CouesWhitetail Report post Posted January 4, 2013 I am loving the story and pics, please keep taking us along! The doves may have been inca doves or ruddy ground doves.... here is a link to a photo that shows both. They are very small doves. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted January 4, 2013 Enjoying the updates. Keep at it and find that buck your after. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cramerhunts Report post Posted January 4, 2013 Awe man I can't wait for tomorrow's update! Awesome job so far! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big or Bust Report post Posted January 4, 2013 Did you go see the petroglyphs while you were in there? I've only recently seen coues in there, even in the valley flood below the pond there. Good luck and keep us posted - Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
idgaf Report post Posted January 5, 2013 Did you go see the petroglyphs while you were in there? I've only recently seen coues in there, even in the valley flood below the pond there. Good luck and keep us posted - No I always mean to go, but I had to get out of there before I screamed. According to a G&F Manager Dan King killed that giant buck back there. I have seen Coues to the North end of the valley for many years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
idgaf Report post Posted January 5, 2013 Day 4. I got my mojo back for the most part. All things started out pretty routine 4:00 am start the coffee, make lunch, make breakfast (in that order) grab snacks drink coffee, fill thermos and head out. I was going to go into Solano Canyon for most of the day, but that voice in my head kept saying go with what you know and those bucks you saw a couple of years ago will be two years older. So once again I gave in and steered a course for redondo canyon by the house. Interesting side note a family friend was born in that house back in the 40's I believe. I realized the three major disadvantages of solo hunting while travelling the 45 minutes or so to my destination. First it is always my turn to make coffee. Second, if you shoot something you have to carry out yourself and take your own pictures. And most importantly I have to open and close the 10 gates or so from where I am camped to where I am going. I get to my parking spot about an hour before sunup and start for an hour or so to my first glassing spot. I notice the sun coming and go to take a picture and my camera is completely dead. The batteries are brand new and lithium 8X so I was a little annoyed. I think I got that Ghost Hunter thing going on where spirits manifest and suck up your battery life. I managed to take a couple of cell pics. After seeing absolutely nothing except a few cows. I noticed the silence. Not a bird or cow or breath of wind. Not to sound sappy but I understood for a moment the cliche "silence is deafening" I looked up and realized I needed to get higher up the hill and check out the other side. It was a place I had not been in twenty years, climbing to that area was like being on a stairmaster for two hours. I was feeling the burn but once I got to the top I was rewarded with seeing two does. I was considering going standman style in pass between the two mountains, but decided against it and just went to the plain old fashion glassing. I was rewarded within a few minutes and found a thick branch antler buck. I texted my brother with what I thought he would score and his characteristics. Long main beams, Thick, really long eyeguards, Short points and a really big body. The guy was fat. He kept replying "SHOOT!!!" but I was still not sure. I watched him for several minutes trying to figure out what he was doing. He was in the shade moving to the sun in some ocotillos. I kept wondering why is doing this. I really wish I had my camera working he kept posing for me.. He is in that picture somewhere but you can get an idea of the terrain I started my stalk once he disappeared on the other side of the ridge. I was still unsure on whether or not I wanted to shoot him. I was getting closer and realized I had a perfect spot for him on my wall next to my buck from last year on one of those things that hold euro skulls that I got from Amanda. i made a three quarter effort stalk and where I got to where I thought he was I saw two does getting harassed by a spike a hundred yards or so below me. I walked down a little farther and spooked everything in all directions. I made the mistake that I always tell myself not to make. A stalk is not over until twenty minutes after you think its over. The buck was moving to protect the virtue of the does from the overzealous teenager. I am kinda glad the buck did not take my breath. After a quick jaunt to three points for advil, propane and batteries i came back and hit the flats. After a few hours of slow moving I found a tall body three point that did not want to pose for me. Please excuse my ramblings on this one I fell asleep twice writting it. Two days left its time to get salty and not stop until I find the giant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cramerhunts Report post Posted January 5, 2013 Great sounding day, way to keep at it and thanks for the update. Good luck tomorrow! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
200"mulie Report post Posted January 5, 2013 very nice ..congrats ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azhornhunter Report post Posted January 5, 2013 Sounds like its been a fun hunt so far, keep it up. I hunted 36c twice, once in october (92" buck) and once in december (75" buck). Seeing your pictures brings brings back good memories. I can't wait to see what the next couple days bring. Good luck Keep the sun on your back & wind in your face Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sniper Report post Posted January 6, 2013 edge...of...my...seat...over...here.................keep after it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
idgaf Report post Posted January 6, 2013 Man, just read what I wrote yesterday. Funny thing was I knew what I wanted to say, but I was so mentally and physically drained I could not interpret from my brain to the my fingers. Day 5. Started out as usual me making coffee in the cold and I decided to head to the Grand Canyon. I spotted a giant buck in there a few rifle seasons ago. I would have shot but I had a kid I use to work with, with me and he whined to the point that I gave in and he missed by about 20 feet. As I drove down the little two track the memories of hunts past hit me from that road. Like My brother taking 25 inch three point when we were in my Jeep CJ5. After much discussion we put it on the back seat and buckled it in with the head and rack hanging out the back like a drunk guy with a heavy head. I wish I still had that labtop with those pictures on it. Here is a pic that does not do the buck justice. I get to my predetermined glassing point and glass for a few minutes thinking I will work the edge of the canyon glassing from every reasonable point until I get to the end. Right then, I see a fellow hunter working the center of the canyon. Time to change course and slow walk desert flats back to the truck. Once again I run into more Javelina, the more I watch there behavior the more curious I get. I go a little farther and notice Kitt's Peak off in the distance and wonder how the hunting is up there. It should be federal so part of the 36-c not the Tohono o'odom Nation. I get back to camp earlier than I have all week and start making lunch when a hunter working his way back along the fence line stops by. We chat a little bit and found out he was on a three point earlier but was busted by one of his does. We talk a little further and he confirms that one of the bucks I thought was only a rumor is real. Drop tine. This gave me motivation to get at. I start working the flats again with new vigor hoping to get a look at this buck. I ran across a solo 3 point that did not want his picture taken, but was within range of an archery shot for a time. I go a little farther and run into more Javelina making this the fourth separate herd I have ran into. This one had a couple of screamers in it that yelp when they ran I got the male really mad for a moment and he wanted to fight. The afternoon was uneventful for the most part with exception of a creepy owl that followed me. Right then my camera batteries died again. Ghost hunters, I guess I have a lot pottery shards where my tent is. I guess for tomorrow I will have to play Moses and go to the top of the mountain. There is an old waterhole that was I believe was a WPA project from the Roosevelt era up there. If I can make it my knees and feet are rebelling right now and the bottoms of my feet are pretty red and purple patina from the miles walked. My wife gave me some words of encouragement by saying "don't settle get the one you want." I have to remind myself this is only the first week of January and whether I am hunting Camelback Mountain or A Mountain I will not lower standards this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
'Ike' Report post Posted January 6, 2013 Awesome.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cramerhunts Report post Posted January 6, 2013 Ok here it goes....hang in there, don't lower your standards, wait for the one you want, the year is early! Good luck today and enjoy the journey, I've been loving the updates! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
idgaf Report post Posted January 8, 2013 Well my six days in 36c came and went. I pushed myself to the limit and did not come out successful in the standard sense of putting my tag on a deer. I am successful in a greater way to me, I was able to look temptation in the face and not compromise. I could have easily taken my third pope and young class buck in four years and decided against it , because it did not meet the standards I set on myself. A friend of mine asked me what size of buck am I looking for and I simple stated one that takes my breath and I do not have to think about if its a shooter. My taxidermist once put me in check about scores. He said and I am paraphrasing you do not register an animal in a record book to honor the hunter. You register the animal to honor the animal and the place it was taken, anyways, I gave my fullest effort hunting from Dawn til dusk every day and probally saw less than most hunters will see in a morning of glassing. Thanks for coming along with me I will be back once I get a few moments to break from reality and enjoy the bonus photos from 24a. Day 6. Started off with me waking up excited to go to the top of the mountain, then I took one step and my feet and knees went into full lock out. They refused to work I decided it might be best to drive around a little bit and find a waterhole and sit at it until lunch time. I do enjoy the sunrises in the desert. I go a little farther I see a small(ish) four point at the end of my range. I go to take his picture but he bails right when I snapped the pic. I go to the first waterhole that I was going to sit and a bunch of hitchhikers come to my truck as I am getting my gear ready and try to get into my truck I find a waterhole on the southside of the ranch that I have seen quite a few coues come into. I grab my gear and go finding a place with good wind and adequate cover to keep my oversized butt hidden for a few hours. I look and the wind becomes dead still for a moment. Getting bored I had this guy keeping me company getting rid of those pesky ants. I finally had some action a doe came in and I took several pics but for some reason none of them came out. I ended my trip with my head held high, feeling like I was in championship bout with an old sparring partner going the distance and then losing a split decision. Bonus day 7. Fortunely, I have a job where my scenery changes and after I completed my work I was headed back up the hill when I decided to take a detour for the last two hours of the day. I climb to the top of the hill and immediately catch these guys getting ready to kick each others butt. One of them flipped a cactus patty about ten feet in the air and then started his attack. The second picture he has him on the ground you can notice his back line above the cactus. It would have been easy to stalk up to them they were preoccupied but instead I just enjoyed the show. I walked a little further and thought to myself for just a moment thats a pretty good whitetail. He came closer and closer until he got within first pin range. Once again thanks for reading my longwinded story and cramerhunts is right this is only the first week of January. I am going to find the difference between very good and great . I will not compromise this year to see if I can actually accomplish my goal. I hope the next time I post a pic its a grip and grin picture with a giant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
standman Report post Posted January 8, 2013 Thanks for taking the time to post all your daily travels and photos.....The whole thread has been way cool. Brian 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
