CouesWhitetail

Good poll Casey! That NT Coues is very odd looking. I emailed B&C to ask how they determined it was a Coues and they said that the hunt story was well documented and that the panel of measurers were sure it was a Coues. However....no genetic testing has been done yet. I am working on trying to get that done. Roy Lopez who is doing the DNA testing on Coues deer in the state may be able to run a test on this deer if B&C and the owner of the deer allow it. But that permission has not been secured. The owner may not want it tested. But who knows. I hope someday it will be tested. Just imagine if it was a Coues!!! Amanda

Since you are both interested in Chihuahua Mexico hunts, I thought I would point out that one of our sponsors, Ojo Caliente Outfitters offers hunts there. And they just submitted a hunt story which was filmed for a hunting show and features two nice bucks that got harvested. Read the story and contact the outfitter for more info. Here is the link to the story:Ojo Caliente Outfitters Hunt story Duwane Adams offers hunts in Mexico as well. I am not sure if he does Chihuahua hunts or only in Sonora. You can visit his webpage to learn more:Duwane Adams web page Hope you get a good hunt lined up! Amanda

Anyone know all the details on getting a Coues tag in NM? What is the cost, what is the deadline for applying? Anyone gonna put in for a tag there?

Josh, Thanks for the info. I was wondering if we find more sheds in the open areas because they are easier to spot there vs the bedding areas. But perhaps they really do shed more in the open. Amanda

Josh, Thanks for the info. I went out the other day around here with my husband and didn't find any. Kinda suprised me because I don't think anyone else hikes around in there. Maybe I walked too fast! Josh, do you ever search really thick scrub oak brushy hillsides? I know WT spend a lot of time in that stuff, which is usually on northfacing slopes. It's just so difficult to see and walk around in that I figure it isn't worth the effort. But since the deer spend a lot of time there and there is plenty of stuff to bump their antlers off, you would think some would drop in there. Amanda

Casey, I am sorry to hear your grandfather passed away. But it is great that you have his gun, what a great way to remember him! I don't know a good engraver, but I think that is a great idea. And I would NOT put it in the closet, I would use it and add memories to it. It's a great way to take your grandfather hunting with you. I have a shotgun from my father (who is still alive) and I love using it, knowing that it was his. Amanda

Travis, do you have a place we could take a group in 23? Maybe we could find the other side to that fat shed you found! Amanda

The tags usually sell starting Jan 1 on first-come first-serve basis. But they sell very quickly. I suggest you call the San Carlos Rec. and Wildlife Dept and ask when they will be on sale and if they will accept a check mailed in early or not. Ask to speak to one of the biologists or the director (Harold Nofchissey) and find out for sure when they will go on sale. (928) 475-2343 Make sure you call sometime in December too to make sure the deadline remains the same. Amanda

Yes, Doug, that photo is from the Galiuros. That is where I backpacked into this last season. I was looking for two big bucks that I saw in there last year, but I never saw them this year. It's a beautiful place to hunt!

The most successful bowhunters for Coues I know use a tree stand or blind. However I believe Chuck Adams spot and stalked that world record coues that he killed with his bow. I personally don't like tree stands, so I use a blind at a water hole or spot and stalk. I have stalked pretty darn close to Coues bucks, but never successfully shot one with my bow. Spot and stalk is easiest in a juniper woodland where you have a lot of visual obstacles to block your path. And the ground isn't quite as noisy as in the lower deserts. I think spot and stalk Coues with a bow would be the ultimate challenge. One that I will accomplish one of these years! Amanda

Red Rabbitt, I have hunted 32 quite a bit, in the Galiuro Mtns. There a lot of whitetail there. There are also a lot of hunters.... But you can get away from them with some effort. Access is decent, but not great. There are several areas that used to be closed though and now are open through the AGFD program for sportsmen's access. Whitetail in unit 32 are mostly restricted to the mtn ranges, the Galiuros and Winchesters. I have not hunted 31, but know that some big deer come out of the Graham mtns (a.k.a. the Pinaleno mtns). There are also WT in the Santa Teresa's. If I had a choice (which I do every year!) of hunting these two units, I would choose the Galiuros because I love that mountain range. It's very extensive and glassable. Deer density is high and there are big deer. There is a wilderness area that you can do a backpack hunt into if you want. Of course, you may prefer unit 32. What I suggest is you look over the AGFD unit reports. The game manager for each unit posts info on deer distribution and access. Here is a link to go there: AZGFD hunt unit info I have also posted hunt success and deer survey data for each unit, which you can see by going to this link: Hunt unit success, draw odds, and survey data Hope that info helps. Amanda

Allen, April-May is the peak time for Coues to shed their antlers. There is a good graph on my website that comes from AGFD research showing the timing of the life stages of Coues (births, antler growth, shedding, etc). The graph is in the Life Stages section under the Coues Biology section. Here is the link:Life Stages Section There is probably some variability in shedding dates from north to south, with northern areas shedding sooner than southern. I don't know exactly what the time difference is but I imagine it's a matter of a just a couple weeks difference. Some of the avid shed hunters that visit this web site will probably know better than I do. Amanda

Allen, Forgot to answer you about timing of sheds. April-May is the most common time for Coues to shed. I would suspect that they drop sooner in the north than the south since the rut varies from north to south too. Hey, maybe we should plan a CouesWhitetail.com Shed Hunting get together. I would like to go out and do more shed hunting. Maybe it would be fun to get a group of people and scour some area for sheds. Maybe some time in late May? Amanda

Allen, I am talking about the flatter areas in a juniper or oak woodland. If you look at the banner photo at the top of this discussion board, I am talking about those areas with more grass then trees or shrubs. I find several sheds in that kind of country. Places that are mostly grassy but have enough cover that Coues use them in morning and evening. I also find sheds in drainages, but I think probably those are washed in. Sometimes I find sheds on flat grassy areas at the edge of a dry drainage. Amanda

Yeah, that was lots of help Scott! Allen, I usually find them in washes and also on flats/benches. I find them alot in juniper woodland or oak flats. Hopefully Josh will post something about where he finds them. Amanda

Let's see what the most popular gun caliber is to hunt Coues.