Not sure real sure on how to ......

[Hunterjohnny]

Step 1

Get drawn for a tag, CHECK.

 

Now it get's a little harder. Here is what I am working on and would like any thoughts or guidance you want to throw out. Every so often someone saying something makes all the difference in clearing it up in your mind.

 

I have a Unit 22 tag for next month. I put in for this area for one reason. My folks have had a cabin back down the road since God made the creek. I have been in that area since a kid and never hunted for the Couse that prowl around there. We have found plenty of sheds over the years, and seen some nice deer, but we never really thought about hunting it. Hunting solo, and always enjoying the area has made me go down this path. I have learned so much from this site and the people on here that seem to be “Half Couse” themselves. But the area I want to hunt is really stumping me on the "how".

 

The scene:

A fairly large area of Manzanita, about 8 feet high and half a mile across. Impossible to navigate without making a racket. The deer sign is everywhere and no where in particular. Seems to be no real trails that are used on a regular basis. To me it seems like more of a random wandering to get out. I don’t see any particular area to watch or focus on. Down one side about a quarter mile is the Verde, water is not an issue. The other direction starts climbing up to the rim. Steep canyons with thick cover. The only good thing this direction is another water source. A dry river bed that comes up for a few hundred yards and goes back underground again. This is in a really thick area, but grassy banks along the water. To me it looks "fishy" or cousey I guess. But again I can’t see more than a hundred yards, and many trails but none that stand out.

So if you have an area that has no main trail to watch, glassing is limited to 100 yards at best, and still hunting is risky what would you do? I go over it all and hike around, think I have a good spot to get visibility, but it's not over anything in particular. Water is too abundant to nail down where they come to it. The closer the time comes and the more I look the area over the more I second guess everything I think would be the best. I know there are big deer to be had. I can see why they get big in there. So if there are pointers that you would try and times you would try them just shout them out, maybe I have run them by or they will help to tune this up. I would also accept Manzanita brush beaters for the weekend for an old fashioned push but if you have ever seen Couse in Manzy it is crazy, darting through like bats on crack. Trail cams show deer but a few day intervals on each trail.

I’m not asking for anyone’s honey holes, oops wrong post.

 

OK, Enlighten me.

 

[GameHauler]

I am not a great Coues hunter but may be willing to help if I can.

I HAD the same tag this year but have just donated it to

http://www.outdoorexperienceforall.org/index.html

since I have moved my surgery to Oct 9th.

I planned to hunt in the same way with my TC pistol as if bow hunting.

If you would like shoot me a PM, I could maybe take a look

and give some thought from my observations.

I would forget an Eastern drive scenario right now

If I am allowed to go on my donated tag hunt I will be doing that

but could still go take a look if you would like.

[bobbyo]

If its thick Manzanita, I think Mike is on the right track. You will need to hunt it like a bowhunt. Stand, blind,still hunt, feeder .

Bob

[Hunterjohnny]

I am not a great Coues hunter but may be willing to help if I can.

I HAD the same tag this year but have just donated it to

http://www.outdoorexperienceforall.org/index.html

since I have moved my surgery to Oct 9th.

I planned to hunt in the same way with my TC pistol as if bow hunting.

If you would like shoot me a PM, I could maybe take a look

and give some thought from my observations.

I would forget an Eastern drive scenario right now

If I am allowed to go on my donated tag hunt I will be doing that

but could still go take a look if you would like.

 

I just might take you up on that, and thanks for the offer. I would guess that would be where they would bed down or hole up with any pressure. Is it possible to actually sneak up on them like that? I know you could be silent if you took your time, but only seeing such short distances would be a huge disadvantage correct? Curious what could actually be seen if glassing from the Rim like the elk hunters do. I just know for me it would mean a lot to get one out of here.

 

Would along the water I found be an area they would go to or am I still thinking too elk like?

[joeybari]

try a sait lick with a trail cam. Try to find the trails that the deer are going down to drink water and set up a salt lick try that on as many spots that you can find some deer trafic. i think that your best bet and then set up a good blind

good luck

[jakehaffey]

try a sait lick with a trail cam. Try to find the trails that the deer are going down to drink water and set up a salt lick try that on as many spots that you can find some deer trafic. i think that your best bet and then set up a good blind

good luck

 

I would also throw out some sweet feed. just make one area more attractive to the deer and they should start to use that trail more frequently.

[joeybari]

+1

[Hunterjohnny]

It's funny you should mention the feed. Last year I wanted to start getting some pictures of what was right around Dads cabin. My brother in Texas (thats a country you know) sent me an old feeder he had. The elk loved that thing, the couse would walk around it. Every picture of them was skirting around the corn and not touching it. You would think they have never seen corn before!

 

Thanks for the replies. I might get a Trophy Rock in to focus them on a more specific trail. I hadnt really thought of how to change them. I will be up this weekend to kick around some more. There was a huge storm a few weeks ago that pert near washed the trees away. I'm sure Mike knows about that.