mattys281

I killed my first deer by spotting & stalking in the desert, but have since become firm believer in the value of a good ambush. Killing deer with a bow is all about being in the right place at the right time. There are many 'right places', so that part is easy. The 'right time' is harder to figure out, so I move in & stay put, sit all day from before sun up until it's dark. It's always easier to let deer come to you than it is to go to them. Bucks move around a lot, so you may have to sit 3 or 4 days before you even know what's around. Work those trail cameras ahead of time to gather some additional info, but keep in mind they'll never catch everthing that's moving through a spot.

That may not be the most selfish, morally reprehensible thing I've ever hear, but it's getting right up there. Just as a public service announcement to everyone, if you happen to be engaging in this kind of crap and I were the one that caught you, G&F would be the least of your concerns. Figuring out how to remove the size 11 boot from your rectum would be the first, followed by wondering what I was doing with that 20 ft length of rope while you were dealing with said boot. The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.

Huh.... could have sworn I hit the coueswhitetail link, but somehow I ended up on archerytalk.... Guess I'll try again.

Big congrats! Nothing like the first bow kill! Way to get it done!

Congrats. Great bull!

Sometimes you call them in when you're not even calling. January 2011 I hiked into one of my favorite coues spots and was getting my stuff situated. There was some lingering pockets of snow in shadowy areas one of which was where I sit for the ambush. I was kicking the snow away so I wouldnt be crunching it with my boots while I sat and 'called in' a really nice 3x3 with eye guards. Came over the lip of the bowl about 170 yards away and trotted to less than 30 yards like he was a fish on the line. He b usted me drawing back on him and then he managed to duck my arrow and run off unscathed. That guy was just sure I was another buck making a scrape and he was determined to show me the folly of trespassing on his turf.

Coatimundis are really cool. Have glass them up out in 37b before and i had one of them jump out of a mesquite tree right as I walked past it a couple years back. Scared the heck out of me! Also drove up on a group of three of them on a water tank down in 33 just south of oracle. Cool critters.

Sooooo.... now that you called one in, what do they taste like???

Exercises bike an option? Seems like that'd be lower impact than jogging or hiking but still get the heart rate up. I use an elliptical occasionally and it feels like nothing on the joints compared to jogging. Btw, welcome to the site and good luck on the elk hunt!

Congrats! Love the velvet mulies!

awesome people who dont tolerate misspelled words or poor gramar. Somebody get him! welcome newbie!

Congrats on a great bull!

Those are some biggins.

That area right between alpine and Clifton has a few Check out az g&f website 'where to hunt' section. They have some pretty detailed info on that unit that will give you a good start.

Careful Lance, you're dangerously close to being a nice guy with that one.

For me, there's a hump at the 2nd night, especially on backpacking trips. 1st night you're all gung ho to be out there, than at some point I start thinking about work, the family, how much stuff I'm going to be late on, etc. etc. My mind throws every reason imaginable at me why I should quit and go home to a hot meal. If I can get through that though, I wake up a different person on the third morning. It's like my mind changes gears and I focus in on what I'm doing. At that point I really don't know how long I could go. Longest I've gone so far is 5 nights solo, but on those longer ones I feel sad when it's time to leave. I always wish I could stay longer and keep going.

I love hunting alone. Thoroughly enjoy my own company. Especially solo backpacking trips!

Thats cool when you get familiar enough with an area that you can keep tabs on specific deer. A few years ago when I had more scouting time, there were four or five coues bucks out In 24b that I could recognize on sight. Had one really wide 4x4 that I got trail cam pics of 3 years in a row. Not much length on his tines, but lots of width. Think he was an old buck that was sliding downhill. Saw him in person a few times too but never got the opportunity. Those were good times. Anyhow, good luck on your buck. Thats a dandy of a muley!

Good luck. Hope to see some pics!

NIIIIIICE! I love those wide muleys! You know who to call if you need help packing that guy out. Ok, ok, I'll bring my bow too, in case if there's two of them.

Wow! What a bull! Congrats!

Atalatl... i can only imagine Lark with one of these ACtually, I believe there's a picture of that on here somewhere. Somebody have a link?

Probably uploading more with all the deer antelope and elk that are dropping.

LOL! Not sure if you did or not, but you gotta first let them know that you are a bull coming in before raking a tree less than 50 yards from them! While sneaking in to do that, I'll let out some lazy short bugles to sound like a bull wondering in to find a bed next to the herd bull and his cows. That way the herd bull is already thinking you are a bull and is intently listening to how close you may come to his girlfriends. When you get in his comfort zone and start raking that usually is the trigger that upsets him and makes him come in to push you away. This also is usually best done when the herd is calm and stationary in the bulls bedroom. Disclaimer…this doesn't always work, but if you play it right it can make for some seriously intense and close action! I killed my first archery mule deer with this tactic. Grunt call and raking brush. Im sure it doesnt work 100% of the time, but it worked that time and put a nice 4x4 muley on my wall.

Congrats on a great buck. Id hang him on my wall any day. As for closing out early, I wouldnt pay it a second thought. I feel exactly as you said: its all part of the hunt! Scouting, practice shoots, training ahead of time, all of it. And every year its a long season.