Elmacho

Thanks Josh and Mike- I know the units have some really good deer, but I do not know them well. Being limited on time- 5 days, I may just stick with what I know down in 32-33. or not. Being new to archery, and the only person I know with a bow, I am trying to get a tip or two on approaching the task. Guess like anything, I need to go do it and see what happens. Josh- I am surprised....being such a fan of the coues I would've put money you'd be out EVERY January for them. Why have you not done it??(I'M thinking they may run around chasing tail, which makes for a tough stalk) Anyone interesetd in trying it......I'm probably goin solo Mark

I bet if the state required the hunter safety course from Arizona for any person to have a license, and a license remains required to have a bonus point, it would weed out a bunch. Furthermore, putting a 5-7 year waiting period after one is drawn(elk & Kaibab) would sour it a little more too. Each hoop stings a bit more. Oh yeah, the internet deal...it really screws things up. Too easy to apply, not enough money required. Here in CA, they went to a system for drawing duck hunt reservations of all things. Everyone can buy a season of applications and submit all at once. some duck hunts are harder to get than a kaibab tag, most are harder than a nov coues tag. I am from out of state, I took the hunter safety course, I buy a license every year, and it is still inviting to enter the draw, just because I know I MAY draw whether I have points or not. If I didn't live as close as I do or have relatives there, I would have never considered jumpimg thru all the hoops. A hopeless hunting addict, Mark

Good luck on your hunt. These deer are addicting.............

Thanks guys.. Bullwidgeon- my gut was telling me what you stated, but you clarified it. Did you get a tag??

Anyone...Anyone........??????? OK......PLEASE...............

congrats amanda,sorry no coues though. I gota 32 nov tag Good luck. Lark, you make an honest outta stater feel a little uncomfortable. I do not support USO or any of the BS involved. Being that we may be in the same unit, I will probably have my bro drive his truck with AZ plates. Good luck to your boys Mark

I am from out of state and it pisses me off. May the greed of the SOB cause all kinds of bad kharma, voo doo, caa caa, bad mojo and other things to him. Even though I am not from AZ, I love the place. People who live there should have first shot at it. I'm fired up.....when's the draw?.................

I HAVE NOT DONE MUCH SHED HUNTING, BUT MAY TRY IT THIS WEEKEND UP BY THE SALT RIVER IN UNIT 23. I AM ALSO NOT FROM AZ. HAVEN'T SEEN A RATTLER THERE IN 10+ YEARS OF QUAIL HUNTING. I ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT "SNAKES" ALL THE TIME, BUT JUST HOW BAD IS IT OUT THERE THIS TIME OF YEAR. I DON'T MIND A SNAKE OR TWO, BUT IS IT JUST OUTRIGHT DANGEROUS THIS TIME OF YEAR??? LET'S HEAR IT! I KNOW THE HEAT IS ALSO A LIKELY KILLER, WILL TAKE AT LEAST A GALLON WITH ME. MARK

Couesdiehard- Thanks again. I hear the 36s are great. Maybe some day I'll have time for them. got my eye on a buck I've seen in 32 two years straight. He was 90 in. two years ago, high 90's last year, hopefully he is still there this year. Good luck

Couesdiehard- Thanks for the info. I looked at the area you mention and liked it. Figure I may try it with a bow this January and see what I see. I ended up putting 23 and 32 for my WT tag chioices this year, but definitely want to look around unit 21. I've seen some photos of nice ones from that unit. Good luck.

Thanks Couesdiehard. I appreciate the info. Not sure abou the name of the hill, but we were about 15 miles above the morth most Cave Creek, a ways past seven springs. There is a huge tower that looks like a giant golf ball on it. You cannot miss it. It overlooks Horseshoe Lake. I have my doubts because of how close it is to town, but it sure looks decent. Have legs, will hike. Good luck in the draw Mark

Couesdiehard- Thanks for the pointer. I am trying to learn the area, it was my first time in there. I usually hunt down south. Saw some good looking country as the mesas just drop-off toward the river. Lots of cedar-juniper on top, not much visability, but alot of green forage. We also looked around toward the southern part of the unit by the fire lookout tower, looks good, but need to burn some more boot leather and also glass a bit to see if anything alive there. Any difference between hunting north or south end of unit ?? Thanks again Mark

went to unit 21 Monday- saw about 10 carp deer. No Coues though. Not familiar with te unit. was near the Cedar Bench area. It looked good. will try again. Saw no rattlers. good day. Mark

Thanks guys, will let you know what happens.

I have had this happen in several places. Colorado, California and Arizona. Even had a guy tell me I was trespassing on his property, when I was on my uncle's property. A guy in Colorado pointed a gun at my buddy and I way up near the top of a mountain and told us we were on his mining claim.....B.S. He eventually ended up in federal court for blocking national forest roads, misrepresenting guided hunts on "private property, etc...... It's not worth getting into a tangle in the middle of nowhere. Take plate numbers, get a good map and determine if you were violated and report to police. Good luck, hunt hard. Mark

Anyone out there finding sheds yet?????????????????

I am with Ernesto and Diamondback I Shot a nice mature buck at 50yds with a 7mm Rem Mag and a 160 nosler partition. I was about an inch low and only got the heart. The buck ran about 100+ yrds. When I opened it up, sure enough, there were two intact lungs but the heart was completely gone. Adrenaline does weird things to animals fighting to live. With a .204 you would have no room for error and may end up kicking yourself in the arse if you lost a trophy because you were off a fraction. Although it would probably do the job if all the factors were perfect..........which isn't often. Good luck with the draw boys.

I have used a 7mm rem mag for about 10yrs. When I started, I was in better physical condition to tolerate the recoil, but since I only weigh 150lbs and now have a tendon problem in my shoulder, I developed a bad flinch. I finally put a muzzle brake on the rifle because I love the caliber. It has similar recoil to my .243. I think it kicks less than a 25-06, as I shot both one day to compare. No flinch now. Result: Last year shot a little buck at 300 yds even. I was 3 inches off my aim point, but the Coues buck didn't know that. He was tasty. Use Factory loads too. El Macho

Time to burn some boot leather.....thanks, and good luck in the draw El Macho out