ScottAdams

Jeff, more often than not they are holed up in this kind of weather. Look for them in narrow canyons with small caves that face away from the wind. I've got some behind my house that if I went out right now would probably find some pigs holed up in them.

I had the opportunity to go out yesterday and a help a friend of mine, Scott Heap (Heapster), who had the December hunt for 27/28. Between working and weather and a bad cold he was only able to hunt 2 days out of the entire hunt! He didn't tell me until his buck was down that he was allergic to Coues deer. Without going into too many details, we spotted 2 Coues bucks across a canyon, moved in, and were able to bust the biggest buck as he strolled across a ridge about 400 yards out. The buck scored 96" even with the broken g-2 on the right side. Once we knew the buck was down we packed up to head over there. But before we left, Heapster took a quick look with his 10's and told me that the other buck was coming out. I pulled up my 10's, took a look and said "Oh No!!!!!". There in my field of view was a huge buck. I quickly dropped my pack, pulled out the 30's and gazed upon an absolutely gorgeous Coues buck complete with a cheater and spit G-2's. This buck strolled out to check on his buddy and then circled the dead buck for 30 minutes while the Heapster and I drooled all over ourselves like teething babies. I think the Heapster had some tears mixed in with his. Between all the drooling and crying I was able to take a few photos through the binocs. Here's the best one. Once we composed ourselves we headed over to take care of the buck we killed, experiencing a little "shooter's remorse" as it were. As we're boning out the deer the Heapster tells me that he's allergic to Coues deer. I tell him "You've got to be kidding me?". He tells me no, it's true and that he even takes allergy shots for it. Wouldn't you know it, as we start to hike out, his eyes start to water and swell up and he starts sneezing. Heck I thought for a while there that his throat was going to swell up and he was gonna go into anaphylactic shock and die with that Coues buck strapped to his back. My hat's off to the Heapster for killing a very nice buck, and literally risking his life to do so. Way to go Heapster and the big one lives on.

Welcome Trevor! If you're bowhunting, getting away from other hunters and finding spots away from others really shouldn't be a problem in any of the units. I very rarely run into others here in unit 27 even on the early rifle hunts and certainly don't run into anyone on the bowhunts especially the winter hunts. Good Luck on your Deer Slam!!

All right Tommy, hang in there. Who would have guessed that close to the truck. Oh well he probably wasn't big enough anyway.

Before this hunt I don't think I had ever heard of anyone being allergic to deer but I guess so. Josh, I can't believe you're that allergic to them, WOW! Since I can't seem to get this buck off my mind, here's a few more pics of him. I named him Lucky Bucky by the way. I hope to go back in to look for him again in the next 2 weeks. My son got on this nice buck on Saturday and he was still in full rut. He got within 80 yards of him but just wasn't able to get off a shot before the buck spooked.

I'm right here for moral support Tommy, just over the mountains from you. It's good to get back into it after the home building. It was happening kind of slow until I spotted that monster a couple of days ago and that did it. I'm hooked again!!!

Thanks for all the good comments guys. Brent, yes they were rutting pretty hard. Even the muleys are still rutting.

I'm pulling for ya Tommy!! If you're already having that much action then it's just a matter of time. What a whopper of a buck using that scrape!

Ultrahunter, go into the thick steep stuff north of Silver City. Look for areas with the deer sign and rattle 'em in.

It was a great hunt and Amanda and Austin and I had a great time even if it was a little more light-hearted hunting than we typically do. Some of you have asked about my rifle. It's a Savage that I had customized. It's chambered for the 300/6.5 WSM. I have Talley lightweight rings and a Leupold 6.5-20x40 LR scope. It's very lightweight and accurate. I'm glad to finally have the house built and moved in although it's still a work in progress. Here are a few more photos.

Yep, those are my babies. The biggest in that first photo ran across the road in front of me on Thursday evening as I drove into the mine.

Very nice buck Brent. Sorry I missed you when you came through, I'll catch ya next time.

I've used the Meindl Canadians for over 15 years (I'm on my 3rd pair) and absolutely love them. I hike in very rough country in unit 27 and carry very large pack. They are absolutely top of the line for what I use them for. Cabelas Meindl Canadian

There will definitely be more hunters out this year. I think the more commonly known Coues spots will have some people in them but there are plenty of out of the way spots to look for bucks. They were correct in saying get off the road and beaten paths see the wilderness side of unit 27. Some of those deer have never seen a human.

I'm sure it's unit 27. Unit 28 is even more limited on Coues deer than 27.

I've hunted Coues deer in 27 for the last 18 years and have had no problems locating deer but I was raised here and have spent hours and hours researching and scouting. They are generally in isolated pockets and for a newcomer it can be hit and miss and a very tough hunt. Having said that, I can tell you, like Lark said, there are a lot of Coues deer in 27 with your biggest bucks up in the more timbered regions of the unit. There is no mule deer hunt during the Coues hunt.

I've got a hunting buddy from up in Alaska who's son is down here in Phoenix going to school at DeVry. He's looking for a job but hasn't had much luck. Here's the email I recieved from his dad, Dave. Anthony is looking for a job. He would have been able to get a job at the Fred Meyers store down there but they needed him for a morning shift, which of course won't work because he has class. He doesn't get out till 2pm. Was wondering if one of the guys you know might know of anything? He doesn't have a car and would pretty much be limited to somewhere around the DeVry area which is near the 25th and Dunlap area. He does have a bicycle, and if he ever figures out the bus schedual he could ride that too. Can any of you help out Anthony? He's a great kid who would do anyone a good job.

Gino, I've been busy messing with this home construction stuff. Just the infrastructure building as far out as I am is quite a chore. I get the house up and moved in I'll be back in force with photos and stories and all that good stuff. Thanks to all of you for the happy B-day!!!!

Thanks guys! I'm feeling older by the minute. I'll get over it though. Thank you.

Yea Tommy about this time in your life you find the canyons get a little bit deeper and the mountains a little bit higher. Hopefully your bucks don't get a little bit smaller. Heck any smaller and you'll be a strong contender for the itty bitty buck contest! Happy Birthday Tommy!!!!

That pickup is one of my son's friends truck. His name is Michael Goodwin and he lives just outside of Clifton. He loves to archery hunt and spends as much time in the field as possible. My boys go out chasing critters with him pretty regularly. He'll talk hunting with me for hours if I let him; he's a good kid.

Josh, it's an absolutely beautiful buck regardless of the score and the story of Andy and you staking out the perfect ambush is priceless!! Congratulations to both of you and I would love to see the video.

Very nice buck, I love those wrap-around main beams.

Great video slide show Darren and some very nice bucks!! A hunt to be remembered. Congratulations!!!

I'm in Morenci and I'm 30 minutes from unit 23.