MAVinWA Report post Posted January 10, 2012 Introduction for an aging bowhunter from the State of Washington here. But my health is good and I can still venture forth, in some cases a couple miles away from the vehicle and roads of the WA Cascades in pursuit of my hunting passions. So definitely not a road hunter. I will be primarily hunting solo, more of a DIY hunter,,,but perhaps I may meet a new AZ hunting partner someday. love this web site. I'm very interested in pursuing coues deer. Now have a 2nd home in Gilbert AZ as of Dec 27. So I'm starting my research with a focus on units 24B and 23 for the late 2012-2013 season. Maybe scout 24A too but later in the year. I'll be spending the months of December and January in pursuit of these deer as an extension to my "hunting obsession (wife's term of endearment)" here at my first home state. BTW: wife golfing while I'm huntin' my first field scouting trip will be in the current season, Jan 20-22 2012 then work at the Gilbert house for a day until returning to WA. Choosing not to hunt this weekend but rather focus on scouting overview here and there. Save the hunting until later this year as mentioned. I pursue elk, mule deer and blacktail deer here in WA state. After 45 years of hunting experience, I am now mostly trophy-quality hunting for deer as I've shot my share of smaller bucks. Elk in my state is either special trophy draw for bulls or general limitation to spikes (a great meat hunt). But my 2012-2013 focus for AZ hunting is coues deer. If anyone is willing to share a bit about the two units above, it would be appreciated. Private email is fine. In my research so far, the terrain is much different than western (wet-green) WA but similar in regards to the dryer side>eastern WA. I'm particularly interested in areas of ponderosa pine or ponderosa forests. Something about being fortunate while hunting in pine forests and I like treestand hunting. and reciprocal too, in that I'm willing to share information with anyone-AZ regarding interest in non-resident hunting here in WA State. Pic below is before I go up the tree. Western/wetside blacktail deer hunting. thank you, MAV. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
izquik72 Report post Posted January 10, 2012 Welcome to the Grand Canyon state and Welcome to CWT. I am not familiar with the units you mentioned but wanted to give you a heads up. If at some time you will want to pursue elk in this state. You will need to start accruing bonus points now! The deadline for applications is Tues Feb 14th for Elk and Antelope. Best of luck to you Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dchamsr06 Report post Posted January 11, 2012 Welcome to Arizona this is a great site. I'm on at least once a day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAVinWA Report post Posted January 11, 2012 yes izquik72, thanks for the tip on accruing elk draw points for future AZ elk. Similar system here in WA for the good trophy bull tags. appreciate the nice welcomes for a new snow-wet bird from the northwest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BELLOTABUCKS Report post Posted January 11, 2012 start with the azgfd website they detail each unit and have suggestions on where to find game. and when you find your way to coues country try to get at least a mile if not 2 from any roads and make sure you have quality optics, these truelly are small deer in big wide open country, after 20 years of hunting them they still amaze me how well they hide and disappear. sometimes they bust you 300 yards away sometimes they make you step on them before you know they are there. hope you have room for an addiction in your life Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAVinWA Report post Posted January 11, 2012 start with the azgfd website they detail each unit and have suggestions on where to find game. and when you find your way to coues country try to get at least a mile if not 2 from any roads and make sure you have quality optics, these truelly are small deer in big wide open country, after 20 years of hunting them they still amaze me how well they hide and disappear. sometimes they bust you 300 yards away sometimes they make you step on them before you know they are there. hope you have room for an addiction in your life thank you. yes, I have good optics. Swarovski EL binocs and ATS spotting scope/tripod. an image of eastern WA (dryside) muley country...this 5 miles in off the FS road. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gearsnagger Report post Posted January 11, 2012 All those are good units - water is the key! I like your face mask - 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pine Donkey Report post Posted January 11, 2012 Welcome. You will love hunting coues, but be careful, they are addictive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted January 11, 2012 Welcome....I hope you enjoy hunting in our amazing state! Here is a link to the AGFD hunt unit reports so you can find more info about any unit in AZ. http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunting_units.shtml Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted January 11, 2012 Welcome to Az and to the best hunting forum on the net. Good luck in your quest for coues. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAVinWA Report post Posted January 11, 2012 Welcome....I hope you enjoy hunting in our amazing state! Here is a link to the AGFD hunt unit reports so you can find more info about any unit in AZ. http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunting_units.shtml yes, thank you. I have been referring to that azgfd site page since November. It has helped. Enjoyed reading about your 2010 October "puzzle rock" coues hunt too. does AZ in units 23, 24B, 24A have any such terrain with good stands of ponderosa pines? NOt looking for honey holes or specifics but generally North, south unit locations or drainages. Image below is of me & treestand hunting on the wetside of WA in 2011. Blacktail deer here are similar in nature to what I read about Coues deer, just different environments. We consider this deer to be one of the toughest to be successful on in these parts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
standman Report post Posted January 11, 2012 yes, thank you. I have been referring to that azgfd site page since November. It has helped. Enjoyed reading about your 2010 October coues hunt too. does AZ in units 23, 24B, 24A have any such terrain with good stands of ponderosa pines? NOt looking for honey holes or specifics but generally North, south unit locations or drainages. I don't hunt 24B much, but, yes 23 (northern 2/3 of unit), 24A (Some in the northern part and quite a bit in the Pinals), and 22 (the northern half of the unit) have a lot of higher terrian that supports ponderosa pines, pinon pine, douglas fir, and juniper. You will not have any problem finding what you are looking for in these units. Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAVinWA Report post Posted January 11, 2012 I don't hunt 24B much, but, yes 23 (northern 2/3 of unit), 24A (Some in the northern part and quite a bit in the Pinals), and 22 (the northern half of the unit) have a lot of higher terrian that supports ponderosa pines, pinon pine, douglas fir, and juniper. You will not have any problem finding what you are looking for in these units. Brian Ahhh, thank you. Good info! this will help my first in the field scouting Jan.20-23 and area to focus on for future scouting this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted January 11, 2012 I don't hunt 24B much, but, yes 23 (northern 2/3 of unit), 24A (Some in the northern part and quite a bit in the Pinals), and 22 (the northern half of the unit) have a lot of higher terrian that supports ponderosa pines, pinon pine, douglas fir, and juniper. You will not have any problem finding what you are looking for in these units. Brian Brian gave you good info. If you have topo maps, look for areas above 7,000 ft for ponderosa pines. There will be some patches of forest below that, but the pines get thicker above that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
200"mulie Report post Posted January 11, 2012 Welcome aboard...it's to bad your up in phoenix otherwise i would help you on some hunts. I'm down in Tucson mostly doing solo hunts myself. Andrew P.S. to get away from hunters get off the roads...hike in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
