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Unit 24 Coues deer

Hey guys... I drew the January season for 24 (Outside of Bayard) and all I've heard is negativity.

I hunt with a recurve and wooden arrows and I plan to hunt trails/ scrapes or waterholes. I can sit all day. I have taken Coues deer in Arizona this way.

I am no stranger to spot and stalk either but I wanted to take advantage of some rut movement and be patient.

I was looking to have a few areas to start scouting. I am not asking for honey holes, just good areas with numbers. I will shoot any buck.

Also: Illegal/ vandalism issues? Locked gates? Access issues? Weather (snow, frozen waterholes)?

Thank you all. I have helped out plenty of guys here on Bowsite. Never been on the receiving end.

PMs welcomed as well. I live in Colorado so I will make a trip doing down this summer. Thanks again guys

I've only ever seen mule deer in 24, so I'm not much help on that front. I can, however, say that you shouldn't have any issue with illegals and vandalism. There is a definite chance of snow and frozen water holes. The last time I hunted 24 during the January hunt we got 6 inches. Best of luck!

Thank you for the reply. I've got some work to do...

Hello, I don't think anyone has been trying to be negative as much as just REAL. That unit 24 coues hunt is just a tough hunt. Ya you can try sitting on water but most of it will be frozen. I have moved out of NM so I have no issue what so ever with telling you exactly where we've seen coues in the past. when we hunted in Jan of 2022 we covered more area and spent more time hunting past areas where we had encountered coues bucks. I told you about them in PM's. The area behind FT Bayard has been good in the past but not in 2022, around Lake Roberts and the small town of Fierro were the same. One other note. There are ALWAYS left over tags for this hunt that G&F sells in July. That alone should tell you What NMGF KNOWS about this particular hunt. Good luck

vichris and CoPushArcher gave me some great advice. Other sites and responses have just been "tough hunt, you wont get one".

I am motivated by it. Same thing happened when I drew a sheep tag or goat tag or went to Arizona OTC with my recurve. The unit has some pockets that are better than others. A trail with scrapes that hasn't been found. A waterhole that's deep enough to stay open and far enough of the beaten path that will produce. I just need to find em. I'm not looking for honey holes. Just a spot to narrow down this big unit.

Right now I am focused on the Gila River and some waterholes I can ambush from. I am an Iowa Farm boy who cut his teeth on whitetails in a treestand, and then oved to Colorado to spot and stalk everything. I hope to combine both for this hunt. Does and young bucks along the river should bring bigger bucks out of the hills in January. The thicker the better.

If anyone has any more info, PM if you'd like. I have never been on the receiving end of help on this site, but I have helped plenty with Colorado tags (I have 9 out of the 10 species and always willing to help).

I look forward to this hunt regardless. I enjoy the high desert. Thanks guys.

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