Application help (shielding myself from rocks that will be thrown 😂)

[POk3s]

I’ve decided to tuck my tail and ask for help on trying to narrow down a unit. Many years ago I had posted on here that I was going to do an October hunt in one of those great units so I could cross it off the bucket list. I never did. I took advice from this forum and went bowhunting instead in 2019 (I think). Actually found and stalked some bucks so I considered it a win. Saw nothing big and didn’t like the unit as much as I thought I would.

 

Fast forward to now and I’m sitting on 11 nonresident points going into this years draw. This site seems to have been slowly phasing itself out from where it was 10+ years ago when I started lurking and then joined. Even as of 5 years ago everything has seemingly changed as far as hunts and units and not much knowledge to be gained from folks talking less. You guys are doing a good job at staying pretty quiet  ).
 

Anyway, I was all but set to use my points on “SIX A” late December hunt but the success rates and lowering of tag numbers has me a bit scared. I don’t want to use my points on a unit that is currently in a down cycle. I have an email out to the biologist, but no response yet. I liked it because if it’s proximity to Wyoming. I could be there in a quick 10 hours but I’m not going to sacrifice a crappy hunt for that. Judging by the success rates and the tag numbers being lowered, it just screams that something is going on there…
 

unit “thirty 3” I had pretty much marked off the list as I had seen enough chatter on this site about how overrated it was and how over hunted but looking lately they have lowered the tag numbers a lot the last few years, making it a real viable option in my mind again. It also has much higher success rates. It’s not a set deal I’d draw that late December tag.

 

Beyond that, there is basically the southern units. They all seem like a great deer hunt. Also a long ways from the house. I’ll be hunting solo and although you Arizona guys have grown accustomed to the border ridiculousness, I haven’t. I compare it to me hunting around grizzly bears all the time where you guys wouldn’t be accustom to it. It makes me feel uncomfortable with the situation and I’m not sure it’s a “great idea.”

 

To wrap it all up, I’m looking to chat with one (or ten) coues deer gurus to help me with my choice and my decade+ worth of points. A little bit of chatter with a local or two goes a long way in my confidence in choosing the right area. 
 

Thank you all, and please don’t hit me in the head when you throw your rocks 😂😂 

[thegunsmith2506]

I think 6 a is a good choice. I don't hunt coues there but I spend a lot of time glassing it and see some good bucks. I have a buddy that has killed 3 bucks over 100" in the past 7-8 years. 

[AZBIG10]

Pm sent ur way

[yotebuster]

Despite what the app magazines might say, there’s no “great units” when it comes to coues.  Just different terrain, access and things to contend with.   I would personally use those for a mule deer tag (archery kaibab) and go to MX and hunt em in the rut with a rifle with no other hunters.  You’ll see less deer and less rut with more pressure in December then you saw in Jan during your archery trip.  If you do decide to go, six eh would be as good a bet as any unit.  Maybe look at twenty three as well.  The further you can get from the valley in either one the better.  Big muleys are expensive, MX coues are cheaper.  I’d use the points to go have a crack at a big muley and then go to MX for coues if it was me.  

[POk3s]

  On 12/14/2023 at 7:43 PM, thegunsmith2506 said:

I think 6 a is a good choice. I don't hunt coues there but I spend a lot of time glassing it and see some good bucks. I have a buddy that has killed 3 bucks over 100" in the past 7-8 years. 

I guess that’s what I needed to know. I’d see a a few things thrown out like “there must be a decline in the deer herd for them to be lowering tags this much.” Or “lions must be a real problem with the success rates.” Makes a guy real apprehensive to spend points with chatter like that. 

[POk3s]

  On 12/14/2023 at 8:29 PM, yotebuster said:

Despite what the app magazines might say, there’s no “great units” when it comes to coues.  Just different terrain, access and things to contend with.   I would personally use those for a mule deer tag (archery kaibab) and go to MX and hunt em in the rut with a rifle with no other hunters.  You’ll see less deer and less rut with more pressure in December then you saw in Jan during your archery trip.  If you do decide to go, six eh would be as good a bet as any unit.  Maybe look at twenty three as well.  The further you can get from the valley in either one the better.  Big muleys are expensive, MX coues are cheaper.  I’d use the points to go have a crack at a big muley and then go to MX for coues if it was me.  

Yotebuster, I appreciate the reply but I hunt muleys a whole bunch. Living in Wyoming gives me that opportunity. I’m probably one of the few that would rather burn my points on a coues deer hunt than mule deer 😂 . 
 

I also can’t draw 23 and don’t think I want to chase it. I’m pretty committed to coming this year. Wife doesn’t know that yet so that might change things but that would be it hahaha!

[CatfishKev]

Yeah 23 you are a long way off.  Looks like you are g2g for 6a.  Be warned though, northern units you have a lot less deer to look at overall compared to the southern units.  So if you glass all morning and don't see a coues and are ok with that have at it.  I love to hunt but when I glass animals few and far between it drives me mad.  Even if I know its expected. I'm just impatient.  If that's good with you cool, if you don't embrace the grind I would go with a late tag in a southern unit.  If you don't see deer everyday you are probably doing something wrong. I live in a southern unit and I'm spoiled though. 10 minutes drive and I can glass.. 

[POk3s]

  On 12/14/2023 at 11:12 PM, CatfishKev said:

Yeah 23 you are a long way off.  Looks like you are g2g for 6a.  Be warned though, northern units you have a lot less deer to look at overall compared to the southern units.  So if you glass all morning and don't see a coues and are ok with that have at it.  I love to hunt but when I glass animals few and far between it drives me mad.  Even if I know its expected. I'm just impatient.  If that's good with you cool, if you don't embrace the grind I would go with a late tag in a southern unit.  If you don't see deer everyday you are probably doing something wrong. I live in a southern unit and I'm spoiled though. 10 minutes drive and I can glass.. 

Thanks Kev,

I seem to have gotten that vibe from others as well. It’s not an easy choice. A closer hunt to home where I can easily drive home for Christmas, etc or probably a more enjoyable hunt down south where I’m much more committed and uncomfortable.