recurveman

[First I want to say that I love this site. I have learned a ton from all of the posters and I think it is great to have a site just for coues related topics. Well I finally got my first coues. I was up in unit 8 and I really don't think I will put in for this hunt again. I saw 5 coues the whole hunt (5 days). I normally hunt down south and I'm used to seeing a bunch of deer each and everyday. But unit 8 is a bit thicker and the hunting is a little different. I hunted the first 4 days of the hunt and finally saw 4 deer the last afternoon before I had to come home for Christmas. I walked the ridge where the deer where and saw a ton of rubs and scrapes. I was so excited that I actually found an area that has some deer sign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't see a person the entire weekend in this area and figured I would have the entire unit to myself once I got back up after Christmas. So for the next few days I could hardly wait to get back up and sit those scrapes. I read all the stuff Josh had posted and I figured I would spend 6 more days up there and see what happened. I brought a tree stand with me and I was going to my "secret" location to put it up. I didn't see a single person..........until I turned my last corner and someone was parked in MY SPOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It wasn't even a parking spot. I normally just pulled off the edge of the road and there was a gal reading in the passanger side of the truck. I was so bummed. I figured I might as well go check out the scrapes and see how they looked. Her truck was only about 100 yards from where I wanted to put up my stand. So I went down the road and parked so she couldn't see me and I walked over to the scrapes. They looked really old. Again I was a bit bummed. I figured I would walk the scrape line and see if there were any fresher looking scrapes. I went up about 50 yards (Now I'm about 125 yards from this gals truck) and this buck came walking over the hill. I would like to say that I field scored him for a long time (3 seconds max). I would also like to say that I would have shot a spike by this time in the hunt. The only reason I didn't shoot a spike is I couldn't find one of those first. After I shot this buck I walked out to the road and walked by this gals truck. Her eyes were as big as pie plates. She asked if that was my shot. I told her that it was (if I was bow huntint I could have just lied and told her that I hadn't seen anyting yet. These guns make to much noise). She told me it scare the living crap out of her when it went off. She didn't realize someone was hunting that close to her. All in all a great hunt. Thanks everyone for all the info and for having such a great site.

I think the average person doesn't even get one. With that said I would think the average gross score would probably end up being in the 50's some where. I think a bunch of people shoot spikes and forkies. I believe most people think everyone shoots big ones since all they see on the websites is nice 80+ inch bucks. Just think. For every spike someone has to shoot a 90+ inch buck to keep the average up to 50 or so. If you want to look at it with a bow then it is a totally different story. I think a very small percentage actually get one with a bow. I would guess less than 5 percent and probably more like 2-3 percent. bowhunters would probably shoot a smaller buck and be very happy. So that average gross number could go down to the 40's. Though any coues with a bow is a trophy in my book. Later, recurveman

I think most of the units are great. I really think the best unit is the one that you spend the most time in. I have buddies that love the units they hunt and I wouldn't think about hunting those units. They bring back some nice bucks too. I personally would look at which units the game and fish are managing for trophy units and which ones they aren't. That is how I do my "prescouting" when I decide to hunt a new unit or a different species of animal. Good luck, recurveman

I didn't get a chance to go scout the last weekend or two and was wondering if the rut has started to pick up yet? I'm really hoping it is a bit early this year. Later, recurveman

I just got back from unit 8 (with a critter). The rut was going on big time. I can't even begin to tell you how many rubs and scrapes I saw. I saw well over a dozen scrapes on Monday and I was out of the woods by 1:00 in the afternoon. I haven't seen activity like this since I hunting in Michigan. Later, recuveman

The answer is simple. If you could only get some action for about two weeks a year would you still do "it" in the rain? My answer would be yes. Heck my answer would be the same even if it was a year long event. I will tell you one other thing too. You will get wet if it rains. Later, recurveman

Now I'm not asking for your hot spot where you are seeing all of those 130"+ whitetails. I'm just hoping that some of you have run across some mearns quail while you were out hunting this year. This is where I really think these boards can be great. If you aren't a quail hunter then you really don't hurt yourself by helping someone else find the animal that they are looking for. How great is that. So, has anyone ran into any mearns this year. I have some pups that need to learn how to hunt them and I've never really hunted them myself. So any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, recurveman

Personally I would still keep hunting. I've seen and cleaned way to many animals that have been hit and didn't die. I've even seen some animals hit more than once and have arrows sticking out of them. Animals are a ton tougher than you think. Now if you find the animal a few days later you could consider taging the animal and calling it a hunt. Though I would still probably still hunt depending on the hunt. You have to remember that the game and fish takes all of these things into account. I don't think someone is being a better person for not hunting after they shoot an animal that they didn't find. If you hunt enough it will happen. It is just part of hunting. If it really bothers you then I would consider not hunting. If you think the animal was hit that good then you should be able to find it. There have been VERY FEW animals that I didn't find with in a reasonable amount of time if they were hit fatally. I would say that the number of animals not found that were fatally hit were in the area of less than 2-3%. I've easily tracked well over 200 archery hits. Maybe even more. There are very few times you will loose an animal if it is fatally hit and you track it the best you can. So if you find most I wouldn't consider it dead unless I find it and I would continue to hunt. That is me. I've just seen to many arrows and broadheads in animals that weren't mine when I was cleaning them. Later, recurveman

Did you by chance hit him high in the ribs/lungs? If you did then there is a little gap between the lungs and the backbone where an arrow can be placed and not hit anything vital. I've done it a few times and all I've ended up doing is tracking the animal a long ways and never finding it. The crows will show up in a few days and tell you if the animal is dead or not. You might even want to get up one a nearby hill and look for the crows. The deer might have went a ways before it died. I would think that the animal is probably fine. I haven't seen to many animals go 2 miles and end up dead. I have however seen quite a few deer survive an archery hit and live. They are tough animals and can endure quite a bit. I also believe if you would have hit the liver or anything further back the animal would have bedded down. If he did bed down I hope you didn't push him. Most animals will just lay down and die if they get shot in the guts. Unless they are pushed. Best of luck. If you don't find crows you might still be able to find him. There is a good chance he lived and will resume his normal activities. Later, recurveman

I was up in unit 8 hunting this past weekend and ran across some scrapes. There are 5 scrapes over a length of 800 yards or so down one ridge line. I just kept following the trail and every so often I would find another scrape. I also found quite a few deer rubs too(about 15 or so). Has anybody had any success hunting scrapes in AZ? I've hunted scrapes a ton back in Michigan with some decent success. I'm sure that AZ is different and I'm hoping someone has some ideas or stories to tell. The plan is to sit the scrapes and hope that guy comes back in to clean them out. The scrapes were all real fresh too. The bummer part is I only saw 4 deer in 4 days. I worked my butt off too. Right now the scrapes seem like the best bet to me. Any info would be great!!! Later, recurveman

Lark, I'll go reload a bunch more ammo so I can do plenty of jump shooting. That sounds like more fun. I just hope it doesn't rain so I can see the dust fly on the first box of shells I shoot. I'll get more particular on the second and third box of shells.(Is that considered littering?) What happens if I actually hit one? Then what? the fun is over and the work begins. Later, recurveman

I'm looking at my ballistics and wondering how to judge what 12 inches, 20 inches ect is at a given distance. I know that there are certain measurements that are pretty consisten on a coues and I'm wondering what everyone uses and how reliable it really is. Any help would be great. Thanks, recurveman

jmbn - the start of my post is sighted in for 330 yards. I actually shot the post at 300 but was an couple of inches high. So I got out a ballistics program and figured it to be real close to 330-335. I'm pretty sure that is more accurate than I'm able to shoot. I sighted the gun in for 200. The gap of the post is actually 12 inches at 300. So if I don't have time for a range finder (I shouldn't shoot) then I can use that to find out if it is 300 or further. I think if I see a doe or two I might put the scope on them to see what they look like. I'm sure that they are smaller but I might learn a little in the process. This stuff is pretty new to me but I'm having a ball. Thanks for the info guys and gals. Later, recurveman

I don't think I explained myself as good as I could have. I'm really looking for info on the size of the deer. Then I can figure out where I have to aim. Here is an example. I know that my load shoots 22" low at 450 yards. So if I have a deer at 450 what can I use to estimate 22". If I know the chest is 15" then I can figure out 22" without to much problem. But if the deer is laying down and I can't see the whole chest then what do I use? I'm basically looking for as many measurements of a coues as possible. I've got the whole gun thing pretty down pat but the deer thing is my biggest concern. I guess most of this could be solved by getting closer. I'm a bowhunter at heart and you think I could get closer than 450 yards!!!!!!! Later, recurveman

I think I'm either going to get a bigger gun or a fully auto. Then I can make all the dust I want. Plus the reloading part will be much faster with a full auto. What the heck are you guys talking about with the beanie stuff? Later, recurveman - off to the gun store to buy a cannon

I sure hope that a spike doesn't walk by me the first day. I would be tempted to shoot it. I just hope a monster shows up first thing so I can say I was trophy hunting. That is great you got a buck!!!!! My first deer was back in Michigan when I was 10 and it was really small. Much smaller than your spike. But I was very excited about it at the time. Later, recurveman

I think it all depends. There are units I hunt where I see 20-40 deer a day. Then there are units where I see a ton less. The one thing I find interesting is the time of day. I have to say I see most of my critters after 9:00 or so. There are times in December/January where I stuggle to find deer until 10:00 in the morning. I actually don't think I need to be on top of the hill at first light. I'm still on top at light but I wonder why sometimes. I really think the rut picks up in the late morning. I have a unit 8 late WT tag. I don't expect to see double digits amounts of deer each day. If I actually see over ten a day I will be happy. I just hope one of them is huge. Later, recurveman

There sure are some interesting changes there in the tag fee's. I'm just wondering if the early bull is just for rifle or is that archery too? I personally don't care but a jump to 350 is quite a bit for an archery tag. I really hope that the game and fish figure out this whole USO thing. Later, recurveman

Scottyboy - do you shave your brit down or is it just a pup? I've seen a few britts shaved down and want to do that to mine. I think it would be really nice for the summer and keeping all the burrs off of them during the hunt. Thanks for the info. I can hardly wait until the season starts for mearns. Later, recurveman

B&C (boone and crocket) recognizes ML too. It isn't a seperate category but you can still stick it in the book if it is 110" or bigger. I had a buddy that found a lion kill mule deer a couple of years ago. It grossed over 200 and netted right at 200. He entered it into B&C. You don't even have to kill the animal to put it into B&C. It just has to have it's skull intact. I'm sure someone else will know if there is an exact ML book. Later, recurveman

arizgriz - It is really tough to get pope and young to put an animal in their book when you take a pic of it with the rifle leaning up against the animal. At least bring a bow along.....Bowhunting in AZ is pretty much going to be the same way. Though it will go nicely in B&C for sure. Personally, I WOULD HAVE PASSED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm serious. I would have been certain that was a mule deer. Look at how tall that rack is. Just incredible. I would have looked at that and thought for sure it couldn't have been a whitetail. Then once I figured it out then I would have taken a shot and scared him to the next hunter. Great buck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Later, recurveman

I would have to shoot the cat. That is a no brainer. The bucks will be there for another day but the cats are a true once in a lifetime trophy in my book. Plus, just think of all the deer you just saved by shooting that one cat. The only down side to shooting the cat is you are going to increase your taxidermy bill. I would really think hard about getting a cat lifesized if I shot it without dogs. My wife might shoot me but I would want that thing full size in my house somewhere. Later, recurveman

The only bummer part about hunting in January is the rut. It is such a double edged sword. It is great to get them up and moving. I love to get them just a little dumber too. But I believe that they will tend to move a little out of their area to find the women. If there is another buck in the area he might push him out too. Either way the buck will show up eventually in the same area. The fun part is trying to find him all over again. Later, recurveman

Well if you get one you can invite everyone from this board over to your place for a little pussy.......cat that is. I have to say I'll be the first in line. Later, recurveman

There are many rounds that are flatter shooting than the .243. It is nice and flat but I have a 300 weatherby that is flatter. The 7MMSTW is flatter too. Basically you can lump most of the rounds in the same category. .270, 30-06, 308, .243, 25-06, ect. Any of your high power rounds are all about the same as far as trajectory. They will all drop about the same. Except for a few that are flatter. Not a ton flatter but they are flatter shooting. He is another thing to consider. I own a 300 weatherby and a .243. I choose to hunt with the .243 for couse. Not because it is flatter shooting but it is lighter to carry and is more accurate to shoot. Most of the "magnums" do shoot flatter but you pay the price. They kick more and quite often they don't shoot as accurate. If I could get my 300 to shoot as good as my .243 I would shoot that instead. If you want to look at all the ballistics go to the ammo sites (ie, remmington, federal and winchester) They have some cool stuff where you can compare ammo of different calibers. You will see that the .243 is not even close to the flattest shooting round. Look at the .338 weatherby. Then you will see a flat shooting round. But I'm pretty sure I'm not man enough to pull the trigger. Well at I doubt I would do it twice. Later, recurveman