Coues Deer

[toad face]

Some people find these extremely refreshing and a good way to relax.

Maybe start there.
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I’m not old enough yet

 

[INMT]

 

[Shangobango]

Well, the mail lady dropped off “Deer of the Southwest” by Jim Heffelfinger today. Excited as a kid at Christmas to get started on it this evening.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

That's a pretty good plan, coues deer hunting is all about glassing — you have to find the little buggers first. A solid tripod and a glassing pad make a huge difference for long sessions. Most guys run 15x56s, but they aren’t mandatory. What is mandatory is good‑quality glass you can look through all day without getting smoked.

Coues are most active at first and last light, so being set up before sunrise is key. They’ll still move during the day, usually just to change beds or grab a quick snack, but they’re only up for a minute or two. That’s why you glass all day if you can. It’s still hot in October, so bring plenty of water and keep yourself covered.

In October the bucks are usually still running together, so if you find one, there’s a good chance more are nearby. The only hunt before October is the youth rifle hunt, so they haven’t had much pressure yet. If you find deer in September, odds are they’ll still be in the same general area — but relocating them can be a challenge. Coues don’t move far, they just move smart.

I’ve had bucks patterned for the youth hunt before — same general hillside, same pockets, watched them for a couple weeks leading up to the opener. Come opening day… gone. It took five days of grinding to glass them back up. Coues don’t move far, but they’ll shift just enough to make you feel like they vanished into thin air.

I have in front of me a book written by a man who surely was an expert on Cous deer. The book is the 1939 "Game in the Desert' written by Jack Oconnor.

Chapter 4 is "The Elf of the Brush country" The Arizona Whitetail. This was long before spotting scopes and long range rifles.

Were I ever to have a tag for these deer, I would do as Jack did. Go onto the edge of the brush near heavily used game trails with a pair of 6x30 binoculars and a rifle with a very low-powered scope