Kids Late December Coues Hunt (Long Story)

[coueselk]

Well the story begins.

After a long 3 year wait to come back to Arizona from Africa, the kids were finally able to hunt deer. Alexandra already having taken 4 Coues bucks in the years before we left and Chase now able to go on his first deer hunt.

Since they were able to build up a few bonus points while we were gone, I figured it would be easy for them to draw a late December hunt. Especially one south of I-10. The day came with the results and yes, they were both successful. Drawing tag #2 and #3. I knew this was going to be a tough hunt, as it was a new area that I hadn't been to before. But with a late whitetail tag, I knew we should be able to find some good bucks.

Due to school, we missed the first week of the hunt and would concentrate on the last two weeks of the hunt. With help from my father-in-law, he had lined out a couple of spots for us to try and would be accompanying us on the hunt.

We started out on the morning of December 19th, got to our glassing point and started hitting hard. We were able to glass up numerous groups of does and a spike. But no good buck could be located. We changed positions for much of the first half of the day, but couldn't produce a buck for the kids. We headed back to the truck for lunch and to change locations. As this being my first time in the area, I wanted to see more of it to decide where to really hit it really hard.

 

 

That afternoon took us to a point above a large pond in a big canyon. Figuring that we should be able to find something good here, it didn't take but 3 minutes for my 15's to pick up a nice looking buck with a smaller forked horn tagging along. He was a 3-point, but had broken part of his main beam. Since my daughter had taken a few bucks already and this one being smaller than the last few, I opted to give Chase the choice first. Immediately he wanted to take the buck.

 

The buck was about 1000 yards from us and disappeared in a thicket of juniper trees. We waited for about 15 minutes and it never reappeared. I figured it bedded down, so we made a plan to get down in the bottom and climb a small ridge that was in the middle of the big canyon. I figured we would be able to pick him up there with the different vantage point and it would be a 100-200 yard shot.

 

We grabbed our gear and headed out. As we slowly topped the small ridge, I was tearing apart the trees with my 15's. I was able to locate the smaller buck bedded. He was in the open and had a clear vantage point of where we were at. So we back down a bit and went down the finger a bit further. We crawled over the top and I was hitting the trees again with the binos. I noticed that the smaller buck was gone and started getting nervous that we had spooked the bucks out of the beds. As I looked through the trees directly above where I last saw the forked horn, I saw movement. I stared through the trees what seemed like an eternity to only see the 3-points head come into view. They were still there.

 

 

Chase slowly crawled up and got setup for the shot. I ranged the buck at a 160 yards. The way the buck was laying, he didn't have a clean shot. There was only a small gap of maybe a couple of inches into the shoulder area. He could see the buck, but wasn't able to pick up the gap too well. We decided to wait it out, as we knew the bucks would get up before dark.

 

 

At about 4:15, the smaller buck got up and started feeding up the ridge. We waited and waited, but the larger one didn't seem to budge. Then just before 4:30, the big one rose. Chase was ready and I figured he would come out to the right. Following the same path as the smaller one. Boy was I wrong. The buck went up and to the left, which was much thicker vegetation and I lost view of him. I was working the binos all over the openings. I was watching the smaller bucks location, as I thought for sure he would be following. Then I saw the smaller buck run. Looking at from where he ran from, I saw the bigger one appear, only for him to disappear again.

I frantically searched the side of the ridge. Chase being much calmer than me, was searching with his scope. Then he says, "Dad, I see him by the big dead tree." I'm looking to the right at a dead tree that the smaller buck had run by, but didn't see him. I tell him that I can't see it. He tells me again that "It's right there by it." I ask him to point it out for me only to see I'm looking about a 100 yards to the right of where the buck is actually at. Just then I see a flag, only to see him chase a doe up the hill into more trees. I tell Chase to get ready and when he gets a clean shot to take it.

Again, we have to wait. I see a couple of does but no buck. Daylight is fading fast, so I know we have to locate the buck. Then I see the does move off. I wait and wait, but the buck doesn't appear. Then I pick up the smaller buck walking up the hill. I watch him for a couple of minutes then see him stop and stare into a small thicket. He just continues to stare into the thicket. I slowly scan the thicket and see that there is some brush moving. The larger buck was raking a tree. I relay the position to Chase and we wait again. I see antlers moving through the brush and tell him to get ready. I tell him that it is getting late and this may be the only chance. So he will have to get on him quick and take a clean shot.

The buck walks into an opening and I tell him to shoot. No shot. I tell Chase again that he has got to shoot as the buck walks through the next opening. Again no shot. The buck disappears into the thicket again. I tell him that we only have a few minutes of shooting light left and that I don't know if the buck will appear again.

Just then, the buck appears out of the trees and stops. As luck will have it, there is a small tree covering the shoulder area. I range the buck at 190 yards and tell Chase that as soon as the buck clears, he needs to shoot. This is the last chance. The buck turns and walks straight up, then turns to the right. I yell a grunting noise to try and stop it, but at that moment Chase fires.

I watch the buck run into the thicket, then see some grass moving just above where I saw it run in. Nothing else. I wait a moment, scanning the vegetation, but don't see anything moving. I turn to Chase and said "You missed", as I didn't hear that distinctive thud of a hit. He says, "No way dad. I had it dead on the shoulder and squeezed off the shot."

We wait a few minutes and I continue to scan the thicket. Then I see the smaller buck appear and start chasing the does around. I knew the bigger buck wouldn't put up with this, so either it slipped out or was down.

We headed across the canyon and started up to the position he shot at it. As soon as we were standing where he shot at it, I looked about 20 yards in the grass and saw some whiteness showing. Easing toward it, it was his buck. He was down. I turned to him and told him to give me a knuckle pound. He was grinning from ear to ear and said "I told you I got him".

After a few quick pictures, I hauled the buck down to the bottom, to get more pictures with his sister and grandfather. Upon cleaning it, is when we found that Chase hit it right through the heart. Yes, he made the perfect shot. I won't be living that one down for quite some time.

 

 

 

The next few days proved fruitless for my daughter. We did see some smaller 3 points, but nothing to better any buck she had previously taken.

On the 4th afternoon we return to the spot where we went to the first morning. I knew with the amount of does, there should be some good bucks. We try a different vantage point and bam, as soon as I threw the 15's up I see a bedded deer. I look for a minute and then see the antlers through the tall grass. As the buck turns and scratches his back, I can see it is a real decent buck. Has a really nice basket rack. We decide to give it a try. It was about 3:30, so I knew time wasn't on our side, as he would be getting up soon. So we took off.

 

 

We figured we could climb the opposite ridge then just sneak over and have about a 200-300 yard shot. Well as luck would have it, there was a lot of cattle in the area. Neverless, when we got up to where we thought we could get a shot. No buck. He was gone. I tore the area up with the binos, but no buck.

The next few days were no hunting, as it was Christmas time. We started out again on the 27th. Back to the area we lost the buck. We hit our glassing spot before sunrise and started searching. About 20 minutes into the glassing, I find a BIG buck. I'm shaking with excitement. Alex is going to finally get her 100 incher. The buck is about 1200 yards out and is not in an easy to get to place. We make a plan with my father-in-law, he will watch the buck and we will try and get over to it. He will relay via radio any changes in direction the buck takes, as it is with a doe and chasing her.

We start out and don't get 200 yards when my father-in-law calls and says the buck has turned from it's westernly direction and is taking the doe back to the east. So I tell Alex that we have to change plans. We drop in the bottom, then turn east to parallel it. I stop in a spot I can see up the mountain from and see the buck. I quickly range it at 650yards. Alex is using my .270WSM with the custom turrents and it is deadly. But we had not practiced at that range and I wasn't too comfortable with her shooting it.

 

We studied the area east and there was no way for us to get any closer. Then the buck turns again. He chases the doe back toward the west. I look across and there is a small hill across from us that might offer about a 400 yard shot. We quickly move out and try to get to it, before the buck gets too far.

 

 

Just as we get toward the top of the small hill, my father-in-law calls and said the buck bedded. I tell her, we got him now, if we can just see him. We ease over the hill and setup. I scan the place my father-in-law said it was bedded and see antlers through the brush. No shot. I have Alex watch the buck through the binos, so as she can get the rifle aligned with his anticipated stand up. We wait about an hour, when the buck stands. But he immediately moves off toward a thick ravine where the doe had gone. No chance for a shot.

I told Alex, that we will have to go way to the west to get above the bluffs that were between us and the buck. There was no way to climb up the cliffs. So we pack up and head out. It takes us about an hour to get above the bluffs. We follow on top of them to a position directly below the ravine. On the rocks, we find a good spot and setup. I range the last location of the buck as 300 yards. So we are set and just have to wait and see if he shows himself again.

 

Just before noon, as I was looking at some other ridges, I turned back the binos and wham! The buck was out standing there. I tell Alex to get on him. She is really nervous and having problems finding the buck. What seemed like 10 minutes, she is finally able to get him in the scope. I tell her to take her time, breathe slowing and don't forget to squeeze the trigger. She says "Look how big the rack is." I tell her to stop looking at the rack and think of the bucks shoulder as a pumpkin. (we use pumpkins for shooting practice)

The buck walks up about 10 yards and starts raking a tree. I tell her to wait and take an open shot when it steps forward. The buck shows himself for about 10 seconds and I tell her to shoot, but no shot.

He then angles up the ridge and walks a short distance and stops again. Again I say "Alex, you have to shoot now!" "The buck is going to go back into the trees. This is your last chance. SHOOT!" Still no shot. The buck walks up into the trees and stops one last time broadside. I tell her, "You have to shoot now. This is the last chance. SHOOT!" Again, no shot. The buck runs into the trees chasing the doe. He doesn't come back out.

I asked her why she didn't shoot and she said she was nervous. I told her that we may not see it again now. But you never know. We sat there for another 4 hours, through some extremely cold wind, only to not see the deer again.

 

 

 

Getting home that night wasn't good for her. Everyone in the family gave her a hard time over not shooting. I think we gave her such a hard time, that she didn't want to hunt anymore. (I think it was that plus the cold. She got really cold that afternoon, as I was shaking as well) With some family help and assurances that I could find the buck again, she was willing to try one more day.

We were back at it again. At first light, found the big boy again. Decided we would just head to the west and get up above the bluffs. This call on my part was a bad one. As we headed west, the buck pushed the doe east. And continued east the whole time we were climbing. We finally made it up and started as quick as we could toward the east. My father-in-law relayed the last position of the buck in the last ravine that we were approaching. The wind was picking up, so I knew we didn't have much time, before they went into the really thick cover to bed. As we approached the ravine, I caught a quick glimpse of the buck about 100 yards away, going into thick cover. I tore through the trees with the 15s for an hour, but could never pick it up again.

Alex knew it was over. With the gale force winds hitting us, I knew we wouldn't see him again today. Her dream of a wall-hanger this year was over. But like I told her, there is always next year. She passed on the smaller ones, looking to get a big one. Just like her dad this past season. Sometimes you go home empty handed.

[cw4192]

Congrat's. please dont bring everybody and their brother's to hunt in AZ. for our beloved Coues Deer.

[loco4coues]

Great job! Congratulations to your boy on a great buck. Good decision on your daughters part, my dad always told us growing up "if you aren't steady then don't shoot". Thanks for sharing the story and pics!

[bonecollector]

Nice write up. Congrats to Chase on a fine buck. Thanks for sharing the hunt.

[CouesWhitetail]

Congratulations Chase and Alexandra!! You guys rock! Awesome hunt story. And Alexandra, you did the right thing....you shouldn't take a shot if you aren't comfortable with it. It's nice to have you guys back in Arizona! Thanks for sharing all the details and pics from your hunt!

[cramerhunts]

Great job on the recap and taking us with you thru the highs and lows that went along with it! Congrats to Chase on a super buck and to Alex as well for showing the strength to not force a bad shot. Its great to have you back in Arizona and sharing your hunts with us again (even though the African Safari's were cool too).

[Santana Outdoors]

Awesome and congratulations. Great story and photos, Thanks