FURMAN
WKR
- Joined
- Feb 29, 2012
- Messages
- 1,819
Arizona Coues deer
We got started the first day of seven by heading to glass some easy to get to spots but the fog had set in up high. We decided to go ahead and head in deep on an old overgrown forest road. We took the quad in around ten miles and hiked to the highest nearby peak. We glassed a few hours turning up a few does and four smaller bucks. The wind was howling and had the deer hunkered down. We decided to go a little deeper to see what we could turn up. After taking the quad in another couple miles we hiked about a half mile to a good vantage point. After glassing a few more hours with little deer spotted we moved up another half mile. We found some does almost immediately. Just before 4 o'clock we spotted a very nice buck and his drop tine was visible in the 10x42 Swarovskis. We tried to keep the excitement down. He was at 630 yards. There was a little fold that would allow us to get to around 400 yards so we dropped back and made our way around and up to the closer position. He was now at 377 yards but feeding behind a large rock pile and dead trees. I struggled to get the rifle set up in the tall grass such that I would have an unobstructed shot. It took 5-10 minutes to get a good solid shooting position but we figured it out. Now the wait. It was almost as if the buck knew we were there. He stayed out of the way of a clear shot as he fed behind the cover. Light was fading fast. He started to move to the left as if he might clear the trees only to return to where he had been. We were now convinced he was just going to bed in the tree for the evening. Then he started to work around to the right side of the tree as the sun sunk even lower. He finally fed in between the dead tree and the large rock. After waiting around an hour I needed just a few more inches. I got back on the gun, into position, rechecked my scope for 377 yards, and was ready. Finally he stepped into a very small opening and the trigger broke. He immediately fell but was soon back on his feet. That didn't last long as he fell kicking with his last breath. No high fives yet. We gave him about 10 minutes, ready for a followup shot. With no movement spotted we slowly and carefully approached. Walking up to this awesome animal will never be forgotten, as is the case every time I am lucky enough to do so. Now the high fives. After a 30 minute picture taking fest we got him broken down and into the packs to start what would be a three hour trip back to the truck. This was a short but sweet hunt and I can not wait to do it again.
We got started the first day of seven by heading to glass some easy to get to spots but the fog had set in up high. We decided to go ahead and head in deep on an old overgrown forest road. We took the quad in around ten miles and hiked to the highest nearby peak. We glassed a few hours turning up a few does and four smaller bucks. The wind was howling and had the deer hunkered down. We decided to go a little deeper to see what we could turn up. After taking the quad in another couple miles we hiked about a half mile to a good vantage point. After glassing a few more hours with little deer spotted we moved up another half mile. We found some does almost immediately. Just before 4 o'clock we spotted a very nice buck and his drop tine was visible in the 10x42 Swarovskis. We tried to keep the excitement down. He was at 630 yards. There was a little fold that would allow us to get to around 400 yards so we dropped back and made our way around and up to the closer position. He was now at 377 yards but feeding behind a large rock pile and dead trees. I struggled to get the rifle set up in the tall grass such that I would have an unobstructed shot. It took 5-10 minutes to get a good solid shooting position but we figured it out. Now the wait. It was almost as if the buck knew we were there. He stayed out of the way of a clear shot as he fed behind the cover. Light was fading fast. He started to move to the left as if he might clear the trees only to return to where he had been. We were now convinced he was just going to bed in the tree for the evening. Then he started to work around to the right side of the tree as the sun sunk even lower. He finally fed in between the dead tree and the large rock. After waiting around an hour I needed just a few more inches. I got back on the gun, into position, rechecked my scope for 377 yards, and was ready. Finally he stepped into a very small opening and the trigger broke. He immediately fell but was soon back on his feet. That didn't last long as he fell kicking with his last breath. No high fives yet. We gave him about 10 minutes, ready for a followup shot. With no movement spotted we slowly and carefully approached. Walking up to this awesome animal will never be forgotten, as is the case every time I am lucky enough to do so. Now the high fives. After a 30 minute picture taking fest we got him broken down and into the packs to start what would be a three hour trip back to the truck. This was a short but sweet hunt and I can not wait to do it again.
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