Joe Kauffman Report post Posted November 12, 2007 My boy is a bit tired this evening so I'm posting for him . I'm definately no coues expert but it seems like the winds we've had today and late yesterday have put the deer down deep in the draws and held up tight. We hiked in 45 minutes before light this morning and glassed until 10am and saw 1 doe with a fawn. We decided to high tail it to a new area and glassed some of the best looking, pounded with sign areas I've seen yet and didn't glass up any deer. No doubt they were there, just held up tight in the thick cover. Hopefully the wind will break in the morning and we'll have some more luck! Either way, we're having a blast together and the hunt has been more enjoyable than I could have dreamed. I consider myself a dang good hiker and he's been right there every step of the way. I'm absolute amazed and extremely proud of his patience, attitude and drive during this whole hunt. Even after busting our rears this evening, his spirits were high and asked where we were going tomorrow morning before we even got back to the truck! Joe Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COUESAZ Report post Posted November 12, 2007 It sounds like you are doing it all right Joe. Are there any good canyons that are steep on both sides and close together in the middle of the canyon and then open up along the mountain to form kind of like a bowl with a couple saddles in it. I know that sounds kind of strange in my discription but i am sure you can picture what i am talking about. Any ways i have found that those areas block the wind the best for the deer. And they fill safer in them while bedding down because they have more than one way to get out of dodge when they need to. What has the sky been like is it all blue sky or is it overcast at all. just wondering with the wind what the sky has been like. When the sky is clear and brite deer can almost be blinded like people when they are snow blind. And when the wind is blowing it makes it even worse. that is one reason they will find the shade and out of the wind is so they can stay alert.This is what i was told by an old timer one time. I do not know how true it is. I have been meaning to ask amanda about it to see if it is true or not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Kauffman Report post Posted November 20, 2007 Well the season is over and the hunt was a HUGE success. We headed back down last Friday and spent the weekend hunting some ground we had seen several bucks in during our scouting trip and the previous weekend. We left the truck an hour before daylight Saturday morning and were in place atop a high ridge eagerly waiting sunrise. 10 minutes after shooting light came my son and I were both glassing the ridges coming down from the hilltop we were on when I spotted a very nice 3x3 at just over 500 yards. We hadn't even touched 90% of the area we could see but with a good buck within staulking distance we decided to go after him. Garrett has practiced out to 275 yards with his .243 and I was confident that if we could get within 350 yards we'd have a buck down. The only problem was that we had to back track a bit before we could cut any of the distance between us and the buck. We watched him walk over the top of a ridge and hurried to get to the spot we had last seen him in hopes of catching him heading down the ridge for a shot. The one thing we've learned on this trip is that these mature bucks don't stop very often! By the time we got to the ridge he was on (10 minutes max) he had crossed the next canyon and was topping the next ridge over 700 yards away. We decided to sit this ridge that was overlooking a nice bowl with plenty of smaller ridges and draws to see if we could pick up any other bucks sunning themselves in the warm morning sun. Within a couple of minutes I picked up a spike at roughly 425 yards and he was in the perfect spot to put a good sneak on. This was the first buck that we'd seen who didn't seem to concerned about moving 5 miles in a short period of time so just after he fed his way over top the ridge we spotted him on we high tailed it up the ridge anticipating him being half way down the next ridge well in range for my son to get a shot. We should have known better! When we topped the ridge he was 320 yards down in the flat below us. This was definately in Gman's shooting range so he quickly setup in the prone position with the bipod and began to try and find the buck in his scope. The spike moved into a thicket and popped out the other side with a small forky next to him. Then into another ocotilla thicket and out with yet another forky! Now there were 3 small bucks at 312 yards just waiting for my sons attempt. This is where the fun began! My son has shot small game his whole life, but has never experienced the thrill of seeing a big game animal through the scope and it was quite the learning curve for him. He spotted and lost the buck in his scope three times while trying to control his excitement and reposition himself for a steady shot. After finding one of the small forky's in his scope for the 3rd time I heard him click the safety off as the buck walked behind a heavy ocotilla. There were 5 directions he could take that would have placed him out in the open for a great shot but he took the one outlet he had that guarantee his safety by dropping over the edge of the flat into a small thick draw. I heard the safety click back on just as my son let out a quiet giggle letting me know that even though he didn't bag a buck the excitement he had from coming this close was plenty enough to make all the hiking and hard work we'd put into it well worth it. I was a bit worried about having his first big game hunt be a coues hunt down south because of the terrain and amount of hiking just to get to a good vantage point but was completely amazed at his drive and enthusiasm. My wife and I must have done something right because he blew away any expectations I may have had for him and the hunt. Thanks again for a great hunt buddy! Now it's off to your 39 muzzy javelina hunt this weekend! Joe Kauffman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues Sniper Report post Posted November 20, 2007 Sounds like you guys had a great time! Congratulations on having a successful hunt even though you didn't fill the tag. You guys know what's most important and that's great. And it sounds like you have quite a hunter on your hands! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COUESAZ Report post Posted November 20, 2007 Sounds great joe. Thanks fo rkeeping us posted i look forward to hearing about his hunts in the years to come. Now for the next question did you see any country that hold the other stuff we like to hunt for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Kauffman Report post Posted November 20, 2007 Jade, Chris and I are already planning a recon trip in the near future! I saw some country that definately holds some possibilities. Hopefully this thread will spill over to the AZO forum and show some gold! I did come across some gullies back in quite a ways that had some handstacking in them and some old workings on the hills. Those oldtimers didn't clear out the creeks like that for nothing. They must have been getting some goodies. Joe Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AzTrapper Report post Posted November 20, 2007 Jade, Chris and I are already planning a recon trip in the near future! I saw some country that definately holds some possibilities. Hopefully this thread will spill over to the AZO forum and show some gold! I did come across some gullies back in quite a ways that had some handstacking in them and some old workings on the hills. Those oldtimers didn't clear out the creeks like that for nothing. They must have been getting some goodies. Joe Joe Glad to hear everything went better the last weekend for you, I ended up having to cut my hunt short and not hunting at all Sunday and not being able to come around your camp Saturday night either. When I left from where I was glassing I also lost my cell phone (went back this morning and it was still where I lost it). Hope you guys do better on your pig hunt! Sorry I put you guys in that area with the way the bucks changed overnight. I feel bad for your little hunter putting in the work he did and not getting a deer! At least you found some area you want to go look at again. Tell Garrett I say Hello! AzTrapper Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COUESAZ Report post Posted November 21, 2007 I will head over to AZO and pm you. WE do not want to perk to many opf the coues hunters to our other hunting. Then the copetition will be just as bad as coues hunting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
garrett kauffman Report post Posted November 23, 2007 hy guys I got drawn for the spring rifle 20b 21 pig hunt in Jan.!!!!!!!!!! your friend, garrett Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COUESAZ Report post Posted November 23, 2007 Garrett sounds great Bud. Thanks for taking us all along on your hunt for your coues deer. Looking forward to your posts on your pig hunt keep us updated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John O Report post Posted November 23, 2007 Sounds like a great hunt Joe. I can relate to a lot of your experiences. Me and my 10 year old saw a lot of does, and had an opportunity at bucks, but couldn't close the deal. I didn't feel like the hunt was any less of a success by not filling his tag, which says we were doing it right. It sounds like you were doing it right as well, and I look forward to hearing more of your experiences in the future. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
garrett kauffman Report post Posted December 8, 2007 Hy guys I cant wait intill my hunt in Feb. When I get a pig I will change that stupid pick that I have now. My parents went out tonight to some holiday party that my dad has at his work so I have a babysiter!!! Garrett Kauffman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
garrett kauffman Report post Posted January 3, 2008 Hi I was wondering how yer guys Christmas went . Mine was good i got a 80GB ipod, ihome,(big speekers for my ipod) and a hole bunch of uther stuff! senseruly, Garrett Kauffman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
garrett kauffman Report post Posted March 13, 2008 i got a pig!!!!!!!!!! im so happy i know it was in feb. but i still have that agenlin!! reapley soon, garrett kauffman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
