Nov coues Unit 33

[coueshunter84]

Not the biggest on the mountain. But will look good on the wall. I only had one or two days to hunt, and my partner had tagged his first coues on opening day without me. I had a daughter getting a cast removed. ( the one she got while I was elk hunting that caused me to miss most of my archery elk hunt. LOL got to love little girls). So anything with antlers was going in the freezer. We made our first glassing spot right at first light. And after glassing for several hours all we had come up with is 2 does, one fawn, and one bobcat. I started my third or fourth pass with the glasses, and caught a deer just topping over the hill onto our side of things. I watched it for a few minutes, and was finally able to see antlers. Game on!! due to the distance I was not able to tell how big it was just that it had something on its head other then its ears. He topped the skyline of the saddle at a little more then a mile and a half from where we were sitting.

 

 

The plan being to watch him bed and then go in. Within a few minutes the lone buck had company as the rest of the bach herd made it over the crest of the hill. All 3 had antlers. Even better now, more to choose from. While just looking for freezer meat, I will not pass the chance at something a little bigger. I spotted them at about 0830, and they fed down the hill a ways. Finally bedding just after 1000. A quick game plan was made and the stalk was on. The 2 of us made it to within 403 yards of the biggest one in about 45 minutes. We stopped on a little ridge just to set up and try to find a way to get closer.

 

 

Now all I need is to find a way to get closer, or for him to stand and give me a shot. Now, I'm usually an archer and patience involves being close and waiting. Which for some reason, now seems easier to deal with .This sitting out and waiting is killing me. Maybe if we back out and come over the top. Ruled out, wind is in our faces right now. And will take 3 hours to get over to the back side.

 

Just after 1100 he stands. No shot, only belly visible through the shooting lane I had. Then he finally turns around, again no shot, and he bedded back in the same spot. and so the day goes on from here like this.

 

1215hrs. He stands again. And once again, no shot. this time he stayed up for about 3 minutes milling around behind the mesquite. Agian no shot was available, and he bedded again in the exact same spot. By now we have measured him anywhere from 75"to 100" as he was bedded, the only thing we were able to see was his head and antlers and he was giving us every angle to look at. Maybe if we move left and down that drainage then back up. Nope, ruled out, will not have a shot even if we do get closer.

 

1245hrs, One of the little forks stands and almost catches a bullet out of pure frusteration. he moves around and lays down right under the bigger one. With my partner all but phycially holding my finger off the trigger the little one escapes certain freezerdom. We haev to get closer, How about the right side. Again ruled out. will be visible the last 300 yards, no cover at all.

 

After 2 hours of discussion we determined that we were as close as we were going to get, due to wind direction and the placement of the 3 bucks. With this being decided the range was firmed up with 2 different range finders. The tripod was modified into a shooting tripod, and everything was set up for the wait.

 

1330hrs. Frusteration levels are now maxed out and have been for over an hour. We have watched him do everything but stand up, and give me a shot. hes cleaned himself several times, chewed his cud, cleaned himself, taken a nap. You name everything except get shot.

 

1445 hrs, He stands again, This time the rifle dosen't even come up. Once again no shot is given. this time hes up for over 5 minutes. Stretching, getting a little nibble of food, relieving his bladder and bowel. Then back down into the exact same spot as before.

 

1450. Hrs. the smallest of the 3 gets up and moves about 30 yards then beds down again. BY now I'm ready to shoot anything, and my partner has to take my rifle off the tripod to keep this little one in the gene pool. Finally after the little one bedded again I settled down and got something to eat.

 

1612hrs. He finally stands again. This time if he beds again I will take the head shot ( not really, but was thinking it out of pure frusteration) He takes one step forward and finally, finally exposes his vitals. I settle the crosshairs, and squeeze the trigger. He casually turns around and walks out from behind the tree. he stops and looks back. I settle the crosshairs and again squeeze. My partner tells me he has no idea where I'm hitting but both shots sounded like hits. I send one more down range. By now my mind is a complete blur. I'm sure of my rifle and my shooting, But after the rollercoaster I have just gone through with this buck. I have no sence of anything. I watch as he walks behind a couple of trees. I put the gun down and pick up the binos trying to either find him or one of the other bucks. My partner tells me that the little one up high has left the area. About 5 minutes of this and the one small buck still in the area comes out from behind the tree flagging, and heads for parts unknown as fast as he can. The big one does not come out. We decide that one or both shots were indeed hits and leap frog up the hill. With one of us always watching the bunch of trees he was last seen under. My partner made the final leap, and found him laying there. 2 shots right where I wanted them, and the 3rd, well I wont go there and should not have taken the shot off the tripod, but all 3 were hits and only one got meat.

 

Not a bit of ground shrinkage on this one. Grossed a little over 93" and netted just over 90". again not the biggest in the area, but will do . Took us until 1930hrs to get him back to the truck.

 

This is the 3 bucks bedded, those of you with well trained eyes will pick him out easily. The 2 little ones are the hard part. One is just below and to the left, and the other one is all the way up on the far right. They are barely grey spots.

 

 

 

 

And here are all of them outlined. This is 403 yards to the tree where the big one is, with a 12 power digital camera

 

 

These are not the best of pics, but am still learning the art ie. grass removal and skylining etc. The second camera has one or 2 better, just havent got them on the computer yet. And daylight was fading fast, being more then a mile from the truck and it being 1700hrs when we got to him.

 

 

Shane

[COUESAZ]

Man I sure like that buck. He has a good spread on him.

[azcouesandelk]

That is a great looking buck! Congrats on getting it done with your small window of opprotunity!

[out2hunt]

Isn't it great when it all finally comes together!!!!!!Great buck!!!1Congrats on your success!!!

[Outdoor Writer]

Nice wide buck, Shane. Good job. -TONY

[curmudgen]

Great story and beautiful buck. Well worth the wait. You appear to be an awesome hunter, and a good dad too. Jack

[cpugsie]

Fine Looking Deer! Nice Job Shane!

[iwannakillsomething]

great story good job!!!!!

nice pix too!!!!