How Do We Hunt?
The majority of our hunting is spot and stalk. We use high quality optics to spot and pattern game at a distance. We often stalk bedded bucks in the afternoon, and intercept deer in the mornings. We also hunt out of pop up ground blinds. Depending on the season these can be situated on well used trails, water, or mineral licks.
Do you hunt private or public land?
Most of our hunting in Arizona and New Mexico is on public, free for all to use and access, lands administered by the Forest Service, the BLM, and other federal or state land agencies. We maintain adequate permissions, licensing, and insurance to operate on all lands that we hunt. These are all fair chase hunts for free ranging, wild animals.
Our Coues whitetail deer hunts in Mexico are on private ranches.
In New Mexico, we also hunt multiple private ranches for Elk, Antelope, and Mule Deer. We also hunt Public Land in the Cibola, Gila, Coronado, and Apache National Forests.
In Arizona, we hunt some smaller private ranches, BLM, State Land, as well as National Forest Lands. We hunt the Coconino, Tonto, Coronado, Apache Sitgreaves, Prescott, and Kaibab National Forests.
What type of equipment is required?
Your standard deer hunting set up is adequate for any bowhunting we do. Shots tend to be long in the desert, so practice pays big rewards. Rifles of .243 caliber and larger are fine for coues deer, but a quality scope is mandatory. Rifles from .270 to .300 are very popular for their knock down power and flat trajectories at long distances. Coues deer are hard targets in big country. We like to test shoot all rifles prior to entering the field, especially after long distance travel. Bring a rifle that you are familiar with and be sure to practice.
Quality optics are also critical to success. We spend a lot of time behind binoculars. Low quality optics lead to eye strain, headaches, and long days. We use Swarovski 15×56 and 10X50 binoculars mounted on sturdy tripods. Spotting scopes are used to field judge game at long distances.
Arizona’s deserts can be quite cold in the mornings. Late hunts require layered clothing to adapt as weather changes. Your boots are one of your most critical pieces of gear. Steep, rocky terrain is the norm. This is no place to test out new boots.
What is the difference between Coues Deer and Whitetail Deer?
Coues deer one of many subspecies of whitetail deer in the Americas. The differences between Coues deer and their eastern cousins include the average body and antler size, and the terrain they inhabit. Coues deer are considerably smaller than eastern or Texas whitetails. A mature Coues buck field dresses around 100lbs. In terms of antler sizes, most Coues hunters consider a 100″ buck a real trophy, with the average scoring around 80 to 95 inches. And though some Coues deer can be found in the flats like their eastern counterparts, most Coues deer inhabit the mountainous desert regions of southern Arizona. They thrive in the large and rugged canyons and hill country of what are considered the “sky island” ranges. Most Coues deer we hunt will first be located through powerful optics at distances of a mile or mile and a half away.
What makes Coues deer so hard to hunt?
Coues deer can be difficult to hunt for those who are used to hunting whitetails in the east. This is, in large part, because of the terrain they inhabit. The open ranges, and muted colors of the desert southwest conceal the the Coues deer’s grayish pelage very well. They are known to many as the “gray ghost” for this very reason. Their relatively small size also helps them avoid detection, and makes it easy for them to hide in thick manzanita and oak scrub that is virtually impossible for man to follow them into. They are perfectly adapted to their harsh environment. They are also known to “sneak” out of site rather than raise the white flag and run, leaving many hunters wondering what happened. Their craftiness, their beauty, and the country they inhabit is what makes them so prized to avid Coues deer hunters.
Can you provide references?
Absolutely. We are happy to provide a list of past clients who will attest to the lengths to which we go to provide our clients an enjoyable experience while hunting with us. After talking with them, and hunting with us, we are confident that you too will know how hard we work to make your hunt successful.
Do you guarantee a successful hunt?
We would love to be able to, but truth is, this is hunting. We think you should be caution of any outfitter who would guarantee success on a public land hunt. What we do guarantee is that we will work our tails off to provide you opportunities for success. Sometimes, however, Mother Nature combines against you, and the element of luck involved in all hunting does not go your way. There are just too many variables involved in hunting wild animals for us to guarantee success.
When are the Drawing Deadlines?
To hunt deer in Arizona’s general seasons, one must successfully draw a permit-tag through a lottery process. The Arizona Game and Fish Department usually conducts the draw in July, but the applications must be submitted by the first part of June. It is very important that your application is correctly filled out and submitted by the due date.
Starting in 2006, the Department separated the elk and antelope permit-tag drawings from the fall deer draw. The elk and antelope draw is now conducted in the spring, with applications to hunt elk and antelope due in February.
To hunt Turkey, bear, or javelina in the spring season, you will need to submit your completed application to the Department in October. Make sure to check the hunt regulations as the exact dates seem to change every year.
Remember, apply and purchase a license EVERY year to build bonus points. After 5 consecutive years of applying you get 1 extra loyalty point. The Hunters Safety program also earns you 1 permanent point. Arizona has some of the west’s best hunts, for those willing to build bonus points.
We can assist you with the application process, just give us a call.
How do I book a hunt?
In order to book a hunt with us, give us a call as soon as possible. Ideally you call us prior to your draw application. That way we can guide you in your application to what we consider some of the better units. If you already have a tag, however, just call or send us an email through the contact page. We will discuss your hunt, your trip dates, and give you further instructions over the phone.
