Back from Unit 36B Az Coues Deer hunt

[m gardner]

I spent 3 days hunting Coues Deer here in southern Az about 8 miles north of the border. On the second day I finally found some does. This morning I got into a bachelor herd of bucks and tried to shoot the largest but it was impossible to get into a shooting postion in the rocks and thorns then when I did the darn deer kept trotting to the nearest waterhole and never stopped so I didn't shoot. I saw a spike awhile later but he stood with his backend to me and I figured the 300 would turn him inside out if I shot him lengthwise and there's little meat on these small deer to begin with so I passed. It is very rugged country with little hunting pressure because of drug traffic and human smuggling which makes it dangerous. Here's a couple of videos I took. One is a three hour walk from a trail and there's still litter the other is an old gold mine right next to a trail. Very interesting times we are experiencing.

Mark

[texastrophies]

Are you through or are you going to have more time to hunt?

Finally got a chance to watch the videos. It is bad enough that they are sneaking over here, but then to just have no respect for the land by littering and destroying everything just rubs salt into the wound.

What were the sugar sacks for? Just using them as packs?

It would have been interesting to go up into the old mine, but no telling what you would have found or what would have found you. I think you made the right choice.

[m gardner]

They carry drugs in the sacks on their backs. They tie shoulder straps of some description to them and carry them up from mexico to a drop point then offload them to vehicles for the trip to Phoenix. It's a pretty rugged hike through those mountains and there is evidence that they use pain relievers and uppers to cope with the trip. They drink something that comes in a black plastic bottle called Savoquibari that I have been told is an energy drink laced with alcohol too. I won't get to go back I'm headed to Colorado for a 4th season elk hunt. I'll go down later just to watch the whitetail rut activity for a possible draw hunt next year.

[stevebeilgard]

sorry you didn't get a hot yet. better luck in colorado

[m gardner]

I've shot 3 bucks with the bow in three other states so we're eating well and had fun so far. The elk tag is either sex so it should be fairly easy. At least as elk hunting usually goes.

Mark