Az Coues deer down

bowuntr

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The hunt story is real short. I sat in a blind for an hour on opening morning and shot this buck!

The long story is that I retired and moved to Arizona last year. I've been bowhunting Arizona for almost 30 years. Mostly southern and the Kaibab before it was a draw. In all those years I've only shot one Coues deer. I'd always say I was going to give it an effort and then I'd end up hunting the easy deer, mulies. Anyways, I didn't draw any tags this year so I decided this was my opportunity to learn how to hunt these little deer. Between the end of June and today I've spent hundreds of hours in the woods trying to figure them out. I had two expert Coues hunters tell me some of their secrets and helped me get after it.

I found a few spots that had several bucks coming to water. They weren't consistent on my cameras but I figured that if I put the time in, I'd get an opportunity. There was one buck that stood out and all the others were just Coues bucks. I had already said to myself that I would shoot the first P&Y candidate that I had an opportunity at. I have the rest of my life to shoot a giant.

Opening morning came... I was worried about other hunters in my spot and there was none. I also played dodge ball with the monsoons and my spot was relatively dry. I did something I knew I wasn't supposed to do... before I got into my blind I went and pulled the card from the camera. It had been a week and only one pic of a doe. I got settled in for a long boring sit. It was threatening to rain. Well, after my sixth or seventh game of solitaire I look up and he's at the water by himself. Holy smokes... I check him over and decide to shoot. He was out there a poke. I thought I hit him a little far back. Turns out he only went 50 yards.

This deer completes my second bowhunting deer slam... not that is what I was trying for but I thought it was pretty cool. I also shot a nice black bear in May in Eastern Arizona. Ed F



 

realunlucky

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Congratulations Ed looks like the move has really paid off

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Steve O

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That's great Ed. I'd like to follow in your footsteps someday retiring to AZ.
 
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bowuntr

bowuntr

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Thanks... The deer 80#, my bow was bigger than the buck! The bear was over 300#, I turned in 120# of boned out meat that was made into delicious jalapeno peperjack sausage. Ed F
 

Felix40

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Jul 27, 2015
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That's awesome. Those little guys don't really get me going too much but I think it's because I know I'm not man enough to kill one with a bow! Heck of a bear too.
 

DEHusker

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Jul 5, 2014
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It's hard to say Arizona is underrated for hunting, but I think it really is. Wide variety of game and most units have legit trophy class potential. Wish they had more tags to give out! Great pics, really nice animals - congrats. Can't wait for my Coues rifle hunt in Nov. Struck out last year but had an awesome hunt nonetheless. I lived in AZ for 12 years and loved it...
DEH
 
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