WHT_MTNMAN

IT IS ABOUT TIME, what a roller coaster ride it has been the last 4 years. It seems that every waking moment has been about trying to kill a Coues buck with my bow. It all started about 4 years ago when I got drawn for a November Coues hunt. I spent all summer looking for deer and when September came around I continued to hunt/scout for the upcoming hunt. One day I bedded a group of bucks and missed a 50 yard shot at the buck I would eventually take that November. Here is a picture The Story Dental School Buck Story I knew from that experience that is was going to be possible for me to shoot a Coues deer spot and stalk with my bow, little did I know how many stalks and shots later it would take for that dream to become reality. Over the course of the next few years I found many good bucks, had many blown stalks and a few missed shots at huge bucks and small bucks and everything in between. Season after season I would prepare better, learn more and get closer and closer. One year I bought a new bow after the January hunt, I knew that the next summer would be my time to stick a Coues. I practiced more and more shooting for an hour everyday almost for 5 months straight. That is the year I got drawn for Elk, so my September Coues was put on the back burner. Here is my consolation prize for that year The next year I hunted and hunted, I became so “depressed” over the difficulty of sticking a Coues with a bow and had to take a few hunts off to go hunt Carp. I ended up spending almost the complete last winter and this fall chasing mulies, missing two170+ inch bucks and finally killing a small buck in Utah in August this year. I had needed a break from Coues. All fall I kept getting ready for December/January hunt. I spent time looking at places to put a tree stand, salt…etc… and started thinking about alternative ways of killing a Coues buck other than spot and stalk. I just never got excited about sitting in a stand even though I know that it is the most dependable and effective way to regularly kill Coues. Well this December season started as it did every year with high hopes. I knew my archery skills were good since I shoot year around and was shooting very good this last two months. I spent a few days opening weekend looking for a big mulie I videoed last year and blew stalks on. I spent one afternoon glassing for Coues and I felt the old desire light up. I had been planning on hunting almost exclusively for mule deer in December and then would switch to Coues in January. I had a few days off and decided to make a quick trip on Christmas Eve. At first light I was sitting in a good glassing spot and spend an hour without finding a deer, I made a quick hike to another spot bumping a pretty good buck chasing does, I soon found a 3 bucks below me about ¾ of a mile and watched them bed among some rocks in an area almost impossible to approach. I debated whether or not even to attempt the stalk. With it being Christmas Eve my family getting ready to meet me at home for our Christmas celebrations I gave myself a 20% chance of getting close, it was thick and I figured my chances were slim. After a few minutes of debating I decided to make an effort. After getting within a few hundred yards and not being able to pick them up in the little depression I decided to make a relatively quick stalk and not spend the hours I usually do getting close. With the wind in my favor I quickly crossed to the last 60 yards, about that time I heard a gun shot that sounded like it hit on the opposite side of the depression that the deer were in. I quickly kneeled down waiting for those deer to come barreling out at me. Nothing happened, another shot, again nothing. One more shot, nothing. I quickly moved another 30 yards toward the deer and caught sight of a small buck exiting left, a little 2x3 exiting right and my buck sneaking out the back. I quickly estimated his range at 40 yards found my pin as he was quartering away put it on his off shoulder and released, I heard the distinct sound of a hit. When I finally started breathing again I quickly said my thanks and ranged the spot at 35 yards. At this point I was worried that I had shot high. I moved over to my arrow which was covered in good blood and hair. I waited 30 minutes went back up retrieved my backpack and started slowly looking for blood. A short but terrifying 40 yards later with no blood found my buck was down and dead. I entered a little high just behind the last rib and exited just behind off shoulder complete pass through with lungs and liver taken out. I moved him to a little better area for pictures and tried to get a few with my self-timer. Sorry for the long winded story, I’m still pretty excited that it happened how I envisioned it, my next quest is too shoot one when he is still in his bed, then I know I have succeeded as a bow hunter. A huge thanks to my wife, I love you. Merry Christmas

Cool buck and it is always better than going without.

Nice job man.. way to get er done. congrats on a great looking buck.

That looks great I guess I'm ready to get started on a base for my antelope.

I am still in disbelief that my arrow didn't sail over his back like normal. Thanks for the good words. I never did see who fired the shots. Tyler now I just need to kill em as big as you do. Amanda THATS IT, the shirts are the good luck charm, I'll order some more before the January season. I even thought about shooting it off my tripod with "THE CLAW" but couldn't get it to work. Cade/Jay you guys need to design one for us bowhunters.

You know I was thinking about this again today. I've seen alot of variations but the buck I killed the other day had a red tint to his skull cap, I wondered why he was this way, all the other bucks I've seen in this area are more grey.

Josh that is a couple of great looking bucks. I'm glad you had a great time and enjoyed your time.

Happy B-Day man.

Cool looking character bull and in the late season with a bow.. Great accomplishment.

Good luck to you on your hunt, nice looking bucks there.

Hey Tommy nice job, three in a day is one of the best i've seen. good looking cats.

What a great buck and I love the spot and stalk, too cool.

Hey Grong- I see you looking at the thread at 11pm, so when are the pics coming up.. Enough of that family time stuff it's over rated.

You are doing everything right, but since your rest is hitting I would resight in your bh and call it good for the season, you should take more time to get it right next year. IMO. When I broadhead tune... I do just what you do and move the rest until a fieldpoint and bh hit together. I usually shoot 3 arrows a fixed head, mechanical and fieldpoint, when they all group together at 20 go back to 30 and make sure they hit the same, adjust small increments as needed. Then it really doesn't matter what head you use they hit pretty much the same... ( above will work if your not torquing your bow)

Wow what a great group of bulls, nice job and great pictures.. VLD's keep working well huh??

What a stud buck...nice job

Nice buck Nate, congrats on a good hunt.

Jay and Cade just set up the website, thegunclaw.com. Probably best to order from the website unless you contact them directly.

Have a great trip Josh, can't wait to see a big ol buck with your mug behind it.

What a true monster and great buck.. a huge congrats. Wow

hey Jeremy nice job, congrats Houston

Hey Jade a huge congrats, I shot my NM antelope this year with my 7 yr old looking through the 15's. Probably the best hunting experience in my life. Nice job on getting it done.

What a smoker buck Jim.. A huge congrats. nice job

Nice job Ron.. what a great looking buck and great story.. Congrats to all of you.

Hey Jade pretty cool.. I love those those little extra kickers. Congrats to the nephew