Coues help

Matt_Palmquist · Feb 17, 2007

I am in the process of researching for a DIY archery Coues hunt in Arizona for next January. I have read Adams/Mandiles book, and it was a great book and an excellent tool.

I am having trouble trying to decide on an area to key in on. I live in Kansas, and it will be difficult to make a trip down to check it out before heading for a hunt. Are the Archery tags valid in all of the open units? Where is the best place to obtain maps? What are your opinions on obtaining maps from Desertbull.com?

I am planning on the January hunt because if unsuccessful I could go back in the late summer months. Also, I realize the main way to hunt is spot and stalk, but I would be willing to pack in a DB blind or tree stand if it would be beneficial.

Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt

fisrtcoueswas80inches · Feb 18, 2007

in jan. only the southern most units are open, the northern units are close. it would be a waste to bring a treestand. any where down south there are bucks, muleys also. (watch out for illegal aliens)
Casey

crazyaboutcoues · Feb 18, 2007

If you want to hunt NM maybe we can do a swap hunt.

www.gilawildernesshunting.com

jamaro · Feb 19, 2007

try to find a DIY outfit... If you pick the wrong unit you could glass up more drug runners than coues deer...
J-

AZ402 · Feb 19, 2007

Actually Firstcoues most of the N.AZ units are open in January (21, 22, 23).

Matt_Palmquist · Feb 19, 2007

Thanks for the help guys.

Jason-

For now I am concentrating on AZ since it is OTC. I may hit you up on the offer for NM later.

Do you recommend any DIY outfit in AZ?

Thanks,
Matt

jamaro · Feb 19, 2007

There are two that I trust....
huntscout.com

and http://www.arizonabiggamehunting.com/
I have used huntscout.com

D. Adams is a little more expensive but he gives ALOT more detail...

you might also spend some time over on coueswhitetail

J-

fisrtcoueswas80inches · Feb 19, 2007

az402, i was talking more along the lines of muley country, 6a, 7m, 7e, yada yada yada
Casey

OutdoorWriter · Feb 20, 2007

>>I have read Adams/Mandiles book, and it was a great book and an excellent tool.<<

Thanks, Matt. Glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful.-TONY

AZ402 · Feb 20, 2007

Firstcoues, gotcha and yes those are closed for sure.

Squirrel · Apr 21, 2007

I drew an "accidental" tag in 36-c for the late rifle season. I'ld never seen the desert before or a coues deer either. It was an amazing adventure but had some unfortunate educational "benefits" . The illegals cannot be overstated- I was 5 miles north of the border in a remote canyon for 2 weeks and had probably 500-700 come by me. I would never do it again with out an auto pistol and lots of clips ready at all times. They came through in groups of 20-50. Absolutley nothing bad happened mind you but the possibility is there. A treestand would be a waste of time in the stuff I was in unless you hung it in a saguaro cactus. Water was a key factor but the deer were also miles from water eating cactus fruit- eventually I started eating it too- tastes like green bell peppers. The rut was a non factor for the entire season which ended on 1/1 so go later. I also read that book and kept it in my pack to compare the bucks I was seeing to the picture section in the back- it kept me so motivated that I ended up with tag stew on new years day! It was a fun hunt though and gave me an excuse to upgrade my optics, I'll never put in for Az. again with their obscenely expensive draw system but may do the archery hunt like you are planning some year when I have nothing going on in Jan.

azscouter · Apr 21, 2007

If you have the patience to wait in a blind or treestand more power to you. The only thing is doing that in Arizona you need to make sure that there are deer active in the area. unit 31 on top of Mt. Graham has a solid population of coues and is a good place for a treestand. Units 22 and 23 are also good but you may not even see a deer if you do not have any pre-season scouting. My recomondation is to go to desertbull.com and talk to him and get a map and he will give you the details on where and how to hunt.

OutdoorWriter · Apr 24, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Apr-24-07 AT 09:18AM (MST)[p]Any of you non-residents who want to hunt from treestands should concentrate on applying for the more northern units that have big trees. ;-)

Those will generally be in the central part of the state -- 4, 5, 6, 21, 22, 23, 31. Elsewhere, the higher elevations in units 27 & 29 are also good. In many of these units, you'll also find some dandy mule deer and NO illegals. -TONY