high rise hunter

Congrats! Thanks for the fun write-up!

Wowza! What beaut! Congrats!

I packed something like 6 miles back into 33 and found a good water source so I was all set. I was finding lots of deer but as I made unsuccessful stalk after unsuccessful stalk, busting deer after deer I noticed I needed to traverse to new country in search of my next opportunity. Had I been sitting water (during the August season) not stirring up the deer as much it may have been a solid strategy to pack in like I did. For this upcoming January, I will certainly be staying more mobile assumably hitting 3 or 4 areas on a congruent 3 to 4 day rotation.

I certainly did. I had a great hunt where I backpacked somewhat "deep" into 33. Didn't a punch a tag but found plenty of deer. Ended up getting ROCKED by a wicked and unexpected storm. I packed out, regrouped, had a some good hunts off Redington Rd and up in Unit 23. My one legit opportunity where a buck bedded 25 yards from me I, of course blew. Long story short I didn't have my bow with me at that moment so I watched and snapped photos as a consolation prize. Probably my biggest take away was backpack hunting coues certainly doesn't seem as efficient as it may be for other species. I found that staying increasingly mobile (i.e. truck camping) and hiking in the dark 0.5-2 miles up some nasty feature will get you away from 99.9% of the hunting pressure and allow you to switch locations every day therefore finding more deer, more opportunities.

Jeez, Paul, 5 for 9 on coues hunts with 2 Pope & Young deer. That's a heck of a batting average and a beautiful buck as well. I should take a page from your book and learn! The spot n' stalk is SO difficult. Like oz31p said, "those deer are always moving". I've had really good luck with grunting (not so much rattling) on midwest whitetails (as long as I can see them and know they can hear me) but hadn't tried it on coues. Certainly going to give that a shot this year.

When backpack hunting I always camp very near my glassing spots and have never had any issues of spooking game (at least that I'm aware of). Many times I've sat down to glass and within minutes I've seen game within 200, 100 even 50 yards of me and often on the same hillsides. Just be sure not to camp on a peak or top of a ridge line, try to find a spot where you're not so exposed and visible and of course try and keep noise to a minimum.

I have no experience in the Galiuro but if you're in Tucson I would be tempted to stick closer to home. Unit 33 has tons of space to get into and you likely won't run into any other hunters. Also plenty of coues to chase in there as well. Wish I knew more! Best of luck!

Basically brand new spotting scope. Purchased end of July for my early August NV antelope hunt. Scope never left the truck. Straight viewing. $525 TYD (lower 48), PayPal or equivalent preferred.

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Nothing here as well. I think that means I'll be coming to AZ in late August to try and fill that deer tag that went unfilled in January.

Boy the anticipation is brutal!

20 yards, you can't ask for much closer. I feel like the question then becomes, do you aim below the deer in anticipation of the buck jumping the string? That would be tough to do knowing if that deer just stands there the shot is a low, clean miss.

Very cool video, Speedy! You know that deer is CLOSE when it looks close on a GoPro cam! It definitely fuels the fire to get back down there next season for a shot at redemption.

I just finished my first coues hunt in AZ so I'm far from a pro but would love to throw in my two cents. I mainly hunted unit 33 but also spent a couple of days further north in unit 23. The biggest difference I noticed from where I hunted between the two was the cover. 33 was much more open country where as 23 was thick with manzanita often 8 feet tall. I backpacked 5-6 miles into 23's Sierra Ancha wilderness. I found lots of deer there around 5000 to 5800 feet in elevation. Deer would be out in the open for easy glassing in the morning until 10:30ish then much tougher to find the rest of the day. I'm telling you now, you will be hooked. It's an incredibly fun hunt and I seriously can't wait to get back next season.

Wow! Talk about a close call! Excited to see the footage. Sounds like you're doing the right things especially seeing you're getting to 20 yards. Patience kills. It's only a matter of time. Go get 'em!

Fellas- I'm new to the forum and also brand new to coues deer hunting. I've been trying to figure out is what sort of temperature swings I can expect on this first coues deer hunt and would really appreciate any input/insight. I'll be hunting early January and most likely the highest elevation will be around 6500 feet, lows maybe around 4500. I'm from the midwest so no stranger to cold weather, I just want to make sure I pack appropriately and being an ultralight, camp-on-back junkie I count every ounce and probably over analyze my gear. Anyways, I'm super pumped to get down there for another adventure hunt, explore some new territory and chase the infamous grey ghost!

Went to check a pond that doesnt see anyone almost ever. There have been two buffleheads hanging out there but yesterday there was a cinnamon teal. pretty cool looking duck! No way! I bet that was really neat! I had brought a shotgun with but ended up far too obsessed with the coues that I never did find time to chase that Cinnamon teal. Did you harvest the teal or were just scouting?

I want to book to flight and head back down there YESTERDAY for a shot at redemption. I've been thinking a lot about how much fun I had and what a wonderful experience the trip/hunt was. Also, I had my bow with me 99% of the time and somehow it was during that 1% I didn't THAT I was given an opportunity to fill my tag.

Must be the opener. Is that Fishing for Ducks on Lake Mille Lacs? Might not be but sure looks like. My buddies and I participate every year. None of us have ever have caught a fish but had some fun and a little luck in the raffles. It's a huge fundraiser for Ducks Unlimited in the state.

Fellas - just got back to the concrete jungle after a kick *ss 6.5 days of running around the AZ desert chasing coues! I didn't fill my tag but had a truly awesome time exploring new territory and learning a new species. I started my hunt backpacking up into Unit 33. Beautiful country, saw lots of deer but I came to find out the weather can switch QUICKLY. Camped on top of the mountain I got destroyed by overnight 40 mph winds and downpour rain. Having gotten zero sleep and my gear (including tent and quilt) soaked I comically had to hike out the next morning. A blessing and a curse I got a hotel room in Tucson to dry out. The next day I hunted off Redington Road and immediately got on a couple of rutting bucks but never eclipsed that 190 yard mark. Having really no game plan at this point I did a complete 180 and decide for my final two days I would explore some new territory up in Unit 23. I backpacked 6 miles into the wilderness there. I found a cool solo bull in total recovery mode and a decent amount of coues deer. I should have filled my tag but a lapse in mental judgement was my downfall. I was glassing and decided I wanted to pop over the top of the hill to look down the other side. I debated if I should bring my bow or not but thought "Eh, if I see something it's likely to be a LONG ways off" so I left my bow with my pack. Of course while walking over to the other side I noticed the top of a deer's back 40 yards in front of me. Having no idea I was there this coues buck feeds to 30 yards standing broadside for 5 minutes before bedding down 25 yards from where I stood. Would have been a chip shot but that's the way it goes! So neat to see one that incredibly close and something I will not forget anytime soon! Well I'm officially hooked and will 100% be back next January or maybe even for a December hunt since I can use the same tag. Thank you everyone for the tips and advice! Joe

Great post Speedy. I'm following along as I'm also flying down from the midwest (tomorrow actually) to chase the grey ghost. FIRED UP!!!! Good luck and please keep us posted how ya do!

I'd LOVE to bag a Cinnamon Teal. Besides a big fully plumed ol' drake Canvasback that might be the highest up on my list. I'm part of tiny duck camp out in western Minnesota (Detroit Lakes area) and we do pretty well. We shoot limits every other day. On the other hand, my father in central WI said he didn't even go out this season there were so few ducks migrating though. Tough hunting.

muledeerarea33? That would be awesome! DUCK hunting in AZ. That sounds really fun and a bit of time warp! I haven't puddle jumped since I was a kid.

That's a great observation about the down compressing more than the synthetic thus providing little warmth factor. The Teton seems to be well reviewed. I've been reading a few other reviews online and the price seems darn reasonable. Speaking of the Pack...not all hope is lost. We should be able to beat Cleveland this weekend with Hundley THEN we get Rodgers back. If he can lead us to three straight victories and close out the season at 10-6 we may be able to sneak into one of those wildcard playoff spots. FINGERS CROSSED!