Tines

Wow. Indredible deer! Congrats!

And as for it being like insurance...idk. How many of us drive around HOPING we get to use our insurance that day? Not many. Unless you're driving around in a 15yr old truck with 280k miles like me, you hope not to use it. Let's just say I've got "max insurance points".

Hmmm. I'm all for capitalism. But how does this benefit a NR unless he's got max points or VERY close to it? You've got an outfitter who seems to specialize in a hunt that's EXTREMELY difficult for a NR to draw, if not impossible for 95% of them. At first I'd say it's like dropping a casino in the middle of a reservation but that was actually a brilliant idea. You're relying on the uneducated masses. I think the majority of NRs hoping to draw an AZ strip tag are a drop in the bucket compared to the consistent casino goer. Not to mention just a bit smarter and realistic. But I've been wrong a lot in my lifetime. And still work a 9-5. I'm still kicking myself for not pursuing my "Netflix" idea 17 years ago

I know, right! When we first glassed him up, we were actually watching a mule deer buck rut some does. Then this little bucks head popped up above the rise. My first thought was "what's a Coues buck doing out here??" After the Muley chased him off and he stood still, his tail was the first thing that threw me off. Giant, darky, bushy thing! After watching him try to run I knew something wasn't normal about this deer. I Tried to get the best footage I could. Apparently it was good enough for Jim. Since then, I've gotten a WT doe and a decent WT buck on camera in this area too. Pretty cool.

Did he also have his forest permit? Outfitter retains the appropriate FS permits, not the individual guide. I know, if you call down to the G&F and pick the wrong person on the "right" day, they'll probably tell you otherwise. What's even worse than that is trying to get a straight answer from FS.

Incredible buck! Congrats to Shane!

Here's a short clip of a small buck I videoed a few years ago. Jim Hefflefinger confirmed it was a hybrid. There's a decent amount of kill photos floating around of confirmed hybrids also. I just don't want to post anything that's not mine. I work with two guys who had their bucks tested through the Dept which came back positive as well. If you have the chance, Jim's book is a great read. There's a pretty informative section on hybrids in there. Not very common at all but once in a while even the best of us can be fooled. Another indicator that they're a little more common than previously thought are those traditional "antlered mule deer" units turning into "any antlered deer". But I'm FAR from an expert. I just talk to some now and then and pick their brains apart as often as possible.

Pixman, Great pics, as always! Here's your first problem: you hopped on cwt to "ask the experts". The first picture has some interesting traits, but I'd lean more towards whitetail. But you really never know until you know, right?? Like you, I've posted CONFIRMED hybrids, only to hear the "experts" ramble on about my incompetence in differentiating the species. It's okay, I still sleep at night. Here's the truth: they're more common than they used to be (for obvious reasons). But thankfully we have a pretty simple method in determining species if we're presented with the shot- the obvious white tail or obvious "rope-like tail with a black tip". Regardless of ANYTHING else. I've shot quite a few whitetail without identifying the tail first. Most WT hunters do the same. We don't need to. I'll accept responsibility for shooting the wrong species if it comes down to it. And in that EXTREMELY rare case where a tail doesn't exist and things just don't look right, I'll have to pass, I guess. But I'll tell you right now, if I had a WT tag, I'd have ZERO issues shooting a 170" 4x4 with a white tail pushing 6 Muley does. Same goes the opposite if I had a Muley tag.

Congrats again Jake! Buck looks fantastic.

Like many of you, I think about what it takes to find a monster buck and put him on the ground. It consumes much of my thoughts. Probably too much of my thoughts. And the past year would show that it only gets worse as soon as I find one and have to wait until the season begins. What we might fail to recognize is the support that generally goes along with hunting, but in this case, taking a big buck. For me, first and foremost, it's my wife. She puts up with my "non-sense" far more than what she probably should. I'm sure she won't read this but I'm forever grateful to her. Rarely is one hunter responsible for the actual taking of a big buck. I won't go into details right now but this was no exception. Many times it's from family or close friends. Sometimes it's from friends you never knew you had. I owe a lot of thanks to those personally involved. In every sense I couldn't have done it without you guys! I'll share more later..... Enjoy! Here's a few more pictures of the buck in velvet. He actually had a few more weeks if growing after these pics were taken. This is as short, but to the point, as I could make it. Hope you enjoy. I'd been watching this buck for about almost a year now. I burned lots of calories, fuel, time, bonus points, batteries, amongst other things, so I could keep tabs on the buck. I got hundreds of pictures of him and some pretty great video of him in 2013 and 2014. He was such a cool buck to follow over the year! Opening day came around and my buddy Mark would be joining me. He had a tag as well but he graciously fore-fitted the first couple of days of his hunt to help me on mine. We felt like we had this buck patterned pretty good so when we didn't see him opening morning, we weren't too nervous. Finally, at 330 p.m., we found the buck and he's working his way down the slope like he'd done the two previous days. I made my way off the mountain and got as close as possible before the terrain wouldn't allow me a shot. This buck looked so big at 550yds through the binos but I tried to ignore that. I laid down prone and dialed my rifle in. The steep angle and rangefinder had me shoot for 495 yards. The buck was bedded and slightly quartered away as I squeezed the trigger. The shot felt good but as I came back down on where the buck was bedded, he was gone. The reaction of the smaller buck, which I could still see, made me think the buck was still there and potentially hit. I watched the smaller buck feed in the same place until dark with no sign of the big buck. I finally made it back to Mark and he relayed what he saw. We were pretty sure we had a buck hit low and back. Mark said the big buck was still alive at dark so we decided against walking through with flashlights and just wait until the morning. The next morning we found ourselves glassing for both bucks (knowing they'd been hanging together religiously over the past few months. About an hour and a half into glassing, we found the smaller buck exactly where we left them the night before. The more we glassed and didn't see the bigger buck, the more excited I started to get. Then, to my surprise, the big buck was up! I couldn't believe it. The buck hadn't moved from where he bedded the night before (as best as we knew) for more than 12 hrs. After watching the buck only go maybe 10 yards in 45 minutes and in obvious distress that morning, we knew we had the buck for good and just needed to finish him off. I took off after him and got about 100 yards from where I was going to finally shoot. I think I had a permanent smile during the hike over, knowing it wasn't long before I'd get to wrap my hands around the buck I thought about on a daily basis since we found him a year ago. Hard work had seriously paid off....until the unthinkable happened. I heard two shots ring out not far from me. I instantly got a sick feeling in my stomach as my phone started ringing in my pocket. We hadn't seen a soul in here!! I looked, it was Mark calling. I didn't want to answer because I feared the worst. I answered. "Please tell me that was you??", he said. I think deep down he knew it wasn't me but was hoping it was. After finding out it wasn't me, the words I knew were coming next, but I wasn't prepared to EVER hear was, "dude, somebody just killed your buck..." I think I sort of had an out of body experience at this moment. I knew it was real, but just couldn't believe what was going on. I literally just started running towards the shots, not even knowing what I was going to say to this hunter when I found him. I whistled, and thankfully, he whistled back. During this time a glimmer of hope came in as a second phone call came from Mark. "The buck is back up, he's still alive!!", he said. I then started moving faster and finally made my way through the trees, completely gassed, and saw two guys (one behind a rifle and the other behind the glass). I yelled "Stop shooting, that buck is already hit!!". I recognized the shooter as a well known Coues deer hunter named Roger Cook. And a short time later, found out that the spotter was his brother, Terry. Unbelievable! I'll never forget the confusion on their faces as I'm sure they won't forget mine too. I managed to get it out one more time "I hit the buck in the gut last night!". About this time, Terry sees the buck slowly step out and he relays this to Roger. Roger gets behind his rifle to shoot the buck and at this point I basically beg him to reconsider pulling the trigger. Amazingly, he backed away from the rifle and let me plead my case, all the while knowing they had every right to kill this buck. Talk about a predicament! We came to the conclusion that the buck wasn't going anywhere but we needed to take care of him ASAP. I mentioned to the both of them that if the buck was NOT hit in the gut, he was their buck. But if he was hit where I think he was, to please consider the circumstances and the fact that I was minutes from finishing him off before they started shooting. Their consideration and respect was of the highest level of sportsmanship I've ever heard of, let alone been a part of. Especially with a buck like this. After considering everything, I'll never forget to this day something Roger said. "My name means more to me than a buck.." It's difficult to articulate the predicament we were in. Although he had never seen the buck prior to the hunt beginning, he knew exactly the caliber of buck he was looking at, and potentially letting go. Roger and I headed up the mountain to go after the buck. We finally made it up and across from the ravine from where the buck was. Through the only lane we had, the buck stood there broadside and allowed me to put one final bullet through him. Terry met us about the same time over to the buck. I think we admired the buck before we even started to break down where he was hit. I hit the buck low and back, like Mark and I suspected. The wound was obviously older and the old blood on the mountainside made it clear that it was an older hit. After taking it all in, Roger stuck his hand out and congratulated me. I know this wasn't easy for him. But for what it's worth, it was the hardest "acceptance" of a buck I've ever had to do. I do want to point out that although I believe this buck would not have survived very long based on where I hit him, Roger and Terry had every reason to believe the buck was fair game. They did what all of us would have done after glassing up a big buck standing on a hillside- move as fast as possible for a shot. But what sets these two apart is that they stopped to consider the circumstances in the heat of the moment and take a look at the big picture. I know a lot of people who wouldn't do that. I can't thank them enough and although I hope I'm NEVER in that situation again, if I am, I hope I can remember that "MY name is more important than a buck". You might be wondering where Roger hit the buck. One of Roger's bullets entered just in front of the eye (through the nasal cavity) on one side and exited out the orbital bone on the other- completely knocking the buck out cold but thankfully not damaging anything. Which is why we initially thought the buck was dead. I KNOW Roger's a much better shot than that but we all have our days (not that I'm super proud of where I hit the buck either). They both helped me quarter the buck out and carry him down the slope to where Terry left his pack. I filtered some water for them and we parted ways (although I'm positive it won't be our last encounter with the other). Mark met me half way to the truck with our camp on his back. I can't thank him enough for the help he was during this hunt as well. Although he may have only been a glorified spotter and pack mule, I'm grateful for him and hope to return the favor some day. I know I won't ever forget this. I can only hope that you guys will share it with as many people as possible so "the message" gets out and is louder than the buck. The buck also taped out at 120 4/8"

Unbelievable buck and INCREDIBLE footage! I could watch that buck all day and find something new to appreciate about him each time. In this day and age, it's difficult to keep a buck like that "to yourself". When we consider all of the permit holders who enter the field each year and how a caliber of a buck like that makes it through multiple seasons, it really is special. Big props to you josh! And big congrats to the hunter as well.

It's been a while! I couldn't be more pleased with how my 2014 buck turned out. Thanks again to Gavin (and his crew) for doing such an incredible job on a pretty special buck. Gavin also mounted my 2009 buck in the picture. I know, you're probably thinking "Oh, he's gotta brag a little and show off the other buck.." I guess so?? But not really. I really just thought you'd like to see them both together as book-ends since that's how I wanted them anyway. Sorry the lighting isn't the greatest but it'll do for now. Give Gavin and Bud a call if you're looking for exceptional work and great people!

If anyone would like to see how he turned out. Thanks again to Gavin and Bud Weller for preserving another great memory! http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/58564-two-120-bucks/

Guess it's time to chase those easy WT now, Jake. BIG congrats!

Big congrats, Jake. Unbelievable deer!!

Incredible buck! M77, Please get over this hybrid kick you're on. It's getting old. Coues deer get big (obviously). And simply, some actually have MD antler "characteristics". Generally doesn't mean much of anything.

Finally updated with a story!

Added a few TC pics for you guys!

Thank you to everyone for the congrats! I'll apologize ahead of time for not answering some of your questions immediately but I think you'll really like the story when I finally have time to share it. I realize it might sound silly but I think you need to hear it in it's entirety to really appreciate it.

Go see the Wellers and their studio. Great people and work

Lots of experience. I'd rather not share those stories. Of course, a Coues deer shot in the heart with a SPOON will kill it. But on marginal hits is where the .243 lacks, IMO.

This horse has been beat, and beat, and beat. I have no interest in doing it again. I've heard it all before, "as long as they can hit what they're aiming at, that's good enough..". Sorry, I don't agree that it's "enough". I like the idea of a heavier bullet, that's all. I've watched a lot of Coues deer get shot and the most common small caliber's used that I've found to be mortally inconsistent is the .243. But that's just me.

So I'm confused. Do you reload your .257 AI? I'm assuming not since you were looking for "factory" options. My opinion, don't buy a .243. I won't get into specifics or a debate about it. Been there, done that. Just not what I'd recommend for our big game. If you're looking for a round with good ballistics, factory options, and "less" recoil, shoot the 2506.

This is for my nephew. If anyone is interested, this is what he has: " eo tech xps3-0 nv capable and an aimpoint 3x magnifier with quick twist off mount" Obviously I know nothing about this setup but he's interested in trading towards a comparable hunting rifle setup. Please PM if interested. Thanks

For all of you 3D guys, here you go! These are "fat" shafts. All come with nocks and inserts, some are fletched (but I'm sure you'll pull those off and do your own thing). Measured from insert to throat of the nock. Some are brand new, others are in perfect shooting condition. QTY 7- PSE 2300 XLS Hunter Shafts: 32" (these are brand new) 4- " " " " Fletched. 29.5" 5- " " " " Fletched (w/ wraps). 29" 6- " " " " Fletched. 27.5" 4- PSE 2300 Equalizer. Fletched. 31.5" You won't offend me. Make me an offer. I need them gone.