azffhunter

Beautiful bucks!!!! Nice to see some youth hunters taking bucks bigger than fork horned. Congrats to both hunters!

I was out Javelina hunting with a good friend along for the ride. Got out a little late because of work...but late is better than never! I knew there were javelina in the bottom of the drainages we were glassing from a saddle, but it was already getting warm and I knew they were likely already bedded. Decided to do some cold calling using a mouth call to see if I could get them moving and get eyes on them. Within about a minute of calling this fox snuck in at about 15 yards. Quickly picked up my bow, knocked an arrow, settled my pin and let it fly. It all happened so fast...practice definitely paid off. Made a great shot and he only went about 25 yards. Awesome!

What a great buck! No doubt your uncle was in that moment with you. Sorry for your loss...and congrats on a great experience!

What a great buck! No doubt your uncle was in that moment with you. Sorry for your loss...and congrats on a great experience!

Pretty cool looking buck and even better story! Congrats!!!

I have the Vortex Viper HD 12x50...I absolutely LOVE them. I just can't justify the money to buy Swaro. Do these compare to the $1500+ optics....let's be realistic, it's hard to compare to Swaro's. However...I am more than pleased with the quality, warranty, and service of my Vortex optics. I would absolutely buy these over the top brands...unless I just happen to have an extra pile of money lying around. When I looked through the Cabella brand vs the Vortex brand...the Vortex won out very easily. Good luck and happy glassing!

Awesome first pic Rob...yep I still hate you! Maybe it's a love/hate thing...lol. Congrats on an awesome buck!

Nice buck! Archery Coues is quite an accomplishment...CONGRATS!!

Well, this was my first Coues Deer hunt and boy what a hunt it was! We had three tags in our camp and all of us were lucky enough to tag out on opening day! We headed out in anticipation about an hour before first light on opening morning. Perhaps it was just me, but it sure seemed as though the sun was taking its sweet time coming up that morning. But, as it does every day the sun began to light up the sky. It was truly a beautiful sight to see as the sun crested the ridge line casting its rays across the hunting grounds. I had just began glassing when I got a call from my buddy saying he was on two bucks! His dad quickly maneuvered to help his son, hopeful to get a shot at the second one. It wasn't long before the unmistakable sound of their .300 Win Mag rang through the canyon, followed by the call with the news...."two bucks down"! They both made excellent shots and we spent the rest of the morning packing them out and skinning them. After a short nap and some lunch, my buddy and I headed out to try and fill my tag. We hunted a "foot access only" area and before we knew it, we were 2 miles in surrounded by lush canyons sure to be filled with the mysterious and elusive Coues Deer. The temperatures were pretty warm so we really weren't seeing a whole lot of movement until we were creeping up on last light. Then I glassed up three nice bucks across the canyon. I quickly set up for the shot using my new TriClawps. With only a few minutes of light left I was able to get it done and put my first Coues buck on the ground. That's right about the time that I started to realize that we were pretty deep into this canyon and the GPS said we were 2 miles from the truck as the crow flies....but we all know that crows don't follow the trails. After a quick field dress, we found an Agave pole and tied the deer to it allowing us to hike my prize out. After a long and rough 3 hour hike in the dark we finally made it back to the truck, and not a moment too soon....we were completely exhausted! So, as this hunt comes to an end I will be taking a few thoughts with me. First, good friends are hard to come by these days. To me, anyone that is willing to put in as much work as we did that night to help me pull this buck out is without a doubt a good friend. This hunt simply would not have been possible, given the location and terrain we were in, without my good buddy PJ's help. So PJ, thank you just doesn't seem to be enough but it's all I have. You're a true friend and I am grateful to call you one. Second, I am very proud of this buck for several reasons. First, it's a Coues Deer and those little suckers are like stealthy ninjas so for me to even have the opportunity makes me grateful. Second, as much work as it was to get into the area, and triple the work to get him out, I really feel like I earned this buck and that for me feels like an amazing accomplishment. Lastly...it's just plain impossible to beat spending time in an amazing hunting camp with even more than amazing people. A huge thanks to the Menehune family for inviting me to join you for this years hunt. Now....time to start counting the days until next years hunt!!

Wow! Heck of a way to start off...Congrats Parker!

Great job Morgan! Congrats!

Good morning all! I have recently purchased a Weatherby .270 and have been getting it dialed out to 500 yards. But I have a question on the effectiveness of that caliber at long distances. I'm more of an archery hunter, but I am beginning to dabble a little with rifle hunting so forgive me if I sound "rifle ignorant". So, we all know (or should) that shot placement is always key so I don't need more information on that. According to my ballistic charting (iSnipe) using a 130 grain round here is the relevent info: Distance Velocity Energy 100 2,992 2,584 200 2,795 2,294 300 2,606 1,960 400 2,424 1,697 500 2,250 1,462 600 2,083 1,253 So what I really want input on from all of you is what do you think, given the information above, is an effective range that would provide enough stopping power to make an ethical shot. 3...2...1...GO! As always, thanks in advance for your input. Jeremy

My family and another are going up the Wednesday before and are having Thanksgiving there on Thursday. We are just getting a pre-made dinner from the store...figured it was easier and would let us be out grassing most of the day without having to make a big meal. Can't wait...we had such a great time last year!!!

Ok...paper results are in! 200 yard 2.5" group 300 yard 3" group 400 yard just outside 5.5" group 500 yard 8" group All shooting from the prone position with rifle resting on my pack to simulate hunting conditions. Only shot 3 rounds per group using Federal 130 grain soft point. I was pretty happy with that, but still not confident enough to shoot at an animal at 500 yards. For now I think I'll stay under 400...leaning more towards 300 as possible (of course 100 yards would be pretty nice too!).

i looked at different grains...my thought (inexperienced thought) was that much more than 130 grain would be overkill for Coues. My son dropped his Coues buck last year in its tracks at 250 yards with his .243 shooting a 95 grain Nosler tip. Seems like with everything else...ask 100 hunters get 100 different answers...lol. I love all the feedback on these forums just for that reason...outside perspective can be very helpful!

Haven't made it that far yet. I was shooting a gong at 560 yards at the range. I would say the gong is about 18" in diameter. Yesterday was the first day I sighted in with new Vortex scope. I spent the day shooting steel silhouette targets.my goal was to try out the iSnipe program and get close as far as sighting in. I like shooting silhouette because I can have several set up at different distances without having to go down range repeatedly to move target. Shooting paper is my next step. I did shoot paper at 200 yards and my groups were within 6 inches. I think most of that variation is my shooting technique. I'm definitely not ready to shoot an animal at 500 yards yet. Hopefully I will be able to get closer than 300 yards every time. Once I get to shoot paper I will post the results on here. Probably wont be for another week or so. Gotta work to pay for ammo...lol

"FREE"? I'll have you know I spent a whole $10.00 on that program. For that price the info better be 100% accurate!!! Just kidding...I was pretty skeptical myself. But yesterday I shot at various distances ranging from 200-600 yards and was pretty surprised at how accurate it was. Not perfect...but I would say far more accurate than just using the mil dots. Worth the $10 anyway...lol

It is my absolute goal to get a shot as close as I can to increase the probability of a well placed shot. Shooting at distances much beyond 300 yards would be a last resort for me and the conditions would have to be right. I definately don't mind putting the work in to close the distance, or to follow up on a shot to confirm one way or the other. I believe in taking the best shot that will allow a quick kill. To me if it's questionable, I will pass or come up with another plan of attack. I believe this is the right way to hunt and what I teach my children. +1 I will take a look at those links...thanks for the info!

It is my absolute goal to get a shot as close as I can to increase the probability of a well placed shot. Shooting at distances much beyond 300 yards would be a last resort for me and the conditions would have to be right. I definately don't mind putting the work in to close the distance, or to follow up on a shot to confirm one way or the other. I believe in taking the best shot that will allow a quick kill. To me if it's questionable, I will pass or come up with another plan of attack. I believe this is the right way to hunt and what I teach my children.

.270 Winchester

I didn't have much luck either...wasn't able to get out much this early hunt and when I did, It wasn't until 8-9 am when is was already hot. Glassed up some does and a couple spikes/forks but nothing worth ending my hunting this early for. I was glad to get out though...looking forward to my sons Jr. javelina hunt next month. Congrats to those that were successful, and good luck to those of us still in the chase!!

My neighbor did...his first hunt. Should be interesting...

Just want to add my two cents...we also have to remember all of the people that game and fish deal with are not always honest, polite, or respectful. I'm sure they hear every excuse or story that has ever been told and I have to think they, just like any of us get sick of it. If they were in fact rude to you when you talked to them, just remember that you may not always be the only one who is frustrated. I know for a fact that their staff...particularly those that deal with the hunters on the phone or face to face, work VERY hard to do things the right way while being fair to all of those involved. Do they make mistakes...you bet. But, guess what...so do we. I know it's not the elk tags you wanted...but at least you get to go hunting. My son (11yrs) and I didn't draw any elk tag this year...that's the way it goes. I understand your frustration Cody, just remember that there are always two sides to every problem. Good luck to you and your father and I hope you and your sister can get out soon too!!

Wow...just made my day! Great write up and even better buck! Congratulations to your son...what an amazing accomplishment!

Nice buck! Bummer about the meat but glad to hear you put the work in and tagged it. Always good to hear of a hunter doing it right!