lucky2hunt Report post Posted January 23, 2012 Last February at the ADA Banquet, after some low bidding and a few whiskies my husband bought me a Sonoran Mexico Coues Hunt with Mexafari Outfitters! The hunt was planned for the day after Thanksgiving but was postponed when Javier called and said the ranch had received an unprecedented 3" of rain in one day! Finally, I get the call, the ranch has dried out a bit, the moon is right, my 5 day hunt starts Jan. 15th! After reading Amanda's past stories of hunting at the same ranch, we decide to drive so we can see the country. Being comfortable with driving through Sonora we agree to meet our outfitter Javier Monge in Hermosillo. Along with Javier is another hunter who won his hunt on a $5.00 raffle ticket at another banquet (lucky him)! We are in for a long day... To Hermosillo 3 hours, Herosillo to the ranch, 6 hours! From Hermosillo it is only 180 miles but roads are narrow, winding and steep! And full of hazards! We got to the ranch well after dark, about 10pm. After getting gear ready for morning and a quick bean burro we hit the sack. The plan was for me to use my bow, I would sit in a blind at a natural spring while the other hunter would go with Javier's son and another guide and rifle hunt. Roger and Javier would go scout some other locations for me, there is still too much water for my liking! View from my blind! First day was a bust for me! 11 hours of watching birds Get back to the ranch and hear stories of tons of deer seen by everyone, with 15-20-30 bucks seen! Day 2 - 11 more hours in the same blind! Ahhhhh I see 2 cows! Same stories from the night before, yes, I am getting jealous! Day 3 - I switch to a different spring, Miguel the cowboy has seen some recent action at this one. Roger and Javier sit with me for a while. While glassing a nearby hillside, Roger sees and points out a nice buck. I see him for a split second before he walks into a saddle. YAY! my first deer sighting! Javier leaves me, Roger leaves me I sit for 8 hours and nothing.... do you see a pattern here? Javier keeps imploring patience on my part but with time running out for my hunt and I've only seen a handful of deer I'm loosing any hope on these waterholes. Day 4 - I go back to the same spring as the day before, the wind is at my back, I wait for it to change but it doesn't. I hear deer sounding an alarm, I've been busted! The plan is I sit all day. Nope, I decided to change the plan, I walk out and back to the ranch. I find Roger and Javier glassing a nearby hill, they said they had been watching bucks chase does all morning and most headed my way. I explained the wind, Javier wanted me to go back, but I said after sitting 36 hours, I was ready to go see some deer! This country is NOT for sissies! Every day I walk about a mile into the blinds, there are bushes that poke, stick, scratch and grab you everywhere! And it's steep! That afternoon we took my bow and Javier's 7mm rifle, we made some stalks but were busted, the vegetation is so thick, it's hard to be quiet. Javier took us on a grueling march over several ridges to a place where the cowboy had seen a big buck hanging out. Once there we spotted deer... about 3 miles away Javier did glass up a Jaguar so that was pretty cool! Running out of daylight we decided we better get off the mountain while we still could. Last day of the hunt... The Bowhunter in me relented, I decide to use Javier's rifle! We go to the place where Roger and Javier have watched the same buck for 3 days now. Amanda, you should recognize these hills! We spot him right away at daylight, it's the same buck Roger showed me 3 days ago. They had watched him every day. Javier and I decide to move closer, we leave Roger back to watch and guide us. It's so thick we can't see anything, Roger motions to us that he can't see the deer any longer. We continue to where we saw him last, all of a sudden a doe jumps through the brush heading right at us, turning 30 yards into and past thick bushes. Just then we see the buck we are after chasing her, I get down on a knee, prepare for a shot thinking he was going to take the same path, instead, he dips into a deep arroyo and is gone! He was so intent on that doe, he never saw us. We didn't want to push him so we decided to back out and try and glass him up again. With no luck at finding him and the day getting hotter we decide to go back to the ranch for lunch and come back in the afternoon. We glass and I'm just about resigned to the fact I will not get a deer this trip... With just 2 hours left in the hunt, Javier finds the buck! Not seeing how we can get any closer he ask if I am ready for a long shot, I'm game! I rest the rifle on a downed tree, it is sighted in for 300 yards, the shot is 385 yards, I take my time (Roger & Javier said it was a very long time) hold a bit high, and squeeze... Bang and WHACK!!! Roger said the magic words "He's down" I was elated!!! We make our way over to the deer and I couldn't have been happier! No, I didn't get him with a bow, but I worked hard and feel like I earned this beautiful deer! My Guide - Eagle Eyes Javier And my best hunting partner - Roger Looking through his antlers you can see the ranch in the background Enjoying success and the view! View from above We enjoyed this trip so much, wonderful people have become good friends, the food was fantastic and the countryside was amazingly beautiful! We can only hope to return again! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted January 23, 2012 Congratulations!! That's a bummer you didn't get to make it happen with your bow, but congratulations on your buck! Looks like long beams on that buck! Javier will be donating the same hunt to the AZ Deer Association banquet again this year, so you just might get your chance to go back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucky2hunt Report post Posted January 23, 2012 A few extra pictures... Roger spent some time fishing at the pond near the ranch! Good thing that he did, a ranch dog got into an ice chest and ate some of our food. Roger caught enough fish to feed the whole camp dinner one night! These two became fast friends, Javier says the are now 'brothers' Glassing from the porch The amazing Miguel who backpacked my deer more than a mile out! Entrance to the ranch My deer! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SunDevil Report post Posted January 23, 2012 Holy cow Ilene - look at the main beams on that buck. I have never seen that much length between a G3 and the end of a main beam before. Nuthin wrong with those firesticks. 385 is impressive for someone who is use to shooting so much closer. congrats and thanks for sharing. glad you had a good time and made it home safely. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
out2hunt Report post Posted January 23, 2012 Great Buck!!!! I love the long main beams and your pics are awesome. Thank you for sharing your hunt with our family. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pine Donkey Report post Posted January 23, 2012 Wow, that is some serious main beam length. Congratulations on getting such a nice buck after all the hard work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mrs125coues Report post Posted January 23, 2012 Congrats on the Deer!!! Great job. Hope to see ya'll at the banquet again next month. Kathi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peloncillo Report post Posted January 24, 2012 Thats a real nice buck. Glad it all worked out for you and that is a nice looking ranch. Keven Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stanley Report post Posted January 24, 2012 Awesome, Eileen!!! VERY glad you had a great experience! Great pictures and write-up, too! Thanks for sharing with all of us! S. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gotcoues Report post Posted January 24, 2012 I'm so glad you surrendered and got one with a rifle, there is no shame in that. You could of sat that blind forever with no guarantee. That is an awesome buck for sure. I'm sorry, I have to ask, how long are those main beams? Looks like if they curled in, they would overlap! Awesome deer, congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucky2hunt Report post Posted January 24, 2012 I have to ask, how long are those main beams? Looks like if they curled in, they would overlap! Awesome deer, congrats! I honestly do not know, I don't know how to measure antlers. Maybe when I see Amanda at the Women's Javi Hunt she can measure it for me! Thanks everyone!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azcouesfanatic Report post Posted January 24, 2012 Ilene, That is a great buck. I bet those beams are somewhere around 18" maybe more. Looks like Javier took great care of you. Congrats Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couzer Report post Posted January 24, 2012 Congrats on a nice buck! Love those main beams! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted January 24, 2012 Great write up and pics to go along with it. Congrats on a nice buck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted January 24, 2012 Great hunt, great story, and fantastic pictures. Huge congrats on a really nice and unique buck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
