donniedent

I was Muley hunting the late archery hunt in 21 a couple years ago and ran into a coues buck chasing a doe. I didnt have a grunt call so I tried my best to use my own abilities. I pretended I was still with my ex wife and she was asking me questions while I was watching tv, my usual response to her in that situation turns out to be a great coues grunt. Anyhow, I got the buck into 36 yards and missed a shot at him. Point is I'd I were to purposely go after coues deer in there, I would spot and stalk myself into eat shot then attempt to call the buck in. Just an idea for you.

There are alot of coues in 21 but you'll be limited to certain areas if you want to hunt out of a tree stand. Mostly the northern parts of the unit. 21 is the closest unit though for sure.

Ive tried all of the above and the best thing I've found is a cheap pair of flip flops with the toe piece pulled off, then stuffed those in a pair of heavy wool socks. light, pack nicely, you can feel the ground under your feet, and cost 98 cents.

Pm sent.

Lol, don't mean to sound so discouraging. Imo there is no greater challenge than hunting desert muleys. If you have the sand (no pun intended) to give it a go, good for you. It will get in your blood fast. And when you do fill that tag you will know you accomplished something. Concentrate on water early and late. I like to find a hill top where I can see every avenue into a tank. Once you find a buck you will need help getting on the deer. Once you get down on that flat everything looks different. There usually aren't landmarks you can use for reference once you're down there. If you're hunting alone, you're probably better off sitting well used water.

Glassing the flats and actually hunting them is 2 different things. Pretty tough to do by yourself but there are a few guys that do and can actually get it done. You have to get high enough to actually see into the country. The back of a truck even on a ladder isn't nearly high enough. There are so few deer per square mile in the desert flats that it would be pure luck to stumble onto them in a truck. To effectively do it you need at least two guys with hand signals or radios and a good range finder. All that desert looks the same but there are areas the deer like better than others. And... All animals need water.

I'm not beating up on anyone at all but I'm a little concerned that people are seeing stuff like this and not reporting it. Do we really love our wildlife or are we too afraid to disrupt or own hunts? I would gladly give up an entire hunt to make sure there's one less thief in the woods robbing from the rest of us and our kids. It's our job as conservationists to police or own. We aren't talking about the use of radios or questions about ethics, we are talking about crimes. Step up guys. Again, I am not beating up on any individual here. I get that being in the woods with idiots leaves us a little exposed and it can be a risk to confront and/or report, especially in the original situation in this topic but guys, they're shouldn't be any question once it's safe to do so. How much of this stuff is witnessed and unreported? Too much I think.

Good job man. I wasnt trying to be negative in my post, just don't want to see an honest guy go down for a scumbag, slob Hunter.

Great buck!!!! Thats awesome.

I'd have to check but you might be breaking the law by not reporting it. Just like witnessing any other crime, if you don't report, it makes you an accessory. Don't think g&f doesn't watch these boards. You want to lose your hunting privileges for that idiot? Lol, don't think someone from here isn't already reporting you for not reporting what you saw.

Hunt the Bradshaws and I know this sounds crazy but hunt the thicker south facing slopes. The bucks love to hang in the thick ironwood on the south faces. Up in the pines the tops of the hills are where the oak brush is and on most of the south faces thick ironwood mixed with juniper.

amen amen amen. Helo shooters in New Zealand have been using .223's on Reds for 50 years. I killed an Elk 2 years ago with a 7mm-08. Get the right round and go kill!!!!

great buck. congrats

awesome buck man. big congrats

Hello all. Been a while since I've been around. Just got back from my first coues hunt in 21. Hot but fun!!! Heres a few pics.

Now I just need a cool piece of driftwood to attach him to.

WAS on the ground. He's in my fridge now!!! That's the best part

Lmao. Not a whole lot. Took my new GF a minute to get used to me lip curling.

Very exciting day!!! Thx everyone. I love my muleys but I think I'm hooked. I'm no expert scorer but I got 98 3/8 gross and 94 net. Very happy guy here!!!

snow, food, water, pressure and booty is what moves bucks. In this case I doubt the cold alone will move the deer down. If anything it might keep them more visible warming up in the am.

thx all. I've always been a dyed in the wool muley nut but I loved this hunt. I did draw a coues tag about 8 years ago but didn't actually go on the hunt because I filled my early archery tag... on a muley. I kept running into WT bucks while looking for muleys and actually found some honey holes in the process. My brother in law and best friend talked me into putting in for coues with him this year and Im glad I did. We started off in the central part on the unit a friend suggested and saw plenty of does and fawns but only one buck. I only had 3 days to hunt so despite seeing lots of pretty country we decided to make a big move to an area I had seen bucks a few years back. Saturday afternoon we headed into the country and again only saw does and fawns. By Sunday morning I was fairly sore so my brother and I decided to split up. He went back up the same ridge and I went to the next one over. Really it was an excuse for me to take it easy and glass from down low. I got to my glassing spot and the first thing I saw was 2 nice bucks and a doe about 800 yds out . Of course I was going make a move but the deer were head up and away from me. When I got up to a good vantage point I couldn't find where they had gone. But I found 2 more bucks feeding together around 400 yds out. Again, being decent looking bucks I made another move. I got to within 250 or so and set up for a shot. Bang... buck stood there and looked around. Bang... buck stood there looking around. Bang... 4 bucks and the one I was shooting at bail into a deep nasty canyon. You could ask me what happened and I could blame the gun or sun in my eyes, fact is I think I just blew it. So.. I moved over to the edge of the canyon and took my time doing it. About a half hour or so. When I got there I slowly stared glassing the bottom. I looked in a shallow cut and there was a buck laying in the shade without a care in the world. He was 150 yds away and 200 feet bellow me (according to google earth). Did I say it was a steep canyon? So I got all set up with a good rest, no mistakes this time. Bang... deer shakes his head, gets up and trot/walks down another 100 yds and 80 feet lower. Bang... deer looks around and runs a ways. Bang... dead deer. I have no idea what my flipping issue was but I was shooting like GARBAGE!!!!! But in the end the job got done and nothing got wounded. After a quick gutless method job and a mile and a half hike back to camp it was me, my deer and a Coors light. I don't think, matter of fact I'm fairly certain these deer don't get hunted because it is ROUGH country and I didn't see another hunter. I'm not sure whether the deer I shot was one that busted off the hill or not. They were all great deer except for the doe. Matter of fact I think there was one bigger in the group. Next year!!

Ok that makes sense. I think that guy with the video has a great idea there. Its nothing permanent and can be taken out at any time. I think you have your answer right there.

No water, no deer. If there are deer in there, they are getting water somewhere. If I were you I would make it a priority to find where they are getting water.

Nice buck! Congrats. Looks like his cape isn't too bad either, some of that winter hair coming in!

I didn't get pics but I saw a yellow FJ recently near my house in Surprise with a sticker. Also saw someone traded a Jeep in at Peoria Nissan with a sticker on it.