Go Early for Coues Whitetail
by Darren Choate
Early season Coues whitetail hunts can be a challenge, with long hours spent glassing in extreme heat,
but if willing, the reward is worth the challenge.
Go Early for Coues Whitetail – In Arizona and New Mexico, the general Coues Whitetail season begins in October and ends in December. Generally speaking, the best method of hunting Coues whitetail is via spot and stalk, using high-powered optics to do the majority of the work. Whitetail deer are creatures of habit, and this is true of Coues whitetail as well; but, those habits change depending on the time of the year. The habits of Coues whitetail change as the rut nears, and so do hunting conditions.
The peak of the deer rut in the arid deserts of Arizona and New Mexico occurs in early- to mid-January, give or take a few weeks. Although rut activity begins in earnest in December, I have witnessed small bucks chasing does in late October. During the deer rut, bucks travel far and wide in search of doe groups. During this time, the odds are high that you will see a few good bucks, but finding a big buck does not guarantee a shot or a second sighting. Because of the proximity to the deer rut, late-season tags (December) are a commodity, but the odds of obtaining a tag through the draw process is limited.
In late November, bucks begin to transition from a feeding pattern to a pre-rut pattern; this is when you may see some rut activity from smaller bucks. Although Coues whitetail bucks may still feed together, but more often than not, bachelor groups will have broken up, and bucks will travel alone or in smaller groups. During the pre-rut, Coues bucks will start to cover more territory, preparing for the upcoming rut and crazed activity. Although November tags are a little easier to come by, the draw odds are still exceptionally low for the best Coues units.
In the early general season, which includes late October and early November, deer can be patterned by observing feeding habits. Coues bucks usually will travel in bachelor herds of at least two or three, and sometimes more. If you spend the time to find a big buck or two now, it’s quite conceivable you will see the same bucks in the same location multiple times, improving your chances of a successful harvest. And, although this may be the worst weather to hunt Coues whitetail in – hot and dry – tags are easier to draw.
Case In Point
Over a two-year period, I applied for, drew, and successfully harvested two respective Coues bucks in the early season. Although neither of the two bucks were Boone & Crockett caliber, the hunt and the take was almost as rewarding. The first Coues buck was an old, mature buck with only two points on each side, but with a 14-inch spread (fairly wide for a Coues whitetail), and the second buck was a mature 2×3, with a small sticker-point and plenty of mass. I was able to put a game plan together for each hunt to increase my chances for success. The game plan included: 1) understanding Coues whitetail terrain, 2) using successful spotting techniques and equipment, and 3) knowing how to “make” the shot when the time was right.
Understanding Coues Whitetail Habitat and Terrain
Coues whitetail deer inhabit steep and rugged country that ranges in elevation from the desert floor around 2,500 feet to mixed-conifer forests around 9, 500 feet. Additionally, Coues whitetail tend to feed on south or east facing slopes in the morning before retiring to the cooler north and west facing slopes during the heat of the day. While this holds true in most cases, there is always an exceptions to the rule. I have found that this is truer for the morning hours, mostly because the nutrient-rich browse that the Coues whitetail prefers grows most abundantly on the south- and east-faced aspect. However, I have found that Coues whitetail deer will get out of the heat by bedding in any shaded area during the day. During mid-day it’s always best to focus on the areas that offer the most shade, protected somewhat from the sweltering sun. As you can imagine, Coues deer thrive in a diverse set of habitats; to keep up you must be in good physical shape, stay hydrated, and incorporate a high-energy diet throughout the day.
Successful Coues Whitetail Spotting Techniques
Successful Coues deer spotting requires the use of quality optics in a stable environment. I use Swarovski 15×56 binoculars mounted on a solid, telescopic Bogen/Manfrotto tripod with a pistol-grip action ball head. Ten-power optics will suffice, but in most cases Coues bucks may be seen over a mile away, and that’s when that extra 5x comes in handy. In fact, to truly field judge Coues bucks, a good spotting scope is a must. Get the best scope you can afford. If it is out of the question completely, several binocular companies offer a product known as a “doubler,” which doubles the magnification of one tube of the binoculars or can be used to increase both tubes, in some cases.
Make the Shot on a Coues Buck
Coues deer blend in to their steep, rugged environment well and are able to stay bedded for long periods of time to avoid the heat of the day. Using high-powered optics levels the playing field for hunters, but those hunters that “make” the shot and don’t just “take” the shot will come out ahead every time. In most cases, shots at Coues whitetail are long shots, over 300 yards; it’s just a factor of the habitat in which they live. A solid rest is crucial to make your shot count. There are several products available to aid in the process including shooting sticks, bipods, and tripod adapters. Sometimes the best rest is in a prone position over your backpack. Additionally, shots are oftentimes uphill or downhill. Keep in mind that both uphill and downhill shots in essence, make the shot closer. A laser rangefinder is a great tool, especially those that compensate for elevation changes like the Leupold RX-1000 that I carry. To make these tough shots, practice is a must; don’t take a shot unless you have practiced the shot, and know that you can “make” it in the field.
