Post by: actionshooter on February 20, 2022, 07:17:39 PM
We met up in Pheonix where one buddy lives and were able to take his truck which was a huge help. The outfitter met us at the border, paperwork was filled out prior, getting through was a little tense, as none of us speaking the language (but the outfitter) and the Mexican military really went through our guns/gear.
A couple hours of rough road and driving through Sonora, we made it to the ranch. I've been to Mexico but only tourist areas and coastal towns for fishing... the areas we drove through were downright poor and the amount of garbage along the roads was unreal.
The ranch was at a nice place, very clean, great food and great people. The daily program was to be up before daylight, eat breakfast and we would split up and go out with one of the ranch hands. The guy I went out with had worked the ranch for years and knew it inside out, the only problem was a lack of communication, he spoke no english and the only spanish I know is useful at a mexican restaurant. It was a week of playing charades, which both of us actually got pretty good at :chuckle: . We climbed one of the high peaks before daylight and would glass until dark.
Post by: Caseknife on February 20, 2022, 07:22:35 PM
Post by: actionshooter on February 20, 2022, 07:32:47 PM
I was told by the outfitter to glass until you see a buck you want to put a stalk on, don't take your eyes off of it (or you will never see it again), wait for it to bed down, then put together a plan and hustle.
The picture of this buck is through the spotter using a phonescope at 300yds, 15 minutes into the 1st morning.... SERIOUSLY hard to pass this one up, but wasn't ready to be done.
Post by: actionshooter on February 20, 2022, 07:35:21 PM
Pretty remote looking country. Would be daunting with the language barrier, just waiting for "Muy Grande".
Pequeno and grande were the 1st words he taught me LOL
Post by: elkboy on February 20, 2022, 07:41:42 PM
Post by: actionshooter on February 20, 2022, 07:57:46 PM
At about noon of the 3rd day, we saw a really good buck at about 1800yds on the rangefinder and decided wait for him to bed down for a closer look, well that only took about 15 minutes. He laid down and we packed up and took off, it took about 45 minutes to get to the closest ridge to where he was bedded. We set up the glass, found him but couldn't get a good look because he was behind some brush. I set up my rifle, just in case and waited........... for like 10 minutes and he stood up. Took one look and couldn't take it anymore, decided this was the one. 365yds shooting uphill (at 26* angle) dialed and then took him w/ my 7RM... yes a little over gunned, but my favorite rifle :chuckle:
Got up to him and was shocked... this trip was the first time I have actually ever seen a coues. They are TINY, I knew they were small, but when you are actually put your hands on one... maybe a 100#? My dogs are bigger than these guys.
A couple pics of other bucks that were passed up..
Post by: Dan-o on February 20, 2022, 07:58:25 PM
Enjoy!!!!
Post by: jackelope on February 20, 2022, 08:09:21 PM
Post by: Timberstalker on February 20, 2022, 08:20:52 PM
Post by: actionshooter on February 20, 2022, 08:45:26 PM
That last buck you posted would be really tough to walk away from.
I do second guess passing on that one, but am happy with the one that I took. There is a learning curve for judging these guys, just their size threw everything off for me. By the end of the 3rd day, my buddies had not gone after anything yet.
Post by: actionshooter on February 20, 2022, 09:06:28 PM
My other buddy had an opportunity at an absolute monster (my opinion) that didn't work out and he ended up coming home empty handed also.
All in all, I am not a guided/outfitter kind of guy, but I will say this was a pretty awesome trip, got to hang with some great guys, experience a different culture... it was like stepping back 50 years, and the terrain and animals were a new experience. A couple of us are already talking about going back 2024.
Post by: actionshooter on February 20, 2022, 09:11:22 PM
And a pic of some great guys.
Post by: grundy53 on February 20, 2022, 09:27:11 PM
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Post by: bearhunter99 on February 20, 2022, 09:59:12 PM
I would have had a hard time passing that first buck. Been after them twice with archery gear in AZ. Close numerous times but never connected. We never saw anything of the caliber you posted.
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Post by: zwickeyman on February 21, 2022, 05:32:45 AM
Did they cook up some Javelina for you? I heard the locals know how to cook it up good
Post by: teanawayslayer on February 21, 2022, 06:42:09 AM
Post by: sjhgraysage on February 21, 2022, 03:17:29 PM
Congrats on a really nice looking Coues! :tup: :drool:
Post by: actionshooter on February 21, 2022, 06:21:07 PM
Post by: actionshooter on February 22, 2022, 06:50:18 PM
Looks like a great trip. Im hoping to go down next year
Did they cook up some Javelina for you? I heard the locals know how to cook it up good
I was hoping to try the javelina but the vaquero's grabbed them and took off, never saw the javelina again. I thought we were going to get some, but I guess not. I wasn't super happy about that but I guess that's the way they do things and it's expected by the locals. I kind of wanted the skull of the big one also, but they language barrier kinda got me there also.
Post by: Karl Blanchard on February 22, 2022, 06:55:30 PM
Post by: outdooraddict on February 23, 2022, 08:08:06 AM
Post by: kellama2001 on February 23, 2022, 08:56:21 AM
Post by: actionshooter on February 23, 2022, 06:36:25 PM
thats awesome, i dont want to bug you about finances, but what does a trip like that cost all said and done, travel, tags, and the outfitter. That trip looks really funFrom door to door it was $5900 w/ tips gas, everything
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on February 23, 2022, 07:24:52 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on February 24, 2022, 09:28:22 AM
Post by: elkrack on February 24, 2022, 09:45:03 AM
Post by: go4steelhd on February 28, 2022, 09:45:27 AM
Thanks for sharing
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on February 28, 2022, 09:59:42 AM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on February 28, 2022, 11:27:20 AM
Post by: actionshooter on March 02, 2022, 07:40:59 PM
From the little that I know about coues deer, I think you shot an extraordinary buck. Congrats on a great trip. Thanks for sharing with us. :tup:
From what I could tell, it was decent buck.... but Jesus... some of the pics the vaquero had shown me were unreal. There are some true monsters in that area.
Post by: lamrith on March 03, 2022, 10:07:05 AM
That is a very good buck for a coues. Congrats!From the little that I know about coues deer, I think you shot an extraordinary buck. Congrats on a great trip. Thanks for sharing with us. :tup:
From what I could tell, it was decent buck.... but Jesus... some of the pics the vaquero had shown me were unreal. There are some true monsters in that area.
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Post by: ganghis on March 03, 2022, 10:18:34 AM
Post by: 22shtur on May 08, 2022, 06:59:42 PM
How many points per side is the minimum to be looking for a good Coues deer?
What was the length of the main beam? What did it score?
Post by: actionshooter on May 16, 2022, 09:27:44 PM
Congratulations on your great looking Coues deer and thanks for sharing your hunt.I don't know... looked "big enough" :)
How many points per side is the minimum to be looking for a good Coues deer?
What was the length of the main beam? What did it score?
Post by: lamrith on May 17, 2022, 05:34:13 AM
Congratulations on your great looking Coues deer and thanks for sharing your hunt.Coues deer are a very small white tail, and arguably the hardest deer to hunt in the US. That one he shot was a very good one.
How many points per side is the minimum to be looking for a good Coues deer?
What was the length of the main beam? What did it score?
Post by: actionshooter on November 16, 2022, 09:45:43 PM
I was pretty happy but the outfitter was somewhat disappointed... apparently they like to see bigger..Congratulations on your great looking Coues deer and thanks for sharing your hunt.Coues deer are a very small white tail, and arguably the hardest deer to hunt in the US. That one he shot was a very good one.
How many points per side is the minimum to be looking for a good Coues deer?
What was the length of the main beam? What did it score?