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Coues deer hunt…. Continues

nakneker

Gold $$ Contributor
Me and my wife were fortunate enough to each draw December Coues deer tags in one of our favorite Arizona units. The hunt started on the 13th and goes to the end of the month. We’re hunting some pretty rough country, but we’re putting in the miles and looking at a lot of deer. So far we’ve seen just over 50 coues bucks and a lot of other wildlife too.

A couple days ago my wife filled her tag with a fantastic buck, her best to date, it’s pictured below. If you’re an eastern Whitetail hunter, it might be hard to appreciate a big Coues deer. I’ve seen hunters who aren’t familiar with Coues deer pass on some mighty big bucks. Coues have a way of getting in your blood, it can be a deep rabbit hole. Big Coues can be a hard species to get a mature representative of the species. They don’t call them the “grey ghost”for the heck of it.

We are home today till Thursday and then we head back out. I was helping my niece on this same hunt last year. Last year the conditions weren’t nearly as good as this year. It’s very warm for December here BUT the bucks are starting to rut, something that didn’t happen past year. Some of those big elusive Coues bucks are showing theirselves chasing does and hanging out for a good time. We watched one nice buck and his girlfriend for a couple hours as we sat and glassed an area, they were in full honeymoon mode.

The biggest buck I glassed up on this hunt thus far was at 2400 yards. We made a move on him but he gave us the slip, he’s a solid 125” buck, four points on each side with giant eye guards. We went back in that spot yesterday and only saw part of one deer but didn’t get a look at his head gear, he was big bodied Coues, pretty sure it was a mature buck and maybe even him. We did watch some beautiful bighorn rams though, that was a bonus. Unfortunatly all we have to show for our efforts was another 12 miles logged and sore backs but we did find a neat pair of elk antlers and saw some amazing country, country I’ve wanted to explore for years.

I’m pretty determined to not wrap this tag around anything smaller than I’ve already been fortunate enough to cross paths with. My biggest buck to date is 116”, I have a dozen of them over 110”. I’ve been applying for this hunt for 20 years, they only give out 30 tags, draw odds are low. Its a good opportunity to take a solid buck.

She was shooting a 6.5x47 that has filled It’s share of tags. 507 yards, one shot, Berger 140 VLD hunters. Bullet performance was exceptional.

I’ll update this thread when the hunt ends, hopefully with a picture of another good buck.
 

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Thats a big buck. My friend was down in 36b in October, he could never closer than the 1k yard gap between him and a buck he liked. I have not tried couse deer yet, just mule deer.
 
Congrats and a very quality buck for the Mrs. You have what it takes for bagging a great buck. Good luck and Merry Christmas to you both.
 
With bases like that, what would be your guess as to age on that deer? 6-7 years possibly? Just curious, congrats to the Mrs, very nice. Also, what would the score (gross) be on that one? In the teens?
 
Thanks guys!
With bases like that, what would be your guess as to age on that deer? 6-7 years possibly? Just curious, congrats to the Mrs, very nice. Also, what would the score (gross) be on that one? In the teens?
I was guessing him at 114 when we decided to make a run at him. We spotted him at just over 950 yards. Got the spotter on him and looked him over pretty good. Shannon decided she wanted to try and seal the deal. She did. Me and good friend scored him today, he grossed just over 119 which is ironic because her personal goal was a 120+ buck but the silver lining is it will keep her hungry to break that mark. She’s taking the whole Coues thing pretty serious. Fun!
 
I don't know a thing about Coues deer, only what I have read and the pics. I have seen. My Eastern guess is 121" and sticking to it.
 
Beautiful mature buck. Really curious on what age that deer might be? Absolutely awesome and it’s obvious that you put the work in to even get opportunities on that caliber of game. Heartfelt congratulations, very impressive.
 
Nakneker you are a Blessed man to have a beautiful wife who enjoys your hunting passion.
Thank you for the kind words, I wasn’t one of the lucky guys who got marriage right the first go around, that was 12 very difficult years. That being said, Shannon (my wife) has made the last 21 years of marriage a great experience. We’re more best friends than anything, she will go anywhere, always has a positive attitude and in many ways is the glue that keeps everything rolling forward. She likes anything outdoors, looking for arrowheads, hunting, fishing, camping, exploring new country. She truly is a blessing to me and mine.
 
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WOW, Great buck for sure. I've killed many Coues deer and it's a challenge to break the 100 inch mark. 120" is lofty goal for sure. Congratulations Shannon, Sean you're a blessed man for sure. I'll bet she was shooting that nice 6.5X47 you show'd me once and I've been lusting for ever since. Congratulations on a great Coues. Good hunting, Rick
 

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