TBM's Ol Dave Petersen got his Coues

[T Downing]

#2316

I wanted to share some recent news with everyone here at tradbow. Our Campfire Philosopher Dave Petersen took his first Coues buck a couple of weeks ago down in Arizona. As my son Isaiah put it when I showed him the picture of Dave’s buck, “Uncle Dave shot a nice deer!” Indeed. Here is an email that he sent me with the following thoughts. I believe it says it all.

“Life and personal passions are strange creatures. After several years of attempting to kill a little Coues Sonoran Desert whitetail, and three safaris down there this winter alone. I finally got it done. What is a “trophy”? Certainly not the antlers on this little guy, but considering that they are among the most difficult big game animals to get into longbow range of, are wired tighter than a steel spring when coming to water, can hear your stomach growl from 50 yards and your arrow sliding over the padded shelf as you draw from 20, and have a reaction (duck and spin) time faster than electricity and have bodies and a kill zone about the size of a Lab retriever with long legs … any Coues kill in fair chase with a longbow is an amazing trophy. I am grateful and humbled.”

[T Downing]

#8112

Here are some more pictures Dave shared with me of his hunt.
Javelina

[T Downing]

#8114

Beautiful Arizona sunset

[T Downing]

#8116

Bloodtrail

[T Downing]

#8125

Another Javelina and offspring

[T Downing]

#8131

And last but certainly not least; a self portrait. Hope you don’t mind buddy, I couldn’t resist! Well done Dave, the word that keeps coming to my mind that symbolizes this hunt is tenacity!

[strait-aero]

#8147

Thanks for the info and pics,T. Atta boy,Dave. Way to go!
Wayne 8)

[Jeremy Holden]

#8183

Nice shootin’. Thanks for sharing the news. I know I’m looking forward to reading it in a future book.

-Jeremy

[WICanner]

#8263

Boy, that is a sunset!

Congrats on the Coues, a difficult animal to hunt. 🙂

[William Warren]

#8265

So glad that Dave got a Coues! Future TBM article? I can’t wait! Congrats Dave.

[johntribett]

#8283

I’ve seen quoted before something along the lines of ” it’s not the destination as much as the journey”. I suspect it applies here. I actually feel a little remorse for Dave.
Congratulations Dave.
PS I hope my comment comes across as I’ve intended.
JT

[pappy]

#8295

Good for you Dave, congrats on a well earned tropy!

[W David McLendon]

#8306

Congratulations on a great accomplishment and thank you for th photo of tha Arizona sunrise. Now on to the matter of the Antelope, the quest and all those little things along the way (like George Dickel white label) which make life worthwhile.

[wapiti792]

#8415

Way to go on a fine animal Mr Peterson! I know from your writing that Coues deer have been somewhat of an albatross, albeit a fun one. It is now lifted… Time to celebrate! Cheers and congrats on a great deer.

[wildschwein]

#8439

Good on yah sir!!! Will you share the story here or save it for TBM?

[Idabow]

#8470

Dave, super job on taking the Coues. Many years of trying as nothing can take the place of persistence, congratulations!

[tailfeather]

#8944

Fantastic. Well done, Dave.

[RH]

#8988

Congratulations Dave,
I know how tough and amazing it is to hunt these incredible desert dwellers. To take one with a longbow on public land DIY is a great accomplishment. Thanks for sharing the pics too,
Rick

[Chad Sivertsen]

#8990

Hearty congratulations. I’ve hunted Coues and can attest to the difficulty of that task.

You know Dave, modesty is a good trait but your friends would like to hear about these things.

Thanks, T.

[Bob Ledrich]

#11483

Congratulations Dave…great hunt,looking forward to an article. Great javelina pics too!

[Chris Shelton]

#11722

Awesome Sir! That is not just any feat for sure!! Congrats!

[SteveMcD]

#12283

Thanks for posting, TD.

Congratulations, Dave. Well done! 8)

[David Petersen]

#12419

Thanks T, and other friends, for your kind comments. A nice part of getting older is that you get congratulated for simply doing normal stuff. Average becomes above average. The fact that it took me so long to get it done is not heroic, but rather pitiful. 😕 And yes I will be writing about this years-long crusade someday, but not in any “me and Joe” self-congratulatory way. Rather, what sticks with me is all the mistakes I made along the way and all I learned about this “new” species and landscape and especially about my own shortcomings as a hunter. We’re never good enough to not make mistakes, and we’re never too old not to learn from them. Thanks again. I am now thoroughly hooked on whitetail hunting, which unfortunately is a nonresident species for me. Ol’ Dave

[JEMBO]

#12791

You know Dave, relaying our experiences to those who share the passion isn’t necessarily “self-congratulatory” , it’s encouraging. When I was a young guy and lived where bowhunters were few to be found the writings of experienced, ethical, successful hunters fueled the fire. Now, nearly 40 years later I’m still inspired by those work hard and persist toward a goal. Congratulations and keep up the good work.

[wildschwein]

#12902

David Petersen wrote: I am now thoroughly hooked on whitetail hunting, which unfortunately is a nonresident species for me. Ol’ Dave

If thats the case then come on up to Alberta. We have to many of the darn things running around. Eating the Moose outa house and home :(.

[David Petersen]

#13573

Wild — you have no idea how I’d love to do that! Maybe if I start buying state lottery tickets … 😆 dp

[Joe Lasch]

#26857

Congratulations on one fine looking animal Dave! Nothing in hunting is any sweeter than success after struggling on a quest for extended periods and multiple trips. I can certainly attest to that!
I have a hunch that even if larger Coues are in your future, this one will remain right up at the top of the list.

[Bone]

#32677

Congrats!!! Hope someday you will write about your hunts and share those memories of such a majestic animal. Thank you Dave!!!

[mittenm]

#36110

Dave, I’m glad you got your chance to diversify your meals. I hope we as bowhunters can always find reward, even in our failures. Mike

[Stumpkiller]

#36144

Congrats Dave!

And, as I sit here in March with no season open but pine squirrel and woodchuck it keeps the heart warm to look back and be able to share the images of other’s success and dream of future hunts.

Good job Dave and thanks for posting it Tom.

[MontanaFord]

#39273

Dave,

Congratulations on your Coues buck!! This has been a long journey for you. While your deer may not be a “Booner” buck, I’m sure the trophy status of that deer will be right up there with some of your biggest bucks. To take one of these deer with a bow, and a longbow at that, is quite a feat. I did a short search on Coues whitetail outfitters, and it seemed like almost all of them were advertising rifle hunts accompanied by pictures of ear-width 4-5 point (western count) bucks. Nice bucks, but I don’t think I could appreciate one of those bucks if I shot it with a rifle like you will undoubtedly appreciate that forked horn you took with your longbow. Again, nice job, and awesome pictures. And your self portrait reminds me of Santa after he’s been down a couple dirty chimneys!! Congratulations again, Dave!

Michael.

[bates777]

#39000

Congratulations Dave you have done it and done it well.:lol:

[Brian Halbleib]

#40519

That’s fantastic, way to go!

-Brian

[Wild]

#57262

Come on over to overcrowded Connecticut Dave. We have plenty. Umm, though , Ah, I have yet to get one with my bow but it doesn’t really matter. Being in the woods is a welcome respite from the chaos of this state.

Seldomseen

[David Petersen]

#57444

Seldomseen — Neat pic of old Ed and his old blue beater Ford truck. He and I and my wife traveled more than a few hot miles in that machine, down along the Colorado River and up through the Abajos near Moab, and I almost got it after Ed died. It had a blown clutch and his wife wanted me to come take it away, but his eldest daughter blocked it (like she did a book deal that could have brought the family some big bucks). Later it sold at auction for a small fortune, but not as much as his red Cadillac convertible netted. So I have his silver and turquoise belt buckle, his rain jacket, a hunk of granite dug out of his secret grave in the AZ desert, and a bunch of books to remember him by. I wish Ed Abbey had been a trad bowhunter; we could use a hero like that. 😀 While he detested hunting in general and thought poaching by people who needed the food was more honorable, he always blessed my and other friends’ bowhunting, which he considered sufficiently difficult and low-odds to make it honorable. Glad to see he’s still remembered by some, and my apologies for wandering so far off topic. dp

[JodyS]

#61146

Great job Dave! I know you worked hard for this one. Congrats!
Jody

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