Allen and I have been discussing coues deer hunting via PM and thought I would ask if anyone else has hunted them. They are a tough hunt but imho are better tasting than blacktail, regular whitetail, and mule deer. Actually I would put them right up there at the top when comparing the taste of wild game meat---but you may disagree, what say you.
coues deer
- Thread starter Europe
- Start date
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,494
- 6,493
Never hunted Coues deer, April. I would love to do so, however. I've read that it is challenging.
I was just down in AZ hunting them the weekend before last. We had very limited time and the weather was terrible. It was 72 Saturday and 45 with 30+mph winds on Sunday. It actually snowed 4 or 500 feet above us Sunday night. Monday morning we blew the side wall on a tire on the way to another spot. So we didn't get to hunt until that evening and then we drove home all night (over 1000miles).
We saw 6 deer and a couple 2 point bucks Saturday, 2 does Sunday, and 4 does Monday night.
We saw 6 deer and a couple 2 point bucks Saturday, 2 does Sunday, and 4 does Monday night.
truck driver
Ammo Smith
- Mar 11, 2013
- 7,360
- 970
Sounds like you had a rough hunt.IdahoCTD":2b46dblc said:
truck driver
Ammo Smith
- Mar 11, 2013
- 7,360
- 970
If I ever had the opportunity to hunt them I think I would have to live where I could get out and do a lot of scouting before the season. I'm good at reading sign but would like to be more familiar with the area and habitat. My understanding is they are the ghost of the desert country they live in.
- Thread starter
- #10
These animals are definitely a tough hunt, but if you like a challenging hunt, this is it, and the meat is delicious. No tree stands for this animal you will trek through some tough terrain, glass for hours, and for best results it will be a backpack camp. Good quality glass ( spotter, binoculars and scope is important ) and you will be shooting distance ( I liked the 257 weatherby ).
You should also not overlook Arizona when looking for a state to hunt Elk.
We preferred to hunt the San Carlos Apache Reservation for both the Coues and Elk. You have to hire an indian guide to do so, as well as pay a fee, but you do not have to worry about drawing a tag and the hunting for Coues Deer and Elk is excellent.
Just a thought for those looking for a different area in which to hunt next year, as well as perhaps a different animal ( Coues ) and it is in the States and in the lower 48
IdahoCTD did it right by hiking back away from the roads.
ps, there are those who have crossed the border illegally, in the area, and they will take things from your camp, if no one is there. If your on a Reservation they sometimes will assign someone to stay in camp.
You should also not overlook Arizona when looking for a state to hunt Elk.
We preferred to hunt the San Carlos Apache Reservation for both the Coues and Elk. You have to hire an indian guide to do so, as well as pay a fee, but you do not have to worry about drawing a tag and the hunting for Coues Deer and Elk is excellent.
Just a thought for those looking for a different area in which to hunt next year, as well as perhaps a different animal ( Coues ) and it is in the States and in the lower 48
IdahoCTD did it right by hiking back away from the roads.
ps, there are those who have crossed the border illegally, in the area, and they will take things from your camp, if no one is there. If your on a Reservation they sometimes will assign someone to stay in camp.
We intended to backpack in but the info I was given was only 3 miles from the road so we hiked in the one afternoon and the next morning. We were just extremely limited on time so we decided against it. If I had more time I would have done it in a heartbeat.
