desertdeer

Coues27, Great deer! I didn't know they grew that big in Unit 1. I would love to see the score sheet on that buck. It has lots of mass and the fact that it scored that high without a G3 on the right side is amazing. Congrats on a fine trophy.

I spent the last 4 days in the Northern half of 6a South, just south of Stoneman Lake Road, and the bulls were going crazy up there. They were going untill about 9:30 in the morning and started up again about 5pm. I saw one bull running crazy after a bunch of cows. I also sat a few tanks in the area and had anywhere from 2 to 5 nice bulls come to water every night. I don't have a tag, just love to watch the bulls in the rut. I could have shot about 14 bulls by now. 3 of them in the 340ish range. And about a half dozen 300 or so bulls. I can't belive how strong the rut is right now.

Well another weekend with some opportunities but again no deer. It was an enjoyable yet hot Sunday down south. I had glasses up a few small bucks in the morning but nothing I wanted to go after. In the afternoon I did find a nice mature buck and the stalk was on. I had glassed him up from about 700 yards or so, on the other side of this canyon. I slipped down and back around to get the wind in my favor but it ment that I had to climb up the mountain. Anyway, I got to the same hill he was on. By this time he was up feeding away from me. I kept closing the distance on him. I got to about 90 yards and waited for him to drop into a little cut so I could sneak up on top of him. When I got to the top of where he last was I could not find him. I tried to glass him up but he was gone. Oh well. It was fun just to see him and get within almost shooting range. I did not mean to offend anyone by suggesting stalking is harder. Everyone has their preferred method of hunting. I just think when you use water, a staple for their survival, in the hottest part of the year it does put the odds in the hunters favor. I prefer to spot and stalk. Hunting over water and attractants is legal so it’s hard to say that’s it unsporting. We all have a choice how we hunt. I don't see any reason why a hunted would need to defend their tactic if they did not believe in it. Congratulations to all the successful archers in their harvest during the first part of the season.

for two weekends now I have tried to close the distance on those little deer. I can get within 70 or so yards, but something always seems to go wrong. The wind, make too much noise or they just slip away. But I would not have it any other way. Spot and stalking coues deer is the most fun I could ever have. I guess if I really want to shot one I could always sit water or set a stand up. Anyone else having success tryin to run and gun these deer?