apache12 Report post Posted December 17, 2019 So i had the pleasure of hunting with my two older boys for the first time in 7 years. Both were competitive swimmers and missed most hunting seasons due to trips and then college. So after a long absence we hit the southern hills for a coues hunt. Glasses up two shooter bucks first morning and they slipped us on three different stalks the first two days. Great hunting though we were having a blast but starting to think these bucks had us beat. Third morning the wind was howling and everything seemed bedded out of the wind. We flipped to a side of the canyon that we thought would block the wind and just before 10am we caught them moving to beds. After some leap frogging to keep them in the glass and move to a shooting spot. The best we could do was 420yrds and we couldn’t get low enough to get out of the wind that was swirling around the top of the ridge line. My oldest got set up and we waited for a couple hours hoping it would stand up. During the time we went back and forth on the two bucks. One a classic 3x3. Most likely 85-90 so good solid buck. But we could get away from the old 2x2 with him. He was unique with great mass and tall. Big body and we just couldn’t pass on him. Yea the 3x3 would score better and look good but this old deer had to be taken. Finally we said let’s take him in his bed if you fell good. I know my son felt confident with his old 30-06. Not the perfect Coues rifle but he trust it and it shoots great. He didn’t have a BT so we were working out the drop at 420 and one of his reticle hash marks lined up good. So he went hot and let it fly. Deer came busting out. Shot was high. He found it again on the run up the to the top and fired an ill advised shot missing Unlike most coues I’ve hunted this buck granted him one last perfect broadside at the top. Reset he fired and the buck went ten feet into a prickly pear and folded up. Ranged 465. Double lung. Side note. Using new Sierra Gamechanger bullets. Went through and blew half a lung out a hole about the size of a quarter. Minimal internal damage. Nice bullet in the wind for sure. Couldn’t have had a better hunt with my two oldest boys after a long gap in the field. Enjoy the pics 27 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted December 17, 2019 Masher 2 pt. Congrats! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DCS Report post Posted December 17, 2019 That is a great buck,and even better using old school stuff that still gets it done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1uglydude Report post Posted December 17, 2019 Cool looking buck You got him back to the truck without gutting him? Must be nice to have young legs and backs out there to do the heavy lifting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couestracker Report post Posted December 17, 2019 Great buck, congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZBIG10 Report post Posted December 17, 2019 Fantastic 2x! Good looking cape too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mocha1545 Report post Posted December 17, 2019 You chose wisely Grasshopper. That is a nice buck! Congrats on a great family hunt! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkaholic Report post Posted December 17, 2019 In my opinion , big ole 2's are way too cool to get a pass. Nice buck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattys281 Report post Posted December 17, 2019 Eye guards count, that’s a 3x3. I know for sure because my buddy shot a big velvet forky with eyeguards last year and aaaaalll the eastern guys on the interweb corrected me that it was not a forky, it was definitely a six point or 3x3. either way, great buck! Congrats to you guys. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flatlander Report post Posted December 17, 2019 Congrats on a great time with the boys! That buck is stellar and would be a no brained on any hunt for me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bghb Report post Posted December 17, 2019 Great looking deer! Congrats to your son! On a side note, what was the deer activity like in general while you guys were hunting? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
'Ike' Report post Posted December 17, 2019 Every day of the week and twice on Sunday! Great buck!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
apache12 Report post Posted December 17, 2019 deer activity was pre rut. these were the only two bucks that we saw together but the one we shot did run off the other deer one day when some does came in. we saw one other big buck that with does but other than that all other bucks where by themselves and it didn't seem like they were getting ready. the does were all very active and up all day. spikes were not with does rather out on their own. we had a serious full moon so that may have changed patterns some. necks didn't seem swelled up, and no classic nose down movements. not sparing. I'm not an expert and have only hunted Mule rut, but it seemed like it was still a bit of time from the rut Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues7777 Report post Posted December 17, 2019 Gotta love big forks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZAV8ER Report post Posted December 17, 2019 Great buck. Sounds like a TROPHY Experience par excellence. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
