COOSEFAN

THem 12oz curls have been my downfall all summer! It's soda though....Mountain Dew to be exact.......I love it! I quit drinkin' for about 3 weeks now but have had 4 sodas since I quit I've been tearin' up the elyptical (sp?) machine here at the house every day, but I usually just get in shape while scouting. I'm out there for several weeks straight before the season starts so by then I'm ready to go anyways JIM>

THat was too funny Tony! As I read through the first part I was thinkin' you were serious! I honestly use the wind no matter what, and if I actually use a scent it is almost always one of "Moccasin Joe" scents like sage, earth or pinion. The cow in heat scent is outstanding for the archery elk hunts. I think that unless you go to extreme measures like Tony describes, you will almost always be detected by a Coues downwind. I have seen Coues and other critters get my scent downwind and not pay attention to it.....but usually it's during the rut and they are so pre-occupied they don't care as much about the unfamiliar smell. One thing I've noticed about scent-loc clothing and all the other brands, is that they do not keep the smell in or neutralize it to a point where a critter can't smell it.........I don't care what anyone says.....that stuff is a waste of money unless you have a ton of it laying around and don't mind spendin' it. I have a test for anyone that disagress with me.......Wash yourself from head to toe with a non-scented scent killing soap........next, put on an entire, head to toe, scent-loc suit that you've had in a scent-loc bag...........now.... fart and tell me if you can smell it! I know you can and that is with the human nose detecting it.......imagine how strong that smell is to a deer! Don't waste your time on expensive scent-loc suits and stuff. Just buy a good bottle of cover up spray that matches the terrain you hunt, and ALWAYS watch the wind.....and hold your farts in The only good thing I can say about scent-loc suits and scent-killer spray is that it does give you a boost in confidence and we all can use some of that, but, agian hunt the wind no matter what. Jimbos $.02>

That top one on the right looks like it's got a "Muley Butt"? The other parts look Coues but color and shape of his butt look Muley?

Very nice I know which one I would shoot! thanks for the pic's, JIM>

Hey Pops, thanks for being such an incredible father! Thanks for always draggin your kids along with you on all your hunts, even though you knew we were probably going to spoil your chances at being successful Thanks for always putting us first, for all your support, and for just always being there! Happy Birthday Pops! Love ya, JIMBO> BTW.....this is my "brithday card" to ya.....I won't be able to stop on my way over today to get one

Thanks BM, I thought it was and now I can say I've called them by the proper name........unless I was already screaming and calling em' other names first

Very cool videos! I love sittin' at a waterhole watchin the critters crash around in the water! I've seen big bulls act like little kids at the pool and just go bazerk in a waterhole with water flyin' everywhere! Awesome stuff JIM>

That's way cool! Hey Crotalus....I know you'll check this thread out.....what kind of rattler is that? I would guess it's a young AZ Black Rattler but I'm probably wrong....seen quite a few of those in the high country though! Thanks for postin'! JIM>

I did get the heebie-jeebies seeing that snake pic Amanda! I had a Blacktail do the exact thing on the rez once.......just heard the buzzing as we drove passed.......very aggressive snake! I think they are the purdiest Rattlers out there though! I know I can't prove it but I was 4/8" off on my guess! We killed a buck in Mexico this year that is identical to that one and scored almost exactly the same....so that helped my guess I bet that is definitely a buck you have to hold in person to appreciate! Fantastic pic's and thanks for taking us along! JIM>

Hey Monstercoues.......I apologize for making a comment that I know nothing about. I don't know you or how much time you put into your hunts. My bad I just know how much time and effort some treestand and bait hunters put into their style of hunting and I'm jealous at the fact that they have the time and dedication to do it! I also understand exactly what you are saying about hunting spot n stalk......it is an incredible feeling when it all comes together and you walk up to that critter for the first time and put your hands on it! BUT......I bet that feeling is exactly the same for those guys that put tons of effort and time into their set-ups and are successful......who are we to say that OUR style of hunting is more rewarding than THEIR style of hunting? To each his own......as long as it's legal, why else should we care! again monstercoues....sorry for the false accusation JIM>

Hey guys, I just picked up my "little forkie" from Bret (GTT). I am freekin' stoked to have it back! Bret pays close attention to detail and he did a fantastic job on this buck! He knows I like "unique" things so he actually cut the head off the original form and replaced it with a head that he thought had more of a Coues look to it! He also trimmed and cut the shoulder and brisket area so it would have a more unique shape.......I freekin' love it! Definitely have to see it in person to appreciate the details, but the pics show em' off pretty good! Super detail around the eye as well..........thanks Bret....can't wait to see the others! JIM>

I would go with white with a 2nd layer of brown or tan. Most of the outter edge of a cat is white or very light in color....with the white or even tan first, it makes the cat itself appear larger. If you use a dark layer first it defines exactly where the edge of the fur is at. light then dark for sure.... mine is tan and brown. Good luck, JIM>

I heard about the incident shortly after it happened and was very interested to see how it all played out. It is very unfortunate for a bunch of reasons. I think the worst part in my mind is seeing a bull of that caliber, a bull that has lived through many hunting seasons and has been admired by hundreds of people in that community, die like that with people watching from their doorsteps. That bull did not deserve to die like that......not much different than buying a bull and shooting it in a pen! I am not trying to bash anyone here, I think the Auction and Raffle tags are very important and necessary because of the money they raise. I am just very surprised that this situation happened.......the people involved know better. They might have even thought they were legal in what they were doing, but why not be on the safe side and get out of sight of peoples front doors and make for darn sure you are far enough away. These same guys are incredible elk hunters.....I'm sure they could've devised a plan to take this bull in a different place or fashion.....the tag was still good for a few more days! There will be and is tons of rumors flying around about this and it will unfortunately have adverse affects on all of us who hunt. This doesn't look good to the general non-hunting public, hopefully this all just goes away, it's too bad it happened and it's really too bad that the details about it are spreading like wildfire. Oh well, just my $.02 JIM>

Yeah, I messed around with this photo to play a joke on some buddies

You could've just left the big hairy spider out of yer post! Just kiddin', great pics, really looks like yer daughter had a blast as well! JIM>

It's actually really thick right there, especially outside of the pic frame. I don't remember the exact time, but I think I glassed em up around 9:00 and killed around 10:00. It took a long time to get across a canyon and up the opposing side across from them, plus I couldn't see over the brush with my shooting sticks so I had to crawl up into a Mesquite and use the branches for a rest....probably pretty funny if someone was watching me! I also always try to glass hard the surrounding area before you shoot, if you have time, to make sure there isn't a bigger buck nearby.....happens alot on those early hunts! Thanks, JIM> Oh BTW......Casey, this would be an awesome spot for your Dec. tag...........It's unfortunate though, that I forgot where it was at!

Very cool Amanda! There is just something about being out in the desert watchin' a lightning storm like that rollin' in.....I love it, thanks for sharin! JIM>

Awesome pics and fantastic shed! Glad to see ya had a great time! I too enjoy your posts about your adventures! JIM>

That is weird.....in Colorado last week I had that exact same humminbird stuck in my room ( door was open ) I caught him and showed Pops how purdy he was and let him go. Our buddy had told us it was a Rufous Humminbird as well. He had 4 feeders goin' and there would be an absolute SWARM of hummers around the kitchen window all day, looked and sounded like a swarm of bees.......I'm not jokin', never seen anything like it! The Rufous's were aggressive and didn't like to share with the other different species of hummers! Way cool pic's David

Thanks! I only had one evening to scout and one day to hunt that year and I was by myself along the border! I remember racing all the other hunters and hiking until I couldn't see any more hunters in front of me! I found this buck along with a smaller 3 point laying under a tree ( he's on the right ), made a long steep stalk, took some time to enjoy the moment and rolled him at over 300yrds! I was one excited dude on that hill that day......especially 'cause I thought he was an 85"+ 3x3! I didn't care he was only a fork, he's awesome! I had em' packed out and home the same day. Short but very sweet! He had a huge body but I don't think he was an old deer at all. I would guess he was no more than 4 1/2 years old and would never be anything more than a really cool 2 pointer! I now have the start of my "Coues Wall" in my trophy room.....one of these days i'll have a wall like some of you guys have..( no pressure Bret! ) Thanks, JIM>

Thanks guys! Just to make it clear, I am not trying to get anyone to send Bret business, he is SUPER busy and isn't lookin' for more work......yet! I just wanted to give him props for an awesome job! I know it's my smallest buck in recent years, but I freekin' admire the heck outta this deer! Awesome mount! JIM>

119 5/8 What a HOG! Great buck Doug!

It's alright Gino......I'm not as excited about this draw......I know it's not a trophy hunt anyways. Sometimes you really need to watch how much you drink at one of those banquets!!!! I could have bought that NM landowner tag....killed a 75"+ goat......and put $500.00 in my pocket, for the same money that I got wrapped up in this darn Montana 'Loper hunt......and it's not even a guaranteed draw and I probably won't even see a 75" buck! I gotta go to bed, I'm gettin' upset. Later, JIM>

I know it's a long shot, but does anyone know when the results will be posted for Montana Antelope? I can't find anywhere on the site where it says when the results should be out. When checking my ALS number it just says "PENDING" still. Thanks, JIM>

Hey Monstercoues.......I know yer expectin' some replies to your statement! Here's mine.... Why do you care? Why make a comment like that? I applaud you for the style of hunting YOU prefer.....I also applaud those guys that choose to sit on their can and wait! I bet most of those guys that hunt out of a blind or treestand spend AT LEAST twice maybe three times more time in the feild establishing their spots than you do hunting your way! It amazes me how dedicated most of those guys are and how much time they invest in their spots. They may be sitting and waiting for their trophy, but they've already done the hours and weeks of hard work and research. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and how they choose to hunt......it definitely doesn't make them less of a hunter because they don't hunt the way you do! You should be happy that they aren't out there stalkin' your deer! I have never hunted out of a treestand or over bait.......but that's because it takes too much time and effort to do it right! Just my $.02 JIM>