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Need tips for judging coues deer age and horns

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Here is my take on Coues. I rarely hunt them, but here is what I have found in my limited experience.

 

Coues deer are small compared to mulies. Both in body size and antlers when comparing mature animals. If a Coues looks big, SHOOT IT! 100" is a great mature Coues, while for a muley, that is maybe a 1.5-2.5 year old buck. Touching your thumbs together and making a basket with your fingers, would be a normal Coues, maybe 70+"?

 

Body size, Coues tend to be anywhere from the size of a large German Shepard to 150# for a toad. Mulies start at 150# to 250# for a brute, sometimes even bigger.

 

Look at the home page, on the right hand column under the tabs titled "90-100" "100-110", "110-120", etc. for some great Coues.

 

A range finder is a must for Coues in my opinion. They look so small to me, I almost always over estimate the yardage on them. And good glass is imperative. Without those, it is very hard to judge a Coues.

 

Good luck in 2015. Post up results and scouting reports.

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Patience and glassing is key, they are small. glassed for about an hour before I found these guys bedded about 600 yds. when I was out scouting.

post-5326-0-91826000-1442930248_thumb.jpg

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Durate64 is correct. saying the deer are small is an understatement when they are bedded. These deer in the picture have good antlers. I too am not a great field judge but I would estimate the one looking at us is 90+ and would have to see the other from another angle but it too looks high 80's and above.

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Best thing I can tell you is to look at lots of pictures. My rule is Big bucks look big. You will know when you see a really big one. You won't have any Questions. The bucks in the picture of this post are what I call good ones and would tell you to shot them if you see any that size. They however are not what I mean by Big bucks look big. Coues rarely field dress over 90 pounds and most won't go more than 75 to 80 pounds. Good luck to you and have a good hunt.

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This thread is 3 yrs old... and in the cw.com store forum.

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