First Coues Hunt

[AZWildcat]

I thought I would pass on some pictures of my first coues hunts.

 

The first trip was a solo hunt that was a practice in frustration. I had a buck that I bumped a few times, but he always seemed to have an answer. The short story is that, I was over matched and went home empty handed. As a funny side note, this buck was the first coues I have ever seen alive and our initial encounter for a split second I thought I was looking at a coyote.......but the coyote had horns!! My line of sight had not adjusted from hunting mule deer.

 

 

This is a picture of my first "camp"

 

 

 

My second trip I went out with Kent (KRP). This trip was a backcountry hike that was a test for my body. We hiked approx 2 miles in the afternoon to avoid the worst heat of the day and made camp in a canyon had a good view of the surrounding area. After camp, we started to hike out and Kent went to scan a relatively close ridge and he spotted a coues doe within seconds. I actually thought he was pulling my leg it was that fast. Not seeing any horns we opted to hike to a further canyon and glass a bit. We scanned and glassed for the remainder of the day and thought it would be better to make our way back to camp..........on the way back Kent almost stepped on a pissed off rattlesnake. If he would have been bitten, he surly would have been a goner, because of the remote terrain and the lack of cell service. He was not even phased and we shortly made it back to camp for supper.

 

Little to we know we would have a dinner guest......or two

 

He is a Jerusalem Cricket and I guess they have a painful bite........we did not know much about him at the time.

 

The next morning Kent picked out another deer on the same ridge and we opted to make a long loop to see if we could pick anything else out, but working our way to the area of the deer.

 

This is my first coues shed that I picked up off a ridge..........You cannot tell from the pictures we had a swarm of bugs that followed us around the whole trip, which is why I do not have a smile.

 

After we worked the area we did not run into any bucks, but I had the time of my life in this truly special area.......The hike out was hot and slow for me, but I made it out with some great memories.

 

I would like to point out for those that do not know Kent outside of this forum......not only is he part rattlesnake, I think he is also part mountain goat. Even though he is 15 years my senior he kicked my butt on the trail and is a mountain man throwback. He taught me more in the time we spent together than I have learned in the last four years hunting and he is a great resource for the website.

 

Thanks Kent!!

 

Tony

[Coues Archer]

Nice shed.

[firstcoueswas80]

Man thats a good shed! Too bad you couldnt find the owner!

[AZantlerhead]

That's a dandy Coues shed!!

 

I'm willing to bet you not only found a shed, but also found the core home range of a group of mature bucks. You were probly right on top of umm.

 

Thanks for shareing the hunt and your consolation prize . You found a great honey hole off the beaten path I'm sure. Mark it on the map with a big X and make a circle encompassing a square mile or two.

 

As for the pesky bugs,I have noticed time and again when the bugs follow you, YOU STINK. And we all know scent is the first line of defense when your prey is elluding you, followed closely by sound and sight. I too learned a great deal this archery season. As well put it in stone how seemingly impossible it is to simply Bump or Jump up game and have a shot opp.

 

The method of hikeing in off the beaten path to find the isolated bedroom of mature bucks is highly respected in my book. Well done! I'm also guessing there was a water source(spring,tank etc. where they ALL must go every-single day within a half mile of that shed., and a central bedding area on the ridge you found the shed, and a central stand of oaks where they feed a couple hours a day near that water source, then B-line trails to the bedding grounds with plenty of browse and cover along the way. All DAILY routines for millenia engraved in their instincs and a walk in the park for game that simply needs to survive day in and day out.

 

I'm jealous you had the opp to hunt with kent man, and I'm sure you did learn much from a seasoned vet like himself.