Best tactic for bowhunting coues?

[Heinz57]

This year will be my first bowhunting attempt as well as coues attempt. What would you consider to be the best method for bowhunting these coues deer? Spot and stalk, treestand, blind? I'm pretty confident with my Diamond out to about 50-60 yards. Let me know your thoughts and any bowhunting advice would be greatly appreciated! I'd like to put up a trail cam, but haven't used one before. How should I decide where to put one up? I'll be either on Ft. Huachuca, or close by in unit 34 or 35. Thanks...

[soccerstar2013]

If you can find a trail or water source being used daily by multiple deer a treestand or blind is a great option if you have the patience! If not I always like to spot n stalk mornings and evenings and sit water during the day that way you have the best of both worlds! Setting up a treestand takes a lot of scouting but if you do it right it can really pay off! If your looking to set up trail cams I suggest using more than 1 if possible so you aren't limited to one area! Just my opinion!

[ready2hunt]

If you can find a trail or water source being used daily by multiple deer a treestand or blind is a great option if you have the patience! If not I always like to spot n stalk mornings and evenings and sit water during the day that way you have the best of both worlds! Setting up a treestand takes a lot of scouting but if you do it right it can really pay off! If your looking to set up trail cams I suggest using more than 1 if possible so you aren't limited to one area! Just my opinion!

 

+1 on the water source. You're obviously not going to be the only one who knows where water is (meaning other hunters) but don't be afraid to put up a camera. Look for game trails that lead in or out of a lush area....setting up a camera on a trail that leads to water can often times be more effective especially if others are already hunting that water hole. The fall (Oct. Nov.) can be very dry times of the year.

 

One thing that I have done personally and have had excellent results doing is builing my own trail. I read about in a feild and stream mag. long time ago. I found trail and the used a rake and built my own trail leading away from it to some corn or a lick. Doing this I have led deer right to where want them to be without disturbing forest. I have a couple of areas now where I have coues coming into consitently and got a buck in one last year! Its been really fun but some other hunters followed my trail as well haha....(just the way it goes). I really like Primos Game cameras, they work great and for $100 I have been pretty impressed with the picture and preformance.

[Coach]

If you find water that they are using, and can sit during the week when pressure is light, you should get shot opportunities.

[mattys281]

I used to be all about the spot & stalk game & managed to work my way into a couple of shot opportunities. The last couple years, though, I've switched to glassing as a scouting tool, along with trail cams, & sitting ambushes during the actual season. The main reason for my switch is that the area that I normally hunt has a good deer population, but it's very difficult stocking country. Almost impossible to close the gap undetected. In other units, stalking may be a better fit. Anyhow, I'd say the proper tactic depends on the hunter & the area together.

 

Spotting & stalking, you'll see a lot more deer. Sitting ambushes, you'll get more close encounter & shot opportunities. Just my 2 cents.

[Pine Donkey]

You are hunting Fort Huachuca, it is loaded with coues. I would suggest using a tactic called Fort Calling.

 

First let me set the scene. The fort is a large area with relatively little development. Most of the area has coues, but those that live on the hills above the old officer's row are particularly easy to hunt. As you may have noticed, that area, the nearby parade grounds and cemetery all have a lot of fruit trees, primarily apple. The deer love the fruit of these trees. As soon as the low hanging fruit ripens, they remove it. There are a lot more deer than low hanging apples, so the herds hang out around the area waiting for an apple to fall.

 

Just find a trail on the nearby hills and set up your ground blind. Get settled in, nock an arrow, and get ready to begin some Fort calling. Open the window of your blind, grab an apple, toss it out the window. The deer will come running to the sound of it hitting the ground. Now your biggest challenge will be to wait until the little ones move out of the way so that you can get a clear shot at the big ones. You should be back home with a trophy by noon.

 

Oh, I wish it were this easy...

 

I would hunt in the area of the aerostat. Lots of quality deer and less people than you will find around the West gate area.

 

Good luck and post your stories.

[tjhunt2]

You are hunting Fort Huachuca, it is loaded with coues. I would suggest using a tactic called Fort Calling.

 

First let me set the scene. The fort is a large area with relatively little development. Most of the area has coues, but those that live on the hills above the old officer's row are particularly easy to hunt. As you may have noticed, that area, the nearby parade grounds and cemetery all have a lot of fruit trees, primarily apple. The deer love the fruit of these trees. As soon as the low hanging fruit ripens, they remove it. There are a lot more deer than low hanging apples, so the herds hang out around the area waiting for an apple to fall.

 

Just find a trail on the nearby hills and set up your ground blind. Get settled in, nock an arrow, and get ready to begin some Fort calling. Open the window of your blind, grab an apple, toss it out the window. The deer will come running to the sound of it hitting the ground. Now your biggest challenge will be to wait until the little ones move out of the way so that you can get a clear shot at the big ones. You should be back home with a trophy by noon.

 

Oh, I wish it were this easy...

 

I would hunt in the area of the aerostat. Lots of quality deer and less people than you will find around the West gate area.

 

Good luck and post your stories.

 

Now that's some funny stuff right there. :lol:

 

TJ

[Heinz57]

You are hunting Fort Huachuca, it is loaded with coues. I would suggest using a tactic called Fort Calling.

 

First let me set the scene. The fort is a large area with relatively little development. Most of the area has coues, but those that live on the hills above the old officer's row are particularly easy to hunt. As you may have noticed, that area, the nearby parade grounds and cemetery all have a lot of fruit trees, primarily apple. The deer love the fruit of these trees. As soon as the low hanging fruit ripens, they remove it. There are a lot more deer than low hanging apples, so the herds hang out around the area waiting for an apple to fall.

 

Just find a trail on the nearby hills and set up your ground blind. Get settled in, nock an arrow, and get ready to begin some Fort calling. Open the window of your blind, grab an apple, toss it out the window. The deer will come running to the sound of it hitting the ground. Now your biggest challenge will be to wait until the little ones move out of the way so that you can get a clear shot at the big ones. You should be back home with a trophy by noon.

 

Oh, I wish it were this easy...

 

I would hunt in the area of the aerostat. Lots of quality deer and less people than you will find around the West gate area.

 

Good luck and post your stories.

 

Fort calling....now that's a good one! I'll be sure to get some apple scented candles to bring along with me.

[kaibabkiller]

August= Ground blind or tree strand over corn and minerals.

Dec./ Jan.= Spot and stalk

Best of both worlds!