Paul's AZ Coues WT hunt
Whitetail Deer
It was the 7th day of my AZ bow hunt for Coues WTs and I was perched fifteen feet high in my tree sand over looking a small flat and thicket which was adjacent to a higher hillside of yellow grass, sandy soil, baseball size rocks and scattered oak trees and yes, cat claw sticker brush. I could hear the creek behind me loudly racing down the hill.
I had just taken a bite or two of my peanut butter, jelly, craisin, on thin wheat sandwich bread when the buck showed up.
Are you sure it was not a dark and stormy night?
Terry
Can't wait to see how your hunt plays out Paul!
My "go to" stand meal used to be peanut butter and raisins on a bagel.:) Looking forward to this recap.
Ok Paul where's the rest of the pictures and story?
Prior to this moment, I thought back 10 days when I had reached the eastern border of Arizona on December 30 two days before the January bow hunting only deer season., 805 miles from my front door. I still had 150 more miles to travel. I could stay for the whole season if needed. Even though I have killed three other Coues bucks elsewhere in AZ over the years, this area where I was headed, I had not killed a buck, but had tried a few times. Maybe my luck would change. Even though there is a 30 day season in most of the game management units, this unit only has a 15 day season. If not successful I would then move to another unit more to the SW.
I can make the trip in two days and stop in Albuquerque New Mexico for an over night stay. I had to drive out of my way, 100 miles round trip to Willcox AZ to purchase my hunting license and deer tag, total, $460.
Good luck bro you the man Lewis
A half day later, I was in my camping area on National Forest. A hunting friend years ago, total me, "when you get to camp, make camp!" This camping spot is at 5900 ft and would also be the same elevation I would be hunting, give or take a few hundred feet. I live in Ft Collins Co at 4700 ft and usually elk hunt at 9500 ft so I felt right at home.
I had a few days to scout and shoot my compound bow.
Good luck brother...I love hearing of your hunts... Pat
Looking forward to this thread, Paul. Good luck!!
Part of my scouting is to drive the nearby dirt/gravel forest roads within a few miles of camp, and check for deer tracks and a concentration of where they might be crossing. When I find tracks, I pile up a few rocks on the side of the road.
This year I purchased two Primos Proof 2 trail cameras and placed them in a few good crossings.
During the next few days I got a good feeling what deer were in the area via of the trail cameras.
Couple good looking bucks Paul.
Thanks Paul...... dis is gonna be goooood......
Awesome! I've been anxiously awaiting this thread Paul! Hope you had an excellent hunt!
So for the next few days I placed the tree stand in one location and I build a ground in another. Both were only a few hundred yards apart. Pictured is the view from the ground blind. The deer trail crosses just behind the four trees in the center of the picture. The trail camera only showed a small 2x2 buck and a doe with two fawns. In two days setting there in the morning, that is all I saw and the trail camera never showed a big buck at other times..
Can't wait Paul. Let's get on with it...
ground level view, stand will be placed in the trees to the left.
ground level view, stand will be placed in the trees to the left.
view out front to the hill side 30 yards away
view out front to the hill side 30 yards away
view down/behind and towards the creek and crossing
view down/behind and towards the creek and crossing
I thought I had the perfect place for the tree stand and just 50 yards off the forest road and while I saw a good buck or two on the trail camera, while in the stand the morning current just did not suit the stand placement and both mornings I only saw a doe or two and they were both down wind and moving away. No bucks. Time to explore and find a new tree stand location. So on January 5th, that early afternoon, I descended deeper towards the creek channel, climbing down the steep bank, looking for a good deer crossing. I found one a few hundred yards down stream, climbed up the shallow bank, and came upon a natural flat between the creek, the bank and the adjacent hill sides. I found my new tree stand location. Pictured.
within the next hour I had the stand set with the aid of my climbing sticks.
wild pigs they are not
wild pigs they are not
down the road on private property
down the road on private property
feathered friends
feathered friends
I drove around later in the afternoon but would hunt the tree stand the next morning and the days after. Like any mountain/hilly area, the morning downward currents and then the late morning winds can determine how and when one might hunt a particular stand. I felt that the deer could come from almost any direction.
I found these critters along the road on my drive.
Good one going here. With this and Kevin Dill my wife asked me why I'm on my phone so much tonight.
prime deer habitat of pine and oak and plenty of water
prime deer habitat of pine and oak and plenty of water
No wonder many of use love to hunt the White Tailed deer as they can be found almost any where in the US. These Coues deer can be found from 2000 ft to 7000 ft above sea level and live in various habitats, in southern Arizona from Flagstaff south, western New Mexico and northern Mexico. Here in SE Arizona the mountain environment surely provide some lush habitat.
not flat in many cases but finding the right ambush place is the key
not flat in many cases but finding the right ambush place is the key
needs to grow some, ie, spike
needs to grow some, ie, spike
So the next morning I am back in the tree stand before the eastern sky even has a hint of first light. Cool current is traveling from left to right. Perfect. I set there and only see two does and one spike buck. I will not hunt in the afternoon.
Great stuff Paul!!!!
Mark
Friday morning, January 6th. Temp, 36 degrees, high around 54. I had hunted from a Double Bull blind the afternoon before this but only observed a few does. It looked as if the water hole for cattle in the area, and been heavily hunted and there had been a rife deer season just prior to this January archery season. I doubted if I would hunt this blind again.
So back in the tree stand before light. I planned to staying there until 1 pm. The wind was strong and unpredictable. I tried loud buck grunting, antler rattling, doe bleating and just setting there quietly. No action except the spike high on the hillside. I left at 1:30. and went back to camp to read a novel.
January 7th, Saturday morn, o'dark thirty, temp 42 degrees, high of 54. Calmer winds. Checked the trail camera. a good buck but he went by around midnight. Almost a full moon??? Who knows for sure. Hunted until 11 and decided to come back around 3pm for the last few hours of the day. Slow action in the morning, did not antler rattle, only saw two does. 3pm, within 10 feet of the tree stand I jump a 3x3 buck coming from down wind. Dam. No more action. I was starting to question this stand location but the trail cameras did show a few shooters. Maybe I should scout for a new stand location as I did notice some of the deer on the hillside did head down stream farther.
I will make that decision after tomorrow morning's hunt.
Maybe the moon and the stars will line up for a good hunt!
Sunday morning, January 8th, temp, 38 degrees, high around 55. Very calm winds and a steady cold current in the morning. A good morning to antler rattle. I remembered about the other four Coues bucks I have killed and all of them have been after 9:30 am. I largest racked buck was (MISSED) at 10 but I killed him at noon when he came back to check out two does in the area. Even the buck I killed in Mexico, the time was very similar.
Shooting light was at 7:30 thirty. I waited until 8 am to antler rattle and grunt. I threw in a few doe bleats. A few minuted later, and behind me and across the creek, a movement; a small 4x4 buck but he did not come near. Fifteen minutes later, the spike buck showed up. He hung around for a while trying to figure where the fight was.
Quarter to nine. Still had the down hill cool wind currents in my favor. I picked up the antlers and did the best I could to sound like two (small) sized bucks sparing and fighting. A few light buck grunts added. A half hour passed nothing.
MAYBE IS WAS TIME TO HAVE A SANDWICH. GOOD IDEA I THOUGHT. I REACHED AROUND AND PICKED UP THE SANDWICH FROM THE BACK PACK AND TOOK TWO BITES. DID I JUST HEAR SOMETHING OUT FRONT?
I TURNED SLOWLY AROUND.
This is awesome.. Who needs hollywood when you have bowhunters..
And???????????..Your Killin me here..
I hope you didn't fall asleep...
The buck I had seen on the trail camera that passed by this area on Thursday and crossed the creek at 11:30 pm, was skirting the brush just outside of the clearing. His was hackled up with ears back but still in the brush and moving left to right behind some small trees 25 yards away. My bow was hanging to my left. My sandwich was in my left hand! By the time I figured this out and had the arrow drawn, I saw only one shooting lane ahead of the buck and it was a small opening.
Well, I jerked the trigger, and pulled the aim off. The arrow just skimmed the deer's back. I watched him lunge away and disappear in the thick tall yellow grass and cats claw brush. A tuft of deer hair lay where the arrow was stuck in the ground.
I shook my head, sat down and surely was not hungry any more. I looked fifteen feet below the tree stand and spied my sandwich in the dust. Ok, now what?
Wait!. more movement coming off the hill side. A buck, a 3x3 buck. Get ready. Relax this time and forget about the stomach. Here he comes. He is looking around for the other bucks making the commotion. He steps clear of the brush and he is in the open broadside. The Montec 5 tipped arrow in on its way.
I watch him sprint up the hill and tip over within 30 yards. An arrow through the lungs. Dead in 10 seconds.
I drag him out of the tall grass and down the hill to an opening and inspect him. A good Coues WT buck that will be grand table fair. Larger racked than my first but small racked than my last three bucks. But is was surely a memorial hunt for the gray ghost of Arizona and what do they say, "you can't eat the antlers".
Great pics and story as usual, congrats!
THE END
THE END
I hiked back to the truck to gain my back back and other equipment to field process the deer. Back straps, tenderloins, hams, front shoulders, neck meat, rib meat, all carved off and cooled down within the next hour. The load felt wonderful on my shoulders as I carried the prize back to the truck; my forth AZ Coues deer buck and maybe my last as this was my 8 trip down to AZ.
Another saying, "Dynamite comes in little packages" surely describes the Coues deer.
Two days later, I stopped off at a Casino in New Mexico on my way back home and won $250 playing the slots. Another luck day.
When I got home my wife Tricia was glad to see me home early and was appreciative of my winnings. She had remembered me saying this will be my last trip to AZ to hunt Coues deer as she was retiring on June 11th and we needed to spend more time together. But then she stated, "well maybe I will come along next year as I will like to see and visit where you are hunting.". ANOTHER LUCKY DAY FOR SURE. I grinned.
My best, Paul
Always so impressive to me! Thanks for posting !! Hunt
Too cool Paul.... Congrats! And thanks for takin' us yet again. I know, it's a lot of work to share this with..... the world really.....
Yet another "once in a lifetime" hunt..... heheheheheh..... Coach gets pretty tired of hearing that....
Thank you for posting. Congratulations!
Good story, well told and congratulations on a safe and successful hunt. More bowhunters should have your talent for living and then writing their story. Thanks for posting it for others to enjoy. I hope you feel good about and also proud of your success!
Thanks for sharing Paul. Congrats!
Great as usual Paul! Congrats
Awesome story as usual Paul ! Congrats!
Good for you Paul
Thanks for sharing
Good luck, Robb
Great hunt Paul... Congratulations! Definitely your lucky trip,sounds like you'll be having a new traveling partner in your future trips.my wife travels along with me some times..She's a big help...
Totally awesome Paul!
Now lets have those beers and celebrate
Outstanding Paul, Congratulations. Ed F
Congrats thanks for sharing.
Awesome, Paul! Congratulations!
Cool write up Paul! Nice work.
Congratulations on another excellent adventure
Fantastic, Thanks Paul and Congrats!
Nice story, I'm heading out in August for my first Coues hunt. I really like the fact that your wife wants to see where you have been spending your time. Gottoohunt
Nice job and thanks for documenting. What a cool hunt, I can't wait to get down and chase those little deer someday.
Another great adventure! Thanks for letting us tag along Paul, have a great new year!
Outstanding as usual Paul! Congratulations on a beautiful Coues buck! Thank you for sharing your story and pictures with us, truly a memorable hunt! Someday I'm going to make this hunt happen!
congrats. will be fun to have your wife tag along next year!
Congratulations Paul... thanks for the story.
Nice story well told. Thanks for sharing.
Congrats Paul and thanks for taking us along!
Excellent hunt and story as always Paul...congratulations on your success!
Thanks for sharing Paul. excelent write up as usual! Congratulations.
I hope you continue your hunts for many, many years. Your write ups are always some the very best on Bowsite. Thank you sir.
BTW, did you go to a feed store in Willcox to get you license? I bought a hunting license there many years ago myself.
Dadgum Paul you ought to sell tickets nicely done as always really enjoyed being along for the ride congrats.Lewis
Congrats Paul on another successful hunt. Thanks for taking us along with you on it.
Congratulations Paul on a great adventure and an awesome buck.
Congratulations, Paul! Thanks for the story. Going to miss you in St.Louis.
Surely hope that is not your last Coues hunt Paul. Like rest of them I thoroughly enjoyed that story! Keep em coming!
congrats Paul as a Az. resident my hats off to you,-- for coming down and harvesting those Deer on your own--I would bet you are successful in your home state as well--love Coues Deer-- have taken Deer out of trees and ground blinds during September-December and January seasons
Great story! Looks like a trip I'd like to do.
Great buck and story to follow along. Congratulations, Paul! Thanks for sharing.
Congrats on another successful hunt Paul! A great write up and pics as well.
Great story Paul. I really appreciate that you took the time to bring us along on this adventure.
Well Paul...Nicely played and wonderfully told. Nothing beats excellent photography in a superb story like this one. I didn't get to read this until just now but I surely enjoyed doing it start to finish. Congrats on a great adventure and a really memorable buck.!
Paul any acorns this year in your area them oak bottoms were alive with deer when they were lots of acorns
Great story Paul. Congats
Great job Paul and congrats on the buck!
Dan, a few but not as many as a few years back when the acorns were everywhere. I did find some scattered trees on the hillsides and yes, the deer sign was there and that was a good place to develop a stand in the area. The location of a water source as always been a consideration also. I was also hunting in the 15 day unit. If not successful there I would have just moved to another unit and finished the season.
Really cool hunting adventure. Congrats on a nice trophy. Thanks for sharing your story.
Hey Guys, Thank you all for your kind words. Fun bring you along on these adventures. And yes if you get a chance, head south in January to AZ and do a DIY hunt or contact an outfitter. I almost cry with the Wt season is finished here in Colorado, Nebraska or Kansas but going to AZ in January surely perks me up a lot.
AZ Toad; yes, AZ is a great place to be in January, especially when it is colder in Colorado although I have been snowed out in the past, in the area I hunted this year and then other years farther SW, hot as hell so I take hunting outfits for all seasons.
Bownbirdhunter. Actually just north of there in Stafford. I thought I would be hunting north of Willcox but that did not work out. I knew about the store in Willcox. Too bad a nonresident can not purchase the deer tag on the website like they can with the hunting license.
Retirement? Tricia has shot gunned a turkey in Nebraska a few years back and have gone along on a few elk hunts as an observer. She is surely looking forward to retirement and I am glad she would like to see AZ in January. Looking forward to having her along on a variety of hunts.
my best, Paul
Awesome adventure! Thank you for sharing.
That's it, when I grow up I want to be like Paul! Saw this thread and shut everything down to read it all! Now back to fencing estimates! Thx for the great distraction.
Great story and pics as always....congrats, Paul!
Paul,
Thanks for taking the time to bring us along. Gonna have to give that hunt a try some day.
Be well.
Always entertaining....congrats on a fine buck Now come up and shoot the Triple Crown in Cheyenne with us..
CONGRATS Paul! Thanks for the story and pictures! Well done!
Nice Cous buck Paul. Thanks for taking the time to post your hunt. This is on my bucket list someday.
Rick and Chad, there is something good about archery deer hunting in January. If nothing else, good for the soul. Surely place it on your list.
Congrats on a fine buck and a great story.
Thanks Paul, That report has me ready to hitch up the wagon and be on my way... still 2 weeks plus left in the season.
You did good Paul, outstanding as always, Peter
Paul: Just got home from Illinois late season archery and saw your thread.
I may have to head there in the future as it sure is cold in the Midwest! Congrats on another great hunt! C
Grats Paul, thanks for taking the time to write it up.
Good stuff as always Paul thanks for taking us along
Thanks Paul, always enjoy reading about your adventures !
Thanks for sharing Paul! Class act as usual.
Great Job, Paul! Can't wait to hear the story in person soon.
Charlie, it never got quite that cold but it was 32-36 in the morning and in the 50s during the day. I have experience colder and warmer on my trips down there and it all depends on where one hunts and at what elevation. Here is a picture of a few years back that can remind one of the mid west in the winter, and this pic was from 100 yards away from where I camped this year.
Hey Paul, just caught this thread and wanted to tell you how happy I was seeing that you pulled it off once again! Hopefully there will be more future trips and that I can get to join you on your hunt. I'll give you a call.
Paul I always enjoy reading your stories. Glad to hear the wife is gonna support you. Congrats
Rich, good talking with you a few weeks back. Taking care of dad has to be a special time in your life, for both of you. You are both blessed.
Mike, yes, both mentally and physically supporting and some day with a cane for support in one hand, I know she will be there holding my other as we both walk out to the deer blind.
Great trip Paul ! I always enjoy your stories. Thanks for taking us along.
That's it, when I grow up I want to be like Paul! Saw this thread and shut everything down to read it all! Now back to fencing estimates! Thx for the great distraction.
Always, always one of my favorite threads...Awesome!
Good work Paul. Love the write up!
I still look both ways to see if any deer are crossing :)
I still look both ways to see if any deer are crossing :)
Here are a few more pictures from the hunt
Thanks for sharing paul. Well done sir.
Missed this thread the past few days. I'm glad that I found it. Great story with great pics as usual.
Congratulations. I look forward to next year's story and reading about your wife's hunt too.
Congratulations Paul and thanks for sharing!
Congrats again on another fine adventure!
While Tricia and I was having dinner this evening, we spoke that we doubted if anyone in the World was having what we had prepared for dinner.
Coues WT tenderloins from Arizona and tuna steaks that we caught off the coast while in Oregon this summer.. Sure beats a Big Mac.
my best, Paul
Life is good Paul!!!
Congrats on another great adventure!!!
Mark
You ARE a very lucky man Paul! Next year the trip will be even better I'm sure.
Paul, you are the man! Congrats!
