AZP&Y

Grong Orange, I expected to see an icy treestand or some patches of snow on ground, bet it was a nice hunt being down south? Great job and a P&Y buck for sure. Congrats- You've had a nice couple of months hunting coues! AzP&Y Doug

2008 came so quickly this year and before I knew it was time to grab the bows and go pig hunting. I arrived at camp Friday afternoon in time to set-up and meet Atypical (Mike) to talk some strategy to go after the stinky desert pigs. Day 1- Saturday morning came with a passing cold front, wind along with intermittent sprinkles. Atypical's dad met us at first light to hunt with us for a couple of days. He is now in his 70's and moves through the hills like he is 35. Just before our departure to our hunt spot, I decided to pull the bow back and make sure the string was ok. What I failed to remember was my release was attached to the string (anyone else attach their release to the bow string?). Upon drawing down the bow, the release slipped between the cam and string, lodging itself. We did get the release off of the cam fine, but the string came off of the cams all together. We tried a portable bow press but to no avail. Atypical suggested using the come-along winch and I said "no" – I think I'll make the drive to Tucson from Oracle. Made some calls from Oracle and couldn't find a source to fix the string. PSE in Tucson couldn't work on it (not a pse bow) and Saguaro Bait and Tackle/Archery was closed every Saturday in January (probably hunting ) J . I left a message for CWT member Mattys281 (Matt) who called me back 10 minutes later and just so happens owns a bow press. He saved me hours of hassle going back to PHX to try and get someone there to fix my bow. I was back in the field 4 hours later. 3 hours of daylight left glassing & nothing spotted… Day 2- More clouds coming from west to east. We head to a spot that yielded a nice rifle sow for me in Feb 2007. Mike's dad almost immediately glassed and located a nice herd of pigs with some real nice big boars! The plan is that he will get the 1st opportunity by slowly stalking the wash. He gets to within 21 yards and lets one fly! The juvenile Javy goes down! 1 Javy down! The herd scatters with 3 going left and 5 going right up the canyon. Mike is above them now and has a sow standing at 34 yards – He makes a quick squeal and the pig stops. He shoots and the arrow hits the back quarters. Another arrow nocked and flung -2 pigs down! Day 3 – The storm that left 10 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada's is starting to bear down on southern Arizona. It is only the trailing edge, but the wind is blowing 30-40mph. Not exactly ideal pig hunting weather. We leave the tri-pods behind as there will be no glassing today. Dan, a fellow hunter that we met at our campspot has offered to show us some new areas that he has seen pigs. 4 hours and 5 miles later we have not seen a single critter. Every living thing is hunkered down. Rain spits intermittently, the wind then starts to calm and the sun peaks through the clouds. It's time to head back to the trucks. 2 more ridges and we hear grunts and jaws chopping. Dan nochs an arrow and shoots a sow @ 16 yards. 3 pigs down! (sorry I didn't show Dan's pig, but wanted to make sure it was ok before posting) … I am already at full draw and must let off because there is too much brush between me and the javy! The wash below us is a natural funnel for the pigs to gather themselves and band together. I slowly creep the sides of the wash to intercept them before their departure. I already have an arrow noched from the up and close encounter. I see a group of 5 pigs and a nice large one which it turns out is at 52 yards. I put the 60 pin on him and the arrow flies right over his back and skips into the air up the wash. The group dashes up the side of the wash and vanishes into the cat-claw. There is one last boar that is a bit confused and stands broadside at 28 yards between 2 small palo verdes on the opposite side of the wash exposing his vitals. This time the arrow flies true – double lunger!!!!. He piles up 30 yards and within site in the nearby cat-claw. Karma is a funny thing. Matt killed his first deer,a trophy archery Mule deer the next day. Thanks again for all of your help – getting me back into the field! Good luck to all of you pig and deer hunters in January – Thought you guys might enjoy some serious teeth! AzP&Y Doug

GHCoues Nut, I'd say your 70 pin is right where it needs to be- NICE SHOT- Outstanding Desert Buck! AzP&Y

Redbeard, Nice story. Way to involve the girls and get them close to PIGS! Thanks for sharing! AzP&Y Doug

I know it well - Great job and thanks for sharing the pics! AzP&Y Doug

Matt- all outstanding information. Here is a thread that got started from last April regarding some lightweight backpacking info from our fellow CWT members... http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/in...ght+backpacking Everything from A-Z needs to be evaluated (knowing EXACTLY - how much something weighs)! A trial run is the best place to find out if a piece of equipment works. If not sell it on ebay and buy (or save) for what works and is useful. Water being the most important item, here is a list of water sources along the Arizona Trail that runs straight through Hunt Area 33. Fred Gaudet published this and did an analysis (seasonal water) of waters sources from 2000-2006. It also shows water sources along the 800 miles of trail that goes from Mexico to the Utah border. http://www.fredgaudetphotography.com/aztrail/water2006.pdf Hope to see some more pictures of the 'ultra-light camps' this summer & count me in on unit 33! AzP&Y Doug

Matt, Just an OUTSTANDING buck and to be your first - Incredible! Thanks so much for fixing my bow on Saturday, You saved my pig hunt. Karma -! I just about dropped the cellphone when the picture came over that night! Look forward to some darts @ AHQ! AzP&Y Doug

David, Great story. That is one style of hunting that you can do for a long time- It's always fun chasing pigs in the hills! AzP&Y

Scottyboy, May 29, 1953 lives forever. He will be missed. When I was in the foothills of the Himilayas in India last year I thought about him. One hearty soul to climb that mountain 55 years ago with the equipment available. AzP&Y

Awesome coues! Many days in a chilly treestand- Now that's dedication and perserverance! Great Job- Did you ever find the sheds from the TOAD buck? AzP&Y

We hunted 34a also and didn't see anything close to that caliber of buck. Sweet success! Thanks for sharing the story and pics! AzP&Y

I would give up quail hunting all together and just sleep out there on that ridge... Good luck-! AzP&Y

Gary, Real nice buck with a bruiser body. Nice shot @ 15yards and a quick 100 yard recovery. How many hours did you spend in the tree stand? Chilly January mornings always keep a bowhunter honest! NIce Job- Thanks for sharing a fantastic ARCHERY COUES buck! AzP&Y

47M runs this area:easterly along the Salt River to the Tonto National Forest boundary; northeasterly to the Tonto National Forest boundary; southeasterly along the Forest boundary to Forest Rd. 77 (Peralta Rd.); southwesterly on Forest Road 77 (Peralta Rd.) to U.S. Hwy 60; northwesterly on U.S. Hwy 60 to the Meridian Extension (Maricopa-Pinal County Line); There are some concentrations up in the Supers a bit higher:Reavis Trailhead Road (FS 212), Davis Wash, and Two Bar Road (FS 49). I''ve been seen more pigs in the 4000' ft range than down in the flats... Good Luck and post some pics of your hunt: AzP&Y

Ac- It is a really good camera (for a camera phone). It has 3x (times) digital zoom. Video recording capabilites and a self timer to take a pic of that trophy coues if you are hunting solo The nice feature on the phone is that it has an LED light, which could be used as a small flashlight or emergency light if your primary breaks. I've dropped it a bunch and it keeps coming back to life. It is probably one of the most important pieces of equipment in your pack if an emergency did arise and you could get a signal. It also had GPS capabilites. AzP&Y

I have been with Verizon for over 10 years and have had pretty good luck with the exception of the border zone (southern az) where my buddy's Alltell seems to work better. In Northern Az- Verizon seems to work great and they are constantly expanding and updating their network "can you hear me now?" I did buy the Casio G z One phone which is waterproof - First of it's kind and shock proof, dust resistant etc. So, If you're backpacking or hunting - this phone is more rugged than some of the garbage they sell to consumers. Read on : http://www.casiogzone.com/ Good Luck, AzP&Y

Yep, it's "that" saguaro - Sweet shed man- love the eyeguard and mass! Great job- Hope you get the buck you've been chasing! Why the name change on your CWT login? I like the other one AzP&Y

Outstanding set of animals with the bow! Great to see a bowhunters hands with blood stains! What was the farthest shot taken on the animals that you have posted? AzP&Y

Unbelievable!~ Awesome man! That will surely cure the winter hunt doldrums! That is my dream hunt and I'm sure I'll be old and grey before I ever get drawn in Az Thanks for taking us along on that one----! AzP&Y Doug

Grong and Dogman- those are some fantastic elk sheds! Won't be long before the little dude will be joining the fun! Thanks for sharing!- looks like some nice country! AzP&Y

Congrats on the Javy Trifecta! I've got the same tag and Mike and I are leaving friday to chase em' as well. You still going back to chase coues? AzP&Y Doug

Nice shot Phil - Sweet archery coues deer! Congrats on your patience with the deer and the landowner! AzP&Y

Great write up and suspense . Outstanding blood trail- that's the way to do it! Congrats! AzP&Y

Public Information Officer I like the use of the word 'marginal'. AzP&Y

Keith, Welcome to the site. Super buck! Thanks for sharing the hunt experience and good pic of that cat! Did you have a chance at the cat (or a tag in your pocket)? AzP&Y Doug