Simple Hunter

It was in a saddle. The pictures span a period of 3 weeks. I had a total of 24 pics. Still using 35mm roll film. The camera was so far back in that it took me a while to get back to it.

Hey Scottie, I got a couple of guys that want to chase him with their dogs. If I go out with them, I'll let you know...I really don't need another lion right now

And my backyard also...literally, it seems you found a decent spot. That's a respectable muley for a muzzy hunt. Congrats!

Well...my story goes that after 4 days of hunting and not a single buck seen..the fifth day started off better, after the cold front moved through (Thursday) my friend Jose and I started noticing the bucks chasing the does on the southern end of the unit. This was what I was waiting for and the whole reason for waiting 8-years for this late December hunt. However, I aint as young as I used to be and after 5 days of hunting and only seeing 3 small bucks I began to get burned out. I had many folks start offering to help me out in my pursuit of a trophy buck - however, the pressure started up. You know the pressure I'm talking about...the "Honey, I'm getting tired of this hunting...when are you going to get a buck and spend some time with the family?" So...while I don't feel I caved to the pressure I certainly tagged out early. But in the process I have my best buck to date. He grosses about 85" - short of my goal of 95". I got him on Friday afternoon. I think If I had to do it over again, I would probably wait to start hunting till after Christmas - and the rut would've been full swing. Anyways - I can't complain I got my best buck yet and a lion within 5 days of each other. Good thing is that with my lion at the taxidermist I couldn't afford a deer mount also. I don't think I'll wait out for the late hunt anymore - too much going on with the family this time of year...or once the boys are older we can start putting in for the late hunt again. Sorry about the pics - but I was hunting solo again...

Thanks Scott, I appreciate your offer to help me later on...sure we would've seen some good deer. We'll get together on a future hunt. Have a Merry Christmas!

I believe for family guys that is the way to go...although I think I would have been getting the urge to go before hand. I think they should change this hunt to start the 26th and end in January 3 weeks later.

Will try lion for the first time - I'm going to remain optimistic.

Nice - I like the character on the right side. Congrats!

Well it was a matter of sign and numbers of deer for me that instigated me to buy a lion tag. I have to admit that I always thought it was bad luck to have a lion tag - and if I did, I wouldn't see one. But this year during scouting I saw so much lion sign that I knew I needed one in my wallet. Other than that there was no skill involved...I wasn't glassing for lion I was just glassing for deer.

Just got my .300 Ultra Mag back from the smith (equipped with muzzle brake) and I need some advice on what brand and grain should I be shooting. I grew up on a .30-06 and always used the standard Remington 125 grain core locket point. The only Remington box I can find in Ultra Mag is 200 grain. I'd rather have the smaller grain if available, for velocity - I'm not hunting elephants.

Coueskilla, You aren't the only one having trouble in 34A...I have the late rifle tag and after 4 days of hunting have not seen a buck. Granted 3 of the 4 days were windy during the full moon cycle. My honey hole which usually is loaded with bucks during this time of year has not revealed a buck yet. I am baffled...I have glassed 4 great areas and have seen nada in the way of bucks and doe numbers are slim also. ????

I have heard a coues buck grunting exactly like my grunt call before - however, I have never got them to respond to it. Strange. I have only seen bucks fighting once in my entire 20 years of hunting in Arizona so ... maybe the bucks are less territorial and aren't challenged by the competing grunt. Just a guess...

Deer hunt is not going so well - but I took this meat eater at around 9AM today. The storm was approaching and the deer I was watching had bedded down - just a couple of small bucks but I figured I'd keep an eye on them. I went down to a rock outcropping to sit and set up my tripod and out of my left eye I see two felines to my left and they stop on top of the same ridge but on the next point not more than 50 yards away. Of course like an idiot I left my pack and rifle about 20 yards up the hill from me. There were two cats one was bigger than the other and I decided to hone in on him with my binocs, he looked right back at me - in fact it seemed he knew I was there. but I was able to crawl back up hill and grab my rifle and crawl back down to where I had a opening in the brush. He was facing me lying down so I barely had any of his side to shoot at. I didn't want to ruin him and hit him in the head so I waited for about 5 minutes and he turned his head to the left and made me more secure about the shot. The shot went through the front quarter and out the back knee without hitting any vitals and it spun him in the air. While I know that its not smart to approach a wounded animal - I couldn't let him suffer. I quickly moved towards him to where I could get a clear shot without any brush and literally about 10 yards away I put him down for good. Taxidermist says he's pretty good size - I estimate, since I packed him out over my shoulders, that he was significantly heavier than a mature coues - probably around 120 lbs. Pics are the best I could do by myself - he actually has a huge head, but my noggin makes it look small His girlfriend lives on...

Awesome! I love the double eye guards - and double whammy on the same day. Wow! That's a good size lion.

I am going to have a rug made - I'd love to have a full body mount but it's not in the budget. I'm taking it to Jerry Clarno (Jerry's Taxidermy Studio) in Tucson

Mulies in that area have large ranges of territory - sounds like you went through some good area. Glass your behind off and you'll find some mulies.

I have no desire to hunt out of the State of Arizona or for exotics - if I did, I'd probably get a guide. If you live in Arizona, I encourage you to hunt without a guide as nothing will be more satisfying than teaching yourself to become a coues hunter. I would never encourage anyone to get a guide or "be" a guide as I've seen great hunters get burned out on hunting because they pull big trophies for people who don't want to do their homework. I have nothing against guides - some are really great guys - some are low lifes. I would be remiss if I didn't explain why my username is what it is - "Simple Hunter" stands for maximizing the challenge by using the least amount of technology. Don't get me wrong, I'm not shooting recurves but I get way more exhilaration with a bow. I also hunt with a rifle - but if I had the choice I'd hunt with a bow. To each his own - but I would never encourage someone to hire a guide.

I was out today and glassed every inch of country and only found 3 does and they weren't moving much (never saw them bed). My experience with full moons is for whatever reason the deer don't move as much the following day. An ordinary day in the same spot would reveal over 40 deer by glassing. The weather was calm and cloudy - muggy and hot for a December day - I didn't even need a jacket. The sun came out at 11:00 and it got so hot I had to strip down out of my long sleeve shirt. I am sure the deer bedded down. Now tomorrow will be windy and I'll have to find them bedded or getting up to stretch their legs. I hope this system will bring cold rain and cold conditions - it was too dang hot for December.

This video is from a Palm Treo Phone - I see my feathered friends every morning. They are not too skiddish, I believe the rancher may be feeding them.Gould__s.wmv

These birdies are further south. PM me if you are interested in their exact location. It's private property though.

Very nice! I would be more than happy to harvest a buck like that in my December hunt coming up.

+1 any of you ever looked down the shaft that runs under this shack? No what's in it?

Looks like the old mining shack on Melendrez Pass - Love that area. I'm guessing you found the way in from the 163 Road.

I knew I wasn't crazy - I found the post from last January from "firstcoueswas80". http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8079&hl=Mexico It looks like the pictures are no longer there. Maybe I can PM firstcoueswas80 and have him repost the pictures of that strange little whitetail.