Advice Needed - First Coues Hunt

[jschaffer]

So I am considering using my 12 deer points on a Coues deer hunt instead of waiting forever for a premium mule deer tag. I have never hunted them, but have plenty of experience backpack hunting for deer and elk out west here.

Would love any advice or thoughts you might be willing to share on quality units for the late December seasons where a newbie could do okay on a solo backpack or camper type hunt. I'd be tickled with a 90" to 100" deer I think. More about the experience to me at this point. Good numbers of deer, limited hunting pressure, and beautiful country would be a dream hunt.

Thanks in advance!

 

[JimP]

I had a tag last December for 36c and saw quite a few bucks but only a couple that were shooters. This year may be better down there. I missed a nice one at 500 yards and then had my stalk blown by some mule deer hunters on a ATV just as I was getting set up on another one.

We saw a few other hunters in the area but if you hiked back to the west side of the unit up against the boundary you should see fewer hunters. We did see a 2 legged coyote running down a wash and quite a bit of rubbish left by the others.

 

[chiefgobbler]

Glass, Glass, Glass, water, Glass. Did I mention glass? Be prepared to sit and glass. Then glass the same area again and again. It amazed me how one shows up and you were sure you just looked at that spot. I hunted New Mexico so I do not have info on Arizona units. The desert type terrain was fun to hunt and very beautiful country. However, everything has thorns and sticks you.

 

[bghunter]

Good advise, you have to have good optics and glass. Patience and glassing is the key.

 

[maximus]

you can draw some good units with 12 points, good luck.