ScottAdams Report post Posted October 31, 2009 I first started hunting Coues deer in 1990 and was really gung ho throughout most of the 90’s. So much so that I even guided hunters to bucks of 118 and 123. However most of you may be surprised to learn that I personally had never taken a deer over 100 inches let alone something of Boone and Crockett caliber. That all changed this year when I was finally able to close the deal on a World Class Coues deer. I believe I first saw this buck last year on the October hunt when I missed a shot at a very large Coues buck down the ridge from where I was glassing. Amanda was around the corner glassing a different area and had the only range finder. Afraid the buck was going into the brush, I guessed at the yardage and missed at least 3 shots, actually it was more. Turns out it was 550 yards out. I never saw the buck the rest of the hunt and didn't get a good enough look at him to realize just how big he was. However, my pursuit of this particular buck didn’t begin in earnest until December of last year when I took a friend to this area who had the December hunt. We got into some rutting Coues and my friend killed what I thought was the biggest buck in the group, and only after the buck was down and dead did “The” buck step out. Man what a giant he was. All we could do was watch in awe and wonder as this amazingly large and awesome Coues buck wandered out and peered at his deceased friend for a good 30 minutes. I took a few photos through the binoculars. Around May of the this year I purchased some Covert II trail cameras from Amanda and set one up in the area where the big buck lived. It didn’t take long for me to get that big rascal on camera and man what a beast. This picture was from Aug 8. These are pictures from Aug 13. These are pictures from Aug 15. Finally these pictures are from Sept 8. By the time I saw the photos from Sept 9, I was totally pumped about hunting this buck. The day before the hunt Amanda, Trent and I backpacked into the area the big buck called home. Here I'm wondering if the Lord will bless me with this big Coues buck. Early opening day found all 3 of us glassing different canyons along with my son James and his friend Joey who hiked in early that morning, glassing yet a another canyon. But it was Amanda who found him feeding on a slope in a bachelor herd of bucks all of which he dwarfed by a large margin. The big buck broke off from the other bucks very early and dropped into some trees where he ended up bedding. I worked into a position under an oak tree about 200 yards from the group of trees he was in and settled in to wait. Wait I did, about 5 hours of it. Suddenly without warning the sound of a deer blowing pierced the silence and the game was on. I think the wind may have swirled over to where the big buck and a doe were bedded. They blew out of the trees and started running up the ridge and directly into the sun. Even with a sunshade on my scope I still couldn’t see to shoot. The buck ran way up the hill and into a thicket where he bedded. Amanda could see the buck and I knew Trent had seen the buck because I heard him say “Good God!!!” over the radio when he finally got his first good look at him. I couldn’t see the buck from my current location. I moved from my location to the next ridge over but still couldn’t make out the buck with my 10’s, of course it didn’t help that I was so buck fevered up that my hands were shaking like a hardware store paint mixer. I set up my 30’s but only located the buck after he stood up and started feeding some. I hit him with the rangefinder and it read 410 yards. I chambered the 6.5 wsm and cranked the scope up to 20. Holding the crosshairs at the top of his back, I touched her off and heard Amanda say I hit to the right. The buck didn’t go far and this time I was much steadier. I touched her off again and heard the smack of the bullet as it hit Pure D Boone and Crockett Coues flesh. I heard Trent say he was hit hard. The buck staggered and rolled. I had hit him a bit far back but he expired in less than 2 minutes. The buck actually broke a tip off one of his antlers but thank goodness I was able to find it. It was a grand celebration on the mountain that day let me tell you. Everyone got to see the kill from their different positions since after we bedded the buck everyone moved in for a front row seat. We took all the photos and relived the hunt and Joey and James gladly packed the buck out for me. It was certainly worth the nearly 20 year wait for. Maybe the next one won’t take quite as long. Again thanks Amanda, Trent, Joey and James for your help. I couldn’t have done it without you. It was indeed a great day to be alive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted October 31, 2009 Awesome Scott!! Glad I could be part of the dream-come-true!!! Nice I could be there the first time you saw that buck and the last time a year later It has been great watching his antlers grown on trail cam this summer. I know you worked hard on all those hikes in there to check the cam and get that buck (not to mention packing in 4 gallons of water for us for our backpack camp)! Congratulations on making an excellent shot under some tough conditions! And nice that you were able to take that buck with the lightweight rifle that Trent built for you! What beautiful country and it was a real pleasure to help such a great guy get an amazing buck like that. Thanks for sharing the adventure!! Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Young Report post Posted October 31, 2009 That my friend is one sweet story. Congrats to you on a buck of a LIFETIME Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2 Full Curls Report post Posted October 31, 2009 Scott thats an amazing deer and a great story! Thanks so much for posting all the pictures. I can only imagine what he scores?? The number I came up gave me chills:) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cramerhunts Report post Posted October 31, 2009 Wonderful story of a wonderful buck! I am so happy that you ended up getting that bruiser. I've enjoyed the ride you've had with that buck and the great pictures and stories you've shared with us. Congratulations on a ture monster coues, you earned him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ernesto C Report post Posted October 31, 2009 Awesome Scott! Congratulations on a superb buck. Thank you for the pictures and that unique and special way you got to tell your hunting stories....you the man! Hey.........you need to come and hunt Mexico with us Ernesto C Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted October 31, 2009 Congrats on a beautiful coues of a lifetime. Your hard work paid off! Thanks for the great story and pics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Packer Report post Posted October 31, 2009 Congratulations on a great looking buck. He will make a fine additon to your home. Aaron Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SunDevil Report post Posted October 31, 2009 shoulda let him live another year! psych! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mangum Report post Posted October 31, 2009 I'm speachless. What a hunt. Memories memories and more memories and a nice mount too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted October 31, 2009 Great story! Sounds like a well deserved buck. Congrats! -Tracy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted October 31, 2009 That is just awesomw Scott. I can see you really put in alot of time with this one and your hard work paid off. Great story and a buck of a lifetime for sure. Congratulations! TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loco4coues Report post Posted October 31, 2009 Aweome Buck! Awesome story! Awesome pics! Just Awesome!! So what does he score exactly?........Just kidding Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakehaffey Report post Posted October 31, 2009 Thats a great story and some great pics to help tell it! Got me pumped! Congrats on a monster!!! Thanks for the post! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TAM Report post Posted October 31, 2009 Way to go Scott!!! Couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy... Congratulations Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
