Let the games Begin!

ltdann · #1 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 09:30 AM

Off to AZ 36B for my first ever Coues hunt next thursday. I've seen these critters while out chasing Javelina but never hunted them.

Last time I was out in the Sonoran desert, I destroyed a set of boots, a pack, scratched the hell outta my new rifle and twisted an ankle. There's nothing friendly out there, but gawd, what gorgeous country.

I suspect I'll glass, look and then glass some more. Anything else I should be doing?

bassassassin772 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 11:07 AM

Pray LOL

MJB · #3 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 11:21 AM

Good luck and be safe!

Don't forget to leave some room in your freezer for your elk at FHL.

Glass eye · #4 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 11:43 AM

Pray for a cold front

I'm thinking of camping at the lake.

ltdann · #5 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glass eye

Pray for a cold front

I'm thinking of camping at the lake.

Chuck and I will be at the lake, probably sometime friday morning. I still have your tea kettle, gotta remember to dig that out tonight. We don't really have a game plan, just hunt.

And Pray! Its supposed to be below freezing this week.

weekender21 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 02:53 PM

How did your FHL cow hunt go?

ltdann · #7 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weekender21

How did your FHL cow hunt go?

Andy, thats 2 weeks after the coues hunt. I know, I know, I'm burning the candle at both ends but.... life's short...hunt hard.

I've medium expectations on the coues hunt. Its tough terrain, wide open and the deer are small and skittish.

I'm hearing different things from FHL, so I'm nervous about that hunt. On one hand folks are seeing the cows all over and not spooked, then the other hand says "tough hunt, the cows are few and far between".

Bottom line, I'll put boots on the ground, see whats happening and try and work the problem. I'll have bow, shotgun, muzzle loader and 30-06. The rolling arsenal will be available for what ever area the actions in.

MJB · #8 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltdann

Bottom line, I'll put boots on the ground, see whats happening and try and work the problem. I'll have bow, shotgun, muzzle loader and 30-06. The rolling arsenal will be available for what ever area the actions in.

Now that's a plan!!!

weekender21 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 11:03 PM

Cool, good luck on both! I don't think you'll have a problem finding a cow in one of the training areas. Let us know how the coues hunt goes.

ltdann · #10 (**permalink**) 10-30-2009, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weekender21

Cool, good luck on both! I don't think you'll have a problem finding a cow in one of the training areas. Let us know how the coues hunt goes.

The coues hunt is gonna be tough. I've got 3 days, been in the area once for the javelina (feb). We saw deer, but I don't feel that I know the area.

We have a plan, whether a buck cooperates with our plan is another matter, LOL.

I'll post when I get back. I just hope I don't twist that ankle this time.

XDHUNTER · #11 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 07:30 PM

Lt
Glass,glass,and glass some more.... and dont leave your food outside,the last time we camp at the lake, my food container got stolen.

Dont worry about your FHL cow hot, just got back from the base an hour ago.The elk are bunch up again, saw a herd of 30 to 40 cow in TA 13B and and some on TA 13A, both archery area.

ltdann · #12 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDHUNTER

Lt

Dont worry about your FHL cow hot, just got back from the base an hour ago.The elk are bunch up again, saw a herd of 30 to 40 cow in TA 13B and and some on TA 13A, both archery area.

Hmmm, down by the KD range? oh boy, boy!

inchr48 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 11:53 AM

Have a safe hunt, and shoot straight!

ltdann · #14 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inchr48

Have a safe hunt, and shoot straight!

Jeez, I hope so, on both accounts. Last time I hunt 36B, it was a bit of nightmare, what with the twisted ankle, flu and all.

I'll have my partner with me again, but that's not always a guarantee. As my wife says, "its all fun and games, until one shoots the other!"

XDHUNTER · #15 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 12:43 PM

LT,
Good luck on your Coues Deer hunt, be safe and shoot straight.
Since you are out there kindly check the population of the stinky small critter,love to go back next year with a stick and string.

Glass eye · #16 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDHUNTER

LT,

Since you are out there kindly check the population of the stinky small critter,love to go back next year with a stick and string.

Yeah, I'd like stick one with a recurve. Never tried that before.

XDHUNTER · #17 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 01:20 PM

Breck, Let's plan it next year.

Do you also have a coues tag?

Glass eye · #18 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDHUNTER

Breck, Let's plan it next year.

Do you also have a coues tag?

I got the coues tag after the draw when I found out that Dan drew that hunt. It was a leftover tag. The spring javelina draw already passed but I'm certain that there will be leftovers available.

ltdann · #19 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glass eye

I got the coues tag after the draw when I found out that Dan drew that hunt. It was a leftover tag. The spring javelina draw already passed but I'm certain that there will be leftovers available.

hmmm, I'm behind the power curve. I hope there's leftovers.....

XDHUNTER · #20 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 01:54 PM

Let's send in our appliction first day next year.

Glass eye · #21 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDHUNTER

Let's send in our appliction first day next year.

Are you wanting to hunt spring of 2010 or 2011 ?

XDHUNTER · #22 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 03:08 PM

2010, any leftover tags?

ltdann · #23 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDHUNTER

2010, any leftover tags?

Spring Javie draw was 13 Oct, First come-first serve (via mail-if available) will be 30 Nov. OTC sales begin 7 Dec.

Its all here http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/h_f/regula...SpringDraw.pdf

Last year, there were quite a few leftover tags. Keep an eye on the website for the number leftovers. It should be out in the next few weeks.

XDHUNTER · #24 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 04:21 PM

Thank's Lt, I ask Breck about it and he said that we will have better chance on HAM season.(hand gun, archery,M loader) oooh boy... ooooh boy....
So you will see happy face again in Arizona.

Live2hunt · #25 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 06:38 AM

Damn it you guys get to have all the up coming fun. I feel bad about myself that I didn't make it the last javi hunt back in Feb. Now I'm still battling the same health problem and still won't be able to go on the next hunt.

Ltdann, I'm sure you will get an elk. Don't forget to check out Stony Reservoir in 15. I've seen them in the lake or over the next hill. Just hope FHL opens 15 for rifle then it will be an easy hunt. Although not in FHL my cow elk hunt was easy. I was done by 7:20am on opening morning. Good luck on yours. I will try to be at FHL and help locate the elk for you.

L2H

sancho · #26 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 11:59 AM

L2H! if there is anything i can do to help you hunt, dont hesitate to ask. i can run and set up ground blinds, push you uphills...whatever.

ltdann · #27 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 05:53 PM

Well gang, thanks for the all the elk advice, I'm gonna need it.

Now for the coues hunt,,,

Met up with Glasseye at Arivaca lake just at day break and returned his tea kettle that ended up with my gear during deer season. We didn't stop to chat, or set up camp, just headed out.

As we were driving out, not more than 200 yds from the campground and 20 yds off the road, we saw our first coues doe. No buck. We were supposed to be meeting my partnerd relatives on the other side of the national forset so we started to hit the side roads and look at likely spots, glass a bit, then continue on in an easterly direction. Spotted 4 more does running up a hillside.

We stumbled into a nice valley, with a nice stock pond with a coupla nice hills overlooking the water, we continued down the road and it deadended. when we turned to drive out, the border patrol was coming up to park at the turn around.

Not 20 yds after they passed us, saw a white flagged tail disappear into the bush in front of us. Chuck pulls over and I bail, he yells buck and ...... naturally I lost it in the bushes. It was a small spike so, I didn't pursue it agressively. 50 yds down the road, 3 doe cross in front of the truck. I'm no rocket scientist, but even I recognized this as a hot spot. We set up on the hill for the rest of the day and ended up seeing a total of 12 deer total.

We were in the same spot before light the next morning and saw 15 before lunch, no bucks. I even had 2 walk past me at 50 measured yds.

Due to a series of logistical disasters (best told around a campfire with adult beverages) We finally called it sunday at 1100, having seen a total of 26 does and 1 coues buck. After talking to a few other guys who only saw 1 or 2 for the weekend, I thought we did well for our first ever coues hunt.

It wasn't too hot, the terrain was a bit brutal but not Tejon bad, just lots of ankle biter rocks. There was a reasonable amount of water out there, the deer we did see were healthy and sleek. If I'd been able to devote a few more days to it, I pretty sure I'd have been able to pull a decent buck out of that valley. I know I could have gotten that spike in one more day.

All-in-all, a good hunt and one for the story books.