Coach

What a great looking buck! Huge congrats, and glad to hear the other hunters helped out.

Just around the corner, still two weeks away and I can barely sleep! Somewhere up there is a huge buck that I hope to out-maneuver!

Ok, just posted the story. http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/36497-back-from-13b/ Sorry it took so long, I'm long winded, lol.

I'm back home - story and pix are coming!

Just wanted to see what you guys think about antler restrictions. Currently, in AZ, an antlered buck is any buck with horns protruding the scalp, and capable of being shed (that’s my loose interpretation); NM and other states require at least a fork on one side. I just wanted to see what other hunters here think about a point restriction on deer.

Thanks for all the responses. It's one of those topics I've thought about from time-to-time but never really got a strong feeling one way or the other. On the one hand, it seems like it would result in more mature deer. But as others have pointed out, NM has had this in place for a long time, and you don't see a big difference in size or numbers of mature bucks.

I used to hate "little dogs" We took on a little runt terrier mix. This little dog, more like a rat, is the most loveable thing.

I did some shooting today to get set up for my upcoming hunt. I'm just trying to understand what my limits are at various ranges under different circumstances. I know, my own limit is around 500 yards. Lying prone with a bipod I know where my bullets will hit at that range with two different guns. Using deer-sized targets, actually “anatomically correct” targets that closely resembled deer, and using the point of the elbow, the bottom of the belly, the natural upper line of the back, at 300, 400, 500 yards I could say with either gun at any range out to 500 yards, I could shoot with confidence. Other guys can shoot that well at twice the distance I practice. My hat is off to them. Long range shooting is an acquired skill, and it takes a lot of work, a lot of time, and a huge learning curve. Plus the right equipment. One thing I learned today, I’m far more deadly at 400-500 yards off a bipod, prone, than I am at 175 yards off-hand. Something to think about.

Hey, nice looking buck right there. Great job!

Saw this on another forum. The title was, The Israelis Would have Blown this Up. I got a good laugh, but then it got me thinking. What other country anywhere in the world allows armed people across it's borders. AC-130s, Apache helicopters targeting any armed insugent crossing into our borders would seem reasonable, wouldn't it?

I've been active on this forum for a long time, and I just want to say, the amount of posts this year of first, second, biggest bucks taken - it's just amazing. And this is just the October hunters, so far. On the one hand, maybe a lot of it has to do with how fast this community is growing. There are a lot of relatively new members showing their success here. On the other hand, lots of long term members showing more and bigger deer. Is this a just a great year for coues or what? I'm just trying to keep up with all the awesome stories and pictures - by the time I got to Becker's buck it was 3 pages long!!! And I'm on here every day. I just want to thank Amanda once more for this forum. I visit a lot, but this is by far my favorite - the one I call home. And secondly thanks to everyone who is taking the time to write up their stories, take great field pix, and share it all here. Congrats to all of you successful hunters, whether it's coues, muleys, elk, javi's turkey....This site just plain rocks.

+1. Troll someplace else.

I haven't shot the Tikka, but everyone seems to really like them. My first two "go-to" guns are Savage. #1 is a 14 American Classic in .300 WSM. I've never seen another one of these - it's got an oiled walnut stock, medium contour barrel and a parkerized barrel and action. The barrel is slightly heavier than the regular American Classic, and the stock is dark oiled instead of glossy. It has a Cabela's Alaskan Guide scope on it in 6-20 x 50 (?? I'll have to look to be sure). For the price, under 1K for both the rifle and scope, with handloads, this gun shoots amazingly well. #2 is a Savage 110FP in 25-06. Another Cabelas Alaskan Guide Scope, this one I think is 4-14 x 50AO, cheezy savage plastic stock. Talk about a lights-out shooter, the accutrigger on this one is actually a lot better than my 14. It likes the moly coated CT in 117, but I've had great results with Barnes TTSX 100 grain handloads as well. This would be my all-around gun, if not with the 1" bull barrel and big scope it weighs in around 12 pounds. But it, like the Marine Corp, kills everything it sees. LOL. Based on what you are looking at, if I were getting a new gun, it would likely be the Tikka in .270 WSM. If I had to sell all my guns and get just one rifle, it would be this one... http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=313997098 And I'd do a Leupold or Huskemaw turret system.

Crap, thanks a ton 300, now I have to go inside and watch Dumb and Dumber *again*. So many one-liners...At least I can microwave some popcorn. LOL. My wife and I continually quote, "Harry, your hands are freezing...." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fTzP4kGe58

I've found Accubonds to be spectacular bullets. They fly well, they do exceptionally well on game. I'm sure these willl "up the mark" for Nosler shooters.

Sent. Best wishes.

Huge thanks again for all the support. At this point, I'm on track with as much information and planning as anyone going up there "self-guided" can be. I put that in quotes, because in no way will I be self-guided at this point in the literal sense. I may very well be alone for the full hunt, but I'll be sleeping in a wall tent provided by friends (both Mark and Big Bry have offered their wall tents), focusing on areas that were suggested by people who have been up there and hunted it in the past, including one of our members (Ryan) who hunted it for 22 days during the archery hunt, a couple guys who guide up there, but were willing to give some very detailed advice (Kent McClendon, Eric Santanna). My new friend Jason Standage was up there doing road work around St. George. Jason sent me pix and updates of everything he saw in his down time. I can't say enough about Kent McClendon. He's currently running an outfitting buisiness.http://www.extremetrophyhuntsaz.com/. I first met Kent through CWT, and was just learning how to hunt in Arizona, a long time ago. We have yet to meet in person or share a hunt, but over the years we've been in touch. When I realized I had drawn this hunt, my first call was to him. So, whatever happens on this hunt, even if I come home empty handed, I have a LOT of really nice people to thank for making sure I don't start out clueless. I'll do my best to chronicle the hunt, take notes, and pass on as much as I can to the next CWT member that embarks on this journey. One thing I can promise, I type a lot and take lot of pictures, so if you want a long story, you are in for a treat whether I kill a buck or not.

Nice shooting! Nice buck too, congrats!

Wowser! I'd be lucky to hit a house at that range. That is some amazing shooting right there. Kudos on the shot and your buck.

Excellent job! Those are some great looking bucks!

Nice buck, and good write up! Congrats!

Dream Buck for Sure!!! What an amazing, beautiful buck. Huge congrats and way to get it done!

Nice buck!!! Way to go, Laurie. Good job getting them out there dad!

Lionhuhter, I just took a Savage 14 American Std out with some handloads. I'm shooting 63 grains of IMR 4350 on 165 grain Accubonds. Just for comparison I brought my Savage "Field Police" rifle in 25-06. Much better trigger, 1” bull barrel. The first time I actually saw “clover leaves” where every hole was touching another was out of this gun. (The 25-06) I can honestly say, after burning a lot of powder and bullets at long range, the Savage 14 in .300 WSM shoots right along-side the 25-06. Seems the “right balance” is getting a .30 cal bullet to do what the smaller bullets do. This gun costs a lot less than some of the scopes on high end rifles that I’d challenge in good hands to shoot as well as this one does. I’m only good out to 500 yards and I know it. This gun, with hand loads can go way past that with practice.

That's one of the things I LOVE about this site. You found some hunting gear, and your first instinct is, post it up, find the owner, get it back to them. That says a lot about your character. Nicely done.