AZP&Y

Good pics. Keep us posted on the urine and how/if it works. I've got a cam high up in the snow country, hope to get some snowfalling pics. I just hope the batteries last a few more weeks- LOL AzP&Y

Good Bear! Packing on the pounds! Good luck! Azp&y

Awesome buck Misty way to stick with it! I loved the play by play! When you texted me in traffic , I had to swerve That area looks familiar lol Great job Clay, nothing better than hunting with family! Doug

Happy Birthday! Always love the sheds and Heads! AzP&Y

24A archery pig tag and Unit 1 turkey tag (2nd hunt) BOOM! AzP&Y

Outstanding! Now that is truely the spirit of the wild! That chute looks like a warren miller film location! Deep in the wilds of BC! Way to get it done with limited opportunity. Excellent pics! Doug

Real nice bucks and Buffs! I guess they like the burn areas ? LOL Good quality hunt pics ! Thanks for sharing! 14 buff bonus points and counting! AzP&Y

Great coues! Congrats! Glad to see it isn't all burned up! AZP&Y

Memories in the field and kitchen Thanks for sharing!!! AzP&Y

Thanks for all the support and kind replies! My legs have recovered and I am ready for next season! Comon Jan 2012!!!! Doug

The hunt began months ago with multiple 4am wake up alarms this summer. I made every effort to try to get it done during the August archery season. Long story short it didn't happen, but I learned more parts of the unit and even greater respect for these deer. Fast forward to the rifle season. The season opener was on Friday and I had to work like many and left after work. I was in a tough spot as JUDAS PRIEST was Friday night and I wanted to go see them, but priorities would bring me into focus as the coues deer hunt was calling So, after work I took off to the sounds of "THE RIPPER", "DIAMONDS and RUST" on the ipod. Head banging all the way up the hill! I made it just in time to catch a spectacular sunset which made for a quiet evening sleeping in the back of the Tacoma. As I awoke, drinking coffee and oatmeal a truck pulled up and I greeted them. They were headed into the same area as myself and had a young hunter with them. He let me know a buck was taken in this area and they had seen a spike. All good news in my eyes, but with traffic and some rifle activity , I wasn't sure what to expect? Well at 745am, they passed me on the old mining road and were leaving. I had the entire place to myself. Cool. Willhuntforcoues (Clay) and I were in this area a couple weeks before scouting and had seen does, but his voice was etched in my mind. " DON'T SHOOT A SPIKE (especially on the first day) YOU CAN DO BETTER"... So the first morning what do I glass up? A spike at 243 yards. I pull up the shooting sticks, put the scope on him and then put it down. I did this 3 times! Day 1 in the books and time for a frosty Heineken. I sent a few texts to Clay and we agreed we would meet up, head out together for the next days hunt. Up early and on the road, with high expectations and now someone to help glass, I was feeling great. Again another magical Arizona sunrise and the kind of quiet that I enjoy along with the solitude of the coues hunt experience. The first rays are starting to penetrate the hillside and each object starts to come into focus. You guys know what I'm talking about, anticipation and excitement all wrapped into 1. Clays spots 4 deer at over 1500 yards they are all Muleys. My mind starts to takeover that maybe we are in the cross-over zone where we will be seeing muleys instead of coues? Those deer move along the ridge-top and crest into the west facing shade. They skyline and are gone. Soon Clay spots a buck, He's a coues and nice one. We discuss our plans quickly as the sun starts to rise higher and this buck along with another are leisurely feeding a long way off. He asks, "Do you want to go after them ?" I say, "heck yes" Let's do it. Up the ridge, down the ridge. 800 yards. I start to regret eating the chocolate doughnut that morning Up the ridge down the ridge, Up the ridge down the ridge 486 yards. The buck is at the top of the ridge line and starting to skyline. He steps another 10 yards , in my scope and is gone down the cool northwest facing slope, gone. Turretts were adjusted , scope on the buck , it just wasn't the right opportunity. Clay had said there was another buck for sure, wait, "YES" there he is ! Let's move another 180 or so yards to put me at 300 yards. We move again next to a large Juniper. Put the Swaro's up and where is he? 30 minutes of glassing intently , HOUDINI gave us the slip? We both peered into this cut in the mountain for 45 minutes. Then Clay decides to move about 80 yards up towards where we had last seen the deer, I stayed put and munched on a few snacks and ranged a tree nearby - 139 yards. As soon as had put down my cliff bar I look up and there is what we believed was the same buck that skylined back somehow standing broadside. Because I had ranged the tree moments before (for whatever reason). I was sitting , put the Tikka T3 on the tripod and let one fly. BOOOM. The deer hunches up and starts to head down hill. Because Clay had moved closer to try and locate the deer that we thought was behind the tree, he saw the deer go to the bottom of the cut and soflty said , "HE's DOWN" !!! We were now over 1.5 miles from the Jeep. Plans were made to do the gutless method. I hadn't seen this done in person and highly recommend it. He performed with the skills of a fine crafstman. Also, he was using the HAVALON knife, which was awesome! Extremely tired, sore and elated we made it back to the jeep and romped out of what is truely the most incredible hunt, I've had in a long time. Thank you so much Clay for all of your hospitality, friendship and hard work. I couldn't have done it without you and feel that I've gained a friend for life. My passion for coues deer hunting is ever more intense and for everyone that is finding challenges in the field, NEVER give up and be safe in the great Arizona Backcountry! Good Luck to All you on your future hunts! (Sorry for the long read) He's a nice 2x3 as you can see from the pics! AzP&Y Doug Sunset Day 1 Coues Country Morning Coues buck down! Willhunt4coues- TIRED! The LONG walk out!

Hi Art, Is this the course? http://wildlife.state.co.us/SiteCollectionDocuments/DOW/Education/pdf/HunterEducation/MountainLionEducationAndIdentificationCourse.pdf I read through there some interesting information. I don't hunt lions but want to take a nice one someday. Congrats on your cat David (sorry no thread jack,intended). AzP&Y

That's the ol' standy-by dead nuts - DAREDEVIL ! Good old lure there! Nice Bow! AzP&Y

I saw the picture and you can see from my post, date time stamp of when I posted my comment. To think that after almost 6 years on this website (longer lurking) that the picture was inflammatory,obscene or posted in bad taste is ridiculous. Brian made the comment you jeep guys will enjoy this, which was really neat to see the use of the winch. Anyone ever use one of those rope/hoist pulleys? Not exactly the best "winch" in my opinon... I have seen gut shot, butt shot, heart shot, antler shot critters on here for YEARS! Some posts go by without a word in terms of graphic nature... He took it down I imagine out of respect for someone or something, his own personal decision which is fine. Az&Y

Dan u da man! Sweet bone!! Azp&y

Man , I would turn that into a Halloween costume and come as a complete 6 foot bobcat. Great going! AzP&Y

Range Cliffrose are most often found between 3,500 and 8,000 feet in the Rocks, Southwest, Great Basin regions and into Mexico. HabitatCliffrose grow in pinyon-juniper woodlands and shrublands, often in dry rocky soils. Description Cliffrose is a many-branched shrub that grows up to 8 feet tall. In some excellent growing locations the shrubs can reach 20 feet high. In older shrubs, the bark splits into long, fine segments. Leaves are tiny, 1/8- to 5/8 inches long, and are mostly 5-lobed. The leaves are covered with tiny, glandular-dotted hairs that are sticky to the touch. Flowers Flowers are whitish in color and are 1/2 to1 inch wide. The five petals 5 many yellow stamens. When the seeds mature, they have a long-tailed hair that attaches to the seed. These hairs act like tiny parachutes and aid the wind in both dispersing the seeds and helping "drill" the seeds into the ground. Once the seed lands in the soil, the wind blows the curved hair that acts like a drill, rotating with the wind to push the seed into the soil. Another Az G & F weblink referencing browse, etc: Winter Range: http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/North_Kaibab_Winter_Range.shtml ADA's Take on Cliffrose (study) : http://www.azdeer.org/news_from_kaibab.htm Probably more than you wanted to know- LOL Good Luck! AzP&Y

Wow ! What an incredible set to find! Awesome that buck is running around so close to your house. I buy coues sheds if ya ever want to sell them AZP&Y

That was Awesome! My buddy has a jeep and needed to see that! Great use of the winch! Please re-post!!!!! Azp&y

Vasque is the only hiking boots I wear. If you're ever up in the valley .. shoot me a PM and I'll meet ya. If they fit, I'll buy em.. Thx AzP&Y

Sir, Please stand by... The TCP {Trail Cam Police} is examining the authenticty of each picture via DNA analysis. This could take some time. We hope to avoid the FBTCI {Federal Bureau of Trail Cam Intelligence} at all costs! There have been traces put on the pictures by the CTCI {Central Trail Cam Intelligence} community. We hope to have this cleared up shortly. Your patience is appreciated Agent- AZP&Y

Good stuff! I like the Chukars. You just don't see that mount very often in Az. AzP&Y

Great JOB!- NICE SHOT! These "kids" are putting the smack down on these Mulies & Coues! AzP&Y

Nice job- I forgot the JR's pig hunt was going on with all deer pics! Sweet at age 12- Start em' young! AzP&Y

WOW ! Very nice shooting Jaycie and way to get your daughter out in the field, PHIL! That is one incredible first deer! Attitude is everthing in life and on the hunt! I would have thought with only 150 tags in all those units you wouldn't barely see another hunter, but It's nice how you adapted and worked through the challenge. Nice story- AzP&Y Doug