Slim Jim
WKR
It's finally that time of year to chase the mulies in the desert of Arizona! I will be going back to an area that I hunted last year solo and had a blast. It is a backpack hunt in about 4 miles and camp at about 4000'. Hopefully the rut will be in full swing and there will be some decent bucks in tow of the does. Last year I never got a shot off on a mulie but I did get a couple of stalks blown by does keeping lookout. I did however get a shot off at 41 yards on a 3x3 coues quartering away. I came across the coues by accident after a failed stalk on a 140 class mule buck I had been glassing all morning. I had noticed some deer above me on a finger ridge so I made my way around the backside to be able and come up and over on top of them and get a closer look without them noticing me. Well when I got up there and glassed for a while I couldn't locate any deer at all so I thought they were on the move like they usually are during the rut and moved on to another draw. I decided to walk just over the ridge and traverse careful not to skyline myself when i jumped a spike coues. Cute little boogers. I dropped my pack and had myself a granola bar thinking that I pretty much blew my chances for the day as it was getting late. As I finished my snack I seen a 3x3 coues at about 70 yards behind a juniper, coming right at me! I slowly grabbed my bow and an arrow waiting to nock it when it got behind the next tree. As soon as I nocked my arrow I could see him through the tree in front of me stop. I ranged a cactus just passed the tree at 41 yards where I knew he was heading and when he stepped out, he fed quartering away and presented a shot. Well guess what, I pulled the shot to the left. What a rush! I am forever hooked on bowhunting thanks to a friend at work that convinced me to buy one of his older Hoyt bows as he knew how much I loved hunting big game. I have only been shooting bows for about two years now and I am so excited to get my first deer with a stick and string as I had tag soup over the summer as well. This hunt starts January 2nd and coming home on the 8th. I will be hunting the gray ghost but if a coues presents a shot once again I won't miss! I have been practicing like crazy and a completely new setup which I will go over in my gear list. On this hunt I'm looking for at last a 140 class buck or bigger. Each day leading up to the hunt and during, I would like to take you guys and gals along on my journey with workouts, shooting, diet, gear, etc. I hope you'll enjoy as I'll try my best to make you feel as if you are there with me. AZ here we come!
