First Coues Last Day (Story & Pics)

[GJMauro12]

Finally tagged my first coues deer on my 3^rd rifle tag in three years and a few years of hoping to find one on the archery hunt before that. Never had much luck and this was actually the first shot I have ever taken on a coues deer. The last two years I drew the early October hunt and didn’t have any luck. I saw 3 rifle bucks total in the two years hunting the October hunt. I was never able to spend much time on those hunts and I had a hard time seeing them little buggers.

 

I first got into glassing about 3 years ago when I first took a look at the unit I drew and realized I needed some better optics if I wanted to have any chance and ever since I can’t do enough glassing its almost addicting. This year was the first year I had the middle hunt and I was stoked because I figured the colder weather might keep the deer on their feet a little longer and I wouldn’t get worn out as quick.

I had to help on the late bull hunt this year so I didn’t get to go deer hunting till the last two days. I showed up Saturday morning before light and hustled up the hill to get set up where I had seen some does on the October hunt with a buddy. About 20 mins after light I picked up 2 does and 2 spikes running circles around the bowl I was glassing. I watched them till noon and ended up seeing 4 does and 3 spikes total. I had waited so long for my first coues that I decided not I might as well wait till I could take a decent coues.

 

I tried a new spot for the evening hunt and only seen muleys. Went back to town and stayed in a motel and decided to go back for the last morning to the same spot I seen the spikes and watch that bowl from a different angle to see if a bigger buck would show himself. I hustled up the mountain before light with just my rifle, tripod, scope and some snacks and planned on sitting till dark. About 30 minutes after light I picked up a 3x3 and fork feeding in the shade straight across from me. I got all worked up thinking this is finally good be the year I tag out. I pull up the rifle and I can’t pick up the deer with the way the sun is hitting me. I wait and watch them a bit longer thinking they are just going to vanish all of a sudden. Finally I can see them in the when the 3x3 steps into the light and shows me a broad side shot. I spin my spotting scope around on the tripod to use as a rest, find him in the scope and let squeezed the trigger. I didn’t hear a crack and I seen the deer run. I get back on the spotter and was able to pick him back up. I find him in the scope for one more shot and let it fly. (NO CRACK) I seen the deer disappear behind the juniper he was next to but he never came out.

 

I go back to glassing to see if I can pick him up and I see the fork do a circle around the tree that I shot at and then kind of scoot out of there with out the bigger buck and kind of looking confused so I thought that was a good sign. I head down the mountain and up the other side to see if he was behind that juniper. On the way over I kicked up the fork and again the bigger buck wasn’t there so I was starting to feel a little better about it. I worked my way up the hill and found the trail the deer were using and looked up and seen the juniper he was standing next to for the second shot. I got around the last juniper before I got there and seen something white sticking out of the bush.

 

Two white feet sticking up!

 

I was STOKED! I had finally scored on my first coues that I had dreamed about for so long, but I had no camera and my phone died. I decided to hike back to the truck and get my cut and pack bag and headed back for the deer at 10:30AM. Here is a picture of the bush he landed in.

 

 

after i pulled him out

 

quartered him hung him and boned him for the pack out.

 

 

heres a picture from the buck to where i shot from on top of the point in the middle

 

 

got everything to fit in the back back.

 

 

home stretch back to the truck

 

 

heres a better picture of him

 

 

and heres a couple pictures of a muley I seen

 

[200"mulie]

Congrats !! nice write up and thanks for sharing

[Muley73]

Great story and pics. Congrats on good looking buck!

[tommat]

You sure made it look like this wasn't your first rodeo! Great job, pics, and buck!

[Coues Sniper]

Great job on a pretty buck. He was worth the wait

[trophyhnter]

Great story and great pics! Congrats on your first and biggest buck!

[Pine Donkey]

Great buck for the last day, or any other! Thanks for posting.

[randyolson]

Cool! Thanks for the story and the pics! Great Buck!!

[loco4coues]

congrats! that is a great buck. Thanks for sharing.

[John O]

^{Very nice!! Congratulations, and great write up.}

[palivs2hnt]

Huge congrats on a great first coues!

[GJMauro12]

Thanks for the compliments guys I really appreciate it. Been driving around all week with it in my front seat so I could show it off to everyone. LoL. Working on cleaning it up for a Euro mount while I wait on the cape so I'll post some pictures of the euro when i get it done.