Great Coues Hunts

[1shot]

#4149

The first day I had 2 bucks come through, a thin-horned 3×3 (8pointer) at 40yards, and a nice semi-thick horned 3×3 with a wide spred that i lifted the Recurve for, he walked straight to me as a waited for him to turn and offer me a shot… Of course he came with-in 3-4yards, turned to my right, and was so close I couldnt move a muscle, heheheh When I first saw him coming-in, I thought ” Do I REALY want to end my season now??? for another 364days??? Kinda glad I didnt have a shot…

I let this small 2×2 pass at 15yards today…

[1shot]

#27363

Then I enjoyed a Mexican Coffee…

[1shot]

#27366

View out the back of one of my brush-blinds…

[Doc Nock]

#27367

A true sportsman, 1shot! You’re my hero! 🙂

Gotta be swell to have critters around and get to choose a shot–or not!

I’m not sure I want to know what “Mexican Coffee” is, but hey…devil hates a coward! 😯

[1shot]

#27395

Had to have the caffine blast, instant coffee from Mexico because it was SO CHILLY this morning, 41degrees at sunrise and warming to 71degrees in the afternoon in the Mt’s with a coool breeze blowing off the snow capped peaks…

Hehehe, Sorry all my friends from the northern climes, had to rub-it-in alittle…

[Doc Nock]

#27425

Yeah, you buggar! It’s a high of 15* and a low of single digits after snow of 6″.

I remember you saying about the instant from MX being so good…but didn’t dredge up that memory before you outlined it above!

BTW, in that scene out the back of your blind, I think I saw a nice heavy 4 pt on that rock face, on the farhest ridge, in the 3rd draw to the right from the peak…on that rock outcrop.

Yeah, you’re welcome!

[mhay]

#27426

Da’gummit #1,, with that many deer around were you able to get in a nap ? 😀

No foolin’ , you had a really good first day ,,,,congrats . Keep ’em comin’

[Ptaylor]

#28312

Nice photo of the young buck, sounds like too much fun!

[Fallguy]

#28469

Tomorrows predicted high in Minneapolis is -17 air temp. Wind chill -40 thats what we call a Bit Nippy. You can keep that 41 degree stuff it wrecks our cross country ski trails.:D

[bruc]

#28470

Nice photos Really enjoyed !

You obviously have picked the BEST blind location !

Bruce

[1shot]

#30124

The Santa Ritas are covered in Live Oaks, 4-5 different types, many with Burls that would make a woodworker drool with the possiblitys. The acorns are small and sweet, not bitter at all.

In most areas they appear like some giants Bonsai garden, only getting 10-15feet tall, with thick trunks and twisted limbs.

The steepness of the terrain doesnt show well in photos, but where rainwater is funneled into any place that has a chance to hold it, however briefly, there is a change in the soil, going from a poor tan, rocky dirt to a rich black dirt, the trees are more “normal” looking in these areas…

Had a nice Buck chase a doe past at 70yards and a Doe pass at 10yards Sunday morning…

[David Petersen]

#30738

David, I had really come to love that hunt, after several years in a row, with three trips down and five weeks total one great year! But this year, like last, I must live it vicariously through your photos and stories. Part of the problem is lack of money. Another part is aging, I guess; where most of my life I absolutely cherished and preferred being alone, and still am fine alone in camp, the two 12-hours drives there and back, well, I get tired of singing to myself. Folks who have never hunted Coues, even experienced eastern whitetail hunters, can’t fully appreciate the incredible spookiness of these little desert ghosts. To have even small bucks, or does, close to you while on the ground is almost miraculous. Their keenness as an adversary in the hunting game more than makes up for their size. And they eat great! Best luck and keep us with you, please.

[paleoman]

#30759

Are they so spooky due to concentrated habitat (water) and predators like big kitties?

[1shot]

#31128

paleoman wrote: Are they so spooky due to concentrated habitat (water) and predators like big kitties?

I’m not sure what makes Coues so hyper-aware, but having Big Cats around may be a factor, I wont even attempt to hunt them at a water source, they are way to high-strung as they approach…

I was coming off the Mountain and checked a saddle that always has some scrapes in it, and noticed all the lightening struck trees from the monsoons. If the tree was old with a thick trunk, it was hit, 7-8 in a small area above the saddle. Of note also was signs of an old cooper/silver/gold mine on this tiny peak, I wonder if the amount of minerals in the ground is acting like a lightening rod???

[strait-aero]

#31397

This is cool to read8),as I hunt white-tails here in Ohio. A little cold to go out now as it’s 3 below…:cry: Wayne

[David Petersen]

#31437

Paleo– You nailed it, according to bios I’ve talked with. Since the Pleistocene, the Coues’ primary or only predators have been mountain lions and until man shot them out, jaguars (a few are returning). Cover is sparse, water is sparse, so they are at greatest risk of ambush by a cat at water and have adapted accordingly. To the contrary, they like to walk along open ridges and show themselves off. Nobody has told them about rifles. Back to the water, I’ve seen them take nearly an hour, circling and watching, to come in. But once they commit the often as not just trot in and drink with no further overdue nervousness, like “Let’s just get this over with and get out of here!” If 1shot is not hunting over water, well, I’ve not yet had enough experience to try that. Next time, maybe.

[Ptaylor]

#31463

Jeez, those deer sound like an African antelope, being so paranoid. Sure sounds like fun, might have to give them a try next year…!

[Ralph]

#31565

David,”the two 12-hours drives there and back, well, I get tired of singing to myself”. Takes that long? 😀 “Try Amarillo By Morning”:D. That’ll keep you in good company. 😀

[Ralph]

#31779

David, is that old Apache stomping grounds?

[1shot]

#33430

R2 wrote: David, is that old Apache stomping grounds?

Tribal names are a ‘recent’ invention, but Yes the Apache Tribe called the Santa Ritas home and would enter the low-lands/Valleys to attack/raid the more settled T.O./Yaqui peoples…

Around Christmass there is a group from the TO and Yaqui Nation that does a run with drums from the center of Madera Canyon in the Santa Ritas and goes to the Rez in Tucson and ends at San Xavier Church(oldest church in North America, also called ” White Dove of the Desert”). And I see Tribal members collecting bear-grass in the winter for their Basket weaving…

My personal joke is ” No wonder the Apaches were so War-like, climbing these Mountains would make anyone mean”…

Found a broken Matate the other day, 2 of the three pieces, didnt think to take a photo, just turned it over and left it there… Probably the 10th one I’ve found in AZ…

(Most matate’s are found broken, attack by rival tribe, white man, kinda like ” After I plunder what I can, I’ll bust your gear so it’s harder for you to eat” war-fare)

[Ralph]

#33517

Understand the modern names. Like the name “Comanche” is derived from the Ute word “Kimantsi”, meaning enemy.

I read somewhere once that quite often the native people would bury their women with their metate, facing down, so that they could have it with them on their journey. They would then break it so no one else could use it. How true?

We would find graves with upside down broken metates in south central NM (Datl, Reserve area) that were done that way. Yep, they were as found when we left that part of the world.

You getting mean yet?:D

[Author]

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