CouesWhitetail Report post Posted January 13, 2008 Ok, I got an email from the hunter saying he would like to share the photos and hunt story. So here it is: Hi Amanda, My name is Jay Jones. My friend, Clint Hill (who is an avid coueswhitetail.com fan/poster) told me there was some interest in a special Coues buck I was lucky enought to harvest this year. Here are a few pics of my 142 gross Coues (unofficial). Below is a short story about taking the buck. I feel very humbled and fortunate to have had the opportunity to harvest him with a 506 yard shot. Lots of respect for this old monarch. We estimate his age to be 6+ years old. My hunting buddies/guides were Nick Forsythe and Ted Byfield. Ted spotted the buck over two miles away and announced excitedly, huge buck way up high in the bowl. This is the same bowl my hunting partners, Greg Lucero, Nick, Clint Hill and I spotted a huge buck two years ago and were thinking this must be the same one. Ted and I drove over and climbed the back of the bowl. We crawled up a steep manzanita and shale face. Nick covered the front of the bowl in case the buck tried to slip out. Nick and I had climbed the same route up to the bowl the day before. When we reached the top yesterday it was covered with deer sign and we knew it was a worth the climb. We spotted several deer but not the one we were looking for. This time, Ted and I arrived at the bowl crest at 1pm careful not to skyline and maneuvered into position to glass the dark north facing slope of the bowl. Within 10 minutes, amazingly Ted had spotted the buck bedded next two a feeding doe under a juniper. He quickly ranged the buck at 506 yards. I extended the Harris bi-pods on my Weatherby .257 to shoot in a sitting position because the mountain grass was so high. I turned the elevation turrent to 500 yards on my Leupold VX-III Long Range Tactical 6.5x20 outfitted with a Leupold bullet drop compensating dial (highly recommended). I settled the crosshairs on the buck and tried to concentrate on a smooth trigger pull. Seemed like I was squeezing way to long and hard when I realized the safety was on. Happens to the best of us I guess! Got ready again and got a good squeeze, this time with no safety on, sending the 115 nosler ballistic tip on its way. Ted advised, you hit him...but he's up and moving. Two hours later after some very anxious moments we had my buck of a couple lifetimes. Initial gross score is in the range of 142 and will probably net just south of 135 placing the buck somewhere in the range of top 5-10 all time typical Coues bucks ever taken. It is hard to put in perspective a trophy like this buck. My ambitious goal for 30+ years of Coues deer hunting had been to get a buck exceeding the Boone & Crockett minimum of 110. I have several in the 100-110 range. Lots of good, very capable hunters never break through the 110 barrier. Obviously, I far exceeded my expectations. Again, I feel very, very lucky. I can't thank my hunting buddies Nick Forsythe, Ted Byfield, Greg Lucero and Clint Hill enough. They all played a major role in helping make this possible. I have learned much from them. We are childhood friends who come together every fall to continue our quest and passion for chasing these little gray ghosts around the Chiricahua and other mountains. Greg was the first one in the B&C club. Larry Osborne joined Greg and now I finally broke through. Nick, Clint and our buddy Tim Gomez are next to join. You can be sure we'll be there trying to help them make it happen every fall. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted January 13, 2008 Amanda, thanks for sharing this with us. It was a great story and a fine deer to have harvested. Thanks again for your dedication to bring us such stories and pictures. TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IHunt2live Report post Posted January 13, 2008 O' My. That is one heck of a awesome Coues. Congrats to the hunter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COUESAZ Report post Posted January 13, 2008 Oh my gosh how does something like that hapen. That thing is out of controle. I do not even think my dreams are made out of stuff like that. becaus i would not have thought a coues deer to look like that. the eye gaurds are longer than most coues buck even grow regular tines. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesSlayer Report post Posted January 13, 2008 words won't do this justice...... awesome awesome awesome deer! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KidBowHunter Report post Posted January 13, 2008 wow, that is an awesome coues! Troy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
az4life Report post Posted January 14, 2008 Un freakin believeable! What a buck and great story as well. Congratulations for sure on that buck of a lifetime. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MARV Report post Posted January 14, 2008 Wow... and wow some more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kcw Report post Posted January 14, 2008 congrats on the finest coues buck I have ever seen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PRED8R Report post Posted January 14, 2008 Wow! I've never seen a coues crossed with an elk before! Nicely done, congrats on a buck of lifetime! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cpugsie Report post Posted January 14, 2008 Jay, Your deer, by far, is the most beautiful typical coues I've ever seen. I absolutely love the long eye guards. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Your write up was great to read, thanks for sharing the story. It's all down hill from here. Carl Pugliese Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted January 14, 2008 WOW - I am absolutely floored. What an amazing deer. Thank you for sharing the story and pictures with us! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C.O.U.E.S. Report post Posted January 14, 2008 "HOLY SMOKES"!!!! That's bigger than anything in my dream's!!! AWESOME BUCK..... CONGRATS Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZcoues_addict Report post Posted January 15, 2008 Freak of Nature! That tine length is unreal, I still can't believe it and its the third time I've viewed this post. Congrats to the hunter and thanks for sharing your trophy with us! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MT. CAT Report post Posted January 15, 2008 Wow!!!!!! Hopefully he got to spread his genetics around. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
