Great opening day for our camp!

[azffhunter]

Well, this was my first Coues Deer hunt and boy what a hunt it was! We had three tags in our camp and all of us were lucky enough to tag out on opening day!

 

We headed out in anticipation about an hour before first light on opening morning. Perhaps it was just me, but it sure seemed as though the sun was taking its sweet time coming up that morning. But, as it does every day the sun began to light up the sky. It was truly a beautiful sight to see as the sun crested the ridge line casting its rays across the hunting grounds. I had just began glassing when I got a call from my buddy saying he was on two bucks! His dad quickly maneuvered to help his son, hopeful to get a shot at the second one. It wasn't long before the unmistakable sound of their .300 Win Mag rang through the canyon, followed by the call with the news...."two bucks down"! They both made excellent shots and we spent the rest of the morning packing them out and skinning them.

 

After a short nap and some lunch, my buddy and I headed out to try and fill my tag. We hunted a "foot access only" area and before we knew it, we were 2 miles in surrounded by lush canyons sure to be filled with the mysterious and elusive Coues Deer. The temperatures were pretty warm so we really weren't seeing a whole lot of movement until we were creeping up on last light. Then I glassed up three nice bucks across the canyon. I quickly set up for the shot using my new TriClawps. With only a few minutes of light left I was able to get it done and put my first Coues buck on the ground. That's right about the time that I started to realize that we were pretty deep into this canyon and the GPS said we were 2 miles from the truck as the crow flies....but we all know that crows don't follow the trails. After a quick field dress, we found an Agave pole and tied the deer to it allowing us to hike my prize out. After a long and rough 3 hour hike in the dark we finally made it back to the truck, and not a moment too soon....we were completely exhausted!

 

So, as this hunt comes to an end I will be taking a few thoughts with me. First, good friends are hard to come by these days. To me, anyone that is willing to put in as much work as we did that night to help me pull this buck out is without a doubt a good friend. This hunt simply would not have been possible, given the location and terrain we were in, without my good buddy PJ's help. So PJ, thank you just doesn't seem to be enough but it's all I have. You're a true friend and I am grateful to call you one. Second, I am very proud of this buck for several reasons. First, it's a Coues Deer and those little suckers are like stealthy ninjas so for me to even have the opportunity makes me grateful. Second, as much work as it was to get into the area, and triple the work to get him out, I really feel like I earned this buck and that for me feels like an amazing accomplishment. Lastly...it's just plain impossible to beat spending time in an amazing hunting camp with even more than amazing people. A huge thanks to the Menehune family for inviting me to join you for this years hunt.

 

Now....time to start counting the days until next years hunt!!

[Shedhunteraz]

COngrats on the hunt to all of you guys. Nice looking bucks!!!

[bigorange]

Awesome...great story and 3 very nice bucks. CONGRATS!

[bonecollector]

Congrats on all the success and great write up. Thanks for sharing

[CouesWhitetail]

Congratulations! Excellent write-up!

 

Dont forget to enter your bucks in the Coues buck contest! They don't have to be big to win!

http://www.coueswhit...s-buck-contest/

[krod]

Well done!!! Your great story and pics get me fired up for my hunt on the 9th! I hope i can come home with something half that size..Congrats!!!!

[Willyhunts2]

That's sweet. Congrats to all the hunter!

[Will K]

That's cool. Congrat's.

[stanley]

Wow! 'Wackin and Stackin'!!!

 

Congrats on a great opening day!

 

S.