My 2009 Buck

[Dodger2]

This isn't my first or biggest coues, but it is probably the one I'm most proud of. I took this buck in the same mountains that my grandfathers and my dad hunted and the mountains that my dad first took me hunting when I was old enough to handle the hills. I have hunted in these mountains for close to 15 years without even seeing a buck so the last two seasons it has become sort of a mission for me to take a buck in these mountains. This was also the first year I was able to take my son.

 

His first morning, Saturday, entertaining himself while dad is glassing. He is the fourth generation to be "hunting" in the these mountains.

We were able to locate several does the first day, but nothing with horns. I knew they were there since I had seen them during one my several scouting trips. Later that morning my brother came down since he also had tag.

 

On Sunday morning we located a decent buck, but unfortunately that plan didn't work out after having to call AZGFD to report a violation that my brother and I witnessed. We then moved to a second area that looked promising and continued the search. Sunday afternoon I had to take my son home so he could get back to school on Monday. He was crushed and I felt bad, but hopefully its a sign of things to come and I will have a hunting partner for life.

 

I wasn't able to get back out until Monday afternoon and we returned to our "new" spot. That evening we glassed up close to 20 deer including 3 bucks. We lost the light, but the plan was to change our position slightly the next morning to see if we could find them again.

 

Tuesday morning found my brother and I high up on a rocky point above two different drainages.

Around 8:00 my brother picks up a buck in the bottom of one the draws. It appeared to be one of the 3 we located the night before. We decide he is shooter since its the second to last day and because of the family tradition of the mountains. The buck bedded down in some thick brush and the wait started. My brother stayed on the glasses while I went back and forth from my shooting position and my glasses.

 

My brother glassing.

 

The hillside. The buck is bedded at the top of the left side of the binoculars.

 

The buck finally started to get up and I got into shooting position on top of the most comfortable rock I could find.

 

When the buck stepped clear of the brush I checked to make sure my brother was on him and then pulled the trigger. Because of the recoil I lost the buck, but I heard my brother say I hit him hard. By the time I find him again he is down. When he went down he rolled and broke one of his tines.

He isn't by best coues buck, but because of the family tradition of these mountains and sharing the experience with my brother he is my "best" coues buck to date.

[Apatkelley]

Way to get it done, that's what it's all about. Congrats!!

[CouesWhitetail]

That's a GREAT story and a fine buck. How wonderful it must be to have four generations of hunters hitting those mtns. A great way to cap off your hunt. Congratulations and thanks for the story and pics!

 

Amanda

 

[joeybari]

Awesome story great buck.

+1 on the family traditions

[shortpants]

What an awesome experience!!! CONGRATS on a beautiful trophy!

[coueshunter]

What a way to complete your family tradition. Maybe next year your son has a tag............congrats..........Allen.........

[Dodger2]

Thanks for the replies. My brother and I both agree that this was one of our most memorable hunts.

 

Coueshunter,

My son is 7 so we have couple of years before he gets a tag, but he is already talking about next year and how much fun this year was. I'm looking forward to when we are trying to find his buck.