bmf1321 Report post Posted November 22, 2005 I was wondering if anyone had any tips on bowhunting coues during the rut. When does it begin? does the rut begin at the same time for mule deer? is it best to sit in a blind or spot and stalk? does rattling work? any specific estrus scent available for coues? i just started bowhunting last season and have yet to take a deer with a bow and am looking for any information that would be useful on the upcoming dec/jan bow hunt. I am still debating whether to go after mule deer or coues. i sure would like to take a coues but think i might have a better chance of getting a mulie. thanks in advance for any information you guys can give a newbie. brett Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arizonabowhunter Report post Posted November 22, 2005 bmf1321, from past experiences the mule deer seem to start there rut prior to the whitetail (mid December). They can start earlier if a front comes in and it gets really cold. Just recently(last year), spot and stalking, I have had success with muley's using the can call and rattling, and for whitetail I have had success calling them in with a grunt tube call, usually the younger ones come in. I hope this helps good luck to you. Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmf1321 Report post Posted November 23, 2005 so, how do you tell if they are in the rut? would using the call/grunt tube/rattling prior to the rut be effective? why do you think the big ones don't respond to these methods? bmf1321, from past experiences the mule deer seem to start there rut prior to the whitetail (mid December). They can start earlier if a front comes in and it gets really cold. Just recently(last year), spot and stalking, I have had success with muley's using the can call and rattling, and for whitetail I have had success calling them in with a grunt tube call, usually the younger ones come in. I hope this helps good luck to you. Bill <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BowhuntCoues Report post Posted November 23, 2005 You can tell if they are rutting when they are chasing the doe's. I'm going to try some rattling and calling next month for the 1st time. I have had success sitting a treestand and spot and stalk, but want to try something different. Good luck and let us know how it come out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted November 23, 2005 I was wondering if anyone had any tips on bowhunting coues during the rut. When does it begin? does the rut begin at the same time for mule deer? is it best to sit in a blind or spot and stalk? does rattling work? any specific estrus scent available for coues? i just started bowhunting last season and have yet to take a deer with a bow and am looking for any information that would be useful on the upcoming dec/jan bow hunt. I am still debating whether to go after mule deer or coues. i sure would like to take a coues but think i might have a better chance of getting a mulie. thanks in advance for any information you guys can give a newbie. brett <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Welcome to the site, I'm fairly new here also and the members here are very knowledgeable and are always willing to help out. I have killed several mulies with a bow and have put more time in to getting a whitey with a bow and haven't yet. If you are just wanting to get a deer under your belt with a bow, then mulies will give you the best chances, in my opinion. I feel they aren't as hard to stalk, not as wary and don't jump strings as fast, and not to mention a bigger target. I would suggest being extremely confident with your bow out to at least 40 yrds, hunt spot and stalk mulies throughout the December hunt, and hunt spot and stalk cousies every chance you get throughout Jan. You'll learn more than you could imagine just being out there doing it. The main key is "PATIENCE" on the stalk! If you want a big buck of either specie, especially coues, then patterning and sitting the pattern whether it's a tank, salt, or a trail is your best bet, but this is more of an early season tactic. The bucks move around very randomely during the rut, following and chasing does, but they still need to drink and will follow does to water. Alot of time and effort goes into making this work and the rewards can be outstanding! Best of luck to you! JIM Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted November 23, 2005 Coues deer rut later in the year than Mulies. Mulies are more like Nov-Dec while Coues are late Dec-Jan. Click on the link for some info on the rut and other life stages of the Coues Spot and stalk is pretty challenging with a bow. You might have more success sitting a trail or tank or salt lick or something like that. It all depends on how you like to hunt though. Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arizonabowhunter Report post Posted November 28, 2005 bmf1321, last year while hunting mulies I called in a mule deer buck to 40 yards, a small 3 by nothing, his left side was completely broken off, using the can. I was with a friend of mine and asked him if he wanted to shoot, he passed. Immediately after that we crested a ridge and glassed up another buck 400 yards away (3 x 3, 27" wide). We got in the shadows of a big mesquite tree and started to rattle using real antlers. Lo and behold he turns around and starts walking towards us the wind was blowing from N.W. to the s.e. the buck was southwest of us traveling n.e. He stopped at 105 yards from us and would not come across this wash, I tried everything to entice him to come in another 40 yards, my max is 60 yards. He stood there for 10 to 15 minutes until he winded us and then moved on. It just seems the older the buck the less likely he will come in to a call, I chalk this up to experience and wiser. I am not saying they won't come in, chances are against you because of there experience compared to a young buck. It sure is fun doing this though!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rabidApache Report post Posted December 13, 2005 bmf1321, Another tip when trying to call bucks in is to study the bucks body language. When I have located a buck I watch to see if he is in search for does. If he is, most likely he'll have his nose to the ground, bird dogging trying to pickup a scent trail of a hot doe. Set up a game plan. Maybe cut him off, set up in some cover and call. When calling keep a watch out for his reaction to the call. Do not call when deer is looking in your direction, be patient and keep the wind in your favor. Just last year I was watching a nice 3X2 WT buck Zig-Zagging along a ridgetop. So I decided to sneak up along a oak thicket to get ahead of him and setup. The area was pretty open with only prickly pear cacti for cover. I broke out my trusty Doe-n-can and let it rip. Once the buck heard the doe bleat/bawl after 2 or 3 trys he lifted his head, froze and looked in my direction. He must have stood there for 4-5 minutes. As soon as he started getting back into what he was doing, I gave another call. Baaaaaaw Baaaaaaaaaaw he turned, looked in my direction and started for me! It was a funny sight...looking threw my binos he had his tongue hanging out and and tail twitching like a rattler. It was too funny. I never did get shot with a bow, but at 70 yds with a rifle it would have been a chip-shot. Give it try and good luck.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crazyaboutcoues Report post Posted December 13, 2005 We've used a couple of techniques with good success. First, and my favorite, tons of pre season scouting and finding a saddle that the deer are using to go from point A to point B. Set up a treestand or ground blind about 25 to 30 yards from where you think the deer will be coming from. Pay very close attention to prodominate wind conditions. These guys can smell you a mile away even with all the handy dandy scent locks. Second, water, water, water, set a ground blind or treestand with the same considerations as the saddle. Remember to set your treestand up as high as possible. These little guys can see movement like nobodies business . Also, when you take your shot from the treestand, aim lower than what you range. I usually shoot five yards less. Depending on the terrain. Best time to sit water is from 11:00am to 3:00 pm. Third, salt licks or mineral licks. If you can find a place where a rancher has set up salt licks, and they have been there for years, you have just found a gold mine my friend. Fourth, scrape hunting, try to find a scrape line and sit it early in the morning and late in the evening. What I usually do is carry a small fold up stool and set it up where I can use a tree as a back rest. Set up about 25 to 30 yards from the scrape. You really have to make sure that you as little amount of movement as possible. Coues deer are ALWAYS in alert mode. So you need to be in ALERT mode things can happen very quick. Always have your bow ready and in a position where you can take a shot with little movement. Coues deer do react to doe bleets and grunts. And some lite rattleing. I use the "can" made by Primos for my doe bleets. I also use a Coues deer Grunt made by an outfit from AZ I forget the name. But it does sound different from the other grunt calls. Good Luck on your hunt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TREESTANDMAN Report post Posted December 13, 2005 Also, when you take your shot from the treestand, aim lower than what you range. I usually shoot five yards less. Depending on the terrain. Good advice Tommy except for the above portion. I don't care what angle you are at if you shoot 5 yds lower you will miss the deer every time. Did you mean 5 inches? I usually sit about 30 feet up in the ponderosas and always aim for the heart with my 65lb bow. I've practiced from all different angles from the highest point from my parents roof which is about 40ft high and with my bow about 3-4 inches low will be a double lung every time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crazyaboutcoues Report post Posted December 13, 2005 Just my experience when shooting from my roof. If i range it at 25 yards I use my 20 yard pin. Works for me. I guess the best advise for shooting from a treestand is to practise from your roof. I've been doing this for the last couple of weeks. The neighbors think i'm a freak. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fatfootdoc Report post Posted December 13, 2005 Tommie, I think you are a freak and I have never seen you shoot off of your roof, so what is your point? AG Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TREESTANDMAN Report post Posted December 13, 2005 I guess I misinterpreted what you meant by 5 yds. If you put your pin 5 yards low from the deer you would miss completely but using your 20 yd pin for a 25 yd shot would be inches on the deer, not yards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Report post Posted December 13, 2005 Come on TREESTANDMAN, don't you speak New Mexican I knew exactly what Tommy was talking about! Another treestand shooting tip is to bend at the waste instead of lowering your bow arm. Lowering your arm for a close shot changes the geometry of your setup and will cause a miss. Experience talking here! Good luck on your hunt Tommy. I'll be disapointed if you don't get a good one, afterall, either you or a jamaro has my tag. Kevin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crazyaboutcoues Report post Posted December 13, 2005 Easy there Adam...I been trying to to keep it a secret. I guess everyone knows now hehe I least those who have seen me umpire a basball game. I was hoping this wouldn't get to the square root of B squared minus A squared equals C squared thread. Kevin...I hope we make you proud Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
