WHT_MTNMAN Report post Posted January 9, 2006 I was wondering how many times most of you shoot at a Coues every year? This year I've stalked a bunch of bucks and pulled my bow back half a dozen times but have only let the arrow fly twice. Once in August at the buck I ended up harvesting in November and once a couple of days ago. Both times I've made stupid mistakes due to the excitement of harvesting my first Coues with a bow. Last week I ranged a buck at 38 yards and put my 30 yard pin on him So lets hear it, how many times do you shoot at a deer each year, or how many times did you shoot before you got your first Coues? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CRB Report post Posted January 9, 2006 Don't sweat I've missed many shot myself if anyone says they never have they are probably lying. one time I took a friend archery hunting for mule deer after dropping his arrow twice and knocking it off the rest once this guy shoots ricochet;s off the ground and nails this little three pointer vitally,I about fell over when I saw what he had done but believe it or not but he got his first buck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peloncillo Report post Posted January 9, 2006 I've got arrows laying all over the mountains. I haven't bowhunted in years though. I actually killed a buck in 29 back in the 80's with my bow but it was pure luck. I'd been out all day and put the sneak on one buck but just couldn't get close enough. I was hiking back out and probably a quarter of a mile from the truck when I see a bacholor group of 4 bucks heading my way.There was a fence between us so I got behind some brush and when the first buck jumped the fence I was only about 15 yards away. I got the arrow through him and he didn't even seem to notice.He was a nice 3 point but I should have waited because the last buck was way bigger.All the bucks just kept on going down the trail. I waited about 20 minutes and found my buck about 60 yards away. The way I see it if you don't let the arrows fly you won't ever connect. Of course you need to take only ethical shots. I know I've probably shot at and missed 20 deer with a bow. I wish I had my rangefinder back then. Good luck to all of you bowhunters. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Reynaldo de la Torre Report post Posted January 9, 2006 I was wondering how many times most of you shoot at a Coues every year? This year I've stalked a bunch of bucks and pulled my bow back half a dozen times but have only let the arrow fly twice. Once in August at the buck I ended up harvesting in November and once a couple of days ago. Both times I've made stupid mistakes due to the excitement of harvesting my first Coues with a bow. Last week I ranged a buck at 38 yards and put my 30 yard pin on him So lets hear it, how many times do you shoot at a deer each year, or how many times did you shoot before you got your first Coues? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The older I get - the less I draw/aim. I usually shoot twice at the most. With a bow I have drawn maybe 4 times in as many years with one kill. At first though - I pulled alot and missed a lot. I made my mistakes also - buck fever, a little limb in the way that I would not have worried about with a rifle, not releasing correctly, etc. Patience and experience! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowsniper Report post Posted January 9, 2006 I was soooo excited once that I couldn't even draw my bow back on a turkey! For several seconds I thought that the bow was broken, until I figured out that it was me that was broken. When I finally got the the bow back, my legs surged up when I released, and blew an easy shot. Last month, I watched a 3X3 for several minutes, deciding on to pass on him, wating for a bigger buck. I was fine, I wasn't excited at all, just having fun watching him. Then I decided just to practice drawing on him, not taking the shot. As soon as I drew, I went from calm to having my heart pound so hard I thought that the noise would spook the buck. Go figure! bowsniper Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHT_MTNMAN Report post Posted January 9, 2006 Well thanks all, maybe I'm not hopeless. I've shot elk and one mule deer with my bow, javelina, bunch of rabbits, quail etc... so I'm not quite a newbie but I can't seem to stay calm on a coues. Maybe after my first one I'll calm down a little bit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coues4x4 Report post Posted January 10, 2006 My first archery coues was 2 years ago on opening morning.I was hunting a waterhole where i had missed twice the year before.There must be something about that little deer because I've killed elk, muley, lion, and two antelope with a bow.Now I'm not saying I'm a pro but I do get the most nervous around coues. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted January 10, 2006 I have only let a few arrows fly at coues deer. I even missed one at 18 yrds! His legs tucked up and his belly bounced off the ground as my arrow passed by where his lungs used to be! I have killed 4 mulies, spot n stalk, with a bow, and none has ever got me worked up as bad as having a coues deer within bow range! Don't get me wrong, I still get all wigged out on mulies, but I flat out lose it on coues. Yesterday I had a buck bedded in a spot that was fairly approachable, he was around 100" and huge! He had alot of does around him as well and I actually did not stalk him because I knew it wouldn't work! Because I knew I would fall apart on a buck like that, I didn't even try I need to get one under my belt before I can start having any kind of composure on these little deer, I think JIM Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHT_MTNMAN Report post Posted January 10, 2006 Jim- I agree completely. I had a 100+ inch buck bed about 3-4 hundred yards away in some thick brush and a small 2 point a hundred yards away and I didn't even go over to where the big buck was, I knew I had to shoot a small buck before I could even try again at a big buck. I'm also thinking I need to go shoot another mulie since it has been awhile since I drew blood with my bow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coueshunter84 Report post Posted January 11, 2006 I still occasionally get letters from NASA about sending stuff up into space. Ive lost somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 dozen over the last 5 years. You think one of these times I will remember that a coues is about haof the body size of a mulie and quit using the wrong pins. The fisrt ever shot a coues was a spike at 22 steps and I used my 40 yard pin. Go figure. Seems I never have time to use the range finder... LOL.. only good thing about all of those lost arrows is I'm 100% positive that none of them were hits. I was able to replay every one of the shots and "see" one of the longer range pins hovering around the kill zone, and then step it off or use the range finder and start kicking myself.... LOL. So dont feel bad. And if you happen to find any Carbon Impact 6500 superfast shafts with 2 blade sonoran heads on them.. Let me know. I could use them I'm running out and they dont make them anymore. . Shane Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redline410 Report post Posted January 12, 2006 Until this past week I never specifically hunted Coues witha bow. Anyway, I gave it a whirl and took five shots. ALL AT THE SAME BUCK!! Two of the three that connected were text book and he still managed to find his way into the nastiest hohoba covered, cholla infested canyon in the state.......his little way of paying me back............If I can get a littel help posting the picture I'll show him to you......... -Dave Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Reynaldo de la Torre Report post Posted January 17, 2006 I have only let a few arrows fly at coues deer. I even missed one at 18 yrds! His legs tucked up and his belly bounced off the ground as my arrow passed by where his lungs used to be! I have killed 4 mulies, spot n stalk, with a bow, and none has ever got me worked up as bad as having a coues deer within bow range! Don't get me wrong, I still get all wigged out on mulies, but I flat out lose it on coues. Yesterday I had a buck bedded in a spot that was fairly approachable, he was around 100" and huge! He had alot of does around him as well and I actually did not stalk him because I knew it wouldn't work! Because I knew I would fall apart on a buck like that, I didn't even try I need to get one under my belt before I can start having any kind of composure on these little deer, I think JIM <{POST_SNAPBACK}> My first archery season I was 10 yds from a really nice buck with some does. I MISSED !! I was shaking so bad that my arrow flew right between his big antlers ! Then as I was cursing myself and kicking the ground I missed another oportunity as he was comming back ! I was pissed. If we don't like hunting when we don't get one, then we don't like hunting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coocoo4coues Report post Posted January 19, 2006 Oh, my son...Don't feel like you're the only one. I've missed my fair share of Coues. Just this last August, I took a shot at what was probably the biggest coues deer I had ever seen (at least 5 points). I shot high. Surprisingly, he didn't move, and I shot again, only to see my arrow get deflected. As he was trotting away, I took a third shot, and missed. I had nightmares about that sucker for weeks after that. I must have been sweating blood by the time I let the last shot fly. This last December, I took a shot at a little fork, which I estimated was about 40 yds. After he ran off, I paced it at 50yds. Just this morning, I went out for a few hours before work, and had a shot at a spike, and again, misjudged the distance. I've even stopped telling my wife and friends about all the missed opportunities because they think I'm blowing smoke up their butts. But it's true, you'll never connect if you dont' shoot. The key to hunting these things is persistence, patience, and keeping your cool (something I STILL can't do!). Best of luck, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHT_MTNMAN Report post Posted January 19, 2006 Well, sure glad to see I'm not the only one missing I like the attitude you can't hit anything if you don't shoot. One of these days. Maybe this week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZP&Y Report post Posted January 20, 2006 In addition to the comments, I think it's how you respond after a miss that is most important. Say you've missed and another shot opportunity presents itself, re-grouping is a key to what can me the "clincher". A buddy of mine this last week , emptied his quiver on misses... The threw the bow to the ground, and moments later more deer approached and he fired again (missing). Some of us aren't so lucky to have that many opportunities, but I know he's going to be 2nd guessing himself for a while. Practice breeds confidence. 30 + hours on stand, still no shots. AzP&Y Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
