ScottAdams

It's been quite a while since I've posted as this is the off season for me. I'm currently in the process of getting started buidling a house, so while I'm waiting on the driller to get the well in I took a hike up a canyon that a friend of mine said had a cliff dwelling in it. It is only 2.4 miles from where our house will be so I thought I would check it out. It was a pretty good hike but I was able to find and photograph it. I even kicked out a Coues doe on the hike in. It's nice to know there are Coues deer that close to where I'll be living. Heck with my 30's I'll be able to glass em up from the house. This is called the Pygmy Ruin because there are supposed to be some small hand prints in the mud on the walls. They are about the size of child's hand hence the name Pygmy. I never did see the hand prints but there was a much smaller ruin about 30 yards to the right of the big ruin that I couldn't get into with my current mountain climbing skills that may have held the handprints. It's kind of neat knowing I'll be living this close to some real natural history. View of where the ruins are from the SW corner of my property. A little closer view as I was hiking in. Here is a look from the canyon under the ruin. I kicked out the Coues deer here. Here's the cliff dwelling. A little peek from the inside looking out.

You'll have to look me up when you get down this direction. I'm just a hop, skip and jump from Safford.

Daniel, this is not the one you are talking about. This one is quite a bit more difficult to get to. I didn't know about an old mine up there, you'll have to fill me in. I'm not sure I can convince my wife to take up residency there, although the view can't be beat. I think she's looking for something a little more modern.

Great pictures Amanda. The Southeastern Arizona Sportsmans club helped put two of those in unit 28 earlier this year. It's hard work but accomplishes much. Thanks for the report.

Wow! That is a very nice buck. Keep track of that rascal!!

They're there, just hunt where the muley hunters aint. Rough n Nasty is what I prefer.

Thanks everyone. Yea, I was out working by the sweat of my brow for my birthday. What do ya figure? I did go out and run 3 miles this morning. At 43, I'm not getting any younger and need to at least attempt to keep my edge.

Thank you Marlon, I appreciate that. I spend a lot of time taking photos after the shot and have even spent so much time taking pictures that I've had animals stiffen up on me to the extent that you didn't need to hold the head up for photos anymore.

Welcome Jason, we're glad to have you. I'm close to you here in Morenci. Let me know if you need any help.

Wow, way to go Bret!! I bet you can't wait to slap some stink hog steaks on the grill!!

Way to go Craig!! Glad you two were able to bust a couple with the smoke poles!

I'm very sorry Amanda.

I'm not doing it myself, I have a friend setting it up for me. Can't wait!!!

Doug, that's funny you should mention that. I've been wanting to build one for over a year and last month I got started on it. I'm using a Savage actiona and a Lilja barrel. I have the action and the barrel is on order. I've picked up the reamer and dies and now just wait. I am using the Leupold Vari III 6.5-20x40 Long range scope. My gun probably won't be pretty but it will be light weight. The new 6.5 WSM Coues Killer!!! I'll post some photos when it's done. By the way let us know what your setup chrono's and some specifics on it.

Hello Jerry!! Good to hear from you. I'm sure you've seen that area before.

The hunt ended yesterday and I've finally got some time to catch my breath. Here's a summary of the hunt. On Friday, Day 1, was the day that Ronda killed her buck. We had hiked in about a mile and glassed an area that I've hunted off and on for the last 13 years or so. We saw a bachelor group of 5 bucks. Ronda was able to take the largest of those. I believe we would have seen another buck or two but our attention was on the kill. Saturday Day 2 we had a pretty easy day, hardly any hiking. Of course along with that we didn't see any bucks either. We did see Coues does, Muley does, javelina and Bighorn sheep. Here is Keven glassing some Muley does feeding below us. We also glassed up the largest bodied ram I've ever had the pleasure of seeing in real life. I swear this beast was 300 lbs. if he was an ounce!! If you took off his horns he would look like a big brahma bull. He was a different color than the other sheep too. He was colored more like a bull elk. Here he is. Sunday Day 3 we hunted another area and were able to spot 3 Coues bucks. One appeared to be really nice but he was 2 miles out and tough to field judge. We could see some excellent main beams in both mass and length, however we just couldn't make out much on tine length and it was one heck of a hike over there so we passed on him. Here is where he was. Monday Day 4 we hunted yet another area where we glassed up 4 Coues bucks. One was a spike and the other 3 were all 3-pointers but not anything that Amanda or James was interested in. Here's Amanda glassing. Monday afternoon Ronda and I headed to Phoenix for the Aerosmith concert and didn't return until Tuesday evening. Amanda continued to hunt but only saw does. Wednesday Day 6 we again went to a fresh area. We glassed up 2 Coues bucks, one of which looked pretty good. Once again it was a long hike over there and with the buck somewhat questionable on just how good he was we decided to pass. Thursday Day 7 we decide to get a little more serious and do a 3 mile pack trip into an area I hadn't hunted in probably 10 years. We hiked in half way on Friday and glassed and were able to spot 4 Coues bucks. They were a lot of fun to watch. It seemed all they wanted to do was fight each other. They would pair up and go after it for a while and then switch partners and go through a few more rounds. One looked pretty good but not quite what Amando or James was looking for. This is the best photo I get of the bucks. That afternoon we hiked on in to where we were going to camp and ran across this nice lion kill. That evening we had nice camp fire and enjoyed the solitude of the back country, the stars and the night sounds of the wilderness. Friday Day 9 we hiked up to a nice glassing point and started our morning ritual of scanning the country for bucks. After about 30 minutes Amanda glassed up 2 Coues bucks and called James and I over. We looked at what she had and saw she had found a very nice buck. We watched the 2 bucks working across the ridge and planned a stalk. However, the buck bedded in a very tough spot to get to and in spite of our attempts to get on him, he gave us the slip. James, who was watching from across the canyon, said at one point we were within 30 yards of the buck but we couldn't see him through the brush and trees. Oh, well that's how it goes sometimes. Here's the ridge where the buck feeding. And here's the buck We were going to stay longer, possibly another day, and search for the buck but the spring that I had planned to get our water from was lost. Well, at least I couldn't find it. So we hiked out very thirsty and tired. The next 2 days of the hunt were uneventful with no bucks spotted in the areas we hunted. In 9 days of hunting we saw 20 different bucks and only hunted one area twice. We never saw another hunter in the field during the whole hunt. It was a lot of fun and a real challenge. I'm ready for the next one.

Way to go Adam! What a great accomplishment! My hat is off to you. It is a well deserved trophy!!! Welcome to the site.

Sweet Success Tommy!!! Way to go! You worked hard, stuck with it and came out with a very nice buck. Thanks for the daily updates, it was good reading.

Man, that's cool Tommy!! That little rascal done jumped the string and dodged fate yet again!! That had to be quite a rush. When are you headed back out again? The rut is on. Every Coues buck I saw last week was chasing does.

Wow Danny, what a great story and 2 great bucks to boot!! I loved it!!!

Thanks for the update Tommy. I'm cheering for you!!!

Wow!! Y'all gotta check out this t-shirt that HuntScout is selling. They are sweet!!!! I've already got mine!! Coues T-Shirt

I was in northern unit 23 yesterday and drove about 6 miles in 2-4 inches of snow. Saw lots of tracks, deer, elk and turkey in the fresh snow. Most of the snow was melting on the south facing slopes but I think the north slope snow is there for the duration. Jeff and Tommy good luck and keep us posted.

Way to go Tommy!! Looks like you had a blast.

What a bummer Chris. I take you were alone and didn't have a spotter to help you out uh? Well, the hunt's over, you have some mighty tasty whitetail to get you through the winter and time to scout and plan for next year.