Who To Call For A Coues Whitetail Hunt

Coues whitetail deer are a small version of the whitetail found in southwestern US and northwest Mexico. In the US they are hunted in Arizona and New Mexico; and in Mexico they are hunted in Sonora and Chihuahua. Historically, the majority of the top 100 B & C and SCI trophies have come from Arizona, with Mexico coming in second and New Mexico a distant third. In recent years however, the number of record book heads from Mexico has increased substantially. Coues deer are found in desert mountain ranges above 3,500 feet where the desert meets the oak savanna and pinon/juniper of the higher elevations. Coues look much like any whitetail but are smaller. A good Coues buck stands less than three feet tall at the shoulder and tips the scales at 130 to 140 pounds live weight. They tend to have antlers that are very symmetrical, and a 16-inch buck with three main points and an eye guard is a good one. The minimum B & C score is 110, and SCI is 85. Coues deer hunting is a challenge for sure - the animals are elusive, they blend in perfectly with their surroundings and are masters of concealment and escape. The key to success is lots of glassing and knowing the animal's habitat requirements. The season in Mexico is generally December 1 to late January.

Coues whitetail deer hunting has become very popular in Sonora with more than a dozen outfitters offering hunts. However, recently several outstanding heads have come from Chihuahua. A case in point are two bucks that green scored 127 typical and 130 non-typical taken earlier this year on ranches leased by outfitter Manuel Enriquez (represented by The Detail Company). In total, Enriquez has 100,000 acres leased on four ranches north and northwest of Chihuahua City. This season was the third year Enriquez has been offering Coues hunts, and virtually all his hunters have been successful with many of the bucks scoring over 100 B & C. The hunting is on a 1 x 1 basis in beautiful oak/grassland country at elevations from 4,500 to 7,500 feet. Enriquez offers........(continued)