My 12 year old grandson drew a coveted late Coues tag, lucky lad, but was apprehensive about hunting this shrewed species. For me, hunting the Coues is the hardest and most demanding of all of our Arizona game. I've been fortunate to have taken several nice bucks over the years, so, I was pleased to be invited to help the boy get not only is first Coues but his first buck.

Greenlee county is one of the toughest places to hunt in the state. It is characterized by steep and rugged terrain that is a mess of jack pine, catclaw and sundry cactus. One Day 1, we glassed 12 whitetail of which three were legal bucks. Getting to them was another matter. Day 2, we glassed on buck that would have scored in the 130 range, but, the rut was on and that buck proved too far and too unpredictable. Day 3, exhausted and bruised by the rigors of the hunt, we glassed up a very nice two point about half a mile off and made our stalk.

The shot was 285 yards and the boy placed an 85gr TSX from his 243 into the right front shoulder, dropping the buck immediately. We watched for a few minutes and claimed the kill. A more proud lad I have never seen.

Many of us have rich histories of hunting success, but, IMO helping a new hunter learn and kill his first buck is amont the most rewarding experiences. With his new hunting knife in hand he learned the proper field dressing and care of his kill and did well at the task. He had practiced long and hard to be able to make his shot and he had been ingrained with a very important concept -- a successful hunt is defined by a kill. We hunt to kill.

Congratulations to you and your Grandson. Nice that Grandpa could be there for his first buck. He'll remember it always.

Goodjob Handloader!

So they let people under the age of 18 to get tags there ?? thats neat here if your underage you need to hunt and use someone elses tag.

Dimitri

In Saskatchewan you can start hunting big game (Whitetail, Elk, Moose and Mule Deer) in the regular seasons when you are 12 years old, just not in the draw seasons.

Handloader, memories your grandson will keep forever. Congrats.
We need to be the examples that keep the sport going. Thanks very much.

That is awesome!!!!

Congrats all the way around!!!

Congratulations. That is really neat. Do you have any pictures? We'd love to see'em. I love .243's... such fun rifles, terrific caliber.


-DallanC

Congratulations mate. Your grandson is very lucky to have such a proud Grandpaw like you.

Now you best watch out of this youngun' just might start outdoin' Gramps when out hunting. But would we have it any other way?

Would love to take my grandsons out hunting but I'm not allowed. Their Mother doesn't want them to have anything to do with firearms.

Cheers, Vince

Congratulations,

In Minnesota, a kid can't hunt big game until he or she is 12yrs old.
It is a good law, and I think just like your grandchild, at that age, they can appreciate it more.
Our oldest Son Ben is 16yrs old and starting big game at that age was good for him. He now has 7 deer kills under his belt.
Our twins are 10yrs, Zach, and Hope, and they small game hunt we me.
Their turn will come in a couple of years.

Keep him hunting Handloader, and he will pass it down to his kids.

Eric