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I had already been shooting quite a bit and will continue to do so. I shoot 50 yards regularly and am now adding some more distance. I started working out at least 5 days a week over 5 years ago. I actually told the gym owner when I first walked in that someday I want to hunt a mountain lion and the only way that was going to happen was if I got in better shape. I haven't gotten to hunt that lion....yet...but I am confident I can physically handle this coues hunt.

My understanding is this hunt can be both spot & stalk and sitting blinds. I'm excited to try both. Any advice you can share with an Iowa boy that used to cold weather hunting for big, timber whitetails but now heading to (I'm guessing) hot, southern Arizona for the elusive gray ghosts would be appreciated!

I enjoyed reading about so many other hunts here on Bowsite. I will try to share a few posts before I go, will probably have a few questions to ask, and will try to post pictures either along the way or when I return. The hunt is August 31 - September 4.

Also might want to bring an ankle brace and a spare crutch.....just in case ;-)

Rain gear was the one clothing item I was questioning whether or not to bring. During a typical fall in Iowa, if it rains it is also cool to cold. My current gear would be very hot to wear if the temps were much over 50-60 F. Would you suggest having something on hand that is light weight? How bad are these "monsoons"? Any other clothing suggestions for late August/early September?

Troy, I still have the stick I used for a crutch that you found for me... but now that leg has some permanent hardware inside so I should be fine....lol.

MathewsMan, are you flying or driving? My flight will arrive in Tucson around noon on the 30th.

If I manage to arrow a buck, I will head back the next morning, otherwise I plan on coming straight though on the 30th. I am not going through Phoenix or Tucson, although one of my best friends is heading up building and operating the water system in Apache Junction and it would be nice to run into him since he has come all the way to Grand Junction to run into me.

My return date is really up to Steven and god. It would be great to shoot a quality buck the first morning and save 3 vacation days, but hunting is really dependent upon presented opportunity and some degree of chance.

I was not patient and shot a buck- but had I sat where I put 2 full days in a 3rd day I would have taken the buck in the next post! Gives me a reason to return next year!

Gottoohunt

Disclaimer: This is the first full hunt I've ever posted anywhere. I am not a writer nor a photographer. There are some tremendous hunters on Bowsite that are also terrific writers and photographers. Trying put this all together makes me appreciate their effort that much more! All of my photos were taken with my phone and the words are coming from my memory. I did manage to organize most of my photos in order on my phone so hopefully that will help with the story telling.

I posted my range at home earlier. My daily routine was to shoot 4-5 arrows before work each morning at ranges from 20 - 100 yards. In the evening I would shoot how ever many arrow I felt like. Mostly practicing at distances from 50 - 100 yards. By the time I was ready to leave I had great confidence in my shooting.

An hour later we arrived at "Camp". The Dream Catcher is a bed and breakfast run by John and Julia. Steven rents rooms there for the hunters and they provided us breakfast and supper every day. I left to hunt every morning at 4:30 am and wouldn't return until after 8:30 pm and every day a hot breakfast and 4 course supper was waiting for me. The hospitality was incredible!

We were then driving a "road" through a valley and just started to head up when Steven saw a buck running up the mountain. He must have been bedded near the bottom and we had kicked him up. Even though the buck was running up a fairly bald face I didn't see him. I kept looking while Steven pointed out some landmarks but I couldn't locate him. The buck then went into some bushes and didn't come out. We sat on him for some time and glassed and decided that he must have bedded again. Steven asked if I wanted to go after him. I said "If you think he's good then absolutely!"

The face of the mountain was pretty bare and some landmarks were easy to see. There was a single tree on the ridge that was at almost the same elevation as the bushes we (Steven) had seen the deer go into. The plan was for me to hike up the right side to a ridge, cross over and stay below the ridgeline and head for the single tree. Once I got to the tree I would ease across the face until I could see the small evergreen below the big bush where Steven had last seen the buck. Then it would be up to me to take some ranges and figure out where I could get to without getting busted.

Upon getting to my spot I could not see the deer. I ranged the evergreen at 31 yards and a clump of bear grass at 25 yards. The bushes were in the middle and maybe a few yards further back. I knew he was there somewhere.

Ok, here is where those of you reading this tonight I guess are going to hate me.....I have to go home. I have honestly spent about 2 hours pulling this together so far. I really didn't expect it to take this long. But now I have to go home and make my wife supper (she let me leave for a week, it's the least I can do!) Also, she just called me and is in tears. She is out golfing and just hit a goose in the head with a golf ball. She said it knocked him over but now she doesn't see him. I was laughing my a$$ off but she didn't find it nearly as funny. She is done golfing for the night and heading home. Grilled pork chops and MNF await. I will continue tomorrow.

Looking forward to the rest, Jeff!

Also had a little critter excitement of my own. As soon as I got home I let my dogs out. Izzi, my "Shitteranian" was acting like something was in the garage in the morning and was right back to checking everything that evening. My guess was a opossum...she hates "grinners". Sure enough while I was lighting the grill I heard Izzi start growling near my work bench. After looking in all low nooks and crannies I looked up at my eye level and found the grinner. He had somehow gotten on a shelf and was hiding behind the DVD player.

About then Annette got home...just in time to see me using a set of grill tongs to remove the grinner from behind the DVD player. All she asked was that I please don't use the tongs while grilling her chops. I told her not to worry as they were the tongs I no longer use.

Had the grinner not crapped in my tool box and in front of my door he may have had a better night. Lets just say he wont be back and Izzi thinks she took care of him all by herself.

After standing/leaning on the side of the mountain for a full hour I finally saw a branch on the bushes I'd been staring into move. I then saw an antler. Then it was gone. Yes, after a solid hour of sweating with cramping feet and calves and aching back, I got to see the buck for maybe 3 seconds....but that was long enough for me to confirm he was there and worth waiting for! I was also able to range the exact spot I had seen him. 34 yards. Spot Hogg sight is set and ready.

The buck is nibbling on a branch. I ease up my binos. I can clearly see his head, neck and part of his shoulder. He turns and stares at me. I stay frozen for what seems like several minutes. The buck finally turns his head back and begins nibbling on the branch again.

I look very closely. I can see his head and neck clearly and a part of his shoulder. He is in a slight depression so I cannot see his legs and his body appears to be hidden in the shadows of the bushes. After much consideration I determine that if I put the arrow a few inches behind the point of the shoulder I will kill this buck. He is looking straight ahead and nibbling on the branch. I draw, anchor, level, pick my spot and squeeze the release....

At this point I should be showing you the grinning hunter photo. Instead I'm just going to tell you the plain truth. I messed up. What I found out is that the buck was actually facing me head on, not broadside (Steven could see this in the spotter). When I thought the deer was turning his head to look at me he was actually facing me. I put my arrow exactly where I aimed, the only problem is the deer's body wasn't there. Looking into the shadows I was certain that is where I needed to put my arrow. I was wrong.

Now I've told you exactly how everything went down for me. Steven, looking out for me, just posted on his FB page that my arrow was deflected off a branch. We discussed this and he simply didn't want me getting flamed online for "not being 100% sure of my target". Well I've decided to share it exactly as it went down. I simply didn't see what I thought I was seeing. At the time I was 100% sure of the shot I was taking. I was wrong. Now, if people want to flame me, flame away.

Fortunately I didn't wound this great buck and on day one of my first coues deer hunt I managed to stalk with 34 yards of a legit record book buck. Other than not making the shot I really regret not getting more pics of the spot where the buck was bedded. It looked more like a clump only rabbits could hide in!

When I got to the truck I was spitting cotton and very sun burnt. I pounded a couple bottles of water. Steven actually laughed and said "I noticed you didn't have water when you were hiking up the hill. Rookie mistake." That is the one and only time on this hunt I don't think I liked Steven much...lol!

I had a few more does come in. Some were under 20 yards away. Apparently Predator camo and the right wind are a good combo when hiding in mesquite. Steven said he glassed up a few more bucks that were headed towards the water but they didn't make it before dark.

What turned out to be the most exciting part about this blind wasn't so much the hunt but the ride to the blind! Layne would be taking Pablo and I to our blinds. We left at 4:30 am in Layne's truck pulling a UTV. After a 45 minute truck ride we unloaded the UTV. 9.9 miles later we were on the other side of the mountain and we dropped off Pablo. A long 14 miles later we were at my blind. The sun was rising. The one comment I remember Layne leaving me with was "We've seen a lot of rattlesnakes in this area." Thanks Layne.

My first morning in the blind I had a decent buck at 28 yards. I chose to pass. I also saw a spike buck. More exciting for me was the ride back. Flying along in the UTV we ran over a big rattle snake! We then picked up Pablo and saw a bobcat and a fox. We got back to camp around 9:00. Ed had shot the nice buck pictured earlier. Had a good supper, shower and in bed by 11:00.

After some time spent in the truck on Google Earth and a long hike through a few canyons and prickly pear patches (loaded with bear crap) we found the spot. Deer had been going to a natural mineral lick out in the middle of no where. There were a couple small mesquites 30 yards from the lick. With a little modification we had a make shift blind.....and a long wait as it was only 11:30.

About 5 pm the first doe arrived followed by two spikes and then another doe. After spending several minutes at the lick the two spikes came to say Hello. I didn't dare move or take a pic but they were within 3 yards of me! Later another doe came in and a nice 2 pt fed close by until dark. I believe I could have taken him but chose not to move. Steven later said there was a very nice buck working his way towards the lick but he didn't get there in time.

Now things got interesting again....Simple hike out on the dirt road right? Well I could see the headlights and Steven could see my light but as I followed the road I started veering away from truck. Soon Steven called and asked if I was still on road. I was so we figured it must curve back. Next thing I know I'm at a gate that says Private Property. Time to switch directions back towards the headlights. I ended up crossing 4 canyons and had one very brief encounter with a rattle snake! I think I screamed like a little girl and I know I jumped at least 6 feet to the side. An hour and 20 minutes later I was at the truck.

Earlier in the day Steven texted me a picture of a caterpillar with a warning that they had venomous quills. When I got to the hotel I brushed one off my neck. Fortunately he didn't get me!

This is probably the hottest day we've had so far. Nothing is moving. Between the very long hike to the lick and the heat, Steven and I agree that water is probably the best bet. I will go to a tank that had a nice buck show up right at last light the night before and Pablo will go to the tank I went to my first day.

I had a perfect wind and made myself a nice little blind tucked into an evergreen about 38 yards from the tank. In the last hour I had 3 does come in to get a drink but no buck. That would be the end of my first Coues deer hunt.

Coues deer were not high on my list prior to this hunt. Now I can definitely say I want a nice Coues buck on my wall. I will be back to chase the Gray Ghost some day.

Thank you for sharing, and I loved the pictures!

We'll have to give the shed hunting another go. We'll stay up on the flats this time ;-)