azcouesandelk

Way to go Garrett! You are becoming one fine hunter. Keep up the good work and enjoy every minute in the field with your pops.

Man Jakob is a hunting machine! Big congrats guys!

Way to go guys! Sounds like a great time out in the field!

Hey Matt good to see you on here again! Big congrats on your first coues buck with your bow! I cant even imagine what it feels like.

Trophy Taker all the way man. You can get one for 60 bucks.

I had probably one of the best years of hunting that I could ask for in 2008. Started out with Javelina Then was able to chase some deer with buddies. Then went scouting for elk for a long time. Chased some deer with the bow and even got to see some world class elk be taken. Then it was time to get serious with coues Then it was time to help buddies with archery deer.

My dad and I did good again this javelina season! We left the morning of January first around 5:30 in the morning hoping to have camp setup by 9 but we ran a little late. Around 10 we got to glassing and in less than 5 minutes my dad had found a herd of pigs way up on a distant ridge. So my dad and his buddy went up to try to get on them while I stayed low and watched. By the time they made it up to where the pigs were they had disappeared so I told my dad to check the saddle just beyond where he had seen them earlier. So he crept up and over and I got a call about 5 minutes later saying he had hit one. Well by the time I was able to load everything up and make it to where they had parked I had ran into Doug (AZP&Y) on the road and he gave me a ride the rest of the way to the truck. Thanks again Doug. While I was shedding some weight my dad called and said he had found the pig. As the story goes my dad had only seen the one pig so his buddy didnt get any shots. My dad said the pig stepped out and he figured he was at 20 yards, but later found out it was more like 27. He hit low and missed all the vitals, but followed the blood and found the pig laying under a juniper only 5 yards away so he drew back and finished it off with one last shot. Here is my dad with his second archery pig. It might just be me but I think he is spoiled. He has hunted archery pig for 2 years gotten 2 pigs and has only hunted about 3 hours! The second morning we were actually able to make it to our main glassing point. We all glassed for around an hour when I found a good 2 point buck. He was havy and had a decent frame. I watched him for about 10 minutes and then he bedded. So I decided to attempt a stalk. I worked my way around a big canyon and slowly eased my way over the top of the hill he was bedded on. With the roll of the hill I had to crawl about 20 yards to see where he was bedded. I saw the rock he was bedded under and ranged the front of the rock at 26 yards! I just kneeled down and planned to wait it out. After about 2 minutes a doe stood up and started to walk away and the buck got up and just started to chase her. I watched as the buck chased her away without any shot opprotunities. Just a few minutes later my dad said he saw the buck in the bottom so I worked my way around again and came up over a rock and saw the buck standing in the shade. I ranged him at 56 yards and started to draw back, but before I could get to full draw he started to chase the doe again. Here is a picture of him bedded. We moved to a new area for the afternoon suggested by John (JLG) and we glassed hard. After about 2 hours I glassed up a buck and he looked good. We watched him for a while but he never bedded, we figured he would go in the mid 90's. I continued to glass the same canyon and found a spike and then found a big buck bedded in some thick stuff. This buck appeared to be a solid 100 to 102 type buck sporting 4 plus inch eyeguards, but with only 30 minutes of light left I didnt want to risk spooking him. On the third morning we went back to where the big bucks were spotted in hopes of finding them or some pigs. We setup to glass right at first light and in a matter of minutes I found a big 2 point but he moved off and out of sight. We continued to glass for 2 more hours finding only 1 more doe. At that point my dad and I decided to go and glass some different hills while my dads buddy decided to check a draw that had alot of pig sign. I managed to glass up a small 2 point bedded when my dad went to check on his buddy. My dad came running back saying they had pigs so I ran over there to find out that his buddy had hit one. We followed a dismal blood trail for 400 yards and lost all sign. Apparently he had hit a branch and the arrow deflected and hit the pig to far back. So while they continued to look I moved up the ridge to try and get back on the herd. After about an hour I was only 100 yards away from the pigs. I was trying to figure out the best route when I herd a woofing sound behind me. I hooked my release up and turned to see a pig running full speed at me only 30 yards away! I drew back and turned in one motion and shot almost instantly hitting the pig right between the eyes at a mere 2 yards!!! The pig went end over end and was flopping on the ground so I put 1 more arrow in him to put him out of his misery. So here is my unicorn pig Hope you enjoyed the story! I have to pack and go chase some deer now!

That is a huge typical!!! Great job on a great buck!

I can tell you I have used these game bags for the past 3 seasons and I am nothing but pleased. They are easy to use and do not tear!

Happy Birthday Matt! Hope you have fun this weekend and get one of those bucks you have been chasing!

Anybody planning on going to this banquet? It is a great banquet and is always a ton of fun.

Also if anybody has any questions feel free to PM, email or call me.

Your family is off to another great year! Keep up the good work guys!

Havent seen any bucks that would net 120 but chased a 3x4 with kickers last weekend that would go close to 110. Are you hiding a story from us?

PM sent!

Way to go Conner that is awesome! You just need to get a new hat!

Ah man now he is going to be thinking he is the king now Gino! Way to go Cory that is a stud bull!

Thanks for the post Doug. My dad got the Barta Hunter a few weeks ago and let me say that it is probably the best made pack I have ever seen. It has 2 seperate hydration systems which cna hold a 100 oz. bladder. Also the outside compartments and tie downs are great you have sleeves that run down the outside of the hydration systems and they are large enough to fit a spotting scope or smaller tripod. The back also comes with an emergency bivy and 100 ft. of small rope. This pack is made for backpack hunting and actually has storage compartments inside of the main campartment to strap your sleeping bag in tight so save space. Also you can strap on a longbow, compound bow, rifle or muzzleloader.

I agree with what Shorty said only I know your jealous of me Happy bday man hope it was a good one.

Way to go! I was confident that you would find him!

Way to go on another archery pig there Stacey! I know how hard you and your whole family work and it really shows in the end. Big congrats again!

90 2/8" Great buck and send my winnings into Amanda

Again Jason that is an awesome buck! I guess they are definately rutting now

Way to go Jake that is an awesome buck and a well earned buck! We were driving back from south of Tucson that day and the weather was terrible to say the least! Keep up the good work!

Nicely done Brian! Its going to be a long year for you but I know it will be worth it!