After 3 years off hiking beautiful terrain and sweating buckets full of sweat, I finally put a 130g ballistic silver tip .270 on this beautiful creature. I couldn’t be more proud, even though he is on the smaller side ice is a trophy in my books. and he those make the fireplace at home look much better. I would like to thank R&R taxidermy in Mesa for doing a great job with the mount.

Marco

WMAT CouesWhiteTailDeer , Gross 130″ , Nets 120″

This shirt features two great bucks….one was a 108 7/8″ Coues taken by member Phil Cramer during his Mexico hunt in Jan 2011 (you can read his hunt story here).  And the other was a pick-up found by Alan Ellsworth in AZ which grossed 122 with a 116 net.  This wonderful artwork and screen printing was done by artist Scott Allison of Artizen Organics.  Thank you to member Hector Albarran for all his time and effort working with the artist to create this unique Coues Deer design.  Great job!!  I hope you guys like this design as much as I do!  Thank you to Alan Ellsworth and Phil Cramer for letting me use your bucks for a tshirt.

The main design is on the front of the tshirt and there is CouesWhitetail.com text across the back of the shirt.

This tshirt is made of 100% preshrunk Gildan Ultra Cotton.  Nothing feels as good as the soft cotton used in the 6.1-ounce Gildan short sleeve Ultra Cotton T-Shirt. This solid performer will look as good at the end of the season as beginning. Made of preshrunk cotton, it features double-needle stitching throughout and a seamless collar.

I thought we would try something new this year since it’s the 10 year anniversary of CouesWhitetail.com. I wanted to do a special contest and I want help motivate people to do more for wildlife. So the idea of this new contest is that if you do one of the activities listed below and post about it in the correct subforum (see rules below) then you get an automatic free entry in the contest. And, as a bonus, if you wear a CouesWhitetail.com tshirt or hat at the event and have pics to prove it, then you get an additional 3 entries. For each event you attend and post about, you can get more entries. The more entries you have, the more likely you are to win a great prize. I will run the contest for the 12 month period (Jan to Dec 2013) which should give everyone time to find several events to attend. If you did any of the following types of events this year, prior to me announcing this, then it can still count if you post about it.

I will keep a spreadsheet with the entries to date and post them here so you can make sure I counted you after you post about a project you attended.  http://www.coueswhitetail.com/2013/03/wildlife-conservation-challenge-entries-to-date/

At the end of the year, I will randomly select winners from a list of all entries. Multiple entries are possible using the framework below.

We have some GREAT prizes lined up so far! Please thank our sponsors for their support of this contest and wildlife conservation in AZ!

Top prize is a scoped Ruger American .270…..a very nice gun! (you can read a review about the gun)

You can go look at the gun at Healy Arms in Mesa during their business hours!

We have a lot of other outstanding prizes lined up and you can see the list below.

So…….HOW MUCH CAN YOU DO FOR WILDLIFE THIS YEAR?

1. Ruger American .270 with Nikon Monarch 2.5-10×42 scope and Weaver quad-lock rings – donated by Healy Arms and CouesWhitetail.com – you may view this gun at Healy Arms in Mesa
2. Outdoorsmans medium tripod with pistol grip head – donated by Outdoorsmans
3. Outdoorsmans Backpack – donated by Colburn and Scott Real Estate
4. IBEX EVO II 65+10 hunting backpack by Markor Hunting – donated by Vision Outfitters
5. Blacks Creek Canadian backpack – donated by Santana Outdoors
6. $100 Sportsmans Warehouse gift card – donated by Sportsmans Warehouse
7. 6 weeks of 1 on 1 archery instruction for a beginner or 6 free hours in DART target system for more advanced bowhunter – donated by Archery Headquarters
8. Jetboil Stove donated by Gila Outdoor
9. Gift certificate for $75 dollars off game processing at Miller’s Southwestern Processing
10. Gift certificate for $75 dollars off game processing at Miller’s Southwestern Processing

Ways to enter this giveaway:

Attend a wildlife conservation group work project anywhere in the US (includes groups like Arizona Game and Fish Department, New Mexico Game and Fish, California Game and Fish, Arizona Elk Society, Arizona Deer Association, AZ Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, AZ Antelope Foundation, etc) and post about the event here with pictures in the forum in the Wildlife Projects subforum. You get 3 additional entries if you post a picture of you at the project wearing a CouesWhitetail.com tshirt, hat or showing a CW sticker on your vehicle at the project.

Being a member of any Wildlife Conservation group during 2013 and post about it in the forum in the Conservation Group Events subforum. You get 3 additional entries if you are serving on the Board of Directors and you get 2 additional entries if you work at the banquet of one of these groups. You get 3 additional entries if you are a Life Member of the group.  You must post proof of your membership, proof of you being on the board, and/or proof of you working the banquet. And again, if you are wearing a CouesWhitetail.com tshirt/hat at the event, then you get 3 additional entries.

Work at a youth camp or adult camp designed to teach hunting skills (ie, like the women’s javelina hunting camp) in the US during 2013 and post photos and text about the event in the CouesWhitetail.com forum in the Conservation Group Events subforum. You get 3 additional entries if your photos show a picture of you at the event wearing a CouesWhitetail.com tshirt, hat or showing a CW sticker on your vehicle at the project.

Attend and speak at an AGFD commission meeting or other game and fish commission in the US and post about it in the Political subforum. You get 3 additional entries if your photos or video show a picture of you at the event wearing a CouesWhitetail.com tshirt or hat. Post photos or a link to video from the AGFD website that shows you were there.

Attend a Wildlife Conservation group banquet and post text and photos taken at the event in the CouesWhitetail.com forum in the Conservation Group Events subforum - You get 3 additional entries if your photos or video show a picture of you at the event wearing a CouesWhitetail.com tshirt or hat. You get 2 additional entries if you work at the banquet of one of these.

Donate to a Wildlife Conservation group and post about that donation in the CouesWhitetail.com forum in the Conservation Group Events subforum.  You will get one entry into the contest for each $100 of retail value of the item (or cash) donated.  So for example, if you donate a gun to a fundraising banquet and it’s worth $600, then you get 6 entries.  If you donate $200 in cash, then you are eligible for two entries.  If you donate four items valued at $25 each, then you get one entry in the contest since that would total $100.

Remember for all these actions, you have to follow up by posting about them in the forum.  The whole idea is to raise awareness and motivate others to do something good for wildlife.  So please remember to post about whatever project/banquet, etc that you worked on and it’s also helpful if you email me a link to your post to help me keep track of the entries.

Many thanks to all who entered and to those that donated prizes!!

You can read each hunt story that was posted in the forum by clicking the link under the winner’s name.

Winners, please email me (amanda@coueswhitetail.com) with your name and mailing address so I can get your prizes to you!  Also, if you won a tshirt, you can select the size, style, color on the CW tshirt page in the store.

Archery Elk

Name	Score	prize
First place – Archery Ryan Owens (aka Hunt6523)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/36205-2012-archery-bull-az/	433	$500 off taxidermy work at Artist Touch
Second place – Archery Aaron Hartzell (aka Packer)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/35370-beyond-my-wildest-dreams/	424 1/8	Covert Trail Camera MP6, antler night light, CW tshirt
3rd place – Archery David Krouse (aka 105coues)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/35681-my-unit-10-archery-hunt-added-pics/	372 5/8	$100 gift certificate to Gila Outdoor
4th place – Archery Chris McCotter   (aka cmc)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/35484-dreams-come-true/	364	mattress pad from A1 mattress
5th place – Archery Brent Oakeson (aka slayer)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/35356-brents-unit-27-bull/	338 6/8	CouesWhitetail.com Tshirt
6th place – Archery Andrew Dykes (aka Andygrand)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/35376-utah-archery-success/	330	CouesWhitetail.com Tshirt
7th place – Archery Brian Fish (aka standman)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/35315-my-2012-bull/	325	CouesWhitetail.com Tshirt
8th place – Archery Robert Poor (aka elpepe25)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/35378-my-az-elk-story-and-more-pics-added/	322 7/8	CouesWhitetail.com Tshirt

Rifle Elk

Name	Score	prize
1st place – Rifle Dallon Lines (son of Lance Lines)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/35699-dallons-first-bull/	361 1/8	Covert Trail Camera CA4.0
2nd place – Rifle Robert Matthews (aka Basser15)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/35952-successful-elk-hunts/	337	$50 in SW gift cards + Havalon Knife
3rd place – Rifle Chris Beck (aka Sundevil)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/37559-1st-elk-wilbur-jr/	315 5/8	$50 in SW gift cards

Spirit of the Hunt and Best Field Photo categories

Name		prize
Best Spirit of the hunt photo – first place Andrew Dykes (aka Andygrand)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/35376-utah-archery-success/		$25 gift card for any item in CouesWhitetail.com store
Best Spirit of the hunt photo – second place Robert Poor (aka elpepe25)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/35378-my-az-elk-story-and-more-pics-added/		Havalon knife
Best Spirit of the hunt photo – 3rd place Austin Garcia http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/36881-my-2012-trophy/		CouesWhitetail.com tshirt
Best field photo – first placeRobert Poor (aka elpepe25)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/35378-my-az-elk-story-and-more-pics-added/		$25 Cabelas card
Best field photo – second placeChris Beck (aka Sundevil)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/37559-1st-elk-wilbur-jr/		Havalon knife
Best field photo – third placeChris Mccotter (aka cmc)http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/35484-dreams-come-true/		5 foot loop rope

So, back in 2008 we get the sheds from this buck and we know exactly where the sheds were found.  A year later another set was found in the same area and the buck was bigger.  I tried to buy the sheds but the owners felt they were worth thousands of dollars  so I didn’t get them.  Over the years of hunting for this buck and this same area we find the Shed Buck along with several other great bucks and gain tons of knowledge about how to effectively hunt this area.  So, with confidence that I can find at least one of the big bucks during the early season and with a client willing to do a backpack hunt, I have him apply for the tag, he draws it and the hunt is set!

I went in early and packed in most of the water and when the client arrived we made the trek in with all our camping gear.  I had several bucks that lived in the same small canyon figured out. The buck that the sheds came from, the “Shed Buck”, I felt was the least likely to be there because he hadn’t been seen in a while but I still felt confident at least one of the bucks would be there. The problem with this canyon is you have to sneak across an open hillside to get into position to effectively glass into the thick bedding side.  You have to have the wind right in order to do this correctly and for the first 2 days of the hunt the wind was wrong so we waited and glassed different areas.  We saw good bucks elsewhere but nothing over our lofty goal of 110″.  Finally on the 3rd day the wind slowed down and was finally blowing the right direction so off we went.  We snuck down to our pre-determined glassing spot, I set up my tripod and binos and before Steve even had his backpack off I glassed up the “Shed Buck”!  Here he is…

I immediately knew it was the Shed Buck and told Steve to get set up for the shot because we need to kill this deer!  Steve set up but was hesitant with shooting this buck just yet.  We knew there was a higher scoring buck in the area and we hadn’t even glassed the hillside yet!  I agreed that we needed to look around in case this was a bachelor group but couldn’t find any other deer.  The Shed Buck laid there in his bed for over an hour as we watched him!  We had the wind right, he was well within Steve’s effective killing distance and we wanted a standing broadside shot.  During that time frame we searched hard for the other bucks but it appeared he was all by himself.  Steve still seemed hesitant to shoot this buck just yet but after I told him I’d give him the sheds and reassured him the character of this buck was off the charts, he agreed we needed to kill him now! Finally the buck stood up to stretch and without any delay Steve put the buck right back into his bed with a perfect shot!

We hiked across the canyon and walked up to an amazing, once in a lifetime buck!  The palmation and character of this buck is second to none!  I have held the sheds for several years and as soon as I grabbed the rack and held this buck it felt exactly like the sheds, the curves, texture and angles were all the same but now one of his sticker points had turned into an awesome “J-hook” dropper!

We packed him back to camp and savored the rest of the day!  We no longer had to ration our water or food so we ate and drank like kings that night!

Here’s the mount that my buddy just finished last week along with the sheds!

AZ Ground Pounders Outfitters consists of brothers Cash, Steel and Levi Armstrong along with Cousin Waylon Pettet and they established their guiding business 4 years ago.  In that short time, they have impressed a lot of people with their skill and work ethic!  I must admit I was a little concerned about these guys because they are so young.  I was wondering if they could really be any good at such a young age, but after talking with several past clients, my concerns were put to rest and I definitely recommend these guys.  They are SERIOUS about lion hunting as well as being passionate about Coues and elk hunting!

AZ Ground Pounders Outfitters is a full service guide and outfitter.  They can accommodate large groups as well as remote backpack type hunts. They offer guided hunts for all species, but perhaps shine the most with regard to mountain lion and Coues hunts.

They can provide accommodations during the hunt in either travel trailers or wall tents if in a more remote location. Meals they provide include Steak, chicken, and fish, along with sides like bacon wrapped jalapenos and fried potatoes.  Breakfasts include eggs, bacon, sausage and hash browns as well as pancakes waffles and breakfast burritos.

I called several of their past clients and the comments that I heard were glowing and included things like “outstanding!”, “I couldn’t believe how dedicated they were!”, “Definitely going back with them! I rate them 100%!”, “they were great!”, “they know the country and they delivered on what they said”, “great lion guides!”, “already booked two more hunts with them!”, “best trackers I have ever seen!”

I also spoke with Waylon Pettet about their business and when I asked him what makes AZ Gound Pounders different from other outfitters, here is what he said, “AZ Ground Pounders Outfitters are different than other guides due to the immense knowledge of the units that we guide. Cash and Steel spend over 200 days a year trailing and hunting and hunting. The AZ Ground Pounders will work as hard as any outfitter to make sure that the client goes home with the best possible trophy.”

“The AZ Ground Pounders Outfitters have consistently guided or hunted some of the biggest Coues Deer in the Arizona every year.  The Az Ground Pounders specialize in Dry Ground Lion Hunts from October until April and average just over 15 successful guided lion hunts per year.”

Waylon continued, “We have guided or killed many record book animals including Coues Deer that scored 133”,131”, 125” 120”, 117”, 114” and many other buck over 100 inches.   We have also guided a 387” typical bull elk in 2011. Many of our lions have scored in either Pope and Young or Boone and Crockett Trophy Class. The AZ Ground Pounders Outfitters work to guide our clients to kill trophy animals.”

“We have a 100 percent success rate on all rifle Coues hunts. Lions Clients are currently 48 out of the last 52 hunts. Elk Hunts are 100 percent opportunity rate on both early and late hunts.”

Enough of the hype, let’s see the proof!  Check out a selection of their trophies below…..

And then check out their blog and learn more about what they can offer you!

http://azgp.blogspot.com/

nontypical coues

Forum member Non-typical solutions shared this photo along with several pics of sheds from this buck.  Check out his post in the forum to see more:

http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/38860-feeding-the-frenzy/

Darin says his store mostly sells archery and hunting supplies. He is also an authorized dealer for Swarovski scopes, Havalon Knives and Sitka Gear.

“Any hunting enthusiast will find what they are looking for and more with us.” says Darin. We cater to the “recreational recurve archery user, professional hunters and huntress and many more.”

He lists his top 5 most popular products as:

Smick Sage recurve bows

Mossy Oak accessories

Swarovski Binoculars and scopes

Havalon Knives

Sitka apparel

So when you get a chance, check out their website and see if you can find some gear that you need.  When you do, use code “Coues” to receive 10% off storewide for orders over $100, including Swarovski optic and Sitka Gear Offer expires Dec 31, 2013.

Darin has a huge variety of gear, check out their website!  Please remember to support those that support your passion!

Vision Outfitters

3745 Loma Ventosa

Sierra Vista, AZ 85650

520.249.2798

sales@visionoutfitter.com

If you are looking for something specific, give Darin a call and see if he has it in stock or can get it for you.

How sweet is this pic?? 

http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/38735-arizona-commissioners-elk-tag-sells-for-385000/

Thanks,

Muzzleloader75

and

Family!

Cucurpe Sonora 270 WSM / 8.5×25 Leup. Scope / 150 gr. Nosler,Partition / near 110″ Buck

I am sure all of you are going to admire this beauty, my dad harvest this once a life time trophy 5 years ago, 21 points over 1″ and scored 150 and 4/8, +- 200 meters distance, bedded!

The best of this experience was that my oldest sun (First grandson of my dad) was hunting with Grandpa who was 70 years old at that date. Awesome experience,that same hunt I harvest a very nice 108″ buck 19″6/8 of inside spread!!

I hope you guys enjoy this pictures..

coues pick up.

Colorado Buck

Rafael Tapia

Unit 33 with my PSE rally 1/12/13

2012 Coues Buck 36B

Shot 300 yards from camp. Opening day

KICO GONZALES

New Year Day Buck 2013

First Archery Buck with my PSE Bow Madness.. 90 yrd Shot

]]> http://www.coueswhitetail.com/2013/01/9905/feed/ 0 http://www.coueswhitetail.com/2013/01/grong-orange-strikes-again-epperson-takes-a-giant-coues/ http://www.coueswhitetail.com/2013/01/grong-orange-strikes-again-epperson-takes-a-giant-coues/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2013 05:51:09 +0000 CouesWhitetail http://www.coueswhitetail.com/?p=9876

monster coues buck taken by Josh Epperson in Mexico Jan 2013

Wow, Josh Epperson (aka Grong) returned from Mexico with a MONSTER coues buck.  He hunted with Jim Reynolds (Reynolds Coues Connection).  This is the third year Josh has hunted with Jim and each time he has gotten great bucks! You can see more photos and read the story in the forum.  Gross score about 135!!!  Congratulations Josh, I know you will LOVE that trophy!

Josh tells me he was wearing his lucky “Grong orange” CouesWhitetail.com tshirt when he shot this buck.  He says this is his lucky shirt!

http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/37853-third-time-in-mexico-with-reynaldo-finally-paid-off/

I took this buck on 1/17/2013 using my PSE Xforce and Swacker Broadheads.

I thought it might help to clarify the final wording of the bait ban just passed by the AGFD commission.

Here is what it will say:

4.            An individual shall not use edible or ingestible substances to aid in taking big game.  The use of ingestible substances to aid in taking big game is unlawful when:

1. An individual places edible or ingestible substances for the purpose of attracting or taking big game, or
2. An individual knowingly takes big game with the aid of edible or ingestible substances placed for the purpose of attracting wildlife to a specific location.
3. This subsection does not limit Department employees or Department agents in the performance of their official duties.
4. For the purposes of this subsection, edible or ingestible substances does not include:

i.            Water.

ii.            Salt.

iii.            Salt-based materials produced and manufactured for the livestock industry.

iv.            Nutritional supplements produced and manufactured for the livestock industry and placed during the course of livestock or agricultural operations.

and a quote from AGFD email “So water softener salt, table salt, or organic sea salt are all perfectly acceptable.  But a salt-based product produced for something other than the livestock industry will not be acceptable.  You can place a mineral salt lick in the field and hunt over it.  Further, if it is a nutritional supplement, it must be placed there for the purposes of livestock management, not hunting.”

Proud buck travels home in comfort

New Mexico 2012 November hunt.  Many hours of glassing and a very lucky evening sun reflection off the antlers lead to Wes making a beautiful 500 yd shot.  We had been glassing one hillside that was falling into shade.  Anthony happened notice a flash or glint of sun and a moment later the Buck’s death cert. was figurative signed.

All of us have experienced the visual distraction of birds flying at great distances; the movement or reflection in the Sun can be a heart racer.  You keep looking around or in these circumstances look closer, because any move may not be what it first appears to be.

Boy what a hunt missed this one last year he was chasing does all around me had to draw twice fimally got a shot after holding what seemed forever by then had jelly arms he stepped out from behind the tree!

I killed this buck today in 34a around 10:30 this morning. What happened was I started the day and glassed up seven does right off the back no bucks so I ended up driving around another hill and glassed up a nice 3×3 I was going to start stalking him until he started randomly running then I saw the doe he was chasing down the hill. I ended up putting a stock on him but never could get close enough so I went to another location I was familiar with ended up glassing up the buck I killed so I started walking up a wash but as I get in it about 50 yards I see a does on a hill and she’s looking Down so I walked around the hill some more and there was a nice buck about 100 inches. He was rutting that doe. I had him at 50 yards but never gave me a shot. I kept chasing him around and that doe but he eventually ended up running up a hill. So I went back to find this buck with split tines and I could end up finding him so I walked back to my truck and ended up jumping a spike out then three doe then there goes my buck he stopped at 61 yards broadside I pulled back as shot heard it hit and watched blood pour out of him I knew it was a good hit. I let him sit for 15 minutes. I was too excited to wait any longer so I trail him he ran about 25 yards and died. I had him a 4×4 with double eye guards on one side and triple on the other. The best bow kill I have. He’s about 88 inches maybe 90.

My November 2012 Coues Whitetail hunt has proven to be my most memorable hunt yet. We were hunting down south, about 22 miles north of the border. The previous year in this unit had gone well for us, with no sightings of any “mules” or other illegals. However, this year was different. The afternoon of opening day, I saw six mules (drug runners) pass above me on a high ridge heading north. They were moving fast and walking in pairs about 50 yds apart. I tried to raise the Border Patrol, but couldn’t get a signal on my telephone. I reported my sighting to the BP at their checkpoint later that evening, but by then the info was stale.

Two days later, I was heading back up that same canyon just after first light. The trail winds through the canyon bottom with lots of brush and trees in the river bed. I was in the lead with my young hunting partner a few steps behind me. I was looking for deer movement on the hills high above me, so I was a little startled to suddenly find a group of people coming down the same trail, but from the opposite direction. I quickly saw that they were mules with large packs on their backs.  We were about 10 yds from each other and it was clear that they were just as surprised to see me as I was to see them. We stood there facing each other for what seemed like an eternity. In reality, it was only a few seconds, but the mind seems to go into slow motion when these types of situations confront you.

I scanned for weapons on them, but found none. What I could see, was the tell-tale square, burlap bags full of drugs on top of their packs. Unprepared for a confrontation right there, I stepped off the trail and said the first words of spanish that popped into my mind: “olah”. The next thought that went through my head was: “you’re head-to-head with some drug mules on a trail in the middle of nowhere and ‘olah’ is the best you can come up with?” I gestured for them to pass by and vaguely remember muttering something like “por favor”. They moved past us and continued on down the trail. My partner and I hiked another 100 yards or so up the trail and around the corner before stopping to discuss what had just happened. We took a quick inventory of what we had seen. Once we were certain that drugs were involved, we felt we had to report it. But again, no bars on the phone.

So we scrambled up the hillside in the hope of gaining enough altitude for a line-of-site connection with the outside world. As we worked our way up the steep hillside, I kept an eye on the trail below us. I could see parts of the trail winding down the riverbed for a good half mile or so. As we continued to climb, I realized that I had not seen the mules heading further down the trail, nor had I seen them working their way back up to where we had last seen them. I knew they had left the trail, but had no idea which direction the were headed. Paranoia began to set in. I felt very vulnerable, in spite of the fact that I had a rifle on my shoulder.

I finally got a single bar on my phone and began dialing out. I had no luck reaching the BP or AZGFD, so I finally had to dial 911. The operator was very understanding. After she collected some basic information, she asked: “Is anyone hurt”? My reply was “not yet”. That seemed to motivate her even more and I was quickly patched through to the Sheriff’s office. They put me in touch with the BP. During all of this commotion, I noticed movement just off the trail about 600 yds. further down the mountain. A quick look through my bino’s revealed three men ditching backpacks and other stuff behind some trees. They pushed over a tall Century plant, as if to mark the spot and then disappeared out of sight into a side canyon.  They had stashed their “goods” so that if they were caught, they could only be charged with illegal entry into the USA and not drug smuggling.

I continued to watch the spot where the drugs had been dropped off, while using my cell phone to give the BP directions on our location.  After a half our, I received a text from the BP that they were at the trailhead and ready to start their climb up the canyon.  I waited another 15 minutes before coming down off the hill and on down the trail to where the drugs were located.  The BP agents reached the site about the same time I did.  They pulled out 9 square burlap packages of weed from behind the tree.  Each package weighed about 25 lbs for a grand total of 225 lbs.  It was pretty routine for them – an average drug bust.  They stated that their four man team average about 3,000 lbs per month.  So it was not a big deal to them, but a huge trophy for me.  Their are no inches or measurements to enter into any B&C record book, but the memories of this day will last me the rest of my life.  Hopefully, your 2012 hunt was just as memorable.

Chip Beiner killed this great buck with his muzzleloader in December 2012.  WOW!  Congratulations on a GREAT deer!

Good hunt with Andy miller

My son Cole and I started our hunt on Saturday Dec 15th since Cole was still in school on Friday. There would be plenty of time to hunt during winter break. That Saturday had nasty wind and the deer just were not moving. Cole was fortunate enough to glass one deer but it was out of sight before he could get me on it.

Sunday was a better day and the deer were moving, but still no bucks. I was planning on going out by myself through out the week, but we had a dog get sick and needed to go to the vet. I finally made it out on Thursday. I spent the morning glassing some hills that have held some really good deer over the years. Nothing. The does were barely moving. It was 12:00 so I decided to get up and glass from the same hill but in another direction. With in 15 minutes I see a buck bedded in a thick group of trees and cactus. I could see that his main beams were heavy but I was having a hard time seeing the length of the tines.

I had watched the buck for a half an hour trying to see how big he was. I texted Cole to let him know that I had a good framed buck bedded and was trying to decide to take him. Cole knew that I was after a 105″ buck or bigger, but told me that if the buck was around 100″ that I should take it. I had ranged the buck at 540 yards dialed in the moa and set my rifle up for the shot. When the buck stood up to stretch I saw that he was right around 100″ and decided to take the shot. Whop, the buck was down.

I called Cole to let him know that I had taken the shot and the buck was down. He was out of school at this time in the day and asked if I wanted help getting the deer out. I said yes since I wanted to experience the hunt with him anyway. It seemed like it took Cole forever to get there. I couldn’t wait any longer, I had to go see the buck. He was a good mature buck, I measured him while I was waiting for Cole to get there. He measured 99″.

Now it was Saturday December 22. Cole and I go to another area where we had glassed a mt.lion a couple years before. It was overcast and I had glassed up some doe and a couple small bucks. Cole had told me he needed the sun to come out so he could see through his glasses. He has been using my old 16×50′s that I used before I got the Swarovski’s. I didn’t realize how bad those old 16×50′s had become. That night I called up my good friend Eddie to see if Cole could borrow his binoculars. Eddie said no problem. Cole said he wanted to glass his own buck for once. The next day we set up on a hill were we have had some good action in the past. And this time would be no different. It was like Cole was seeing for the first time, he was finding deer all over the hills in that area. I really felt bad that he was so restricted with those old 16×50′s. It was mid day now, we had seen a couple bucks that would be in the 80′s, and we decided we would come back for them later in the hunt if we didn’t see anything bigger.

Cole and I moved to the other side of the hill to see if we could find a bedded buck. I’m glassing the ocotillo choked bottoms and Cole starts glassing the the top of the mountain. Immediately he says I got a deer, it’s a buck. He guides me over to the deer. The whole time Cole knows it a good buck and that he is going to go for this buck. When I see this deer it was obvious he was a good deer. He was bedded only in some sage bush looking stuff out in the sunlight at the top of the mountain. I ranged the deer at 1500 yards. “Good spot Cole”. We figure out how we are going to stalk over for a closer shot and start making our move. As we are getting close to the position, the buck gets up and feeds over the saddle.

We decide that we are going to drive around to the other side and hike to another vantage and try to find the buck again. It took us about an hour to get around to the other side and hike up to a good vantage that would be close enough for a shot. We start glassing, thinking that this buck can’t be to far from where we last saw him go over the saddle, but we’re not seeing him. After 2 hours of looking and trying to figure out what path he went when he came over the saddle, I go back to the saddle to start over and there he is. Feeding in the shadows. He must have laid down right at the top. I range him at 660 yards while Cole is getting the rifle set up. We had to work fast, the sun was setting and getting real close to blinding out the scope. Cole finds the buck in the scope and dials in the moa. As soon as the buck turned broadside he shoots. I could see in the binoculars it was a good hit. The buck hopped twice and ran about another 10 yards before he went down, about the same time the report of the hit got back to us. Whop! Hi fives!

The light was fading fast. Since the mountain was very steep and the rocks were very lose, I made the decision to be safe and recover the deer in the morning when the light would be better. A couple of friends wanted to help with the recovery of the buck. Vinny and Chris, thank you!

I got this one opening morning of the November hunt in 6A. My dad and I were glassing a ridge for the better part of a morning. We decided to walk over the top and glass the shady side of the next ridge. On top we jumped him up, and I shot him on the run. I was overjoyed to see blood where I shot him and to find him not another twenty yards further. He may not be a record, but he is to me. He is my biggest to date, 79 7/8 gross.

I took this buck on 12/1/12 after a first days hunt with no luck and a bunch of stick deer, you know what im talking about.  I took the shot at 50yrds when my cousin spooked him out of a canyon were the buck was bedded.

Chiricahua buck 2012

good luck on the hunt Mike!

Go to the Contest subforum linked below and look for the 5 different voting topics for the categories.

http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/forum/15-contests-and-giveaways/

This buck was taken in the big Burro Mountains unit 23, 11/18/2012. With my Remington 300 WSM. this buck scored 114 1/8 grosed 119 2/8 .

Forum member Bowhuntaz1 took his daughter out bowhunting rabbits and they found this shed!  She was soooo happy!!

you can see more pics in the forum:

http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/36852-found-one/

Here’s my offbeat hunting rig I use in the Chiricahuas.

a CZ550fs in 6.5×55 Swede

Nosler 120 gr Ballistic Tips

Vortex 15x Binocs

Steiner Predator 10x Binocs

Nikon Tripod

Great hunt for the boys!