Lessons Learned – Coues Deer with Jay Scott

 

Show Notes:

We’ve all heard the saying: keep your eye on the ball. It’s true in baseball, and as a general statement about goals in life. Gotta keep your eyes on the prize. Well, Jay Scott learned from years of experience that in hunting, you have to keep your eye on the buck. He’s been hunting coues deer in Arizona and Mexico for years, and that’s the biggest piece of advice he has for hunters of all skill levels. “Those coues deer especially have a unique ability to get away from you.”

 

Nothing is more frustrating than stalking a deer for hours and then, when you decide to move to a better shooting position, the buck disappears on you. The trick is to work with a buddy who can keep the buck glassed while you make your move.

 

This is more difficult to do when you’re alone; Jay recommends getting a height advantage on the animal so that you can keep it in sight while you move. It’s also a good idea to wait a good 30 minutes or so after a deer beds down, just to make sure that he isn’t going to get back up again and move once you look away.

 

I lost a buck this way one time while hunting with a friend. I had him in my scope with my rifle all set to shoot, and then I looked away for no more than 30 seconds to check on my friend. When I looked back in my scope, the buck was gone.

 

Its for this reason that the spotter’s job is so important. If you’re spotting for a buddy, treat your job with the same intensity that you would treat the shooting or the stalking portion of the hunt. All it takes is a split second while you look away to grab a sandwich from your bag, and bam, the animal vanishes.

 

Jay also has some great stories and tips for finding coues deer. Features like prominent shade are good things to look for in the Arizona desert, because the deer will move from open feeding areas to the shade to rest. The time of year and weather plays a factor too. That’s why its important to learn the land, and the animals on it.

 

That way, if the deer does manage to disappear on you, at least you’ll know where he should be next.

 

What’s Inside:

Keep your eye on the prize: in this case, the animal you want to harvest

The importance of intensity as a spotter

Tips for finding coues deer in the Arizona desert

Use elevation and ridgelines to help spot animals

 

Mentioned in this episode:

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Days In The Wild

Jay Scott Outdoors Podcast

 

Short Description:Deer are elusive creatures, and they can vanish on you in an instant. That’s why Jay Scott says never to take your eyes off an animal you want to harvest. He explains this tip and more, while sharing stories of hunting coues deer in the Arizona desert.

 

Tags:

coues deer hunting, big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, big buck hunting, hunting stories, hunting in arizona, how to spot