Coues deer ranges

[nv-hunter]

What is the range coues deer are found? Have an ranch i can hunt near payson az but not sure there are any in that area. Been told by a non hunter that works the ranch they see a lot of little deer but they have no clue what kind.
Its about 20 miles south of payson.

Thanks

 

[JimP]

I know that normal whitetails venture north but I doubt that the coues do.

Most of their range in Arizona is going to be around the border and unit 33 north of Tucson. But I have also seen lots of regular whitetails in unit 33 and north of there also.

You might want to check the unit that the ranch is in and then call the local biologist and ask him, I am sure that he would be able to give you the correct answer if they have them or not and if they would be worth going after if they do.

 

[Maxhunter]

They live in AZ and NM.

 

[JimP]

I Googled up this map but have no idea of how accurate it is.

So according to it there is a possibility of them being up around Payson but very few.

It is also close to a 20 year old map

 

[meathunter]

Unit 22, I believe, is the unit you have in mind. I've seen quite a few Coues there. They tend to be at a higher elevation than the muleys above the foothills. About 10 miles west of Payson is good, although along the Mexican border is best. The Whetstone Mountains, west of Tucson has good numbers. Lots of public land around those areas.

 

[hoshour]

Try the AZ G&F Habimap and check the box for mammal distribution and unpack it and check Coues' whitetail distribution. Also check the GMU box. It seems to treat Coues' deer and whitetail as the same but it will show you the distribution in the units and you can overlay it with land ownership by checking that. This is an underused resource.

 

[wa-hunter]

i was just in payson and can say yes there are coues around!!!

 

[BuzzH]

The first coues deer I killed was near Payson. They also live quite a ways North and West of Payson as well, saw several of them hunting elk this year.

I cant speak to how much they are expanding their range, but I don't see much to stop them other than the ditch if they wanted to expand North.

 

[Naturebob]

You are in prime country in that area and Most Coues home range is a couple Square miles. Go for it.........BOB!

 

[Dr.Swat]

Man, I see this post, now that I am looking, is from 2011. Yea, there are plenty of whitetail near Payson.