2X2 or 90 incher

[John O]

I have been thinking about this question, after taking up archery last year. Just thought it might be some good discussion during the "slow"season here on CWT.

 

 

[RoughCut]

For me it wouldn't matter the size. The experience I think for most of us define a trophy. The harder I had to work it the more I would appreciate that particular deer. Personally I think I wouldn't go after a small two point with a bow. I try to steer towards more mature bucks. That small two point may be a beast some day, whereas an older buck will be a lot closer to their potential.

 

Just my thoughts, but honestly I've gotta hand it to anybody who has Spot and Stalked a Coues Deer

[youngbuck]

My rule is that if i have a rifle tag I wont shoot a buck with my bow in august unless it has eye guards. Not always a concrete rule cuz sometimes I get the itch and have chased around spikes/unicorns with a rifle tag waiting at home. I guess i'm always looking for the "perfect" archery shot if i have a rifle tag.

[daryl_s]

Any coues whitetail with a bow is a special accomplishment, one that I have not achieved. My hat's off to anyone who can get it done with stick and string. I need to get some modern bowhunting equipment and get back in the bowhunting game.

[GameHauler]

Have you harvested a Coues Buck?

If it is your first one than take that forkie.

As stated, any Coues with a bow is an accomplishment.

If it would be your first archery Buck and do not have a rifle tag

GO FOR IT.

If you have a rifle tag I would not settle for less than you would w/ a rifle.

I also have a little rule I set for myself:

If he is not just a Pig, I would much rather have a nice typical in velvet

than a non-typical in velvet.

My $.02

[gauchoand]

I love the archery stalk. I have pretty much gotten away from rifle. I have never harvested a big game with the bow but I love getting in on them and that has happened too many times. I always have seemed to blow it some way or another. But i plan on keeping at it.

 

 

[TREESTANDMAN]

I harvested my first rifle coues buck last year 91" in NM. I've been on quite a few rifle hunts and struck out. I've taken 7 coues bucks with my bow and 1 with a rifle so I'll say the 90" with a rifle. Either way the experience and adrenaline is the same. I do enjoy the comradarie and companionship on my rifle hunts where as my archery hunts are almost always solo.

 

I think arrowing a small buck is easier to kill than a 90"+ rifle kill personally. Although I've never killed a buck with a bow via spot and stalk.

[coueshunter]

I have been tagless for the last six years so I took up archery last year. It was a no brainer to shoot the 2x3 I did last year ( being my first coues with a bow). I hope I draw a tag this year for rifle, but with or without a rifle tag this year, my goal is to kill a 90" plus with my bow. If I draw a tag, then I will pass all bow season unless its a big buck..........Longwinded answer......Allen.......

[Coues 'n' Sheep]

I voted 90"er w/rifle....

 

This is why....

 

As a first time coues hunter I would have cut off my left arm to get a whack at either one! ....Coincidently my first ever coues was a Forky w/ a bow and my second was a 90"er with my rifle... However, now with many archery coues under my belt I would not dream of shooting a forky with any weapon (unless I HAD to have meat)... I'd rather let them grow a bit.

 

Both of the critters you listed in this poll are Trophies, IMO.... but down the road, we all evolve and grow and so do our expectations. I want those lil' guys to be my next No Brainer..... so I pass, but once upon a time that Forky was my No Brainer! So, what I am saying is don't let my vote sway your thoughts.... your pole is subjective... Yes, by all means shoot the First Forky that walks by, Get Bloody!! The only way to know that you won't choke or blow it on the Buck of a Lifetime is to have succeeded on a few smaller ones first!

 

Best of luck! ...and Good Hunting!!

[John O]

So I guess I could chime in here. My first coues was a 90 incher with a rifle, my second was a small 2 pointer with a rifle, and my third was a spike with a bow (spot and stalk). I was fortunate to accomplish this my first 3 years deer hunting. I can say whatever here, but think in reality it would be hard to pass on anything with antlers with a bow. Maybe as I hunt more years, I will change my mind. With a rifle, I would like to think I would hold out for a 70-90 inch buck, but once again, when a lesser opportunity presents itself we will see. I have a hard time going home with nothing but tag soup. I will have to say that there are few things I have found as exciting as a successful archery spot and stalk on a whitetail buck.

[TAM]

There are sure a lot of variables in this senario. I would rather take a 90 incher with a rifle, but with that said, I've also never killed a coues deer with a bow either. Some day I'd like to kill one with a bow just to say I've done it. I wouldn't kill a small one with a bow if I knew a big one was in the area, and I sure wouldn't kill a small one with a bow if I also had a rifle tag for that same year. Kind of a trophy hunter I guess.

[willhunt4coues]

Since I have never killed a deer with my bow I would go for a fork horn but I would rather hold out for a more mature buck than just a fork. But you have to wait untill you are in the situation and see what the outcome is. just my thoughts.

[Shawn]

I dont know of anything more exciting than a couse spot and stock bow kill (or elk hunting the rut). It sure is hard to turn down anything with a bow but I would have to agree, I want eye gaurds. I think when you get get one with a bow or a 90"er with a rifel your goals will change from year to year. For me it would have to be the 90"er with the rifel because I have not got a 90"er with a rifle. But if a 2X2 with eye gaurds gave me a good shot opening day in augest it sure would be hard not to let an arrow fly.