huntlines

Great bucks! Now I have to go read the stories. Stud bucks for sure.

Very nice! Spot and stalk on a coues buck is tough but to do it in the wide open country you were in is even tougher. Nice job!

Congrats on the first archery buck. He made a great shot on him and the memories will last forever.

Wow is all I can say. I have only seen one buck with one drop tine! This buck is truely amazing and I'm glad to have checked back to read the story. VERY NICE!

Last few hours of the 2011 season and I got extremely lucky! A big thank you to my father and son for their help finding and packing my buck out of a place I had no business being in. Lastly, but most importantly, a huge thank you and I love you to my amazing wife. She is not only beautiful but she is patient and understanding of a husband who has an addiction to the sport of archery hunting. This year has been excellent to me, archery bull elk hunt and now I cap off the year with a literally last few hours buck. I truly didn't think I would fill my 2011 deer tag. I was not feeling it due to what seemed to me a slow rut. In fact I woke up New Year's Eve day and went back to bed. My wife asked me if I was going hunting and I said "aw maybe later I have a basketball game to go to." My youngest (12 year old) daughter had her first basketball game of the year and even though there were more games for me to catch, I decided I didn't need to miss this one. The rut wasn't really fired up in any of the places I was hunting. I had seen a little sign it was trying to but not like I would have hoped for this late in December. So I went and watched my talented daughter play ball (she doesn't get it from me). She did very well and I was glad I decided not to hunt that morning. After the game I went home and shot my bow a few times, gathered my stuff and jumped in the truck. I then realized I had no idea where I was going to go. I had several spots but none of them had been giving me anything to get excited about. In fact one place had got so bad I hadn't been in there in almost two weeks. Even though some other places showed more promise I made a last minute decision to go back to the deserted spot. This was only based on a feeling the rut had to be going there by now….right? As I made the long hike in I did see some hope things had changed. A few of the ridges I crossed had decent sign and some of it appeared to be deer chasing. I didn't see anything during the hike but hey it was noon after all. I settled into my stand at exactly 1205pm and figured I'd sit till dark being the last day and all. I wasn't in stand for more than ten minutes and here came a doe down the trail. She walked along as if it were September. Later another doe and yearling walked through. About 1220 it appeared two of the does that had walked by were coming back the way they came. They passed by me and kept going….no buck. Just then I heard something in their direction but farther up the ridge. It sounded like a deer running and as I watched sure enough here came a doe down the ridge acting like she was in heat. I kept watching behind her for a buck to be chasing. For a while there was nothing, and then I saw legs walking in her direction. Thinking this could be a buck I grabbed my bow and got ready. When he cleared the brush I was relieved to see antlers and a nice buck at that. I only got a glimpse of him but it was enough for me to decide if he gave me a shot I would take it. He was now behind more cover and following the doe to my downwind side. Well at least I got to see some rut activity was all I was thinking. I figured either the doe or the buck would wind me before they got into a shooting lane. Luckily I had hosed myself down with cover sent and it did its job. The doe walked through the shooting lane without even a sniff but the buck was a different story. I came to full draw just before he cleared the brush and sure as heck he froze. He threw his nose in the air and stood there for a minute or two. It felt like forever but he finally decided something just wasn't right. He didn't blow and bust which I attribute to the cover scent. Instead he turned to his left and slowly started walking away from the doe. He was quartering away and at thirty yards but I needed him to enter the shooting lane. He did so just at the upper edge of the lane and I settled and released. I watched the buck, which was nervous, try to jump my string but he wasn't quick enough and the arrow disappeared in his chest. I couldn't believe what had just happened on a day I thought would be boring. It all happened so fast I had to sit down and gather my thoughts. I then text my father and son for help in recovering him before it got dark. Even though the hit looked perfect albeit a little high due to the buck jumping my string, I decided to give him plenty of time. I was entertained by a spike and two point that were now running around the ridges chasing the hot doe that had become single due to my arrow. When I finally climbed down I found my arrow stuck two inches deep in the ground covered it bright red blood. I was constantly side tracked from trailing the buck due to the smaller bucks chasing the hot doe. I finally decided to sit and watch the show because I had not seen a rut like this in some time mainly due to me filling my tag in September. When my father and son arrived I told my son to climb in my stand and try to get his first buck with a bow. Later we learned he had two very close chances at the two point, one at the spike and saw what he described as a "huge" buck while my dad and I recovered my buck. One last funny note to this story. My father and I were on our knees looking over some blood I had found. I kid you not when I tell you we were kneeling there for a few minutes studying the blood and whispering that "he couldn't be far", when I noticed the buck lying in the brush we were kneeling by. I literally could reach with my left hand and touch him! If he would have been a rattle snake we would have both been bit. The buck died running and ran dead on into a manzanita bush. After we quartered and loaded the buck into packs my father, son and I sat down and watched the sun set on the year 2011 with big smiles and laughing at the hour and a half hike we had in front of us.

Ha I was wondering when someone would notice the hat. It is a joke of mine that I thought only I laughed at. The hat was given to me by a friend of mine that thinks I should shoot a Mathews but I have been a PSE guy all my life. I wear the hat proudly but will never give up my PSE!

Last few hours of the 2011 season and I got extremely lucky! A big thank you to my father and son for their help finding and packing my buck out of a place I had no business being in. Lastly, but most importantly, a huge thank you and I love you to my amazing wife. She is not only beautiful but she is patient and understanding of a husband who has an addiction to the sport of archery hunting. This year has been excellent to me, archery bull elk hunt and now I cap off the year with a literally last few hours buck. I truly didn't think I would fill my 2011 deer tag. I was not feeling it due to what seemed to me a slow rut. In fact I woke up New Year's Eve day and went back to bed. My wife asked me if I was going hunting and I said "aw maybe later I have a basketball game to go to." My youngest (12 year old) daughter had her first basketball game of the year and even though there were more games for me to catch, I decided I didn't need to miss this one. The rut wasn't really fired up in any of the places I was hunting. I had seen a little sign it was trying to but not like I would have hoped for this late in December. So I went and watched my talented daughter play ball (she doesn't get it from me). She did very well and I was glad I decided not to hunt that morning. After the game I went home and shot my bow a few times, gathered my stuff and jumped in the truck. I then realized I had no idea where I was going to go. I had several spots but none of them had been giving me anything to get excited about. In fact one place had got so bad I hadn't been in there in almost two weeks. Even though some other places showed more promise I made a last minute decision to go back to the deserted spot. This was only based on a feeling the rut had to be going there by now….right? As I made the long hike in I did see some hope things had changed. A few of the ridges I crossed had decent sign and some of it appeared to be deer chasing. I didn't see anything during the hike but hey it was noon after all. I settled into my stand at exactly 1205pm and figured I'd sit till dark being the last day and all. I wasn't in stand for more than ten minutes and here came a doe down the trail. She walked along as if it were September. Later another doe and yearling walked through. About 1220 it appeared two of the does that had walked by were coming back the way they came. They passed by me and kept going….no buck. Just then I heard something in their direction but farther up the ridge. It sounded like a deer running and as I watched sure enough here came a doe down the ridge acting like she was in heat. I kept watching behind her for a buck to be chasing. For a while there was nothing, and then I saw legs walking in her direction. Thinking this could be a buck I grabbed my bow and got ready. When he cleared the brush I was relieved to see antlers and a nice buck at that. I only got a glimpse of him but it was enough for me to decide if he gave me a shot I would take it. He was now behind more cover and following the doe to my downwind side. Well at least I got to see some rut activity was all I was thinking. I figured either the doe or the buck would wind me before they got into a shooting lane. Luckily I had hosed myself down with cover sent and it did its job. The doe walked through the shooting lane without even a sniff but the buck was a different story. I came to full draw just before he cleared the brush and sure as heck he froze. He threw his nose in the air and stood there for a minute or two. It felt like forever but he finally decided something just wasn't right. He didn't blow and bust which I attribute to the cover scent. Instead he turned to his left and slowly started walking away from the doe. He was quartering away and at thirty yards but I needed him to enter the shooting lane. He did so just at the upper edge of the lane and I settled and released. I watched the buck, which was nervous, try to jump my string but he wasn't quick enough and the arrow disappeared in his chest. I couldn't believe what had just happened on a day I thought would be boring. It all happened so fast I had to sit down and gather my thoughts. I then text my father and son for help in recovering him before it got dark. Even though the hit looked perfect albeit a little high due to the buck jumping my string, I decided to give him plenty of time. I was entertained by a spike and two point that were now running around the ridges chasing the hot doe that had become single due to my arrow. When I finally climbed down I found my arrow stuck two inches deep in the ground covered it bright red blood. I was constantly side tracked from trailing the buck due to the smaller bucks chasing the hot doe. I finally decided to sit and watch the show because I had not seen a rut like this in some time mainly due to me filling my tag in September. When my father and son arrived I told my son to climb in my stand and try to get his first buck with a bow. Later we learned he had two very close chances at the two point, one at the spike and saw what he described as a "huge" buck while my dad and I recovered my buck. One last funny note to this story. My father and I were on our knees looking over some blood I had found. I kid you not when I tell you we were kneeling there for a few minutes studying the blood and whispering that "he couldn't be far", when I noticed the buck lying in the brush we were kneeling by. I literally could reach with my left hand and touch him! If he would have been a rattle snake we would have both been bit. The buck died running and ran dead on into a manzanita bush. After we quartered and loaded the buck into packs my father, son and I sat down and watched the sun set on the year 2011 with big smiles and laughing at the hour and a half hike we had in front of us.

This is awsome! These types of stories are what I hope to read when I come to this site. Congrats!

Very nice buck! He has lots of character.

This is right on the money. Years ago I was into the moon phase thing as well. What I found was not what I thought I would. I went out late at night to scout using a spot light. What I found during a full moon was all the deer I spotted were bedded down. The predators can see at night too and even better on a full moon. The deer have figured this out over the years and bed down so they can hear them coming. On nights where there is a new moon I found the deer to be moving. They can see at night just as good as we can during the day. You can't control the season dates anyway so just get out there and hunt!

I have found scraps the last few days and no chasing. It appears to me they are in their pre-rut period and will be traveling checking scraps. Trail cams will help you to figure out how often and maybe around what time of day they will come by. I've had a few that only small bucks are checking during the day and the bigger bucks are checking at night. As we get closer to the real rut they will come during the day too. Good luck.

OK here is my two cents and from experience. I have read article after article about how scents are good or bad. One of the best ones was from a bowhunting magazine where some deer biologist put out lost of different scents not only in areas with pinned deer but on free ranging deer as well. They found out that during the rut just about anything works including air fresheners! Now coues deer are a little different in my opinion due to their spooky nature even during the rut. What I have found and don't ask why I ever thought of doing this but I tried it and watched from my tree stand as bucks checked scrapped and remarked the scrap after I did this. I have always thought the scents on the market are a little strong for coues so one time while freshening up a scrap I put a few drops of doe in heat scent down then I urinated in it. I know, why right. But let me tell you it worked. I watched a BIG two point check the scrap and freshen it up. It was January and I didn't want to shoot this BIG two point even though he was the dominate buck in the area. A few days later I watched a small three point check and freshen the same scrap after I repeated the before mentioned. Just an idea you may want to try yourself. Urine has a PH factor that I don't think matters if it is human or animal, mixed with a little deer hormones and I think it works.

My best with a riffle is 105 and change. He had a broken tine or he would have went well over 112. Sorry I don't have a picture of him due to it was 1996 and no digital camera. Need to get a scanner and get it posted. I have not hunted with a riffle in years and may not again if I can't ever draw a december tag. My avitar pic is last years buck and he is my best with a bow. I guess him at around 105 but have not had him scored yet.

My best Coues yet I started hunting when I was very young in my back yard with my first BB gun. It wasn’t long until I was given my first bow by my father and from then on I was an archery hunter. I hunted rabbits from the age ten until age fourteen. At age fourteen my father took me on my first deer hunt because I could put half a dozen arrows into a pie plate at twenty yards. This was the goal he had set for me at age ten and I shot until my fingers were sore every night. I’m sure some of you with today’s bows are thinking half a dozen arrows in a pie plate at twenty yards is easy but back then the bows were not what they are today. Also we only had aluminum arrows and I was constantly tweaking them on my rabbit hunting trips. My first deer hunt was when a hunter could still shoot does in December. I was fresh out of the gate and didn’t care if I shot a doe or a buck. The first deer to give me an opportunity was going to get shot at. Opening morning I found a few does and the stalk was on. I was able to make a thirty yard shot on one of the does and fifty yards later was hooked for life. That doe will be etched in my hunting memories forever. Over the years I have had the opportunities to keep archery hunting and Coues deer is still my passion. I have different equipment and different hunting techniques but my love for hunting the grey ghost hasn’t changed. This last year (2010) I took my best Coues buck yet. I have had success during the rut but I have also fine-tuned my hunting during the early season too. During this time period I have found water to be the best way to harvest a mature Coues buck. They are in their summer patterns and secluded water is the best way I have found to get in close. One little trick I use isn’t sitting on the water source itself. I have found that sitting the travel routes going to and way from the water is the best. On these routes you can usually pick an area where the wind is more consistent and more cover to hide in. Some people will sit right on top of the water where the wind can be unpredictable due to the open space and currents coming off the water. Also I have found small springs that are secluded to be where the big boys hang out. Don’t get discouraged! In 2009 I was sitting a spot and had a small bachelor group of bucks come down the trail I was sitting. One of the small bucks caught movement and busted me when I tried to draw. When they left I was upset with myself and about to call it a day. I had text my father and told him what had happened. He told me to sit tight and be patient because if the big buck never saw or winded you, he may come back. Sitting and sulking I wasn’t as optimistic. However two hours later here he came and he was by himself! I drew this time undetected when his head went behind some brush and heart shot him at twenty yards when he cleared. Last year I was sitting another spot I had seen some smaller bucks and just knew there was a big guy in there somewhere. An hour into the morning a group of bucks came in. There were four of them but only one stood out. I sat watching him as he came walking along the trail and couldn’t decide if he was big enough for the early hunt. When he finally cleared the brush at twenty yards I realized I have messed up. He was definitely a shooter but now he was right in front of me and I wasn’t ready. I had to let him pass and hope he came back by on his way back to the bedding area. As luck would have it he did come back but was in the back of the line of bucks now. I had to wait until one buck was past me and the others had their heads behind something before I could draw. This didn’t happen until he was only fifteen yards! Somehow I was able to get to full draw without spooking any of them. When he cleared the brush he was only twelve yards. Again I heart shot this buck and he only went about forty yards. When I walked up to him I couldn’t believe I had waited so long to decide to shoot this buck. I have not had him officially scored buy I have rough scored him around 105. This year I was elk hunting/scouting during the early season so I will get to hunt the rut. I have not hunted the rut in three years so I am stoked to say the least. I just can’t pass the opportunity to shoot one of these big boys in the velvet during the early season. Note: The picture with me in it is of my 2010 buck, the picture without me is my 2009 buck.

Very well said; I agree with everything you mentioned. I don't like to see animals suffer and would have done exactly what you did. It sounds like the wound in your elk wasn't one that was going to bring down the bull anytime soon. Infection maybe down the road but clearly not a way to let an animal die. If the hunter who took my bull would have stuck arounsd another half hour we would have been able to talk about the situation. We were parked not a quarter of a mile from each other so if they wanted to they could have found us or waited for us. If they had put a kill shot on the bull I would have congratulated them. All I am hoping is that a few people will read this and think about what they would do in a simular situation in the future. Our sport is much more important as a whole. Thanks

I guess I wasn't clear enough in my original post. rclouse79 thanks for the analogy while funny it isn't as close as you think. No blood trail to the gut pile, no other entry wounds to the vitals and no blood around the gut pile indicates to most the bull died in his over night bed from the original shot. This being said I agree that if someone did shoot the bull before he expired then they have done nothing wrong. Legally speaking and so the bull didn't suffer any longer than he had to this is fine. However I go back to the issue of shooting something someone else has previously shot. I for one don't feel this is hunting just killing. I will use the analogy again of hunting behind high fences, the animal is at a great disadvantage. Thank you for all the replies. I knew I would get some of the ones previously stated but I just wanted to share my hunt. Even if I wouldn't have harvested a bull I had an unforgetable time.

Well to answer your question I know for sure my fathers elk was dead. The hit he placed on his bull was square in the scenter of the liver. The blood in the bulls bed was all dried up and there was no new fresh blood anywhere. Same for mine this year other than my hit was low and at the base of the liver. The gut pile was in his bed with no new fresh blood. If these elk were still alive when the perps found them then I should have seen fresh blood and there should have been another wound in the vitals left behind. No one would have shot the bull in the head with archery equipment. Sure they could have cut his throat, hit a artery in the neck or hind quarters but then there should have been fresh blood. One other thing, our trucks were parked not a quarter mile from where these guys drug the bull out to the main road. If they wanted to find the rightfull hunter they wouldn't have to look far. No these guys got out of the area as fast as they could. I can see where couesfanatic is coming from here and I do believe the majority of hunters would call in G&F when locating an expired animal, but I must say some things don't add up and it seems that there is a big assumption that this elk was stolen versus finally laid to rest by another hunters arrow. You claim to feel that your shot was fatal but after 8 hours the elk had to much go for you to even get back on him and watch him bed a second time. You claim he was gutted where he bedded but you state he got away from you 8 hours after hit and mention nothing about watching him bed down and knowing the location, this seems validated by the fact that you state it was crows that led you to the remains. You claim you bumped him at 3 p.m. which gave almost 3 and half hours of hunting light to still relocate the bull a fatally wounded bull which would have most likely been dropping down and looking to bed again if so was the the degree of damage. Knowing that many elk hunters focus on the fist and last hours of light and that you had seen other hunters you had to wave off in the area I do not see how withdrawing was the smart thing to do. I am sure your CSI skills in field proved the worse from your perception, but there are numerous shots that could have been enough to expire an already wounded bull that may not have include the vitals. And it would seem that it is possible and plausible that another evening hunter found him, probably in a depleted state but possibly up, and put another arrow him that finally put him down. With all those emotions I am sure you had going through you, and the actions you stated you took to go find the thief, it would be easy to assume you did not waste much time circling back out much of a distance looking for another blood trail, possibly from a second shot. It is extremely sad you lost a good bull, but on the high side took another to go with the ones your dad and bro took. However, as much as it does suck, I have the respect for the sport and my fellow hunters to believe that it was a missed opportunity and the majority of guys and gals would do the right thing (contacting G&F and trying to locate the hunter) versus stoop to such pathetic scumbag levels as tagging another hunters game as their own. There is a big grey area of what if's and assumptions that often seem to point at the worst possible scenario as the actual facts. In my opinion this tarnishes our sport and does little to influence and teach newer less fortunate generations of hunters to have the same respect for the sport as those of us who learned the "old School ways" from our fathers and Grandfathers. The sport is changing and has become more of a competition for many (even this site promotes this through the contests), and this is unfortunate. Yet, I only stick to one assumption, that the majority of fellow hunters share the love of hunting for the right reasons. We may all have different beliefs in the methods and how we hunt, but at the end of the day majority of the hunters I have ever crossed in the field are stand up people doing something they love. If your assumptions were right I would not include the person or persons in this group of fellow hunters. I agree with you and stated they could have shot the elk in a place other than the vitals left behind. If this was the case I am just out of luck. However, I did look around for a second blood trail which was not there nor was there any blood in the area indicating someone else shot this elk where he laid. CSI I don't claim to be but I have been doing this long enough to be able to tell what probably happened. This being said even if I were to shoot an elk and later determine it had previously been mortally shot, I would try my best to find the hunter who had placed the first shot. I don't feel by shooting an animal who was physically disabled due to a previous shot is my trophy to take. This is the same reason I would never hunt behind a high fence. I also agree most hunters think the same way, unfortunetely there are a growing number of what I call "green" hunters who don't. I also agree it is due to the idealistic thought process out there that a successful hunt must end with a record book entry. Last year I didn't tag an elk but I had a truely memorable hunt with my father and brother. One I will never forget due to the good times we had.

This isn't a bad idea really. At least take pictures of license plates and vehicles. It would be a starting point if something is to ever happen. May not go over well but there is nothing illegal about taking pictures in a public area. If they see you doing it just might make them think twice before doing something stupid. The more I think about this the more I like it! Thanks

Well to answer your question I know for sure my fathers elk was dead. The hit he placed on his bull was square in the scenter of the liver. The blood in the bulls bed was all dried up and there was no new fresh blood anywhere. Same for mine this year other than my hit was low and at the base of the liver. The gut pile was in his bed with no new fresh blood. If these elk were still alive when the perps found them then I should have seen fresh blood and there should have been another wound in the vitals left behind. No one would have shot the bull in the head with archery equipment. Sure they could have cut his throat, hit a artery in the neck or hind quarters but then there should have been fresh blood. One other thing, our trucks were parked not a quarter mile from where these guys drug the bull out to the main road. If they wanted to find the rightfull hunter they wouldn't have to look far. No these guys got out of the area as fast as they could.

Yep, good boots are going to be a must! Was up last weekend and there was standing water everywhere. If you walk acroos any open flat ground there is standing water 2 or 3 inches deep. FS has opened up most of both units so access isn't going to be an issue. One suggestion to all is to stay off the 4 wheelers. If we start tearing up roads they will not be happy and may start to close stuff back up. I spent most of one day hiking around and found lots of elk sign. Got some great bulls on camera and the elk were still bugling at 1030am. When it clouds up and rains in the afternoons the elk get active again. Should be a great year.

I'm ready! Pulling outta here Wednesday and can't wait. Went up last weekend and they were screaming at day break. Had a nice 6x6 walk right by my truck at 60 yards. He stopped raked a tree bugled and went up the ridge. Got some really good bull on camera so I'm looking forward to a great hunt. Hopefully hunters will lay off the calls before the hunt. My dad, brother and I are looking for a repeat of 06 when we went three for three!

Here is a new release from the Forest Service. It looks like anyone with a hunting license and tag for units 1 and 27 will be allowed to travel down road not marked with a white arrow. I was scouting on Monday and Tuesday and saw lots of people driving down roads not marked with a white arrow. It looks like the FS has some common scense and realized this was going to become a huge issue so they just opened it. Some areas are still closed to all access but there is plentty of open area. I'm just glad I can finally get into some areas that were not marked with white arrows. Didn't see a lot of bulls and never saw any big bulls but did see plenty of cows. The big boys will be there when the rut starts. http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5326221.pdf

Here is a map just released by the FS showing what roads will be open Saturday. Not much but a start..... http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5321920.pdf

To all that are interested, Just got some information reference unit 1 access. Sounds like the FS is looking to open "some" area possibly on the 1st of August. Then more on the 15th and even a little more at the end of the month. Some of the area that burned severely will not be opened for a year or two but this is supposedly 20-30% of the unit. I just hope this 20-30% isn't in areas where roads go through to open areas. Still chomping at the bit to get up there to scout...............

This is great information. I don't understand how they can have such poor communitcation within one department? This is the complete opposite information I recieved earlier today! I don't recall the womans name I spoke to but I will get a name when I call tomorrow.(not able to call this evening) As for the podcast, of course the GF will do everything in their power but that still doesn't mean they will be successful! The FS is in complete control here irregardless of the commission. It is their call to make and the GF department would be powerless. "Intent" is always a key term thrown around when they want to avoid a dirrect answer. heck all I wanted was a slight hope they would open it. If the information I got this morning would have had the word "intent" in it I wouldn't have been so upset. I will call tomorrow and get names with the information I get. I will repost what I find. Thanks for this post.