AZwest16 Report post Posted October 30, 2011 Well before I even get going I have to give a big thanks to buddy Tracey Boorn known on CW as Gr8 White Jr. Without Tracey I wouldn't have got an opportunity at this awesome buck. We found ourselves Thursday morning with packed trucks and high expectations driving south to the same hills where I tagged a beautiful buck last year. Once camp was set up and the middle of the day heat wave broke we set up on a high ridge hoping to get a couple hours of glassing in. With only does and a couple of small bucks glassed up we headed back to camp to spend some time around the camp fire and dream about what the next day would behold. The alarm went off at 4am and we were on the road a short time later. As Tracey and I set up on our glass point over looking an awesome canyon still in the dark I told him "Man I don't know of anything better than an opening morning sunrise." It's just something about a entire years anticipation all coming down to a few minutes before it kicks off. Call me crazy but I wouldn't rather be anywhere else in the world! Soon after both of us got a Swaro's 15's set up and began our search for a good buck. Going back just a little bit Tracey had asked me what kind of buck I would shoot and I told him I wanted to hold out for something better than the buck I shot last year that grossed 88. A few minutes after first glassing light we both started to pick up deer. Getting to the point where we wouldn't even tell each other that we had seen a doe and fawn so that we didn't waste any time in finding a bachelor group of bucks. Shortly after Tracey said he had a couple of bucks spotted across the canyon. I got set up on the deer and after looking them up and down I decided they weren't anything I was willing to shoot on first day probably scoring the high 60's to low 70's range. After Tracey glassed up another group of bucks that I decided to pass on we decided to move across the canyon to another vantage point. In doing so we jumped up two more small bucks and then I caught a glimpse of a good wide 3X3 running up and over a saddle across the canyon from us. Tracey looked at me and said "man I hope we just didn't make a mistake by leaving to early." As we hiked up the opposite side of the canyon I was thinking the same thing. But from my experience down south the further you get away from roads and other hunters is where your going to find those better bucks. So we finally made our way up to our second glassing point and got set up to look over some great country. After glassing for a while it was mid morning and things were starting to slow down. Neither of us being discourage that we hadn't found shooter buck yet we kept hitting the country hard with our glass. Then like music to me ears Tracey said "I got a good buck, man your going to shoot this buck, dude this buck is a stud." Quickly swinging my 15's around Tracey got me on the deer and as soon as I saw him I knew he was a shooter. We ranged him at 750 yards and seriously considered letting one fly with my brand new Savage LRH 6.5 x 284 with a Leupold VX3 6.5 to 25 power scope. Luckily the buck decided to bed down and we quickly came up with a plan to get closer. It was decided that Tracey would stay high to keep an eye on the buck while I would cut the distance. After running down the mountain and up a small ridge to where I planned on shooting from I found myself in a maze of ocotillo. I peaked over the ridge and sure enough there was the buck bedded at only 300 yards. With no where to prone out and shoot because of all the ocotillo, I decided to crawl underneath a oak tree and try and use a limb to steady my rifle. After getting into about the worst possible shooting position I could manage I was looking at this buck through my scope at 25 power. After composing myself time and time again I slowly squeezed off a shot. Bam! Knowing I had to smoked this buck I finally got my scope back in the same area in which he was bedded just in time to watch him walk further down hill into a pocket of trees. Seeing this I started to panic a little knowing the buck did not act in the least bit hit. I threw another round into my rifle and started to scan the pocket of tree's when I spotted him in a little gap. I settled the cross hairs right on his shoulder for a second time and Bam! again I watched the buck drop further in the pocket of tree's and I fully got into panic mode! Knowing I only had one more round left in the magazine I racked my bolt action on more time and picked up the buck again right in the bottom of the pocket one step away from being able to disappear out of sight. Knowing I needed to change up where I was aiming I decided to aim low on the buck's front shoulder and Bam! Well after the third shot the buck was gone and I was absolutely convinced that I had just blown my chance at what would have been my biggest buck to date. I decided to pick up my pack and circle around and get right across the canyon from where I last saw the buck. This was one of the most long agonizing 10 minute hike I have ever been on. I was going back and forth on whether I should have tried to get closer to the buck, whether I should have found a more steady rest, and so on... Finally I made it over to where I could get a good look at the canyon where I last saw the buck. I began to scan in every which direction seeing if I could pick him up sneaking away. With no luck I figured it would be best to start where I last saw/shot at the buck and to my amazement I immediately glassed up my buck laying up side down kicking his front legs. From there started the shouts and yelling back and fourth about 500 yards between Tracey and I. Next we made our way down to my buck and I couldn't have been happier. My buck ended up grossing 93 and some change. Definitely a shooter buck in my book in almost any hunt. From there on we were able to get my dad his second buck in two years and all in all it couldn't have been a better weekend. Stay tuned my girlfriend has her first ever deer hunt in the same unit on Nov 4th. Hopping to be able to get her a decent buck for her first ever deer. Like to say a big thanks again to Tracey for all your help with my buck and my dads as well. Regan P.S. I'm trying to post pictures of my buck but not having much success. They will be up as soon as possible Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
game hntr Report post Posted October 30, 2011 nice write up. waiting to see pictures Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted October 30, 2011 Congrats again Regan! This was by far one of the best coues hunts I have ever been on. Good times with good people and seeing lots of game, it just doesn't get any better than that! Thanks so much to Regan and his father Jim for letting me be apart of their hunt. Definitely one I will never forget! -Tracy Here are some pics from the hunt. Regan with his trophy! Regan and I with his trophy! The pack out. Had to get a pic of the rack on the back of Regan's pack. Me with the hind quarters hanging off my pack. Regan's father, Jim with his buck. What a great morning stalking in and watching him shoot his buck out of its bed. Regan, Jim and I with Jim's buck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gotcoues Report post Posted October 30, 2011 Congrat's Regan, T gave me the story first hand and your write up just mirrors what he told me. Great job on the right up and your buck is a beauty for sure. Love those long tines and I would have guessed him to be higher than 93. Nonetheless, he's an awesome buck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azcouesfanatic Report post Posted October 30, 2011 Wow, that is a great buck. I would have also figured him to be better than 93". Congrats Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted October 30, 2011 Congratulations!! And I agree, he looks bigger than 93. Great looking buck! I love seeing forum members helping each other out on hunts like this! don't forget to enter your buck in the Coues buck contest: http://www.coueswhitetail.com/Coues_Buck_Contest_2011/coues_buck_contest_2011-12.htm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigorange Report post Posted October 30, 2011 Beautiful buck and a great story. Congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
out2hunt Report post Posted October 30, 2011 re tape that pig please! lol He looks closer to 98 to me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pine Donkey Report post Posted October 30, 2011 Very nice bucks, congratulations! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirRoyal Report post Posted October 30, 2011 Congrats on a great buck and great pics!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
briant_az Report post Posted October 31, 2011 Thats a great buck! Glad both of you were successful! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted October 31, 2011 Awesome buck! Congrats Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkster9 Report post Posted October 31, 2011 Regan, Glad to see your hunt was awesome. Great buck. It looks like those 15's worked out well for you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Payne Report post Posted October 31, 2011 We guessed him at closer to 100" while we watched you pack him out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted October 31, 2011 Congratulations to Regan & Jim. Great writeup and the pics are just as good. Memories forever and thanks for sharing. TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
