First time Cous Deer Hunt

[TrophyRoom]

Hello I’m looking for some info on cous deer hunting! I’m wanting to take my wife on a hunt but not sure where to start. I’m. It looking for an outfitter or anything like that, just want to have a good time on a DIY hunt. I’m an avid hunter in Wyoming. This will be my first DIY hunt outside of Wyoming. I’m not looking for secret spots, just want to fill our tags and have a good time. I’ve never hunted cous deer. I don’t even know which state to look into. Ive dabbled a bit on the game and fish sites but still looking for more info.
For example
ATV use, state land requirements, camping requirements, time of year and what type weather to expect, odds of filling tags and don’t have to be trophies and what units give best opportunities.

Thanks

 

[Hobbs]

Try GoHunt. Its a good resource for a lot of the info your after.

 

[Dave N]

I'll make the popcorn...

Anyway, welcome to the forum. I have a feeling you're about to find out what kind of a response a first post such as yours gets! Have a sense of humor, and join in on the discussions around here.

 

[TrophyRoom]

I'll make the popcorn...

Anyway, welcome to the forum. I have a feeling you're about to find out what kind of a response a first post such as yours gets! Have a sense of humor, and join in on the discussions around here.

I understand the type of responses I’ll get when asking a question. I’ve posted on here before just been a few years. I mostly just read what people have to say. I just figured maybe I might get an actual person that would be willing to help out. I know about all the digital formats that a guy can look at but it’s nice to talk to people with actual experiences instead of reading an article.

 

[TrophyRoom]

Try GoHunt. Its a good resource for a lot of the info your after.

I’m more than willing to earn it just thought I would ask about some personal experiences! But thanks for your input.

I’m not sure what the point of this forum is if a guy asks for help and just gets told to go to a website for all info needed

 

[LCH]

Everything I know from 5 days of Coues hunting experience:

State- Southern Arizona is probably your best bet.

ATV use- there is a bunch of them out there. I don't know what kind of registration or anything you need though. We hunted out of a rented Fiesta.

State land requirements- Don't know, we hunted NF.

Camping- Where I was at, pretty much same rules as NF in Wyoming. You can go to the NF webpage for any specifics.

Time of year- Most seasons in most areas are pretty easy draws, except the late December rifle hunts.

Weather- we were there early December, ranged from freezing cold to 80*, just about always windy.

Odds of killing- We had 3 opportunities at bucks in 5 days, but didn't capitalize on any of them.

Units- We could see Mexico from where we were.

 

[TrophyRoom]

Everything I know from 5 days of Coues hunting experience:

State- Southern Arizona is probably your best bet.

ATV use- there is a bunch of them out there. I don't know what kind of registration or anything you need though. We hunted out of a rented Fiesta.

State land requirements- Don't know, we hunted NF.

Camping- Where I was at, pretty much same rules as NF in Wyoming. You can go to the NF webpage for any specifics.

Time of year- Most seasons in most areas are pretty easy draws, except the late December rifle hunts.

Weather- we were there early December, ranged from freezing cold to 80*, just about always windy.

Odds of killing- We had 3 opportunities at bucks in 5 days, but didn't capitalize on any of them.

Units- We could see Mexico from where we were.

Thanks for the info

 

[BuzzH]

Lots of variables on these hunts. I've done 3 coues hunts in Arizona and killed 2 bucks. The last hunt I had 2 years ago, I glassed more than 500 total deer and 78 were bucks. I'm sure some of them could have been smaller bucks that I glassed way out there. I ended up not killing a buck, as I have a pretty darn good one I shot on my second hunt, so was pretty picky. I saw 4-5 that I probably should have shot, including one that was really heavy for a coues deer, had bladed eye-guards, and was no question a 5-6 year old buck.

I've always had late tags on all three, and have another late tag this year. The theory is that the late tags provide the most rut activity, but honestly, I haven't witnessed all that much rutting.

I have some buddies that have hunted the earlier seasons and have done pretty well.

I would look at the draw odds and the total number of tags and figure out when you would have time to hunt. Some of the early hunts have really good draw odds.

Make sure you have good glass that you can look through for hours on end. The best way I've found to hunt them is to find high points and just glass, glass and glass some more. I wouldn't go down there without binoculars that you can attach to a tripod. I would make sure to take a very accurate rifle, as they are a pretty small target and sometimes require some longer shooting. My shots were 450 and 300 on the 2 I've killed.

They tend to like the rougher country, thick, brushy canyons. I also try to glass the east facing slopes in the mornings, and the opposite in the evenings. They move pretty well, at least in the late seasons, until about 10 AM. Mid-day is hit and miss and the last 1-2 hours is pretty good as well.

You wont regret hunting them.

 

[.270]

Like said before go hunt is a good start but honestly almost every unit in Arizona can hold trophy coues deer. I used to live in AZ and still go back to hunt them every year. I just got back from the first rifle hunt and tagged out opening morning. New Mexico does have a coues deer population on the western side of the state but Arizona has a much larger population and easier to get a tag.
To answer your questions, there are roads running throughout most of AZ hunting units, so ATV use is everywhere. I just hunt out of my truck and I have never needed an ATV.
State land is open to hunting, unless the area is listed in the regs, and your tag is your permission to hunt them.
Camping is how ever luxurious, you want it to be. From staying in motels, glamping in motorhomes or backpacking in.
There are OTC archery hunts in Aug and Dec-Jan in most units. Rifle hunts are usually 6 days long and are in late October and November. There is a ten day hunt in the being of Dec and late Dec hunt that is almost three weeks long.
Weather is gonna be hot for the most part. Can range from 20s-80s in Dec. I shot one buck on Dec 31 and it was 75 degrees.
With a good pair of 15 binoculars with a tripod and a flat shooting rifle, odds of filling a tag will be good. Archery… not so much.
Most of the units south of I-10 have good draw odds, beside the late dec hunt, and opportunity. Lots of hunting pressure though, especially on the weekends. PM me if you want more info.