Where are the coues hunters?

3TOE

3TOE

Very Active Member
Messages
1,756
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!
 
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.
Click to expand...
I hunted south of there all around Sierra Vista back in 2022.
This year I will be further west in 35B.
 
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...
 
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...
Click to expand...
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. 😂
 
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.
L1730688.jpeg
 
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
IMG_0390.jpeg

Coues bucks my BIL and I doubled up on a few years ago
IMG_0286.jpeg

Coues I was had in easy rifle range the day before the season opened. I was unable to find him again.
IMG_1528.jpeg
 
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
Click to expand...
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
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
Click to expand...
Your 2023 buck is a stud! What softball did you shoot him with? :ROFLMAO:
 
One of my favorite animals to hunt. I started hunting for them south of the border back in the early nineties. I agree that it typically takes your eyes a couple of days before you really start spotting them. It seems that every Coues hunt is a real adventure, always a blast.
Here are a few of mine from the past.
Is your tag for Arizona?

IMG_0088.jpeg


IMG_0092.jpeg


IMG_0095.jpeg
 
3TOE said:
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!
Click to expand...
Hey 3TOE,
I have been hunting Coues seriously now for nine to ten years. It took me till August 23, 2022 to finally harvest one. Since then, I am now three for three with a score totaling 303 pts. and a combined distance of 177 yards. 2022 and this year, on 8/24/24 I tagged out in the early archery season in Az 6B and in 2023 Muzzleloader in 35A. My muzzleloader was the smallest at 87 2/8. Mule deer have always been my thing but these things have definitely gotten under my skin and I can't get them out of my mind! As far as I am concerned, there ain't nothing like them. If I can figure out how to post some pics I'll put a couple up. Good luck on your hunt.
BigAL
 
Gut shot said:
One of my favorite animals to hunt. I started hunting for them south of the border back in the early nineties. I agree that it typically takes your eyes a couple of days before you really start spotting them. It seems that every Coues hunt is a real adventure, always a blast.
Here are a few of mine from the past.
Is your tag for Arizona?

View attachment 158616

View attachment 158617

View attachment 158620
Click to expand...
Those are some great pictures. Thank you for sharing.
Yes my tag this year is for AZ, unit 35B.
 
CowsAL said:
Hey 3TOE,
I have been hunting Coues seriously now for nine to ten years. It took me till August 23, 2022 to finally harvest one. Since then, I am now three for three with a score totaling 303 pts. and a combined distance of 177 yards. 2022 and this year, on 8/24/24 I tagged out in the early archery season in Az 6B and in 2023 Muzzleloader in 35A. My muzzleloader was the smallest at 87 2/8. Mule deer have always been my thing but these things have definitely gotten under my skin and I can't get them out of my mind! As far as I am concerned, there ain't nothing like them. If I can figure out how to post some pics I'll put a couple up. Good luck on your hunt.
BigAL
Click to expand...
That is a heck of a run for the past 3 years. Congratulations on your success.
I grew up hunting whitetail back East & have taken more than my fair share. This will just be my 2nd hunt chasing coues. Immediately following my 1st hunt in 35A back in 2022, I was hooked. These little deer are a lot different animal than the whitetail I grew up hunting. I can’t wait to get back out there again this year.
 
Some amazing bucks in this thread. I'm counting the days down to November and getting to chase these guys for the first time, I'm hoping to turn up nice mature buck, they seem to be pretty addicting so maybe it will be the first of many.
 
ridgerunner said:
Some amazing bucks in this thread. I'm counting the days down to November and getting to chase these guys for the first time, I'm hoping to turn up nice mature buck, they seem to be pretty addicting so maybe it will be the first of many.
Click to expand...
Best of luck to ya. Come back and share your success when you get one down.

I counting the days also. 63 more days until my hunt begins.
 

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