TEmbry

On my recent trip to Alaska, I had one arrow play a part in all 3 of my bucks deaths. First two bucks were one shot kills, but the third I had the opportunity to use follow up shots and I did. The arrow is still out there stuck into the hillside somewhere in Alaska, never could locate it after the pass thru on the 3rd buck.

VERY slowly! LOL In some cases, the terrain allowed us to literally just walk quietly within range then peak over the edge for a shot....But in others, the last 500+ yards was nothing but ankle high grass. I had to spider crawl on my back down to my first buck, gaining maybe 3 yards every 5 minutes as he and his companions looked away all at once. It took nearly 4 hours to close the distance to bow range, but it worked out and I got the shot I was looking for. So long as you only move when they aren't looking, you really don't even need the cover. Here is my first buck and his smaller friend at around 90 yards as I was closing the distance laying on my back.

What a great buck man. Was this a draw unit or OTC unit? One of these years, I am finally going to be able to attempt that hunt. Dream hunt of mine for sure!

awesome bull!

Well guys, season is underway! Spent 2.5 weeks up in Alaska, 10 days of which on a DIY backcountry archery hunt for sitka blacktails. me and one partner, 3x tags each for a total of 6 bucks. Hard work, steep hills, LOTS of bucks, LOTS of work, all worth it in the end. Trip of many lifetimes, we even caught fish with our bare hands. I am working on a slideshow of the trip, but for now here are some highlight pics! On a second note, I'll finally be hunting in Arizona this coming January. Looks like Jan 4-10, for either mulies or coues...whichever I find first! ha Still working out exact locations but don't want to be banned for e-scouting....so I will find a few areas and inquire through PMs whether I should even waste my time. Here are my Alaska bucks in order, all should make the P&Y minimum.

I sure hope it's just a rumor. It's looking more and more like I will be able to make it out there this January, but like others have said, MANY NR view the January OTC Coues hunt in AZ as their season ender....would be terrible to loose that option over a reason that doesn't appear to be based around a declining population. I guess it's more incentive for me to make it out sooner than later and get one down (fat chance on my first trip anyway).

Thanks for the suggestion chef..just ordered it. I will read it before asking any more newbie questions. Give me a few weeks and I am sure I will be asking something else. I'll also be watching for any tidbits posted up over the next couple of months.

OK guys, I am starting in on the research for my Coues hunt coming up next winter. I realize nothing beats in person scouting, but this likely isn't an option coming from KY...and I don't expect to be fed perfect spots by a silver spoon either...so my next best bet is pouring over aerials and topos. What should I look for as far as areas that should hold Coues? Slopes facing which direction? What elevation? Steep terrain or more gentle sloping hills? I want to try and pre pick a few areas before I head out there to make the learning curve on foot a little shorter, but am confused on exactly what to look for.

yep it was a recurve. Man I am startin to like that show more and more every time I see it. Fred just seems like an amazingly cool and down to earth guy. He doesnt conform to the normal hunting shows these days, he shoots the animals he sees fit, regardless if they are tv big. He didnt even take a coues, hunting waterholes in August fighting with the rain. Pretty cool show regardless and he saw a dandy buck. He also brought up several times just how hard he and chuck adams thought the Coues deer was to hunt, Chuck pegs it as the hardest bow kill out of the NA 28...and that is sayin something.

Limbdriver is just over your price limit, but man is it a sweet rest. I haven't the slightest clue about setting these things up, and even I had it shooting perfectly in less than 5 minutes. It is idiotproof, and performs flawlessly. I love mine, just wish it had a full containment option at times.

Good job on an AWESOME buck. Also, congratulations on taking some really nice photos. I always love looking through quality field pics like these.

Awesome job on the recovery! Persistence is the key when the going gets tough.

If its not about deer densities...then why was it stated as the reason for longer shots? I can't understand the life of me. There are atleast 5-7 other guys in this thread that have said the same thing as I do, but because I have a different home state I am somehow speaking jibberish. I agree wholeheartedly that shooting long distances is a skill, which I may very well try to accomplish...but only to make those 40-50 yard shots easier. I don't view target shooting as a very good translation into the hunting field. At 100 yards, my arrow has a 1.15 second flight time. That is a LOOOONG time for a deer, especially as small as a Coues, to take a step. Your 12 ringer heart shot can easily become a gut shot with just chance, you can't control the deers action whatsoever. Like I said, it isn't for me. I may come out there and get my but handed to me all 10-14 days, or I might luck out and stalk one on Day 1....but either way it will be at my ranges and on my terms. I can't wait to try the Coues style of hunting, with glassing for long periods. Ill get a chance to wet my feet glassing in a more target rich environment on Kodiak Island come August. I agree it is all about learning a skill set when hunting new places/species....but your effective range does NOT have to grow, just because it is the accepted norm. Again, you guys shoot 100...Ill shoot 50ish. No big deal. If you are fine with it, that is truly all that matters. I just know (like said above by AZAntlerHead) I personally wouldn't be able to sleep well at night for a while knowing I pushed the limits and wounded a buck because of it. Not saying it can't happen at 50, but the odds are certainly alot more in my favor. As for the OP, have you had any luck searching by watching the birds/coyotes yet? I know a guy that found his last buck that way, worked well for him to get closure on a buck he wounded. Best of luck, and keep at it no matter how it turns out.

I figured I'd catch this. You are one hundred percent correct, deer density should dictate taking shots with higher wound rates. Why on Earth does the number of deer around dictate how far you can lethally and ethically take a shot? It doesn't, you decide that. My shooting limitations won't change just because there aren't as many critters running around. Like I said, if you guys want to shoot it more power to ya. I won't. I have pins out to 60 currently. Im sorry your Wisconsin hunter decided to cave on his goals and change his previous practiced range by 40 yards, I wont. If it means I go home without a deer, OK. I don't base my success on taking a deer home no matter what it takes. Not sure why staying within my limitations is laughable to you....but it is ok. I guess I'll just waltz into AZ, and expect to stalk within 20 yards within the first weekend, or else... I know my limitations, and when a target shrinks from what I am currently used to shooting, my range naturally wont double. You can shoot 150 for all I care, your bow will have enough KE to kill from there, so why not? Like I said, numerous times, do whatever pleases you. Just stating I WON'T, and don't need some guy riding my back telling me I'm some bafoon since I hunt in the East and won't shoot past 50 or so yards. SEVERAL fellas from AZ state it before me, but as soon as an out of stater mentions perhaps 95 is too far it is ridiculous. And Waltz in and fill the slam? LOL I love your guys impression of all hunters from the East. I have already stated I expect to take nothing away from the trip besides learning experience. I plan on coming every year from here on out until I get one....but your right, because I merely hope to be succcessful on a trip when traveling to hunt, I am some big egoed know it all. I will not be treestand or blind hunting, I will be glassing, ambushing, and stalking...if I don't get one, I won't break down..I'll simply learn from it and seek revenge the following winter. I can accept defeat, though I'll try everything within my limitations to avoid it. Stalking CAN be done to get within 50 yards, maybe not as easily as 100...but it can happen. I stalked my Pronghorn back in August in the prarie of SD for a 15 yard shot. Just look at it this way, if it is soo impossible for me to get within 50 yards without a treestand, thats just one more deer out there for you to hunt after I leave. Not exactly how I wanted to start off here on the boards, but don't get on my case for not wanting to shoot far. Ill stay within 50ish yards, you can shoot at 100. World will keep turning. Best of luck for the coming season...Heres to short blood trails and quick recoveries....regardless if shot at 5 yards or 100 yards.

Whoever said a .029 pin would cover a deer is insane. Even at 95 yards, a .029 pin covers about a 3.3" circle, NOT a deer top to bottom. This said, I would never in my life dream of taking a 95 yard shot. If I want to shoot 100 yards, i will grab a rifle. Bowhunting is about getting closer for me. Alot can happen when an arrow has over a 1 second flight time. Being bedded helps, but the animal still could have moved....not that it would matter much seing as the buck was wounded anyway. You guys are free to do as you please, but I for one will never take a 95 yard shot, ever. Sure I have a chance of wounding one closer, but I am putting the odds more in my favor by staying within 40-50 yards than 100 yards. A coues deer is a small target to begin with. Also, if it was a true 12 ring shot, the deer would be dead. A double lunged or heart shot deer is a dead deer running and wont make it far. My last kill was a double lung shot, but a bit higher and farther back than wanted...the deer made it about 300 yards or so, and we were simply amazed. IF you put a DL or heart shot on it, no way it makes it even close to those distances. I guess it could have only caught one lung like you said, dropping in an arrow like that can be tough, especially with close to 20 ft of drop! If your arrow only had half penetration, im guessing you hit above the spine or in the shoulder, either way catching bone. Arrows are good at holding KE at long distances...my current setup is just under 80 ft/lbs of KE, and at 100 yards it is still over 50 ft/lbs of KE, more than enough to blow through an animal on a good shot. BUT just because the arrow is capable, doesn't mean I should take the shot. A target and a live animal are two totally separte things. To each his own, but I can gaurantee if an archer cut his range from 95 to 45 he would have alot less wounds, all else equal. Just a matter of knowing your limitations, and I feel a 100 yard shot should be out of anyones limitations for archery...but if you feel it is within yours, more power to ya. I wish you the best of success in hunting and killing animals. Not everyone should hunt by the same exact self made rules and reasons. I know I am new here, just thought I would voice my opinions on what happened.