CouesPursuit

Big congratulations to you, Bradley! Your success in such a short time is something to be very proud of. Based on your attitude and persistence, you are going to have a long, successful hunting journey. I (and many of us here on the site) look especially forward to seeing it!

It looks like you may have clipped one lung, perhaps the front based on your armpit feeling. I've never shot 73 yards or know your setup but my 40 yard and under vital shots have all been pass throughs, all a guess but maybe even a shot that stuck in the opposite shoulder then puncturing a lung when he took off. There is some evidence (to me) of oxygenated blood in that pile. The last time I saw a single lung hit on a quartering shot we tracked him in a right-handed horseshoe for about 600 yards thanks to the snow. My partner and I couldn't have imagined he made it past that first 200 yard bed but he did, 4 more beds and lots of blood later. Good luck, these critters are tough but these posts suck.

Thanks for the story and great buck!

I agree with both of the posts above. Also, I do believe coues (especially does) have a 1 square mile home range, it just is rarely anything like a square and it changes/ranges over time based on food, water and cover (pressure for bucks). Not sure if this part is relevant but expanding a bit on Matt's post, one place I have been hunting lately had 50 deer/sqmi in one area and 2 deer for the next 2 miles directly adjacent. You would think their is a fringe but it very much a specific habitat change. And that line changed seasonally because of the aspect.

Thanks gentlemen.

Anyone have an outdoor shed with AC in the valley that could offer any advice on the building or purchasing of one? Not looking for daily living comfort, but would like to keep the items stored in it in decent shape, perhaps with a window unit? Thanks in advance.

That is a great ram! Congratulations to your son, can't wait to hear the story.

I shot a spike in January last year after my profile buck the year before. I'm no trophy hunter, just a guy that wanted to get the full experience on his first late whitetail hunt. I cherished every day and every deer I saw. I again, sure don't mean to sound like I'm high and mighty or not thankful in any regard. I absolutely understand what you're saying though, Zeke! These were my favorite moments of the hunt, hands down.. 20191227_131114.mp4

Thanks for the nice buck comments. I honestly couldn't have been happier with my year and our bucks. I sure didn't mean to sound ungrateful. My brother was issued his tag on December 10th from someone's point guard and our families became part of the hunt. Incredible all around. I spent many great days in the field and I have the promise land it seems for my kids' youth hunts one day. I posted this in the Coues Biology thread for the discussion and supplied the pictures and videos for reference. I do appreciate the posts so far in that regard as well. I hear the thicker stuff comments but those were covered throughout the 10 mile area too!

Excellent bucks, Frank! You guys always do a great job finding and getting those coues on the ground!

You're the trophy hunter man, don't lie! I've seen several bucks that tower those pictured another 10 miles away from this area, but only a fraction of the number of total deer. Just thought it made some interesting discussion.

Throughout 10 miles of varying habitat, from January archery to late December rifle - there wasn't a day I could keep count of deer seen. I saw 50-100 coues/day and consistently saw dinky 3 points and forks pushing big doe groups. I passed on stalks and shooting opportunities every day looking for something bigger, only to shoot a great circumstance buck on December 29th, pulling a double with my brother. Best passed bucks - 20191220_080753_1.mp4 20191228_121052.mp4

For you coues nuts, ever scout and hunt an area for an entire year that had huge herds of deer, high buck/doe ratios, but no bucks that touch 100"?

Sorry for the long winded reply. I've been a first legal animal - type hunter in 99% of my hunting days (mostly coues) leading to the saving and purchasing of quality 15's. They made my old 10's unusable and I replaced those with the matching set. I've never liked looking in or needed a spotting scope, but after drawing a sheep tag this year, a great friend auto-forced me to borrow their Swaro 20-60x and it changed everything. From practicing shooting and calling shots long range, to identifying and digiscoping critters at distance, it is going to be hard to return it next week after having it. I feel 10's, 15's and a spotter will be too much so I definitely understand the guys that run 12's and a spotter. I did buy into a FZ80 superzoom camera and although it doesn't replace the spotting scope for identifying antler specifics, it is far better than digiscoping. I remember reading "you can't have too much glass" a time or two on this forum and I didn't believe it, but I do now. Pros and cons everywhere, but I was wrong to say a spotter wasn't for me, it has its place.

Excellent job on a great buck! Well done.