coueschaser3

Thanks alot guys, its mount is about identical to the slc's. they are very light for what im used to and have a great feel i cant wait to get em in my hands.

I am sure i will like them better than the 15 swarov's but thats only because the swarovs dont go narrow enough for my eyes on a tripod. Much better glass but it doesnt help when they are rendered useless, i just plan on stepping up from pentax, which i hope is what i will be doing, for a while till i can get 10x42 el's.

Paid seven hundred even. They are listed here at work for 950 and a bit higher most places on the internet. I have been playing with the 12x50's to get an idea and i think they are gonna be a big step up from my pentax and a good step on my way to swarov's. Warranty seems nice and they are NIB.

yeah that was me. i was only a few hundred yards down doing a little evening glassing. the buddy who had the tag had to leave early. Ended up seeing a few pigs way further east, a shot or two missed. Not as many pigs as im used to seeing down there and no muleys which is strange. Lots of coyotes. It was kind of a slow day for us but we had some fun. How did you guys do?

If it was Saturday and a single cab with muley/elk skull stickers and a predator sticker it was me. I was helpin some buddies on the hunt. Brown sticker on the tail gate. I think i saw someone slowdown goin by while i was a ways out glassin.

could you by any chance tell anything by the blood? lung/stomach/...... that will give you a good idea how far he will go. If its a new blood trail ill bet the arrow is still in him and never fell out probably kept making new cuts grid it out with a bunch of people and leave nothing un covered what is the country like?

christain that aint fair, you got the pic message with the score.

Id be willing to go if its relatively near the valley, i got a dog that might help also. its a bad bad feeling i know. Just dont give up he is out there and if the shot looked good they can still be really tough animals.

pm sent

Alright, I can finally get to my story about my late Bull hunt. Sorry to any who have waited for me to post, after the hunt I was exhausted and then got news of a Family death so I had to fly out for a funeral. But now here it is. As with most of us my excitement started in mid or late April when I found that I had drawn my first choice tag. From then on I had been planning scouting trips and dreaming of the first Bull hunt I would actually have the tag myself and would actually be able to hunt…..I did have a tag 8 years ago but vehicle problems prevented hunting all but one evening. Even though there weren’t much for antlers on Bulls this time of year I wanted to be 100% all knowing of the land where I was planning to hunt, a strip approximately 30 miles long and 10-12 miles wide that was some nasty thick rugged country. I decided to start on the far south end of elk home and work my way north. First trip being to an area I had been tipped off on about a large Bull that was not killed the previous year. My forest service buddy gave me a few small details and I went on my way. Now I have seen some elk in some pretty strange country but this was NOT elk country! Yet after a few miles of hiking and a buddy breaking his ankle trying to help out on some of this hellish country I got into pretty good elk sign, but old old elk sign. This spot yielded one very nice bull that was pretty old and beat up looking, along with more bears than I have ever seen and some nice little Coues bucks. So I was on further north. Spent about a month of weekends finding nice but not impressive bulls and enough new country to keep my interest for quite some time with all the other critters running around. Before the unit opened I was averaging a minimum of one bear glassed up per day scouting for my elk hunt. So in short for scouting I did cover about 90% of the area I wanted to before the hunt rolled around. Now let’s get to it! I had met a member on CWT.com whom also had the tag and shared a few pictures in the early waiting season of the year. We also exchanged where we would be camped and both were glad to help each other out. Coues….aka Gary is his name and was great run into out there. Finally the Morning of the hunt came and Cody whom owed me for a nice whitetail was helping out for the first two days. The First was amazing, just one of those days where everything was moving, but it was C O L D ! ! I had seen good bulls in here before so I had an idea on where they would be, and low and behold I dang near walked into 18 elk an hour into our hike to a glassing spot, after and hour watching and glassing thick Manzanita from a not so great view point 50-100yds away it turned out to be all Cows. More glassing turned up a few muleys, some Coues bucks trying to put the hurt on each other and later passing a Raghorn bull that seemed to simply be offering himself to me. That day we covered what I would consider enough to have simply backpacked the hunt. The next day produced about the same, a few cows and the same raghorn….only this time someone was taking 800yd potshots at em, never took a hit but anyone who has ever played big buck hunter the arcade and wondered why they make em run back and forth and in circles so unnaturally….apparently its natural when a bull has no idea what or where is shootin at em. This day was about twice the distance I had previously considered back pack worthy. Day three my Montana huntin buddy was in town and another friend came up for some glassing help and I had moved spots where I could see quite a bit more, this day simply produced ZERO live animals, come to think of it zero dead ones also. This morning I had gotten a call that my Grandma was dying and half my family was flying out, I was told to stay but it was a day by day basis until the inevitable. Now I was regretting that raghorn that I passed. Monday I saw Gary driving out and got a hold of him, come to find out he got a bull and was driving to the down hill side of it to get it out. In short I offered an extra body and spent the day glassing a bit from down low and Packing out his bull, apparently alot of it, and getting to know another great CWT member. Thank you Gary for the Pizza also. That night Gary offered to show me a road into where I wanted to go, also where his bull had been taken. Tuesday I was not out of the truck until about 8 am due to a 6 mile road that takes 1.5 hours to drive in a full size pick up…..with damage. But I was on my way to the rim of a mesa over looking a huge basin with plenty of thick steep cool draws and canyons for bulls to hang out in; at this point I wanted Antlers, whether it be a huge bull or a spike. About and hour and a half later I was at the rim beat and sore from the night before, and immediately saw two yellow blotches about a mile out. Behind the glass I saw a nice 6x6 very severely broken up and a rag horn, now honestly I would be happy with either even though I have a thing for nice heavy bulls with great fronts that shovel up, so I was planning a stalk. Then a last look through the glass showed a new elk, heavy, with great fronts. He probably would score less unbroken than the longer thinner one but I loved how he looked from what I could see, I wanted him! Spending about an hour trying not to slide the whole way down into the steep basin I finally was out of eye shot and sneaking up a ridge that I thought would put me 500 yds out, to far for me but closer. At the crest dropped my pack and prayed they were still feeding, about 10am now. They were, I snuck about 40yrds to a rock that worked perfect as a bench with my rifle resting on my shirt for a solid rest. After some waiting a bull was coming up a ridge I had pre ranged at 330yrds, once he cleared I held the 9” high I needed with the 300WBY and BOOOOOM……THWAAAP!! I could see the dot and it was Text book, yet he hunched up and kept walkin….BOOOOM…..THWAAAP!.....And he disappeared in the Manzanita. After about a 30 min wait and some phone calls I hiked the 30 minutes over there and picked up his track with little blood, suddenly I looked a head and he was standing quartering away staring away. Now at 20yds a 180 grain Nosler Partition out of a 300 weatherby sounds pretty heavy in the boiler room, a ways behind the shoulder direct in angle with his vitals. This bull swung over and looked at me, and turned and started walking up hill! Now my mind is racing what the heck! Again shoulder up with him but his vitals are behind a juniper, boom…that time I must have missed or hit something in that bush, I never found the hole, but when I recovered he was on the ground. Another short wait and I had my bull!!!! I absolutely loved him and could not ask for more under the circumstances, and he leaves me room for improvement. Broken only on his left side yet on his main beam 6 inches after his sword. The rest is a few slightly chipped tips. The pack out was something else, I was 3 miles from the truck in a wilderness area. And was in and out of there 4 times in three days. Let alone boning that thing out by myself in a really not so friendly spot to take care of an animal that size. Two pack outs consecutive one being multi day was a BLAST! I can’t wait till next time, although part of me wanted next time to be a cow, next to a road, on flat ground, without agave poking me the whole field dressing session. I am so thankful to Gary for showing me the way in there, Cody for helping the first few days, my buddy Jason and his Dad for driving all that way and that nasty little road just for a full night of Horrifying pack out and my Boss Dusty and His son Justin for coming the next morning just to help pack out. If it weren’t for them I still might be out there.

Do you have any pictures of the scope itself? im interested in it, what other details do you have. Anything in particular you are looking to trade for? also is that a 30mm tube or 1"? -Tim

I would doubt he sells his spots, i do believe he sells scouting trips. I would be willing to bet he does not simply over load his personal spots with people. its as with any job, they pay for your time and he simply scouts areas for an alloted time reporting the finds and in no way guranteeing anything. Just as someone whom has the time or lives close would do. I dont see the issue pertaining quite so much. What business do you not get paid for your time?

a unit might not give away a spot or anywhere close, but with alot of units in this state and alot of hunts it can definately lower your chances of drawing the tag, or others that hunt it. And i dont think anyone here can knock my not helpin good friends out or makin new buddies or being completely shut mouth with every one, considering some of the folks i have helped out this year.

On the contrary i have found that muzzys are difficult to get to fly with field points but mine currently group with mine with much much work. but it can be done. My old martin always shot them along with field tips, both bowtechs shooting quite faster were difficult to get on but they are shot for shot dead on.

One more thing i thought of that helped me tremendously in archery, not so much rifle but sometimes. Dont always stalk to the deer. i have learned if you know enough about its habits to be able to ambush it, get a head of it know where its going and let it come to you, it severly increases success. Gives you time to calm down and set up also. Never never never forget to pay attention to your surroundings. sometimes its nice to see the deer/elk/pig/bear whatever but sometimes you NEED to drop out of view and get to a point you can inch up and see it in range. might not always be there still but its a good idea alot of the time, pay attention to typical wind in each area you hunt, alot of mountains and canyons tend to have consistent directions that change at certain places, always watch the wind! you can wear jeans a regular shirt and cowboy boots, not take a shower for a week, smell however and if you keep the wind right your perfect. On the other hand use all the scent kill you can get scentlok cloths use cover scents full camo and move with the uttmost care but loose the wind and its gonna be over.

All great advice thanks guys...We have good optics, my dad has a pair of 10x42 swarovski's that i bought him last cristmas and i have 10x42 leupoulds mojave's (spelling?). anyway we glass alot and we find deer but its getting n them that we never seem to do. Someday...someday...i pray, that i have a child.....that will do the same.

I must add, i do believe based on your post that you and your Father have drawn more tags in that time frame than most guys on this site have

#1 GETTIN THERE! if my truck breaks or something stops me from reaching my destination it is a complete failure! aside from that i know if i do get there its gonna be better, no matter what happens, than being in town. There have been a few to many times gettin stuck and i say to heck with it get my stuff and start walkin. Ill deal with the rest later, Stuck the truck on my late bull hunt, just left it figured mud would dry in at least two days and just hunted. #2 Gettin stuff is great, makes ya feel like you made every little piece come together perfectly. BUT, Have a mostly archery back ground i go out knowing im gonna try my hardest and if nothing else i know im comin back sore, dirty, blistered and probably bloody...my own....which makes me feel like i tried so still a success. When that tag does get filled WOW, you got more than you expected, i remember shooting a pig first one with a recurve, first animal with a recurve. Upon drawing i expected to see the arrow skip harmlessly under the stink pig, but i made the best archery shot of my life and pin wheeled the bugger. #3 RELAX!!! i cant think of a hunt where i didnt not calm my mind more so that any other place. It is a release, time with God for me.....hunt mostly solo..... I can organize my head get my ducks in a row....however you say it. Again Successful without a kill. Although i did relax for the most part on my recent bull hunt i now know to do so before a bull is down 3 miles into a wilderness area for there is no relaxing then and no ducks in a row AT ALL when your solo. #4 ENJOY the company! Whether my Gun, a bugling bull, chipmunk, hunting buddy, coyote in the distance, even a skunk in my rock pile once. For it is the only place you will enjoy such things to that degree. I have had the opportunity to meet an extensive amount of great friends this past year and great people to hunt with.....IM VERY PICKY ON MY HUNTIN BUDDIES...which is good cuz my best buddy moved to montana. Chef...Hector... great guy and amazing hunter i enjoy hearin his stories and Scoutin with him learnin even more. Cody whom i met by...what some call a bit to anxious efforts... to get a wide Coues on the ground i had hunted for years. and quite a few others. YET AGAIN i feel successful in meeting and knowing these people and spending time hunting with them. All in all ive got to say as long as #1 works out im successful.

I can definately relate to that and i believe on my end it was due to the fact that my Dad never hunted in his life. I got into it on my own. Kinda had a buddy that learned with me also. at that age i read every book whether hunting related or biology related on every animal that frustrated me at the time.....pretty much and big game in arizona. Being that my dad took us out every weekend but really couldnt give any advice i started from scratch. The very first thing i learned is obvious, you gotta hunt where they are. Second i think the way my dad took us out....pretty much aimlessly walking was more accustomed to hunting eastern US. The #1 best thing i did was buy the best glass i could afford, at 16 that was a 500 dollar pair of Pentax 16x60's. A good all day/ multi day pack was the next. The best thing you can do is some of what was mentioned previously, especially scouting, but sit and GLASS GLASS GLASS, let your eyes walk. Once you learn the prey you will understand them and where to glass based on time of day/ time of year/ location. I became so obessesed with it that now its all i think about and all i spend my money on. Finally at 13 i shot my first Javelina, let me tell you that is a great animal to learn on. They take a while to figure out but you learn stalking, especially handgun or archery, planning the stalk, figuring out where they are headed and the like. I am sure you will get some great advice on this thread and it will pay of theres folks on here with endless knowledge and usually more than willing to help. Deer can be tough especially on muley hunts in 6a 6b area herds have suffered quite a bit due to droughts and the like but they are in there. every single day you go out you will learn more so never confine gettin out there based on hunting, scout get out in a favorite spot even if you didnt draw. Picking up archery is great because the seasons are so long and quite a bit of time to get out. i can honestly tell you that now at 24 i am just finally starting to be confident in my hunting and knowing what im doing and there is still limitless things to learn. But because of picking it up on my own i am very proud of what i know, and being good at what i know. Because of my efforts i have taken a few good animals with more to come, including taking others on hunts and filling a number of cow tags, a 160 muley and 103 coues in two days this year, my late bull this year, Pigs with everything from traditional archery to rifle and again hunting tags and helping others where nothing was brought home. Its all in the Hunt, its an obsession and like anything if you learn it and stick to it you will progress quickly you have plenty of time to do so. PS. If you ever draw a tag or would like any advice on the subject i hunt those units, except kiabab, very often and would be glad to help or point you in the right direction. -Tim

I like my dog collar belt thank you and gary your welcome, i enjoyed helpin out but it caught up to me the next night packin out. finally got him out of that canyon at dark wednesday night. Ill get some pictures up soon as i get off of work here and post a story. Thanks for your advice and again no problem packin out your bull sometimes ya just gotta git r done.

So really have never reloaded at all. But am looking into starting for primarily 223,270win, and 300wby. I was looking at the rockchucker kit to start out so for all you reload folks. aside from powder, bullets, and brass. What do i need other than the kit and dies? i have zero experience and have a friend i think would help a bit. When you buy dies for a round is that all you need if you have the other stuff...just lookin for a list on basically what i need to be Good to go. any advice on brands would help to. thanks. Alright. So i took the two book reading advice and am partway through the first.....dont have to buy em as i work at bass pro and its a good way to kill time... But wow!!!! ive got quite a bit of knowledge in the gun buisiness and deal in fine guns, i have always known alot about different arms but again WOW, thanks for the advice i have a whole new understanding of things and how things work and like i said im only half way through the first one. Right now im on the 7th edition Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading. Any suggestions on what books are better than others or others to read? since its free i might as well read em all.\

Today i am thankful for friends, family, freedom and a much awaited for 21 Bull tag. I am Thankful to have a bear tag in my pocket at the same time and a week off of work to run around the mountains in search of a big bull and maybe run into a bear, but most of all the take in the beauty and reality of solitude in Arizonas vast canyon country. I hope i am thankful for the giant bull i have an opportunity to harvest, but am simply thankful that i and we can all practice what we love, whether its chasing coues, or bugling bulls, or late season bulls holed up in the nasty steep stuff, chasing birds behind a beloved dog, shooting clays with friends, listing to the trickle of at stream as a big brown rises to the fly, Glassing endless sage flats for that one big muley north of the ditch, or teaching others the ways of the wilderness and sharing our love for the wild. Whatever your passion be thankful that we have the freedom to enjoy it and never take it for granted. HAPPY THANKSGIVIN' YAL! And to those with Coues tags or Late Bull tags or just those getting out and enjoying the wilderness GOOD LUCK and enjoy every second!

These have been posted by myself before but here they are again. I never get sick of seein him anyways.

I would have to say i agree with the mid 120's that thing is a beast!!!

Congratulations on two nice bucks! Sounds like you were in deer constantly, gotta love southern az coues.