azcouesandelk Report post Posted November 15, 2004 Did anybody?? I hunted hard for 2 day's and saw a total of about 50 deer and only 3 bucks a spike that I passed up a 2x2 plus eye gaurds and a 3x3 with no eyegaurds I tried for the bigger ones, but could not get a shot off at them. Oh well there is always next weekend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rabbit Report post Posted November 15, 2004 I was able to hunt Friday, through Sunday morning. Long time friend, Russ, and I drove down to a new area Thursday afternoon, and were greeted by a locked gate and no tresspassing signs. We were able to talk to the rancher, who told us of a round about way into where we wanted to backpack into. Friday morning, we awoke and hiked into a place we had only seen on the topo map. Right off the bat after setting up the tripod and 15's, I spotted four spikes making their way up a ridge to a saddle, when 11 does and fawns came over the saddle. About ten minutes later, a 3 point feeds over the saddle. We glass him over for several minutes and decide he's about 80-85". We look elsewhere and across the canyon I see a wide 100+? buck about 1200 yards away walk aver a saddle, followed by two other bucks, one tall 3-point, and the other a small 2 or 3 by. Some does follow them and then start to feed back over the saddle. So we load up the packs, huff it up 800' close to where the bucks were, only to peek over the rise and see an empty hillside. We continue above the saddle, and see a group of 4 hunters walking around the opposite mountain, then one lets off three shots. On the other side of the saddle are 3 other hunters, who let out a barrage of shots at the deer, unseen to me, that runs across above them. No sound of a bullet smack. So much for locating the tall buck and the 3-point wider than the ears. We head around the peak we are on, in the opposite way, jump two does and get to a point to glass the opposite ridges and slopes. Later that afternoon, Russ spots a bedded 3-point buck, and it's in the perfect position for a stalk and get a 100 yard shot. Russ tries to convince me that the buck is begging to be killed, but we decide it too scores in the low 80's with short beams. I go back to the first saddle hoping the wide buck will have eluded the mornings hunters and will feed back out. My optimism is rewarded by an hour hike out by Petzl light. Saturday morning we go back to the saddle with the wide buck. I stay to glass the saddle and surrounding slopes, while Russ continues to the other side of the peak. I spot 6 does and a forky. Russ spots 27 deer and the same small 3-point. I later walk around to join him, and I spot 3 small bucks and 7 does on a north facing slope. I walk back to the original saddle, and glass a forky and a couple does before darkness falls. Sunday morning I spot the 3 bucks and 13 does by the saddle, but they were spooked by hunters wearing white shirts and talking aloud. All in all, this is more deer than we've spotted on a hunt that memory can recall. Close to 50 total each day. We only wished we could have been at the right spot at the right time to have an opportunity at the wide one. That and a December tag. We saw quite a few hunters hiking around, more than we usually encounter, but if we went any further in, we would have been on the Hohokam rez. Russ and I are helping on a unit 9 elk hunt next weekend, so we both have some tag jerky to dehydrate this week. Doug/RedRabbit Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azcouesandelk Report post Posted November 15, 2004 How far in did you pack in. My dad and I hunted hard and were only able to see the 3 bucks and the big one would have scored about 85. This is my first coues hunt I would like it to be successful. I do not mind packing in, but on Saturday we counted a total of 16 hunters almost the amount of deer we saw ( all of which were does ). It was a tough weekend and I must have hiked about 20 to 25 miles over all and am incredibly sore. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azpackhorse Report post Posted November 15, 2004 (edited) I did not shoot this weekend but did see one buck that got the ol heart pump'n, just couldn't get a good shot. I had between 20 and 30 opportunities on bucks over 3 days and probably passed on a couple I should have shot but oh well they will be there this week, when everything calms down a little. Edited January 1, 1970 by azpackhorse Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azcouesandelk Report post Posted November 16, 2004 Man where are you guyw seeing all of these bucks that is unreal that you are seeing that many. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azpackhorse Report post Posted November 16, 2004 Younghunter, Get up fairly high, sit down (bring a stool) get comfy, and glass. Use a tripod, you wouldn't believe how many more deer you will see when your glass is steady and can pick up slight movements. Use all of the people that like to hike/hunt to your advantage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stanley Report post Posted November 16, 2004 Words of wisdom packhorse..... I 'saw the light' three years ago, and have been glassing off of a tripod ever since. My only regret with regards to using a tripod is that I didn't start doing it 20 years ago! We saw 20-30 deer per day in 36C on our early hunt. Spotting almost all of them at long range off of tripods. S. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azpackhorse Report post Posted November 17, 2004 Well, I went and did it this morning(harvested a buck that is). He is not the monster I had seen or was hoping for but I decided to take him anyway. He is a respectable 3 x 4 (not counting eyeguards) with alot of character. I will post pictures and details after I get the film developed....I am still in the 35mm era. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azcouesandelk Report post Posted November 18, 2004 Hey congrats on the buck cannot wait to see what it looks like and what it will score. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stanley Report post Posted November 18, 2004 Congrats on the 36C buck Brian! Good job... Of course you're still welcome to come on out to the Jr. Hunter's camp @ milepost 31 this weekend! I'll be heading-out in a couple of hours to set-up for the weekend... S. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azpackhorse Report post Posted November 18, 2004 I will definately be there sometime Saturday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Traveler Report post Posted November 18, 2004 Brian, Congrats! Look forward to pics. I love that border country. Dan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rabbit Report post Posted November 29, 2004 Brian, Glad you got a buck of character. That big one will be waiting for ya in January. Doug/RedRabbit Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
