Sam

Interesting. Maybe the lion was hanging out by the tank, which discouraged deer from coming in. What time of year was it?

I hunt an area in Unit 27, and have had the same problem. At one time there were alot of deer and, one year, hardly anything. It is an area that is notorious for Lions as I always find alot of deer skulls. It didn't help matters when I happened to see a mexican gray wolf, and then found gobbs of wolf tracks in the sandy soil of the creek bottoms of two canyons. So true about the Mexican Gray wolf. I know they have had an impact on the Unit 27 deer population. One of the biggest lions I have ever seen was in that unit. Wish I was able to get a shot off. There alot of big bucks in there, but, I haven't had a 27 tag for a number of years - maybe next year.

I agree. A lion will do alot of damage to a healthy deer population really quick.

Short and sweet is right. Congrats! This kind of hunt sure keeps your adrenaline flowing. I kind of remembering BP trucks being green. Did they change recently?

Great write up and pictures Doug. My daughters especially enjoyed the sunrise and sunset pictures. I told them that scenes like that make those early hikes to the top of the hill so worth it. They agreed, not whole heartedly, but they agreed!

Great deer! Nothing better than a hard earned buck. I enjoyed the great story. I'm glad nothing got to the deer overnight. I have never had the guts to leave a deer/elk overnight. I have heard of too many bad stories of meat rotting and animals tearing it up. But, I have also spent many nights working into the night making sure I got back to camp, always with a smile on my face!

Thanks for the info everyone. Salting the hide is a bad plan. Doug - I always use frozen jugs to keep the meat cold too. It is amazing how long frozen milk gallons and two litter soda bottles last. I always bring one big cooler full of them and keep it wrapped in a blanket until I need them throughout the hunt. Our food cooler stays much cleaner too by using the frozen bottles. Clay and Mr. Smith - thanks for the tips on caping and piping out the legs. Clay, I may be calling you the first week if I get lucky. I'm going to send you a PM also. Now let's just hope I have a nice buck to bring in. Sam

Hi everyone, This is my first question on this great website. I have enjoyed reading all the reports and have even commented on quite a few. After hunting in AZ for over 30 years, I think I finally have enough money to keep a deer cape and mount one, if it is good size. I have a hunt coming up in late November. Over the years, I have been lucky enough to connect on a few good size coues, mulies and elk; but have only mounted the antlers. I have a couple questions in regards to keeping the hide on the skull of a deer. After skinning the deer, and pulling the hide up as far as possible towards the base of the skull, is it ok to leave the hide on the skull for a day or two? How quickly do I have to get it to a taxidermist before the hide is damaged? I'm worried about cutting around the eyes and mouth and turning the ears out. I would hate to damage the hide; but, I would also hate to leave it on the skull too long and have it rot. I was thinking that salting the hide and leaving it attached to the skull in a cooler would be ok for a few days. Thanks for the input. Sam

Best of luck. I hope your kids can connect. I'll be down that way scouting as well this weekend. Looking forward to a report and hopefully some pictures of a deer or two.

Good luck with your daughter. Are you guys going back to 36A? My daughter didn't get drawn for deer this year. She was disapointed, but looking forward to the turkey hunt in the spring. Hoping she breaks in her new 20 gauge with a tom! Sam

Nothing better than a father and son team, except a father and daughter team. I have 2 girls .

Thank you is not enough, but that's all I can give. Thank you cousin Bryan, glad you're home safely!

Nice buck!

Another nice write up. Congrats. I'm getting excited for my hunt end of November. I've been lucky the past 3 years.....we'll see what happens this year?

Great deer!

Congrats to your dad. This was fun to read. I'm headed down to 36A in two weeks. Where you guys down that way? Glad the BP responded quickly. If you were in 36A, what number did you call. I have a number for Tucson and Nogales, but not sure if those will work. I have run into illegals numerous times, but I don't carry a cell phone. I think this year I will.

I think I would have mounted it. Congrats on a fine looking deer and good story.

How great to share success with your wife. Congrats to her and you!! I'm sure she will be hooked.

Yeah, I remember a few years ago bringing home a nice buck on Halloween day. Imagine the look on some of these kids in Scottsdale as I was butchering the deer in my garage. Bloody hands, knives, a cooler with legs sticking out and a head and rack on the floor.........the little vampires and firemen thought it was so cool, but the little Cinderellas ran the other way.......

I agree - great deer and great genes. Way to go!

That's a great idea. I have hunted that area quite a few times and there are always people camping at the lake. The Ruby road is a good road and provides easy access to many 4-wheel drive roads which will bring you away from traffic.

Great deer Tanner. Hard to pass up a big bodied Coues like this - not to mention a nice rack.

Great deer! You should be proud and enjoy every minute of looking at your pictures and the memories. I'm new to this site also. I've lived in AZ all my life and started hunting Coues in 1983. I am so glad I finally found this wesite. There are more people out there who are passionate about Coues hunting than I ever thought. I have a tag for 36A, late Novemeber. I hope I can do as well as you did.....thanks for the story.

Great elk, story and trip. Congrats. And no, it is not the monster elk that we all see while scouting and hope we find them again during the hunt. But it is sure a keeper and one that anyone would be proud to harvest! Way to go and with a muzzleloader.

I saw that 3 pointer too.....but, I think the three pointer is a mule deer.