cmc Report post Posted November 12, 2003 Nothing to write home about but I got suckered into taking a 2X2. I was hoping my brother would have shot it so he could of tagged his first coues but to no avail he sat down behind an octillio farm it seemed and when the deer produced a clean shot there he was blocked as all get out. Even after 9 years hunting them I got buck fever and shot him. It was more of a... ok this shot is a challenge can I get him. To my surprise Yes I can. 250+ straight down hill with about a 10 inch window for the shot. I still think someone else hit that deer. Oh well meat in the freezer and we only saw two more bucks all weekend. My brother missed a nice 3X3 (+) that afternoon from when I got mine. Again everything going against him on the shot. Sun in his face. tall brush to shoot over with the deer walking in the shade with a few does and a smaller buck. I kept him on him but that sun made it so bad he could barely make out the deer let alone find a decent shot. Horrible hunting conditions as usual. Full moon, hot days, and a wind that changed every 5 min. it seemed. But it beats a great day at work any day. Looking at getting him out again this weekend. cheers, cmc Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CHD Report post Posted November 12, 2003 (edited) Hey CMC, Thanks for sharing your story. Congrats on a neat buck. Sounds like you had a geat hunt with your brother. I'm glad you enjoyed it, and you should be too. Most folks in the world NEVER get an opportunity like you just had! I see a couple phrases in your message ("I got suckered into..." and "Oh well, meat in the freezer...") that bring back memories of issues that I struggled with and came to terms with over a decade ago. My philosophy now is to not be sorry and regretful about harvesting any animal. The only thing that really matters is WHAT I THINK. I will not make excuses for any animal that I harvest. Hunting is about being thrilled with my animal. To harvest one and then be unhappy or defensive about it kind of defeats the purpose of what I am in this for. Good luck in your future hunting. Chris Darnell Edited January 1, 1970 by CHD Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cmc Report post Posted November 13, 2003 CHD, It's more of the fact I really really wanted my brother to get one this year. I would have traded him my deer and me going home empty handed this year any day. He only gets the first weekend off so his hunt is over. I could have went all week but that?s life. I've got a full report on things on another board... CMC 2003 Post. Also I've compiled some photos from this years hunt and scouting for what I call coues country... Coues Country (a note the blue string and white stuff on the ground is from a drug drop site we found while hunting. Border Patrol was out in force with a chopper and trucks in search of two 'mules' with cocaine in the area. The white stuff is old burlap bags with twine tied up like backpacks.) cheers, cmc Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CHD Report post Posted November 14, 2003 Hey CMC, Took a look at your great pics of some fantastic country. Thanks! Although I had a tag for 32 November this year, I chose not to use it. I just wasn't in the mood for a long drive just to fight the crowds this year. I live in western Colorado. Let me ask you (and others) a question. I have heard from a couple of people that it is not safe to camp out when hunting the units along the border such as 35 and 36. I talked to one hunter who had a constant stream of illegals walking past his tent all night long on some nights. Although they did him no harm, it was very uncomfortable because he was alone. Another guy told me a story about a couple guys that had the crap beat out of them and their truck stolen by a group of illegals. I have heard that the drug trade there is equally dangerous. Are these kind of incidents commonplace down there? Is it really dangerous to camp there for a lone guy such as me? I would sure like to apply for those units next year. Chris Darnell Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowhntr Report post Posted November 14, 2003 Chris, I've hunted all of the 36 units and have yet to have a conflict with borders crossers. I've watched them climb those mountains like sheep. The majority of the time they continued on their way tring to avoid us. The times they have come close to my camp all they wanted was more water.With hunting close to this 7 wire fence it's kinda hard not to run into them. All I can say to you is be familiar of the area you are hunting. If you're that worried about the traffic I've heard that if you tell an border patrol agent where you are going to be camped he or she will stop by from time to time.Good luck on future hunts. bowhntr Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cmc Report post Posted November 14, 2003 I've seen my fair share of illegals running the gauntlet in the desert. Granted it's not about coues but here's a post from a guy I know about a quail hunting trip he just had the other day. a dopey quail hunt!!!! Agree with bowhntr in that mostly any of the field officers, G&F, BLM or Border Patrol will check in on you if you ask. It's getting worse by the year though and I sure wish the other states would recognize this is a National problem not just a border state problem. I won't get into it any further as that's all political (and this isn't the place) but if you ever go camping/hunting it's probably best to camp in areas with other campers. The more remote you get the more worried you should be. Some times it's nice to not 'get away from everyone' when camping these days. Oh my father in law and crew hunted up in 32. Wasn't as good in past years. cheers cmc Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
More D Report post Posted November 14, 2003 CHD Not to say that stuff never happened, it probably did just not to the extent you mentioned. The STORY gets very...........interesting by the the time it gets all the way to Colorado. There are illigals and drug "trade" persons In southern AZ. We were amazed at the route some were taking to aviod ANYBODY, hunters , law inforcement, etc. One thing is very true is that Border Patrol are very goog group of guys in general. Just let them know where you are camped and they will keep an eye out. We personally invite them over for coffee for just that reason but mostly because these guy work EVERY DAY were we go to hunt! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peckl1 Report post Posted November 14, 2003 Chris, I have hunted 36a for along time. I have seen a very big increase in smuggling traffic. Just yesterday I went out there to hunt quail and helped the border patrol locate a truck load of aliens. I am out there alone most of the time. Camp alone all the time. I have never been bothered. I do keep a loaded shotgun readily available. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ernesto C Report post Posted November 15, 2003 Fellow members,you have mentioned something that in my opinion is not safe "hunt alone,camp alone etc etc." I know is not always possible to take a friend or someone with us out there but sometimes it works out that way. I believe that if something "bad" is goig to happen to me,it can be anywhere,at the local bank,while driving,at work or even at my house so CHD,you should not worry about applying for those units,go ahead and enjoy your hunt,so far I have not had a problem with "those guys" what you can do is start looking for a hunting partner(s),who knows you may harvest the buck of your dreams. God bless you all. Ernesto C. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rembrant Report post Posted November 15, 2003 Hey Chris, If you think you might not be in the mood next year to drive to 32 and fight the crowds, please consider not applying for it. I do appreciate your out of state funds helping Arizona's game management, yet it is still bugging me that a number of us guys who hold this hunt in high esteem can no longer draw it on a back up choice. Here I blame sheer numbers of people applying and animal activists trying to throw a wrench in the works - and a seasoned hunter like yourself admits to considering this tag a yawner? OUCH, Chris, that hurts! Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowhntr Report post Posted November 15, 2003 Ernesto, You're right about hunting alone,I know I'm always willing to talk to other hunters in the field. You never know when you might find your next hunting partner or just someone to hunt with during the hunt. Four eyes are always better then two. bowhntr Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CHD Report post Posted November 15, 2003 Hey Rembrandt, Didn't mean to cause you mental anguish. Holy cow. Think you will survive it? My idea of a backup choice is SECOND choice. Was it yours? This may make you feel a little worse (I''ll try to sugar coat this as much as possible), but let me explain myself further. I spent $8,000 this year on big game tags. I am budgeting the same amount for next year. I usually spend in the thousands for tags each year. I have a nasty habit of buying auction tags in Utah that are handled by RMEF, Mule Deer Foundation, Sportsman for Habitat, etc... because the good ones are hard to draw anymore due to the reasons you listed. The auction tags are tax deductible, and the $$$ go to animal conservation and pro-hunting organizations. I also buy expensive landowner tags (the $$$ go to poor ranchers), and I have spent a fortune on nonresident license fees in all western states. I also spend many $$$ on my trips suppporting the local economies in the form of motels, fuel, meals, etc... I have a great deal of expensive hunting gear. I have worn out $30,000 (now $40,000) trucks scouting and hunting. In summary, my financial contribution to hunting and ANIMAL CONSERVATION is staggering. I think I have some $20k muleys on my living room wall! Because I apply for many hunts in several states each year, I sometimes have to eat a tag due to hunt time-frame conflicts or acquiring a better tag and having a fixed amount of time off work available. Two years ago, I surrendered a muley tag in Utah and let the Utah DWR keep the $408 just so i could retain my bonus points. Believe me when I tell you that I have eaten some great tags!!! But that is part of the trophy hunting game. Why don't you write the AZGFD a letter and suggest that they allow tag returns and keep an active list of applicants so they can reissue them? I tried to return another tag one year and they told me to get lost. I believe Utah will re-issue tags.. There is another reason that I didn't go, but if I give it we will probably have a big hairy fight on this forum! You might be able to guess it, though. Given my incredible financial contribution to hunting, wildlife conservation, and local economies, ask me now if I feel guilty about eating the 32 November tag! Chris Darnell PS - I hope you weren't trying to equate me with animal rights activists! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ernesto C Report post Posted November 15, 2003 Holy cow!!!! CHD with all that $$$$$$ how come you hunt by your self? why worry about the illegals crossing the unit(s) you want to hunt? You can hire me as a body guard,I will protect you while you hunt how that sounds? How about donating a deer tag for one of your fellow members of coues whitetail?? or donating some $$$$ to coues whitetail.com or to the Cibrian foundation??? (Cibrian Foundation that's me). I can see that you are blees by God CHD,and I'm not going to tell you how to spend you $$$$ and dont be mad wit Rembrandt or my self ok? because I'm just kidding. God bless you again. Ernesto C. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted November 16, 2003 Ernesto - Chris has already made a generous donation to CW.com. But thanks for suggesting it anyway Being a big fan of unit 32 myself, I can feel with Rembrant the frustration of knowing a tag didn't get used. But we all end up not using tags sometimes. I believe AZGFD is going to start a program where you can apply for a "non-hunt" bonus point. That way if you know you aren't gonna be able to hunt, you can pay for a tag anyway and not be in the general draw. That will solve some of the unused tags. But I think most people who don't use their tags do it at the last minute for family, work, or health reasons. Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rembrant Report post Posted November 16, 2003 Thanks for the explanation and your time CHD. Thank you also for supporting our Game Dept, and especially this web site (I haven't done that). I suppose in your hunt plan for the year, a Nov. whitetail tag is low on your list. I understand. In my hunt plan for the year, this 32 Nov. tag would make me feel like a little kid at Christmas - and so the frustration. Compared to the many other ways that God has blessed my life, a deer tag shouldn't be so high on my list either. I appologize for the whining. Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
