Thinking of applying for coues. Deadline approaching. HELP!

[308Nut]

I am thinking of applying for a coues hunt in AZ. I need a bit of help with unit choice. Not lookin for monsters, just a nice buck. How many points does a guy need for a decent tag?

 

Thanks for any help!

[RoughCut]

You looking to hunt near home? Do you like high country/ low country? How many points? Are you REALLY wanting to draw a tag this year or are you okay risking tough odds and possibly sitting this year out?

[308Nut]

Dont care what part of the state. I dont have a preference between high and low country. Back country is also OK. I am in good shape and willing to work hard.

I have 8 points and am willing to suffer with tough odds.

 

Thanks!

[krp]

With 8 points you should be able to get a dec hunt, don't put in for oct or nov. I'll check the odds on some units and post them.

 

Kent

[RoughCut]

Dont care what part of the state. I dont have a preference between high and low country. Back country is also OK. I am in good shape and willing to work hard.

I have 8 points and am willing to suffer with tough odds.

 

Thanks!

 

8 points is impressive, You will be guaranteed a Dec. tag in any unit you choose if demand falls similar to last year. Having said that you can go anywhere you choose. Anybody will tell you that you can find a book buck in virtually any unit in the state that hold Coues deer. 31,32,33 have produced incredible numbers of book bucks and are all good. I wil PM you what I think you should do. I would also say that just because you have a Dec. tag doesn't mean you will have massive bucks blazing every which way.

[308Nut]

Dont care what part of the state. I dont have a preference between high and low country. Back country is also OK. I am in good shape and willing to work hard.

I have 8 points and am willing to suffer with tough odds.

 

Thanks!

 

I would also say that just because you have a Dec. tag doesn't mean you will have massive bucks blazing every which way.

 

Oh I got that! I have bowhunted them in the past. I realize they are not around every corner. Just looking for a good time with a chance to see a monster or two and maybe bag a decent buck. Decent being 100".

 

Thanks again.

 

[krp]

Yep, any dec tag should be yours. I know what unit I would take but that's a big responceability to choose for someone else. Good luck, you will have a chance at a big buck. If you happen to pick a unit I know, I'll give you what advice I can.

 

Kent

[308Nut]

What do you think of 6A, 21, 22, 23?

[COUESAZ]

I have an idea for you. Put in for the strip mule deer tag. Do not use those bonus points on a small coues deer. Just my two cents worth.

[krp]

I like those units because it's easy for me to scout them, depending on where you live that may be a consideration. I start scouting in Aug, it pays off. No knowing this early which unit will have the biggest buck in it though.

 

Kent

[audsley]

With 8 BPs, I'd put in for 12A West, 13A or 13B as a first choice, then a Dec. Coues hunt for 2nd choice. Whatever you do, don't blow your bonus points by putting 3rd, 4th and 5th choices that aren't very hard to draw. You can go on one of those hunts the year after you use your bonus points to get a premium hunt.

 

As someone said, a December Coues tag isn't necessarily a sure thing. If we have unseasonably hot weather when you happen to be hunting, the deer will do what they always do when it's hot - go in under their cover and zip it up behind them. I had a Dec. hunt like that back in '99. Passed up modest 3x3s in the first few days and later on had a hard time finding any deer at all. This isn't real likely, but it can happen.

[Red Rabbit]

With 8 BPs, I'd put in for 12A West, 13A or 13B as a first choice, then a Dec. Coues hunt for 2nd choice. Whatever you do, don't blow your bonus points by putting 3rd, 4th and 5th choices that aren't very hard to draw. You can go on one of those hunts the year after you use your bonus points to get a premium hunt.

 

308nut,

I do see a possible scenario here that you would not fall in the 20% pass for the first choice of late 12 or 13 (top BP will be 12), but would with a Dec WT as 2nd choice. Hence you would draw the Dec WT in the 20% pass and never really be considered for your first choice.

 

Agreed, do not choose a Oct or Nov WT as choice #3-5 as some of these hunts in the border units will likely be available as leftovers. You do not lose your BP if drawing a leftover.

 

[Red Rabbit]

resident or nonresident?

 

For some Dec WT, the NR 10% cap was met in the 20% pass.

 

You can look at the various 2008 hunts here and see where you likely stand.

http://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/pdfs/2008Bo...port1-2Pass.pdf

[308Nut]

I have an idea for you. Put in for the strip mule deer tag. Do not use those bonus points on a small coues deer. Just my two cents worth.

 

How do you think I have so many points?

 

Thanks but no thanks!

 

As a NR, I have come to realize that since I do not have max deer points I will NEVER draw the hunt I really want. Hence my move to coues.

 

[Red Rabbit]

With 8 BP, you would have a great chance of drawing the 12W October early hunt. Granted, it is not the late hunt or 13B, but the bucks are there somewhere. Some good bucks are taken with hard work, but most killed are smaller. There is a thread on Monster Muleys in the Arizona forum about this hunt.

 

Jim/Coosefan took a nice buck last year on the early hunt with hard work and scouting.

http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/in...c=11348&hl=

 

But those Dec Coues hunts are nice. Good luck!

 

RR