January 22, 2007 – Just got back from Arizona. Mike and I decided to
extend are season for another month by chasing coues deer around the
mountains of southern Arizona. We had a great time with our
friends Joe and Ron as always. Let me tell you first hand Arizona was
not sunny and warm, by any means. It was really windy a lot of the
days and freezing for a few nights 10-15 F).
After a few days of search for these sneaky little deer we found a
valley with quite a few and definitely the best opportunity for a
stalk. On the 3rd day of hunting this big valley, Ron and I spotted a
beautiful buck walking across the foothills in search of a friend or two in the
middle of the afternoon. I knew there was no chance of getting him by
sitting were I was so I circled around the valley and crossed the
stream (down wind) below the buck. I slowing crept through the forest of
stunted trees on route to where I though the buck may be. The bucks
were not bedding down, but on their feet searching most of the time I
saw them. So I just inched closer until I found the best situation
possible for any shot opportunity. It was on the edge of a burn where
the forest cleared some, so I had some chance of a shot. I saw legs
about 40 yds out. I had a small tunnel in front of him about 40 yds
long and below me. He walks into it at 33 yds but I can only see the
top half of him because he was slightly below me. Well he turns and
walks straight towards me to 26 yds and stares in my direction. He is
facing me and unaware of my presence in the beginning. He looks at me
and to my left a few yards for at least 6 minutes. I am like a statue
but have no chance unless something else gets his attention.
Coues deer close are at least twice as attentive as spooked whitetails on the
ground. He turns quickly and walks away. This was one of the best
bucks I saw, I am guessing around 100 inches (8 pt, or 3×3 western
count). My best chance would have been when he first walked into my
small shooting lane. I could of shot him facing me but don’t think he
would have been there by the time my arrow got there and I never like
head on shots.
So I still hunted through the tree until I came out at this small
valley where a few trails converged towards the creek bottom. The last
two nights does poured down these trails in the evening so I figured it
was my best chance for the rest of the afternoon. Only 5 minutes into
sitting beside some big rocks three does pass below me at 50 yds. The
wind was blowing my scent up over top of them. A half hour later I
look up to see a buck rocketing towards the creek bottom. I have no chance
of stopping him. So I hurry to the ledge that looks over the creek.
He is already 70 yds out and going away from me. He is running through
the water with his head down sucking up water. He falls on a slippery rock
and scramble back to his feet. Then he slows down at a larger pool of
water. I grunt to him twice, he does a 180 and heads towards me. He
falls down again on the same rock! Here he comes, head down still trying to
get more water. I know if he keeps coming he would be 30 yds below me in the creek bottom, so I take two steps to clear some nearby branches. He kind of sees me move,
unbelievable! He stops and starts heading up the creek bank. I range
him at close to 70 yds!
I take a few yds off for the angle and draw my bow. He stops and
looks at me. I split my 60 and 70 yds pins, and release. He shoots up
the hill like he was shot out of a cannon. Its 5:30 pm and getting
dark fast. I find first blood in the creek bottom where he was standing and
decide to back off for the night. Joe, Ron, and I return in the
morning to find him piled up after 150 yds. A heavy, mature 6 pt. Coues deer
buck! I couldn’t be happier.
Thanks Joe, Ron, Mike and everyone who read my entire (long) story.
Good Hunting,
Sincerely, Erick
