The Lucky Bean

[Red Rabbit]

"Pick a bean," Sun Devil said as he his out his open hand with three colored beans in his palm. These were good luck hunting beans, I was told. So a bean with an orange hue was chosen and placed in the pocket of the hunting pants to bring fortune on my November Coues hunt in Unit 36.

 

The day before the opener saw firewood gathered by Sun Devil and Scout'm. Sun Devil unloaded the mesquite from a perfectly good fire grate atop the Jeep.

 

 

The opening morning dawned with a red glow low in the horizon. An hour hike with the guiding light of the Petzl had placed Rica, my German Wirehaired Pointer, and myself on a ridge to survey the oak studded north face opposite the creek, and the ocotillo covered south slope to our north.

 

 

As the morning grew older, three does and their fawns were spotted on the north slope to the south, and one set of doe and fawn on an ocotillo ridge to the north. No bucks though. So Rica and I moved to under an oak for shade which would allow a better vantage of the ocotillo ridges for the evening. In the move, Rica became excited as a covey of Gambels called and flushed from the creek bottom. This was the only wildlife to be seen for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

 

That night, the mesquite wood campfire warmed the spirits of those circling its flames. Campfire flames are mesmerizing and entrancing, although the smoke tended to follow this "campfire nazi"

SunDevil relaxes in the fire's radiance one evening.

Plans were laid for the next morning as two of our group had seen no deer that first morning. Sun Devil, Scout’m, JC and Dan would head to a canyon to the north of camp, and I would journey another mile further up mine to a hill offering different vistas.

 

The second dawn of the hunt broke with the glow on the western peaks.

The hike in was an hour and a half up the drainage. It was made easier by the presence of a horse trail, but the final ascent up a hill was busting through cat-claw. As one gets older and passes the mid-century mark, the geology becomes active with seemingly steeper and taller peaks, even though it has been climbed several times before in younger, fitter years.

 

The glow lightened and sunlight infiltrated the draws below as the minutes crept by. That day, about ten does were spotted to the west south and east, along with two non-shooter bucks, one two point and a white horned 3x2.

 

 

As the hunting day ended, plans were mentally laid to return to the same hilltop the next day. Thus the rifle, binoculars, tripod, camera, laser, and extra water were stashed under a tree atop the hill in order to lighten the pack load for the hike out and back in.

 

The third day broke with a few clouds to liven the sunrise. But the clouds were also a harbinger for an upcoming change in the weather.

 

 

Thirteen does and eleven fawns were spotted that morning. Most were on the east-facing slopes being more protected from the ever increasing winds. Most were heading downhill. The winds increased quickly in the morning such that the howling of the winds rushing over surrounding peaks literally sounded like the roar of the military jets in the area, but this was Sunday and not a normal training day. None the less, any day with a good dog is a fine day indeed.

 

As sunset neared, low gray clouds were forming above the peaks. They did not appear thick, and I wondered if the setting sun would get underneath to create a spectacular glow. It appeared not, so I harnessed the laden pack and headed down the finger to the creek bottom below. Barely one hundred yards down the slope, I felt the first drops of rain on the back of my head. Glancing back to the west, the tallest peak was covered on a gray shroud that was slowly descending and darkening. The weather report a few days ago had said sunny for the next 10 days- hah.

 

By the time Rica and I reached the bottom of the steep, cat claw covered slope, the rain was continuous and increasing. Soon I felt "hard" rain striking the top of my head and noticed tiny hail stones on the trail reflecting the beam of the Petzl. Lightning increased around us, as we were enveloped in the strengthening hail and ran storm. Onward were trudged down the canyon, knowing that we would be soaked by the time we made it back to the truck. At times, Rica veered off the trail to seek refuge under a bush to avoid the rain and hail, but a tug on the leash brought her back to the lead on the trail. Even a wet possum with its pointy nose and rat-like tail was seen scurrying across the trail. Hail accumulated up to a couple of inches thick along the trail where the run-off deposited it. The trail was now a tiny rivulet of runoff a few inches deep and it provided the direction and presence of a trail, as visibility at night was mere feet through the heavy rain.

 

After ninety minutes of hiking in the rain, and dark, with the frequent lightning to flash illuminate the trail and trees, we reached the truck just as the storm cloud passed. Rica shook the last of the hail stones off her back-side, I shed the drenched shirts and donned a dry jacket, and cranked the truck's heater on high for the short drive back.

 

Upon return to camp, the gusty winds had evidently moved the lighter objects, including the kitchen awning, further east into the desert. Scout'm and JC had the wayward camp items returned to their respective locations and awning restaked with guy lines by the time I returned looking like a drowned rabbit.

 

The final morning saw us head to different locals. By the time the alarm clocks woke us from slumber, the night sky had calmed and was laden with stars. With the winds calm, I figured the deer would be moving the morning after the storm and preceding day of high winds, which had likely kept them bedded. The deer were indeed up and about, but only one two point buck was seen before 11 AM.

 

Over a dozen Peccaries fed on the slope 400 yards away.

 

Two groups, each a doe with two fawns, browsed further down the same slope.

 

 

It was somewhat disappointing to see so few bucks in relationship to the number of does seen. Almost all of the does had one or two fawns, so the bucks must be there, or the few are run ragged in January tending all the does. This was not a new area to me, as I have hunted there several times in the past with some good results.

 

Looking back down the canyon from where we started each morning.

 

With the active geology of the mountains becoming steeper and taller every year, nature did provide me with a walking stick. I only slipped and fell once.

 

With only the few bucks spotted during the hunt, the hike out was begun to begin the trip back to Flagstaff. Part ways down the hill, Rica pointed a covey of Mearns quail, which then flushed showing many female birds. She had spotted her game, but no shotgun was at hand.

 

The lucky hunting bean will have to show its worth on another hunt.

 

Doug~RR

[CouesWhitetail]

Great story and photos Doug!! Thanks so much.

 

By the way, that lucky bean is a coral bean and it's poisonous!!

 

Sorry you didn't get your buck, but looks like you had some fine company and beautiful area to hunt.

 

Amanda

[willhunt4coues]

That was a great write up doug. Sorry to here no deer. Thanks for sharing the great pics and story.

[skyhawkbowhunter]

Great story

To bad you didnt get one

[cramerhunts]

Great write up and pictures as always Doug! Thanks for taking the time to share it with us.....it almost helps not being there!

 

Phil

[AllBoutHuntn]

That was a great write up and pics, to bad no shooter bucks were seen. Better luck next time.

[Snapshot]

Great story and awesome pics Doug. Sorry you didn't tag out, but sounds like fun and good memories!

[Chef]

Great pics as always RR!

Looks like you and the boys (and Rica!) had a good time.

Must have been interesting to get hailed on in the dark.

 

Good thing you didn't eat that bean!

[Arizona Griz]

Great story and pictures.

 

Looked like your hunt was a success to me.

[azcouesandelk]

Great pictures and story as usual Doug! Wish we could have met up sometime during the hunt but it was always late nights for us.

[bchoitz]

Now that's huntin'!

 

Great story intermixed with appropriate pictures.

You have truly captured a good hunt. Sorry the deer didn't cooperate with a "shooter".

 

Good friends and time well spent. sound like a lucky bean indeed.

 

Bret

 

 

[ultramag]

I enjoyed your post thanks for the write up.

[COOSEFAN]

Great story and awesome pic's as usual Doug, sounds like a great time in awesome country! JIM>

[rugerman]

RR,

Great pics of some beautiful country!

 

 

[coueshunter]

Doug, great story...............Thanks for all the great pictures, but quit telling people about the lucky beans...........LOL........I have a few and gave one to my son Travis for his pack. I picked them in Mexico...............AT.........