WHT_MTNMAN Report post Posted December 26, 2008 IT IS ABOUT TIME, what a roller coaster ride it has been the last 4 years. It seems that every waking moment has been about trying to kill a Coues buck with my bow. It all started about 4 years ago when I got drawn for a November Coues hunt. I spent all summer looking for deer and when September came around I continued to hunt/scout for the upcoming hunt. One day I bedded a group of bucks and missed a 50 yard shot at the buck I would eventually take that November. Here is a picture The Story Dental School Buck Story I knew from that experience that is was going to be possible for me to shoot a Coues deer spot and stalk with my bow, little did I know how many stalks and shots later it would take for that dream to become reality. Over the course of the next few years I found many good bucks, had many blown stalks and a few missed shots at huge bucks and small bucks and everything in between. Season after season I would prepare better, learn more and get closer and closer. One year I bought a new bow after the January hunt, I knew that the next summer would be my time to stick a Coues. I practiced more and more shooting for an hour everyday almost for 5 months straight. That is the year I got drawn for Elk, so my September Coues was put on the back burner. Here is my consolation prize for that year The next year I hunted and hunted, I became so “depressed” over the difficulty of sticking a Coues with a bow and had to take a few hunts off to go hunt Carp. I ended up spending almost the complete last winter and this fall chasing mulies, missing two170+ inch bucks and finally killing a small buck in Utah in August this year. I had needed a break from Coues. All fall I kept getting ready for December/January hunt. I spent time looking at places to put a tree stand, salt…etc… and started thinking about alternative ways of killing a Coues buck other than spot and stalk. I just never got excited about sitting in a stand even though I know that it is the most dependable and effective way to regularly kill Coues. Well this December season started as it did every year with high hopes. I knew my archery skills were good since I shoot year around and was shooting very good this last two months. I spent a few days opening weekend looking for a big mulie I videoed last year and blew stalks on. I spent one afternoon glassing for Coues and I felt the old desire light up. I had been planning on hunting almost exclusively for mule deer in December and then would switch to Coues in January. I had a few days off and decided to make a quick trip on Christmas Eve. At first light I was sitting in a good glassing spot and spend an hour without finding a deer, I made a quick hike to another spot bumping a pretty good buck chasing does, I soon found a 3 bucks below me about ¾ of a mile and watched them bed among some rocks in an area almost impossible to approach. I debated whether or not even to attempt the stalk. With it being Christmas Eve my family getting ready to meet me at home for our Christmas celebrations I gave myself a 20% chance of getting close, it was thick and I figured my chances were slim. After a few minutes of debating I decided to make an effort. After getting within a few hundred yards and not being able to pick them up in the little depression I decided to make a relatively quick stalk and not spend the hours I usually do getting close. With the wind in my favor I quickly crossed to the last 60 yards, about that time I heard a gun shot that sounded like it hit on the opposite side of the depression that the deer were in. I quickly kneeled down waiting for those deer to come barreling out at me. Nothing happened, another shot, again nothing. One more shot, nothing. I quickly moved another 30 yards toward the deer and caught sight of a small buck exiting left, a little 2x3 exiting right and my buck sneaking out the back. I quickly estimated his range at 40 yards found my pin as he was quartering away put it on his off shoulder and released, I heard the distinct sound of a hit. When I finally started breathing again I quickly said my thanks and ranged the spot at 35 yards. At this point I was worried that I had shot high. I moved over to my arrow which was covered in good blood and hair. I waited 30 minutes went back up retrieved my backpack and started slowly looking for blood. A short but terrifying 40 yards later with no blood found my buck was down and dead. I entered a little high just behind the last rib and exited just behind off shoulder complete pass through with lungs and liver taken out. I moved him to a little better area for pictures and tried to get a few with my self-timer. Sorry for the long winded story, I’m still pretty excited that it happened how I envisioned it, my next quest is too shoot one when he is still in his bed, then I know I have succeeded as a bow hunter. A huge thanks to my wife, I love you. Merry Christmas Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paul navarre Report post Posted December 26, 2008 Merry Christmas INDEED! Thanks for sharing your story and congrats on a fine buck. I hope for the same after a 1000 mile trip in January from Colorado. Paul Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffcros Report post Posted December 26, 2008 Nice job, putting a arrow in one spot and stalk is no easy task. I missed three in Aug. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azcouesandelk Report post Posted December 26, 2008 Way to go Houston! Now get out there in January and get yourself another. Hope you and your family had a great christmas! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted December 26, 2008 Excellent! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BML Report post Posted December 26, 2008 Sweet!! Congrats on finally getting it done! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted December 26, 2008 Way to go! That is a fine buck! Did you ever figure out where the shooting was coming from? -Tracy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ernesto C Report post Posted December 26, 2008 Awesome, awesome!! and you are correct, thanks to your wife. Congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GRONG Report post Posted December 26, 2008 HOUSTON!!! That is awesome man!!! Congrats Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZP&Y Report post Posted December 26, 2008 Super Deer- Spot and Stalk is the time when preperation meets opportunity! Congrats! Nice job and enjoyed the story and self timer pics.. AzP&Y Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Basser15 Report post Posted December 26, 2008 Congrats again buddy, I've know how hard you've worked at this and how much it means for you to get it done! You can also tell how excited you are do to the fact that you are actually smiling in a picture next to one of you own animals Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azyota Report post Posted December 26, 2008 HUGE CONGRATS!!! Great story, I really enjoyed it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Jonathan Report post Posted December 26, 2008 You are a stud! That story got my adrenaline pumping bad! I can't wait for January 1st! Way to go, that only inspires me all the more to get after these deer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyhawkbowhunter Report post Posted December 26, 2008 Great first buck with a bow Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted December 26, 2008 Congratulation on a fine trophy. It seems that Santa came yearly for you this year. Great story as well. TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
