Loading ...Posted on: January 31st, 2011 Bossie’s Watch Coues Buck
BOSSIE’S WATCH COUES BUCK
By Rhonda Walton
Jim and I snuggled into the Double Bull we placed under a cedar tree, overlooking a stock pond at about nine in the morning. “Should be a good day for it; it’s clear, dry and pretty warm. Got the dam to our right and the sun is beating on the canyon below the dam. Still a little cool, but then it is January,” Jim said. I thought he was going to sit here and I would be at the trough below… but it’s always nice to spend some time together and my “luck” (skill as a hunter) improves dramatically when he’s around to coach. Of course, if a record buck comes in… the first blood may be drawn in the blind! Now we just need a Coues deer buck to wander in for a drink!
About an hour later the wind shifted and a cold wind started coming through from the west (the canyon still in the shade). The wind always whips through this pass at the top of the mountain bordered by two steep canyons; it’s just a matter of whether it’s an easterly or westerly wind. We were beginning to wish we’d brought more clothes when three does came down from the top of the hill across from us. “Well, the blind works,” I said. “They didn’t notice us at all.” Soon they watered and wandered back up the hill. “Now where is your boyfriend?”
Just about the time we were becoming preoccupied with the cold wind again, a “moo” cow came around the side of the mountain and “keyed into” us immediately. Good thing the deer aren’t as suspicious of the new growth under the cedar! She watered but kept staring at the blind. Soon she sidled in closer for a good look at this new structure. Then here he came; a little Coues buck came up over the dam and worked his way to the water at the far side of the pond. Jim has taken many larger Coues bucks, so there was no question as to who the shooter would be. By now, Bossie is about 20 yards from us and her full attention is on the blind. Of course, the buck is on the side of the blind that Jim occupies and I’ve got the blind supports lined up with the buck. I start to shift gradually to the right, not to keep from spooking the buck but to keep from running Bossie through the pond and over the buck!
Jim whispered the distance to me… “Thirty-four yards, but put your 30 on his heart to allow for the duck.” I’m kinda leaning in front of his chair and around the supports… there, 30 on his heart… deep breath, center the pin, squeeze. Damn, just under him? No, he’s acting funny; shaking his head, lifting his left leg and looking back at the pond. He never ducked! Not even a little! I grazed his brisket, AND HE DIDN’T RUN OFF! He must be really thirsty and I’m REALLY lucky! Even Bossie held her ground!
He then cautiously slipped back down to the farthest edge of the water, 40 yards. Bossie is still staring us down. This time I put my 40-yard pin right on the shoulder… he was not that skittish, which is wildly unusual for a Coues deer, so I did not allow for the whitetail dip this time. I loosed the arrow and he ran about 40 yards, gushing from the entrance hole. I remember thinking, “He’ll be easy to track,” at which time, he stopped and tumbled about 10 yards down the steep hill. There he was… my biggest archery Coues buck to date and I stole him out from under Bossie’s vigilant watch.
Javelina for All
This year the pigs were plentiful and fell a plenty! Four of us from California were hunting the little pigs. Bill Latronica was the first to put one on the ground. He was hunting the lowlands trying to get his wife, Connie, into a herd and of course, one walked in front of him instead of her. He shot a nice pig (39 pounds) at close range.
Bill Latronica and a Nice Javelina
A couple days later Jim was hunting Mule deer and had climbed to the top of a pile of rocks that provided a vantage point. He’d decided he was through glassing and as he lowered his binos, he looked down into the wash below him and saw a lone, big pig about 125 yards away. That is how Jim hunts these pigs… he doesn’t. He hunts deer and shoots a pig if he stumbles into them. He’s very successful so there is something to be said for the approach. He sneaked back off the rocks, worked his way to the west to get the wind in his favor, dropped into the wash and the pig walked into him at 19 yards. Like a said, it’s a good system!
Jim Walton 2011 Javelina
Connie and the “pig patrol” went out almost daily in search of pigs. (The pig patrol consisted of Bill and a whole herd of friends, including Tom, Blue, Bruce and Troy. All of whom were helping her look for pigs.) She got her pig on the 9th day of the hunt. They got into pigs and she missed one; then hit one. The chase was on but they found it; a very respectable pig at that.
Connie Latronica’s Arizona Hog
Connie and Bill went home but I still had my pig tag, so I was hunting. I took off still hunting across country towards the location from which they were going to glass the lowlands. I had walked in and out of washes for about an hour cutting fresh sign on a couple occasions. I finally came into a large wash with more fresh sign and decided to work through a cut on the far bank and start my ascent to join the rest of the hunting party. I heard rustling and sure enough, I saw movement in the cat claw. I could see one pig under a mesquite, behind some cat claw. I drew my bow and worked to my left to get a clear shot through the brush. I shot him at 20 yards and found that he wasn’t as big as he looked when he was poofed up under the brush. L About then, his buddies started walking around me. I should have waited or brought additional hunters with me!
Rhonda Walton Makes it Four-for-Four
Four pig tags and four pigs taken. Good pig year!