coocoo4coues

Ok here's a real stupid question for all you blind experts. I just bought an Ameristep Doghouse blind, and can't break the dam thing down. I've tried for several hours, following the half @#$ instructions, with no luck. Any tips? I'm about to rip into this thing with my hack saw.

Well, I finally broke the blind down. It is actually VERY easy. I feel like an @$$, but I figured it out. I'm glad you all got a good laugh at my expense! Thanks for all the tips.

Ha, ha...very funny. Like I said...all I need is a saw. And today is actually day 3.

I read "How to Hunt Coues Deer". It's pretty informative. It really stresses the importance of glassing & other basic (but necessary) tactics. They mention a lot about the "spot and stalk" technique, which is quite a task if you ask me. I've bagged one buck that way...after many years of trying, and failing. I'm now trying stand/blind hunting, which isn't really covered in the book. Look at it this way, if anything, reading the books will add to your knowledge.

I am right handed, but left eye dominant, which makes it impossible for me to shoot with both eyes open. Are there any type of sights I can use to shoot with both eyes open? Any right handed / left eye dominant shooters out there (or vice-versa) ??

Guys, I can barely scratch my butt with my left hand, much less draw a bow. From the sound of it, if I keep shooting rh, I'll just have to practice more. Would a laser sight or those red dot (don't know what their called) sights make a difference? I've seen some that even look like a small scope. I've only shot with pins up to now. thx,

I've been debating whether to try a blind. Do you guys have any recommendations (brands, sizes, types, etc) for hunting blinds?

Hey, that looks pretty simple, but how accurate do you think it is? For the price, it doesn't hurt to try. -------------

I know, it seems that everyone in Sierra Vista hunts there. Last year, I saw some nice bucks, but its a pathetic scene this year. Besides higher up the canyons, do you know of any other good places to hunt in S-AZ?

I was out hunting area 35A this morning. For those of you familiar with the area, I spent most of my time in Carr and Miller Canyon. It was pretty uneventful, though. I saw a couple does, but no bucks. Is anyone else hunting this area?

Welcome to AZ! You'll soon find that Coues are sneaky little devils. They are very challenging to hunt. My best luck has been during the rut, though.

I was out target practicing yesterday afternoon (preparing for the HAM javalina hunt next week) and noticed that I was grouping about 6 inches to the right at 50 yds, and slightly less at 40 yds. It seems the farther I would shoot, the farther right my arrows would group. There was a 5-10 mph breeze blowing, which I would like to blame for my "off" shooting. I was about to move my pins when I decided to shoot from 15 yds. I was dead on. Is something wrong with my bow, or does the wind have such a strong effect on arrow flight? If so, is hunting on a windy day a bad idea? Is there a best practice for adjusting for the wind?

Wow, lots of good input. I'm trying not to torque my bow when I shoot. Perhaps I need to have someone watch my form while I shoot. Question, should I have a tight, or loose grip on the bow when shooting? Are aluminum arrows more stable in flight than carbon? I haven't had a chance to go back out and shoot under normal conditions to see if its still off. I'll let you all know. This forum is awesome. I wish I had known about it years ago. coocoo4coues

Does anybody know if a golf rangefinder can be used for hunting? Would they be effective? Just wondering, cuz my buddy said he had one if I wanted it.

Depends on what club you plan on using, sandwedge or driver <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ha, ha.

This morning, I called in sick to work (NOT) and took a drive out to the hills. I spotted a herd of does feeding about 1/2 way up the hill. Then, out of nowhere, I see a beautiful 3 point buck. After parking my truck, I managed to stalk them to within 50 yards. I waited for a while, and crawled hands and knees to within about 40 yards. He was broadsided, and looking right at me when I let one fly. I got him. I saw him run about 20 yards or so up the hill, and he fell down under a tree. I assumed that was it. I made the stupid mistake of trying to go over there. As I got closer, a doe spotted me, flagged her tail, and bolted. The buck took off too. I walked to the last place he was, and found a pool of blood. I waited for a while, then started to follow the blood trail. I spent over 6 hours tracking that buck up the steepest and rockiest terrain I'd ever hunted. I marked every spot I found blood with orange tape, and successfully followed the trail for over 1/2 a mile. About 1/2 way up, I found my arrow, bit in half, and full of blood. Next to it, another puddle of blood. Apparently, it didn't go all the way through, and the deer bit off what was sticking out. Yet, a good 12 inches stayed in him. At the ridge of the mountain, I saw some blood on some grass and then, NOTHING. I searched from that point for some more blood for over 2 hours, and found nothing. The blood just stopped. I walked in circles, hoping to see my buck, but no luck. By this point, I had fallen down about 5 times, and was exhausted. Has anyone ever been through this? Now, I feel so guilty, I don't even want to hunt anymore. Disgusted in Sierra Vista, Cookoo4coues

Well, I went back out today, and found nothing. I saw a group of does hanging out where I originally shot him. They ran up the same trail the blood was on, and out of sight. I followed their path, hoping to find my buck, but found nothing. I had my brother-in-law go help me look. I gave it my best shot. I feel like shoot, man. He was a nice one. I think I'm hanging my bow up till August.

The blood was bright red. The puddles of blood ranged between 2-4 inches in diameter. Most of the trail I found only a few drops here and there, and grass smudged with blood. The last sign I found was blood smudged grass, no more drops. I know I hit him in the shoulder, because I saw the arrow. After recovering the broken piece, it seems that it penetrated about 12 inches.

Not funny, man. If I go back in a couple days, I'll just find bones. Either lions or coyotes will have a fest tonight.

No, this didn't just happen to me. Last week, I completely missed a shot, and wasn't sure if I had hit the deer. I found the arrow (no blood). Yes. I shot him this morning. <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes. I shot him this morning.

The blood completely stopped, though. I noticed that the blood was very scarce along the way, with an occasional small puddle here an there (probably where he would stand still for a while). Do you think he was hit lethally? I can't see him surviving a shot like that. I broke the #1 rule of not letting it bleed out. I can't take any more time off work to go look for him in the morning, though. Dam.

I have a very serious problem. I've taken a couple shots, where I haven't been able to recover my arrow, or a blood trail. I'll spend hours covering the area, because of the uncertainty. This morning, I took a shot at a forker, at what I was sure about 30 yards. He bolted out of there, and ran for about 50 yards, and out of sight. I couldn't find the arrow...much less the deer. This has happened to me once before. My question is, when you DO hit your target, how do you know if you connected? Is there a distinctive sound? Does the deer run, kick or just stay still? I'm thinking I didn't get him, because he ran pretty hard. The missing arrow is what bugs me. I had to cut the search short to come to work. Should I continue looking? I need some experienced advice here. Thx,

Before I go on, I just want you all to know that I found my arrow...clean as a whistle, and the shaft shattered on a rock. I went back out this afternoon after work, and looked hard. Thanks for all the responses, guys. When I took the shot, the deer was uphill from me behind tall grass, which is why I think I didn't see where the arrow hit. Now that I think about it, I didn't hear a thwack or a thump sound or anything like that. I just didn't want to continue hunting till I was sure he wasn't down somewhere. If I didn't specify earlier, it was a coues deer. I'll keep my follow through in mind next time. I just lose all my senses when I shoot. I forget where I was, where the deer was, how I'm holding... I become a blundering idiot when I see a buck! I guess it comes with experience...of which I'm getting a lot of. I'll keep you posted of my progress. I saw a nice 3-point while I was searching. I'm gonna take some more practice shots before going after him. Good talking to you all. R's, Coocoo4coues

Oh, my son...Don't feel like you're the only one. I've missed my fair share of Coues. Just this last August, I took a shot at what was probably the biggest coues deer I had ever seen (at least 5 points). I shot high. Surprisingly, he didn't move, and I shot again, only to see my arrow get deflected. As he was trotting away, I took a third shot, and missed. I had nightmares about that sucker for weeks after that. I must have been sweating blood by the time I let the last shot fly. This last December, I took a shot at a little fork, which I estimated was about 40 yds. After he ran off, I paced it at 50yds. Just this morning, I went out for a few hours before work, and had a shot at a spike, and again, misjudged the distance. I've even stopped telling my wife and friends about all the missed opportunities because they think I'm blowing smoke up their butts. But it's true, you'll never connect if you dont' shoot. The key to hunting these things is persistence, patience, and keeping your cool (something I STILL can't do!). Best of luck,