Where are the coues hunters?

3TOE · Aug 27, 2024

I check the Coues forum 2-3 times per week hoping someone posted something new.
Come on guys! My hunt starts at the end of November & I really want to talk Coues.

Tell a story from one of your hunts…
How one gave you the slip…
Post a pic of your success..
Post a pic of the terrain you hunted…
Anything!

deerelkalope · Aug 27, 2024

I went coues hunting last year and all I got was a 3 legged bear

Lou (Louis) · Aug 27, 2024

Dream hunt, but I've never done it, so don't call myself a Coues hunter. I guess I am a Coues hunt hunter.

AZGuy · Aug 27, 2024

Used to hunt coues growing up in Central AZ. Sure miss those hunts! Mule Deer are superior!

3TOE · Wednesday at 3:18 AM

Lou (Louis) said:
Dream hunt, but I've never done it, so don't call myself a Coues hunter. I guess I am a Coues hunt hunter.

This will be my 2nd trip down there. They have definitely peaked my interest. Hopefully you get a chance to get after them one day.

3TOE · Wednesday at 3:21 AM

AZGuy said:
Used to hunt coues growing up in Central AZ. Sure miss those hunts! Mule Deer are superior!

You should get after them again for old times sake.

AZGuy · Wednesday at 6:30 AM

3TOE said:
You should get after them again for old times sake.

Agreed, nothing like the Sonoran desert!

3TOE · Wednesday at 6:49 AM

AZGuy said:
Agreed, nothing like the Sonoran desert!

I totally agree.

SlowElk · Wednesday at 4:52 PM

Best herd of Coues I have seen was grazing at the entrance to Kartchner Cavern; haven't seen any since. I spend more time in the northern units.

3TOE · Wednesday at 6:04 PM

SlowElk said:
Best herd of Coues I have seen was grazing at the entrance to Kartchner Cavern; haven't seen any since. I spend more time in the northern units.

I hunted south of there all around Sierra Vista back in 2022.
This year I will be further west in 35B.

1989Cohunter · Wednesday at 8:16 PM

I didn’t draw, but I’m impatiently watching to see how your hunt goes!

HikeHunt61 · Thursday at 5:23 AM

I went once, 30 years ago. Had no clue- was trying to still hunt them. Ha!

But I did almost step on a small buck. Was crossing a large opening, nothing but 2 foot tall brush. I'm stepping around a little bush, and this bastard explodes up right underneath me. Heart attack city...

3TOE · Thursday at 5:25 AM

HikeHunt61 said:
I went once, 30 years ago. Had no clue- was trying to still hunt them. Ha!

But I did almost step on a small buck. Was crossing a large opening, nothing but 2 foot tall brush. I'm stepping around a little bush, and this bastard explodes up right underneath me. Heart attack city...

I get it man. I’m from back east, so my first few attempts at mule deer, I was trying to hunt them like whitetail.

Bluehair · Thursday at 6:26 AM

A Coues hunt pic to help with the mood. I don’t do it much anymore because everyone does it now. This was last year.

3TOE · Thursday at 6:55 AM

Bluehair said:
A Coues hunt pic to help with the mood. I don’t do it much anymore because everyone does it now. This was last year.
View attachment 155874

Man that is a stud!!!

Bluehair · Thursday at 7:10 AM

3TOE said:
Man that is a stud!!!

Glassin practice.

3TOE · Saturday at 8:29 AM

On my last hunt, it took me a few days to get dialed in on the glassing. Once I realized to stop looking for deer & glass for rabbits & mice, I started seeing those little bastards.

BrianID · Sunday at 9:55 PM

I wouldn't consider myself a serious coues hunter but take advantage of the opportunity when I can.
On average they are much better eating than mule deer. They are also easy to pack out. Even a mature coues will have less than half the meat of a mature mule deer buck. They are also good looking deer and make great looking mounts.

I glass for them like I'm trying to spot coyotes. I do a bunch of calling for coyotes and found coues deer and coyotes can appear and vanish unexpectedly. Don't give up on glassing after the 1st couple hours of the morning. I've glassed many coues deer late morning after I thought prime glassing time was over. I've also killed 2 coues bucks mid day by just stumbling onto them by luck. In my observation, coues deer may cover more ground than mule deer. If I glass a mule deer at 1 mile, I feel I have a very good chance of hiking over there quickly and killing him. If I glass a coues deer at a mile, I don't have that same confidence. They can move more than mule deer and they can be very difficult to spot when you do get close enough for a shot. They are called the grey ghost for a reason.

Good luck on your hunt. I've never hunted coues in 35B but have spent some time in the area. Good density of coues deer in that part of Arizona and weather should be comfortable for hunting in late November. Jacket in the morning and light shirt in the afternoon would be common.

My 2023 Coues

Coues bucks my BIL and I doubled up on a few years ago

Coues I was had in easy rifle range the day before the season opened. I was unable to find him again.

wweaver79 · Sunday at 10:14 PM

3TOE said:
I hunted south of there all around Sierra Vista back in 2022.
This year I will be further west in 35B.

There a few good ones in that area. I was FT Huachuca for a bit a few years ago and saw a couple good bucks that were well over 100 probably 110-115ish. In safe areas for them of course.

3TOE · 2024-09-02T09:56:44-0600

BrianID said:
I wouldn't consider myself a serious coues hunter but take advantage of the opportunity when I can.
On average they are much better eating than mule deer. They are also easy to pack out. Even a mature coues will have less than half the meat of a mature mule deer buck. They are also good looking deer and make great looking mounts.

I glass for them like I'm trying to spot coyotes. I do a bunch of calling for coyotes and found coues deer and coyotes can appear and vanish unexpectedly. Don't give up on glassing after the 1st couple hours of the morning. I've glassed many coues deer late morning after I thought prime glassing time was over. I've also killed 2 coues bucks mid day by just stumbling onto them by luck. In my observation, coues deer may cover more ground than mule deer. If I glass a mule deer at 1 mile, I feel I have a very good chance of hiking over there quickly and killing him. If I glass a coues deer at a mile, I don't have that same confidence. They can move more than mule deer and they can be very difficult to spot when you do get close enough for a shot. They are called the grey ghost for a reason.

Good luck on your hunt. I've never hunted coues in 35B but have spent some time in the area. Good density of coues deer in that part of Arizona and weather should be comfortable for hunting in late November. Jacket in the morning and light shirt in the afternoon would be common.

My 2023 Coues
View attachment 156251
Coues bucks my BIL and I doubled up on a few years ago
View attachment 156253
Coues I was had in easy rifle range the day before the season opened. I was unable to find him again.
View attachment 156252

That’s what I’m talking about!!! Thanks for your post & pics. Those are some great bucks. Like you, I’m not a serious Coues hunter. This will just be my 2nd attempt.
I grew up hunting whitetail back east but Coues are a completely different animal. I’m ready to get down there.

3TOE · 2024-09-02T10:00:22-0600

wweaver79 said:
There a few good ones in that area. I was FT Huachuca for a bit a few years ago and saw a couple good bucks that were well over 100 probably 110-115ish. In safe areas for them of course.

A buck that size would be incredible, but I’m not holding out for a stud. I’m just hoping for a mature deer. I passed on some really small bucks on my last hunt. Im just hoping to see something a little better this go around. Some guys here on MM have shared some pics of their successful hunts & they are pretty impressive.