Deer Sightings

[CHD]

Based on the number of deer seen, what do you guys and gals consider a "good" day of hunting? What is the greatest number of deer that you've seen on one day? How about you Mexico hunters in December and January?

 

Obviously, this will vary based on area, weather, and time of year.

 

I once hunted a low deer density area on the San Carlos (unit C) in late November and saw only 2 or 3 deer per day. One year on San Carlos unit A in January I spotted 6 - 10 deer per day. On a very hot November hunt in the Chiricauhua's in 1999, I saw less than 10 deer per day, and it was a very brief morning and evening show only. The most I've ever seen was 22 in one day in 32 during December 2002, and I had several days when I saw about that many.

 

Based on my experiences, I would say that an average hunt in Arizona would be one where you spot about 10 deer per day. I would say that a good day in a good area would be 20 or more.

 

What do you all think?

 

Chris Darnell

[coues addict]

Chris , I Have been hunting coues deer for quite a while now and I once saw over forty whitetail in one day. I thought that was awesome , and I have never seen that many again in one day. Then I have had days that I maybe only saw two or three deer in one day. That usually makes me hunt even harder. I really think it just goes back to that old saying of being in " The Right place at the Right Time". Anyway, I try not to get to hung up on overall numbers. I would much rather see one really good buck than tons of deer because the big bucks just really rock me. Anyway my answer to your question. Any day Coues hunting is a good day one deer or ten who cares.Good Luck Coues Addict.

[coueshunter]

Chris, a few years back I hunted unit 23 up cherry creek road and seeing 5-10 was a great day, the densities seem lower. Hunting down south I usually see around 15-20 a day during the early hunts. I havent had a late tag but my friend was out last weekend and saw around 20-30 a day...........Allen........

[bullwidgeon]

In 27 this year we were seeing close to 10 a day. That was good for us in that area. In New Mexico we were seeing 15-20 or so a day and that blew us away we were mega happy with that. In 33 I don't get excited till we hit the 20 mark and have had 30 deer days quite a few times. Same for the 36 units. But there us always a time or two when we have 0 deer days too. I guess it depends on exactly what the deer are doing.

 

Bret M.

[Guest coues nut]

Those are some good numbers. Is everyone talking about 1 person glassing? One day in 32 last year we 3 people glassin counted 87 different deer and we didnt see a buck over 85. In a unit that borders 32 we (2 people) glass from 30-50 deer in the november hunt per day. I have a friend who hunts 23 religiously and he has had 70 deer days a couple of years ago. Those numbers have shrunk down to 30 or so in the same area. A lot of this depends on glassing techniques and the proper equipment.

[Guest Ernesto C]

About six years ago we spot 17 deer together wow!! I was suprised because I toth that in oreder to see that many deer together you had to go to the forrest and not in the desert. Three years ago I spot nine deer togheter,this time in the forrest. Two years ago I was not hunting I just was showing my brothers and friends a god spot I found to hunt doves,this was the last day of August and in was rigth at dawn,we were park next to a big wash when we couldn't believe our eyes,rigth there in front of us there was the biggest group of deer I have ever seen (about 80 yds away) there were bucks of all sizes(this were all mule deer) spikes,forkys,three pointers and there were five big wall hangers!!there were several four pointers but five of them at least 28" or wider!! We count more than thirty bucks and some does all together!! awesome!!!

 

Now the other day in another web site I saw the picture of a guy that hunt in Mexico he was showing his javelina and he claims that while hunting for his javelina he saw more than 80 coues in one day!! incredible!!

 

I guess you have to be in the rigth palce at the rigth time I remember now about ten years ago we hunt hard for ten days and never saw a buck or a doe not even a lizzard!

there was another hunt were I get to see a lot of does but no bucks,but still this were good days for me becuase the amount of things I was learning and because I was enjoying what I love to do the most.

 

Thanks and God bless you all. Ernesto C.

[Dodger]

For me it seems to vary on previous days. Recently, I've been having 10-15 deer mornings. This morning we saw about 15 deer, but 5 were bucks. I think that is a pretty good morning. In November, I'm statisfied with 5-10 deer days because at least I'm seeing deer. I actually base my days more on the number of bucks I see. I feel like I'm doing something right when I can find a buck.

[az4life]

Good questions but I think a lot of it tends to be the right place at the right time. I have to say my average # this year was 10-12 per day. My hunt partner saw about 15 per day average from spots adjacent to mine. This is the ocunt of deer that I could see in an area that I could reasonably get to to make a shot. I often times glass the saddle of one ridge and will sot deer on the ridge behind theo nie I am hunting. I don't really count these since even with a spotting scope it is tough to tell anything about them.

 

I have hunted in the past when we saw nothing for a day at a time. I talk to hunters that just get frustrated because they don 't know how to glass. That just means More for us that take the time!

[Jason]

I have only hunted in 23 and 35B and have seen from 0 to 20 deer per day. I have been told that deer #'s are low in those two units.

[Arizona Griz]

I would think 20 deer in a day would be above average. I hunted 36A this past November and saw 70 deer in 7 days, but only one was a buck.

Arizona Griz.

[CouesCrazy]

It all depends on the areas you are hunting. I have some places in unit with low deer numbers like in units 28 and 30b that I may only see 15-20 deer a day. Some of my favorite units it isnt uncommon to see up to 100 deer in a day if you are in the right place at the right time. I had a day in sept this year that me and my partner saw over 40 coues bucks in a day! It was an awsome day. The deer were bunched up because of the lack of water in the area. I filmed most of them. The largest of these bucks will score in the low 120s. He is a monster. I have footage of this buck hard-horned also later in the year. In mexico depending on which ranch I am on and how thick the cover is I usually see between 50-80 deer a day. The key thing is scouting pre-season and not wasting your time in a place that doesnt hold good deer numbers.

[Idahocoueshunter]

It depends on the area you're hunting and the amount of hunting pressure. I have hunted close to the roads and have seen few deer. While backpacking into the "backcounty" I have seen up to 20 -25 deer a day. Conditions were the same in both areas, but either the deer moved from the accessable area or the deer learn to avoid the hunters in the high pressure areas. Since the drought, the numbers of deer I saw this year was down to about 10 a day. I did have a day high this year of 21 with 9 being bucks of various size.

 

 

C.