2011 Spot and Stalk Archery Coues Whitetail

Well all I have to say is its been a fun year spot and stalking because I was not seeing them from the blind or even using water so I thought, "hey I have not got one on a spot and stalk before why not try it". Now I have tried LOTS of times and always get busted at about 100 yards. Every evening after work I have been heading out NOT glassing up bucks but just STILL hunting. I would work my way up the mountain so I could be above any of the deer I would see and take a few steps and look, take a few steps and look. I have seen anywhere from 5 to 15 deer every evening and on the weekends doing this and getting VERY close to a fawn (3 feet), no lie it was so AWESOME to see the little guy that close. Well we did the same as every night and this time my dad was by my side. Now I wanted a big buck and have passed this buck I shot a few times now. There were a couple of great bucks in the herd but yesterday evening the nice ones were not present. I had been sneaking down the hill when I seen movement and noticed a doe and her fawn. Thinking it was the same 2 I had been seeing on the hill I did not think the others were there. As I sat and watched I seen 4 more does 1 spike walk out and then the monster 3x2 that I shot (lol). I waited in anticipation that I would see the others and waited and waited no big bucks. So why not just try and get as close as I could, I told myself. When I got to 70 yards I had a good shooting lane that the buck would walk through. I started to get even closer and saw a doe looking right at me so I stopped. Then it happened she started blowing and stomping and then to my right the same thing I thought well here they go they are out of here in a second. After what seemed to be 20 minutes (actually 5) they continued munching down on every blade of grass and what I call buck brush on the hill. Now I am in some of that buck brush and all that is sticking out in sight is my head, so I continue down the hill after my tasty backstraps. When I got to 50 yards from the doe I seen the buck step out so I drew only to have him go back behind the trees. Now I am thinking to myself if I do get him to present the shot do I take it? Is he big enough? Heck ya you can't eat the antlers and the best reason to shoot him YOU HAVE NEVER GOT A SPOT AND STALK ARCHERY COUES!!!!! That sealed the deal he did a 180 turn and walk fast through the opening and all I could think is he is not going to stop.....but he did right at the tree line. All I could see was his body so I ranged him at exactly 50.8 yards drew my Bowtech destroyer 350 back and put the 50 yard pin right behind his shoulder, once I was sure it was perfect I let the victory vforce tipped with a Slick Trick magnum 4 blade knocked with a tracer knock go and seen it dissapear into his side then stick in the dirt behind him. He jumped in a 180 turn and ran away. By this time I knew I just shot my first ever, after work, spot and stalk archery Coues Whitetail deer. I asked myself, "Did I just do that? Was it a good shot?" I walked on down to my arrow to find it completely passed through my tasty backstraps and I knew then from the blood on the ground he was not going to be far. When my dad finally made it down to me I showed him the blood and thanked him for being there with me for my first spot and stalk buck. We gave the buck sometime to expire by walking back up the mountain to grab the jeep. When we got back up to my tracer knock that I left as a marker we started on the blood trail with our lights on. Where the mountain goes around was 30 yards and when we got around the mountain I could see eyes in my light at 30 yards. So we watched the eyes for any movement and noticed they were on the ground and knew he did expire just after I had arrowed him. As we approched the deer that little guy was not big at all but the feeling of being able to have harvested a Coues Whitetail with my rifle at short range, at long range, my first 100" mark through a blind with a bow and now my FIRST SPOT AND STALK ARCHERY was a feeling of great accomplishment. Like I said he may not be big but I have done it all I have gone beyond where many do not go I had done it. That feeling will be my last feeling of accomplishing all the ways of hunting. I can now say I HAVE DONE IT ALL. Thank you all especially my dad for getting me into the sport and addiction of hunting, my wife Misty and kids for putting up with me being gone and supporting me, my mom for supporting me in the sport when I was growing up, to my friends Bruce, Ronnie, Doug, Rick (my taxidermist), and everyone else that has told me and pushed me for my success in the field over the years. I have learned alot and taught alot through trial and error and to those tasty backstraps God has given me.....THANK YOU without God and his creations we would not have these beautiful creatures. If you look closley at the left antler it does have 3 points...LOL

Big Sweet is back and he is bad

Wow is all I have to say.  This buck is one of those bucks that you very rarley get to see.  We are estimating him to be 140+ in score.  Now if we get a chance at him with the bow he will be a new world record.  How cool would that be.  This is a once in a lifetime buck.  Now lets see if 2011 will bring us good luck and maybe just maybe we will have a harvested pic of this bad boy.  Please leave a comment and let me know what you think he will score.  I believe you will agree to 140+.  Happy hunting to all this year and good luck.  Enjoy your season with family and friends this year and take a young one fishing and hunting.

My new Destroyer 350 from BOWTECH

HOLY CRAP I have not been on for awhile and I have to tell you about my new bow.  I wanted to just buy a used bow because the new Destroyer 350 I did not have enough for.....BUT after saving up some money I decided to go ahead and keep saving to get my 2011 Bowtech Destoryer 350.  Oh my is all I can say.  This bow has it all SPEED, QUIETNESS, FEEL, STABILITY, and another GREAT DESIGN from Bowtech.  wow this bow puts my old Allegance to shame...LOL.  Here are some pics enjoy:

I had to add that last one in there.  I hope to be able to finally harvest a nice Black Bear this year and a big ol Coues with this bow.  Time to put the smack down.

Clay
"Coues Life"

Fall 2011-2012 Hunting Regulations ARE OUT

Hey boys and girls the 2011-2012 Arizona hunting regulations are out by the internet.  Click on the link below and lets get after them Coues and Muleys.  Good luck to you ALL in your upcoming hunts this year.  It should be a good one.

http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunting_rules.shtml

Clay
"Coues Life"

Dads Javelina Hunt

We had a blast on my dads hunt.  I will let the video tell the story.

My 2011 HAM Javelina Hunt

Well the hunt started for me on Saturday and ended on sunday morning. We glassed up 40 deer on saturday (figures since season is over) 7 of them were GREAT bucks. On Sunday morning we glassed up about 13 deer in about an hour and decided to leave the area. When we ALMOST got to the road Rick (doublebuck) yells PIGS. They were right in front of us right next to the road. We jumped out and ran over to where we could see one but did not have a shot. There were 2 more that took off to his right. The first one did not stop but he was small anyways the second one stopped I ranged him at 35 yards and drew back and nailed him at a quartering away shot I hit him perfect but to me it looked high. They ran out onto the road we were on so we ran up the road to see were they went. One of them was still standing and the other one (the one I shot) came up from behind and bedded down. I drew back again but had to shoot through a limb that was hanging over. When I released the arrow grabbed the limb but only threw it off a little but still it was a high gut shot. there was blood everywhere so I do not know why I shot again but felt I needed too. We watched him bed up and I looked at Rick and asked "did you get it on film?" he said ya but I think I missed the first shot. LOL but he got the second one. WAHOO. So we ran over to my dad and he had took a shot but missed. We got him all packed up and headed home. So it was only a 2 hour hunt that day. I love these little guys. I have to say Thanks to Rick for comming up and going out with me. We sure do have some fun. Here are some pics and when I get the video from Rick I will post it up.

Click on the video below to watch it.  It was the second shot at the pig.



My 2010 Javelina Rug

I won the coueswhitetail.com contest for 2009 for the biggest archery Coues buck so I won a FREE mount from Wild Heritage Taxidermy in Young, AZ.  In March of 2010 I dropped off my Javelina to them and they told me if I wanted an open mouth it would be 100.00 more.  What it is suppose to be for free and who the heck would get a Javelina mounted without the mouth open?  I think that is why they said that so they could get a little money out of the deal.  What could I say but ya okay that sounds good a whole mount for 100.00.  Well in December they finally called and said the rug was done and he would have to just paint the mouth and it would be finished so I confirmed with him it would be 100.00 right?  Nope now he says its 150.00.  Why I asked he said thats what the price has always been.  I then told him your wife told me 100.00 so he said he would talk to her and he would call me back when the mount was finished.  On 1-29-2011 his wife called me and told me the mount was FINISHED and I could pick it up the next day which was sunday.  Cool I will be there so it is 100.00 right?  NOPE she says its 150.00.  I told her that is not what she told me and my dad she told us 100.00.  She said that is what it has always been.  I told her I would meet her in the middle and give them 125.00 since I had to drive all the way up there and also since it had taken almost a year to get back.  I told her we would be there between 9:00 and 11:00 because my dad and I were going to hunt on our drive up there.  We did not see anything so we got there at 8:30.  She comes up to us and says you guys are early we are not FINISHED with the mount yet.  WHAT?  you said yesterday it was all done.  By now I am getting a little pissed and hoped the mount would cheer me up.  When he was finally finished with it 2 1/2 hours later it still did not look right.  The lips were way too pink but they said thats what it suppose to look like.  I just took the pig and ran.  Where the heck is the tail?  Now the tail is not long at all about 3 inches but still it should be there right?  NOPE no tail.  You will see in the first picture is the original pig look at the lips THAT is what they are suppose to look like not the 2nd pic which is the mount.  Needless to say I am not impressed with the jerry rig job that was done.

The original lips and tounge.

Here is the picture of the lips on the mount.

Here are just some other pictures of the mount.  He did do some great work on the corners of the eyes and the back of the rug was also exceptional work from the ruggery people.

Here is the pic of the whole rug which looks great except there is no tail.  LOL

Feel free to comment on his work.  I will always remember this pig because she was my biggest that I have ever shot. 

My dad and I have the same hunt this year too that starts tomorrow 2-4-2011 HAM hunt and hope to be able to harvest another one of these fun to hunt little creatures.  If I do that will make like 7 years in a row that we have got drawn and that I have killed.  Lucky number 7 lets see what we can do this year.  I will have some friends going with us so hopefully they can capture it on video and if so I will be back to show you all the video.  Thanks for visiting the BLOG.

Clay
"Coues Life"

Double Buck Taxidermy

I wanted to give another shout out to Rick with Double Buck Taxidermy on his great Javelina.  Here is a couple of pics.  Congrats Rick on a great pig I wish I could have been there.  Now lets get after the Deer.

Rick does great work.  Here is my 2010 Rifle Coues Buck that I shot.  Rick was with me on the trip and man all I can say is we had a freakin BLAST.  Thanks Rick for a sweet mount.

AZGFD Elk and Antelope Draw

The regulations are now online and should be avaliable at you local walmart soon.  Don't forget to put in for the draw.  This may be the year you get the oppertunity to bag a nice bull Elk or Antelope Buck.  Good luck to all for the new year. 

http://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/draw.shtml

Don't forget to bag some of the fawn killers (coyotes).  We have to do our part to help the deer out as much as possible and this is one great way of doing it and uess what FUN too.

Andrew and Matt Simon gettin it done

I have to give a shout out to my 2 friends Dr. Andrew Simon and Matt Simon.  They shot both these pigs on opening day down by the PHX area.  Congrats you guys.

2010 Coues Deer Hunt

What a hunt it was.  My dad, me, Rick, and Ozzy all had tags.  We headed out to our first spot on opening day.  As soon as we got there my buddy Rick said I have a buck.  When I looked through his binos I saw a wide what looked wike 2x2.  Rick said I want him so me and Rick headed off to get closer while my dad and Ozzy stayed back.  When we got to our shooting spot we were 400 yards away from where they were at.  We sat down and Rick says Clay I see 2 big bucks.  I told him that the 3x3 looked smaller but would probably score better than the 2x2.  So he decided to shoot the 3x3.  I wanted Rick to get the bigger buck because it did not matter if I even got one.  This would be Ricks first deer so I was determind for him to get this buck.  So before we started to shoot we kept looking to see if there was any more and sure enough there was 2 more a small 2x2 and a nice 3x3.  I told Rick to get ready and shoot he rang off one shot and his deer dropped.  So I got onto my buck and shot once and hit a little far back, took 2 more shots and missed so i talked to myself and slowly rang off one more shot and hit him in the spine and he dropped.  After that we jumped up and hugged each other but we knocked Ricks gun over.  opps.  so I told him lets get back on your buck and see if he is still down.  Low and behold he was up and hurt.  The shot hit the buck in the back foot so I told Rick to shoot again.  With 2 shots and missing by 6 feet or more I gave Rick my gun and he dropped him with one shot.  We were excited we had just got a Double on deer (two deer same hill same time.)  The next day me Rick and Ozzy went out to get Ozzys deer and first stop we saw a smaller 2x2 so Ozzy shot him at 400 yards 1 shot from my .308.  Man we were on a roll.  we just needed to get my dad one and we sure did try but we could not get it done.  Dad does have an over the counter archery tag though so maybe we can get him one sometime this month or next.  I will be back to tell you all how the January 2011 Archery deer hunt went with pics of my first Mule Deer LOL and me and dad got the February 2011 javelina hunt so I will post pics on that too.  But for now the scouting and predator trips we be happening.  Good luck to all and be safe.  Merry Chrisatmas and Happy New Year.

My buck Grossed 86 1/2" and netted 84".

Here is Rick and his buck 92" Gross and 83 1/2" net

all of the deer mounted already.  Rick does a great job at Taxidermy call him for your next mount and let him know Clay refered you and you will get 10% to 15% off.  1-480-593-7971 or http://www.doublebucktaxidermy.net/

4B Archery Elk Hunt

Our 4B 2010 bull elk hunt was a tough one but I finally got one. My dad and I found out we both got drawn and all I can say is that we were ecstatic. We were drawn back in 2008 and did not think it would happen again this soon. We had high hopes of it being a great year but man it sure was tough.

Day 1 was great with a bull bugling at us at first light. Who would have known that he would not come into the cow, calf, or bugle. We decided to get aggressive, who would have know that 50 yards later we found him walking towards us . Standing at only 50 yards with every tree in the forest in our shooting path, we found him gazing upon us at 60 yards, all we could do is watch. With him just walking off, well it was time to push on.

My Dad Bill and Me

My Buddy Rick and Me

Day 2 was slow, no bugles in the morning and only spotting a Rag horn and 2 cows at the tree line 500 yards away with them staring at us. We then pressed on to sit the salt for 1/2 the day with no success. Later that afternoon we did see a few cows (5 or 6) with a nice satellite but the stalk fell short when they took off with the bull bugling while trotting away (sounded like he was laughing at us.)

Rick, Bill, and Me

Day 3 was by far the best bugling day in the 2 weeks we were there. We had 3 bulls going nuts at the bottom of the canyon only 100 yards away. One started to come to us. Did you notice how I said started? LOL

Rick

 
Day 4 well....was day 4 lol, day 5 though we decided to try water in the afternoon. We had a Cow and Calf come in at only 35 yards. Now boys and girls that got my blood pumping thinking, (there I go again thinking) this was how it was going to happen.


My Dad sitting the butt sore pond. LOL

Day 6 great start, bulls sounding off at first light. Walked to the pond and oh my BULL, BUT, BUT, BUT, we were busted walking in. With 60 yards to his vitals and just enough light I thought I better pass (better safe than sorry, figures). After a few dad decided to take off after one that had been laughing at us for an hour only to find out he snuck right up to them. Here comes the bad news they busted when he finally saw the bull (bad wind in that canyon swirling ALL the time.) Just after he busted them I was sitting at the pond still and had a nice Cow come in, again at 35 yards. Sat again that afternoon and nothing. The next 3 days of sitting that STUPID pond (LOL) a BIG FAT nothing came in.

Now day 10 was the FIRST kill. Dad took off east and I took off west to the pond ( he just could not take the pond no more). I just sat down knocked and arrow with the new Inverter Broad head, took my gear off and saw movement. In came 3 coyotes. They stopped 25 yards from me, marked their territory, and huddled together. With the first ones head in a great position to the 2nd and 3rd ones vitals all in 1 arrow path I thought ( there we go again) I could get a trifecta, WRONG. First one dropped and did not move but I thought I may have gotten 2 but as you can tell in the photos the arrow stopped. Holy crap what a shot and now that makes 2 yotes with a bow in less than a year.

Coyote

Inverter Broad Head & Yote

 
Day 11 I woke up thinking well now its Monday almost the end. I hate that feeling, we were getting very nervous. My dad and I talked and decided that we can't call them in you could get 30 yards up to 300 yards but as soon as you call they would take off. We knew we would have to try and cut them off. We took the road that was 2 ridges east of the pond. Every bugle we heard was heading that way in that area. We drove stopped, drove stopped, without bugling or cow calling just to see if they would talk and they were not. As we got to the very bottom of the canyon we heard one southeast of us. We just came from the south down the ridge, figures. Then it happened, the bugle got closer. We jumped out of the Jeep and grabbed the bows I turned and looked southwest when all of a sudden I saw a Cow and Calf come off the ridge and through the canyon 90 yards away. Of course I thought that's where he was going to go. I looked back for my dad and he was gone. What the heck is all I could think this was supposed to be his elk not mine. This was his year to get one because I got one back in 2008 and he didn't. Not knowing where he went I started over only to have the bull chuckle less than 150 yards south of me. I ran over to get set up 45 yards where I saw the cow and calf come thru almost to the bottom with no calls with me I stood motionless waiting for it to happen. Just then a few cows came over the ridge, all I could think is oh no you guys are too far up come towards me. They all stopped turned and what would you know, started toward me. Ok, ok, ok, here we go 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, oh crap the 6th was the bull ramming his brow tines into the last cows butt pushing her. Man they were on the move straight to me. Then I saw him his width his body oh my there goes my body it felt like it was 70 below zero. "Stop, stop, stop," dang cow was coming right towards me getting way to close zig zagging down the hill not knowing where to go. I had to hurry and draw but I could not, I was moving so much I have no idea how she did not see me. I could have stuck my bow out and slapped her across the face. With her being so confused where to go they turned and walked straight away from me then turned and headed down the hill about 35 yards away. I drew my bow and the bull stopped broadside perfect vitals position looking right at me I could not miss. Away went the arrow glancing off a log that was right under him. He bolted off, all I could do was whistle to try and stop him, well he did at 65 yards. Away went another arrow, MISS, whistling away the whole time he stopped again 70 yards I said to myself, "okay Clay last pin steady, steady", away the arrow went...........1 step, 2 steps, on the ground. Oh my I did it I fell over laughing and crying at the same time saying, "I killed him thank you lord, thank you lord." Here come my dad hearing this thump me crying and him thinking I am saying, "it is killing me"....yep he thought I fell on an arrow. "He is right there I killed the bull" I said to my dad. Then something happened to me that never has, I started to dry heave. My stomach was all in knots hurting because of my nerves oh my that was one heck of an experience. I jumped up gave my dad one heck of a hug and turned around only to see the Jeep about 30 yards behind me and the elk 70 yards in front of me. We just walked right up to the Bull and he was out no movement what so ever only a 3 minute wait.


5X5 Bull Elk 4B

Here comes the Twist in the story. You know the first shot that glanced off the log well it hit high mid body at of course an upward angle cutting the main artery under the spine and the last shot right thru the heart. I could not believe it. I ran back to camp grabbed the trailer and took the Bull to Jeremy at BROWNING'S CUSTOM MEAT PROCESSING, 404 SOUTH ST. PHILLIPS PAYSON, AZ 928-978-3512 OR 602-708-1920.

 
Unfortunately my dad did not get his bull and I think I am more heart broken about that then he is. I truly look up to my dad as not only a Father but my best friend also, with him not getting one I then felt bad because this was his year. Only if he would have been right there when I turned around. I love you dad and thank you for showing me how to hunt and without you I would not be the hunter I am today. To that I have named the bull PA BILL BULL. I also want to include my mom for always letting me go with dad and being so supportive of the great hunt and outdoors, to that I love you mom. Here was the hard part the wife and kids. My wife supports me in everything I do and so do the kids but man it was hard this year to be away from them, to that thanks babe I love you. I also had the great accompany of some of my closest friends Rick Lopez with Double Buck Taxidermy http://www.doublebucktaxidermy.net/ and Steve Banovich rep. of Bowtech http://www.bowtecharchery.com/and more . These guys are some of the best boys around, thanks for coming up and helping out. I did also meet a few great guys, Jerry and his friend Dickey, also Leo and his boy Matt. We all got to share a few beers and talk about past hunts and this hunt. It was great to meet you guys. To that, sorry this was so long and I hope you enjoyed my story I hope it made you feel like you were there (that's what I was shooting for LOL).

My Little Guys Zack and Dada (he wanted a pic with his dad)