Finally!!! 34A Coues

ADDICT · Dec 27, 2007

Well I FINALLY was able to take my first coues deer in Southern AZ. It was an educational experience to say the least.

I hunted for six days before I really felt like I was where the deer were. They were tough to spot, I saw a lot more does than bucks, and there was ZERO rutting activity going on.

Besides being stopped by border patrol twice, things went really smooth.

I was able to take him bedded under a cedar at ~400yds straight downhill. They're so tricky to spot I honestly second-guessed my glasses when I first saw him. It took me a second to decide if he was a shooter because he held absolutely still for five minutes. When he turned, this deer was a welcome last-day buck. He has a great frame with long beams and bladed eyeguards. I think I've got a new obsession!

Props to the species guys! They've earned my respect!

ruthunter · Dec 27, 2007

CONGRATS ON AN AWESOME DEER.WHAT DID HE SCORE?

otdrsman · Dec 27, 2007

Great Job!!

ADDICT · Dec 27, 2007

I'm not sure what he scores. ANy ideas from the experts!

NMHUNTNUTTG · Dec 27, 2007

Beautiful buck , CONGRATS on an exceptional trophy! What di you sjhoot him with? Again congrats amd thanks for sharing it , he is gonna look great on the wall...

ADDICT · Dec 27, 2007

Thanks guys. 300 Ultra Mag. I love that gun. It's one of the flattest shooting rifles I've seen.

Anyone tell me a ball park score? Just curious.

couesfever · Dec 27, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Dec-28-07 AT 04:41AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Dec-28-07 AT 04:40?AM (MST)

Somewhere between 90-95. Great first buck. Nothing like hunting those little deer.

nmhunt4food · Dec 27, 2007

Great buck, a big Congrats.

nmhunt4food trekking the desert

ArizonaCoues · Dec 28, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Dec-28-07 AT 08:54AM (MST)[p]Awesome Az 34 Coues. We hunted hard down there for 3 solid days on the opener and only saw 1 buck. Lots of does and like you said NO RUT. It is a truely fantastic unit and I love to hunt down there! Archery season is just around the corner!
Congrats on a stellar AZ coues.

I guess High 80's on that buck depending on the spread (looks pretty wide to me).

Congrats!

Arizona Coues

NMHUNTNUTT1 · Dec 28, 2007

Addict , is that a draw unit? Just curious, but your pics kick started day dreams ya know....Again a beautiful buck...NM

ADDICT · Dec 28, 2007

Yeah it's a pretty tough draw odd unit but I lucked out. I drew it on my second app. I also drew a 13B antelope tag my second try this year as well.

My wife is about done with hunting but I promised her I'll be eating tag soup for at least ten years now!

PDub · Dec 28, 2007

Great job on a great buck!
Yes, these little buggers are addicting to hunt.

Scott G.

ruthunter · Dec 28, 2007

I WAS THINKING HE WOULD SCORE AROUND THE 90 MARK.

Hiker · Jan 3, 2008

ADDICT, Great job on your buck. Did you run into any illegals?

Hiker

Proverbs 3:5-6

NeverStopHuntin · Jan 4, 2008

Dang good looking coues. Congrats.

redrabbit · Jan 5, 2008

Zac,
Glad you were able to get a fine buck on the last day of your hunt. They are indeed hard to spot if not moving. I spent 12 days in 34A and had to keep telling myself to quit panning the binos and look for a jackrabbit under a bush. I concur about the rutting activity. I did not see a buck chasing a doe until the 31st. Before Christmas, the bucks (lot of spikes seen) were still solitary or in groups, and the does were unattended.

Doug~RR

ADDICT · Jan 5, 2008

Thanks again guys. NO illegals. It was cold up there even in the lower hills and I hope they would keep lower elevations or had some tough nights!

I can't wait to draw the tag again! How long on average, does it take to draw a late coues rifle tag like this? I lucked out in year two and don't think it's a realistic plan!

redrabbit · Jan 6, 2008

Zac,
I would say that you would be drawn for Dec coues once every four-five years or so, provided you do not draw a different hunt and lose your bonus points. For Dec hunts, the max points were about 7 last year. Those with 4 had about a 28% draw, and those with 5 had 81% draw (34A data from 2006 draw) Those with 5 had much better odds since the 20% set aside for max point holders dipped from 8 BP into the 5 BP group.

My plan for next year is to apply for December only, and then pick up a leftover tag for Oct or Nov in 36 (provided there are so many leftovers again next year).

Doug~RR

ADDICT · Jan 6, 2008

RR-

I didn't realize that there were hand issue tags in the unit last year. Since the rut never did actually kick in, is the earlier hunt similar to the late (as far as the deer location, elevation, habits etc.?) The reason I ask is I would definitely hunt it again and feel fairly confident about getting on another deer if they don't migrate much.

redrabbit · Jan 7, 2008

Zac,
The coues pretty much stay in a few square mile homerange and really do not migrate. In the earlier Oct/nov hunts, they are in more of a daily pattern. In late Dec the bucks start to roam to find the does in heat. But the temps in Oct,and even Nov, can be rather warm and not enjoyable, like they were this year.

There were no leftovers permits in 34A. It was the units along the Mexican border that had the leftovers, like 36 AB&C

I had heard that the rut activity in 36B was heavier than what we saw in 34A this Dec season.

If you bowhunt, now would be the time to go back as the rut mainly in January. Good chance to learn more about 34A or another unit.

BIGBUCKBOB · Jan 24, 2008

Nice Buck Addict, Was in Az. about 2 weeks ago to see a buddy in Sonoita,I've been a mule deer hunter all my life and I think it would be real easy to switch, I met some friends of my buddies that are true blue coues deer hunters,they call muleies carp deer,anyway met a alittle gal in tombstone at the crystal palace salooon, her nose was scratched up and asked her what happen and said she got a case of buck fever,she got excited after she shot her buck and fell into a tree,she had a pic of her buck and it was a dandy.....BBB..