ft/sec and on the Leupold chart they say the .270 130gr velocity is 3050 ft/sec. So I am wondering if the crosshairs for the various ranges will be on for my load once I sight it in for 200 yards. Hope you guys can understand my question here.... Who among you guys has this scope and what kind of reviews can you provide? Thanks for your input. Amanda

Thanks for all the advice. I will look into the options mentioned. I haven't made a decision yet, so I am considering everything. Amanda

Can't slip anything by you Josh. You are right it's a mule deer. But in my own defense, please note that my very first post in this thread says there is one mule deer in the group. And it's also mentioned in the page that shows the cards. I thought it was a cool photo because of the angle and the buck rubbing, so I included it in the group. Amanda

I don't want to find a dead body, that's for sure. I did however, always want to find some spanish conquistador armor. Bill, you know anyone that ever found any? Seems like that stuff should be around somewhere. Amanda

That's great Bill!! Amanda

I don't think I have ever bumped into an archery hunter during a dec rifle hunt. Amanda

here are the pics:

I think it was probably a typo on the website and they caught it. I looked at the link and saw deer tags, but now it says elk tags. Amanda