We had a total of eight consecutive days dedicated to chasing deer around the Arizona desert, bows in hand. Mule Deer: Trophy Rocky Mountain (forest) mule deer bucks range in size between 150 inches and 250 inches and average about 170 inches. We had one evening and a morning left to hunt. Tucson, Chiricahua Mtns, Dragoon Mtns., Galiuro Mtns. Arizona Coues' Deer. The problem was, he was working them away from me. Properly, they are simply a subspecies, Odocoileus virginianus couesi, but their habits and the landscape in which they live set them apart. Chiricahua Mountains. Another chapter closed. After returning to our glassing spot, I realized I was wrong again. I’m glad I was wrong, I thought to myself. See R12-4-108 of the Arizona Hunting Regulations for legal descriptions of Game Management Unit Boundaries. Bowhunting takes me on some wild rides filled with more ups and downs than the scariest roller coaster. Once the fog lifted, my brother guided me into where he last saw the buck bed. I’ve gotta go.” I headed out on a stalk. Leaving my brother to stay up above and watch the show through his binocular, I quickly mumbled, “It’s time. Classification data for Coues Whitetail in Arizona, Coues deer from the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Draw odds and hunt success for general hunts in Arizona 2001, Hunt data for Juniors-only hunts in Arizona from 1992-2001, Joe and Marisa Cerreta Coues Deer Gallery, Muzzleloader harvest data for deer in Arizona during 1984-2002, Top 5 Non-typical Coues deer in the Boone and Crocket Recordbook, Top 5 Typical Coues deer in the Boone and Crockett Recordbook, “THE LEGEND” Danny Pusher Jr April 2012 WMAT pickup. These tiny deer inhabit most of central and southern Arizona between elevations of 3,500 and 6,000 ft. It was the first place he and I had ever backpacked into on a hunt. The author's brother arrowed a javelina during the pair's Coues adventure. Rarely exceeding 120 lbs, with most bucks around 95-105 lbs, the Coues … Coues deer are tiny, desert-dwelling siblings of the common whitetail. The best Coues deer range is south of Tucson to the border with Mexico. Units 5-9, 12-13. Below are the units we believe will offer a DIY hunter the best chance of tagging a mule deer buck in an Arizona OTC deer unit. Area covered is north of the Mogollon rim around Holbrook and down to Clifton. For more information, contact the appropriate tribe directly. Copyright © 2012 CouesWhitetail.com | All rights reserved. It was soft and sand-like, which let me keep my boots on and ultimately quieted my footfall. 2018 Arizona Coues Deer Hunting. Hunting the Coues whitetail entails owning a quality pair of optics and knowing how to use them. Arizona Coues Deer Guides and Outfitters. Anchored in, I focused my aim. There is nothing like successfully closing the distance on game with a bow in your hand. Mt. However, don’t be discouraged, MANY hunts in MANY great units offer very good draw odds for both resident as well as non-resident applicants with few, to … Quickly, my brother was able to sneak into 40 yards, making a perfect shot on a javelina. Arizona's other deer, the Coues, is a subspecies of the white-tailed deer. Coues Deer Hunts. In Arizona, the late archery deer season runs from mid-December all the way through the entire month of January. Of the Central Arizona units, 23 is perhaps the most coveted of all for Coues deer … I have been looking at unit 36c because I was told on another forum that was a good area, what are your opinions on that? I decided to just wait at this distance and hope the deer would show themselves. I started grid searching. The combo is just enough magnification for me to confirm if I want to go after a buck or not. Game Management Unit 27. Right where I last saw the deer was now 60 yards from my location. Javelina are the perfect adversary for honing your stalking skills in preparation for that big buck you’re going to chase around later. With several units to choose from, over fifty days to hunt and moderate temperatures, the late archery season in Arizona is a great place to harvest a record book Coues or mule deer buck. The author with his spot-and-stalk Arizona archery Coues buck. The author utilizes trekking poles while hunting Coues deer. Also, any tips on what to pack and be ready for would be helpful. Warm up to a winter bowhunt in the Sonoran Desert in pursuit of the wily Coues whitetail. I made tacos out of my brother’s javelina that were downright delicious. Antlers started appearing. My brother and I drew coues deer tags for unit 32 for the Nov 30-Dec 9 hunt. However, I tend to target bucks that are 160 inches or larger. More stiff-legged and filled out. It has become one of the most … Thread starter RidgeRebel; Start date Jul 10, 2018; Jul 10, 2018 #1 R. RidgeRebel Active member. Safford. Deer Hunting in Arizona Game Management Unit 35B. Deer Hunting in Arizona Game Management Unit 36A This unit supports a fair number of desert mule deer. As the words left my mouth, a Coues doe popped out in the open 200 yards below us. Unit 23 is a vast and variable unit. Arizona Guided Hunts is pleased to offer quality hunting trips for the Coues Whitetailed Deer in southern Arizona near Tucson. XBowHtr shot this giant coues with his bow. Best Units for an Early Season Velvet Hunt. We put in for the unit intending to go on our first wilderness backpack hunt. Southeastern Arizona. Our third stop was one that was newer to us, but equally as productive as the others in terms of deer numbers. Unit 32 AZ whitetail Deer FREDRICK TORREZ. When I made my way to the other side of the red ditch, I started ranging various distances below me. So much effort is put into just getting a shot opportunity. “I think we should move, bud. As I made my way to the bedded Coues buck, the terrain became increasingly steep. As I looked for sign, my brother kept glass on the wounded deer until dark. Units 10, 15-20. These tiny deer inhabit most of Arizona between, Flagstaff and the Mexican border at elevations of 3,500 and 6,000 ft. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. With around 45 minutes of light left, I decided to make another run at him. Units 20B- 24, 39 and 42. These maps were scanned from the 2002-2003 Arizona hunt regulations. The next morning we were greeted with fog so thick we couldn’t see 50 yards. Luckily, that wasn’t the case here. I found the first bed he used and was stunned. At times, I felt like I was hunting sheep — shale rock and hanging on for dear life just about sums it up. Our first stop was one that was especially special to my brother and me. Archery javelina seasons coincide with the deer hunt during the month of January. This is by far one of my favorite times to backpack hunt. On the hike, which was more like a run due to the lack of time I had, my brother kept mentioning a certain red ditch. Additionally, the tag is not species specific either, so you can absolutely pursue both mule deer and Coues deer with the same tag. If you’re a bowhunter and live in Arizona, you’re well aware of how special the month of January is. Could my arrow have ricocheted off and up into the buck’s vitals? Arizona is unique in the fact that the deer breed later than most of the country. With its head held low and lazy-like steps, the deer gave me the impression it had a rough night out on the town, which is often the case during the rut. Joined Jan 16, 2017 Messages 100 Location Utah. So often when stalking Coues deer, they can play Houdini on you, vanishing into thin air. Trophy Coues Deer Hunting in Arizona This outfitter has exceptional, high success, trophy quality coues Deer hunts, even with archery. Parker, Yuma, Gila Bend areas. Mule deer are found just about everywhere in Arizona. Hunting any unit east or west of the I-19 is good. Most hunters use a 15x56 bino for Coues deer. Unit Boundaries. To boot, the blood contained bubbles. Coues Deer Hunts. And again, I was glad I was wrong. Better break out the Advil and make sure you’re wearing your seat belt, cause it’s going be a bumpy ride. There just wasn’t any way for me to catch up to them given my current position. We had a total of eight consecutive days dedicated to chasing deer around the Arizona desert, bows in hand. I practice so much in the off season so that these things wouldn’t happen, but sometimes they can still creep up on you. To lower your Advil bill and up your Coues spotting skills, get the best optics that you can afford and mount them on a tripod. I could tell it was indeed the same buck that I had bedded down earlier. Arizona offers over-the-counter (OTC) archery mule deer and Coues deer hunts during prime hunting times in prime hunting units. If you wish to use an image, obtain permission by emailing amanda@coueswhitetail.com. This will be my first time going over the counter in arizona for Mule deer. These maps are provided courtesy of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. At last, it’s Brittany’s turn to hunt the one tag she drew in 2017: a muzzleloader Coues deer tag in a southern Arizona unit. Coues whitetail are exceptionally small, and bucks rarely weigh more than 100 pounds. Phoenix, Payson, Roosevelt, Globe, Winkelman. If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free! If you're looking for an adventure-filled mule deer hunt on your own, Arizona is the place to go. North of Grand Canyon and Flagstaff area. Arizona Hunt Unit Maps. Species within this unit: Black Bear, Bighorn Sheep, Elk, Javelina, Mountain Lion , Mule Deer, Merriam’s Turkey, White-tailed Deer, Blue Grouse, Dove, Quail, Tree Squirrel. This time I would cross the drainage and come in over the top of the buck with hopes of catching him off-guard as he pushed his does around. Coues deer are most common in Arizona's southeastern mountains, but range up on to the Mogollon Rim and into the White Mountains. Arizona Coues Deer Hunting. Bucks usually start rutting mid- to late-December and will often carry on into February. January 1, 2000 On your way, don’t forget to soak up what’s around you. If you want to be successful, spend more time sitting and glassing than walking. Unit 16A. Coues whitetail deer live in nearly every portion of it, form the Saguaro covered hills just north of Roosevelt Lake to the dark timber of the Sierra Ancha and Mogollon Rim. For finding Coues deer, it’s a must. 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