Unit 35A and My first Coues...

[Traveler]

Thanks for sharing.

 

Well done.

 

Dan

[fisher_hunt]

Hi HillBilly_Al,

 

I'm the 'kid' you were talking about in your story driving the red jimmy. That's cool that my mistake turned into your first coues kill!

 

I had no idea that I hit him in the jaw. I know only my first shot connected. I spotted him bedded under a tree trying to get out of the wind. When I climbed the opposite hill and laid down to shoot I noticed that he kept looking back towards his tail. When I shot the bullet must have clipped his jaw and then grazed his back. Did the angle add up? I was slightly higher then he was.

 

When I read the story I was thankful that deer was harvested but knowing where I missed pissed me off . I was content thinking that I only clipped the bottom of him. 311 yards and with the wind gusting through the canyon I figured I would hold on the lower left part of his head (since you was looking back and down) and the drop and wind would blow the bullet into the vitals. What the heck? My bullet (30.06 - 150 grain sited in at 200) didn't drop much at all...if I would have held on him it would have been a good shot. I'm slowly learning that time spent scouting is better spent out on the range shooting in real situations.

 

Anyway, congrats on your deer. In the story you made it out to be small but it is a good solid 3x3 that any hunter would take!

[Idahocoueshunter]

Nice job and nice story. Good ethics and a good heart reflect more on you than any set of antlers. Hope to see your buck soon.

 

 

Craig.

[HillBilly_Al]

Hi F_H, Glad you replied... it all makes sense now that he was bedded down with his head back. Only one side of the jaw was shattered and half the tounge, So the angle of the shot must have passed out and just barely clipped him in the top middle of the back. That was the piece of skin and hair you found.

I would say that unless you had a a calm spot in the wind that day, you can blame your trajectory on the wind that was blowing that day. It's often hard to tell what is happening 300 yds away in those hills and canyons.

 

Don't get me wrong, he is a decent buck, a little bigger than a lot of the "basket racks" you see, but no where near the big one that got away. I'm happy and he sure tastes good, moreso than many of those corn fed Easters I am used to. Did you ever get a look at the big buck hanging around the area we were hunting? If not he may still be there - I hope. I also am glad you didn't get your hair raised at the 'kid' remark - anyone under 40 seems like a kid to me these days - guess that makes me an old geezer huh? Speaking of which... I wonder if the other 2 campers got anything the rest of the week.

 

Take care and good luck - maybe we'll run into each other again.

 

Al

[CouesWhitetail]

HillBilly_Al,

 

Great story! Do you mind if I post it in the Hunt Story section? Along with the photo? Email me the photo and I can post it for you.

 

Congrats and it's cool that the guy who missed got to see the rest of the story here. I think it really helps to see what happens. It's always hard to learn from misses if you don't know exactly what happened.

 

Amanda

[Chef]

Hillbilly_Al,

 

I am so happy that you got to tag a buck! Sorry it took so long to post but I had no idea! You sure had an eventful hunt that is for sure. I don't know how I would have reacted after finding the body.

 

I'm sorry you missed the big one and I'm sure he is "the one" from previous years. Hopefully he gets another year of growing.

 

I'm glad I could help and the easiest way to pay me back is to help another fellow hunter down the road. (as I am sure you have)

 

A very big Congratulations my friend.

 

Regards,

Chef

[az4life]

Well done Hillbilly_al !

 

A super story chock full of numerous events showing every time that you have outstanding hunter Ethics!

Proud to have you as a fellow forum member!

[grizzly]

If you were shooting from above and held high Im not surprised you hit high, the ballistics are much different when shooting down/uphill. Hindsight is always easier to see what to do. But practicing up/downhill shots is important.

[crazyaboutcoues]

Great Story

 

Congradulations

[fisher_hunt]

Grizzly, I was only slightly higher than the deer. It was not enough to make a difference.

[hunterdude]

You are a true sportsman, you had a number of bad happenings and stuck it out for the best. Sorry to hear about the young lady, but glad to hear your hunt was safe and successful. Congrats and good luck next year.