Any typical 4x4 Coues buck will make the Pope and Young minimum score of 65. My Mexican buck netted 97 3/8. Note the typical Coues deer habitat of northern Mexico.

By Dr. Dave Samuel, Conservation Editor

TO WARD OFF the morning chill, I pulled my collar up tighter. Sure, this was Mexico and the temperature would warm up, but right now it was downright cold. I was trailing behind guide Brad Sanders, headed down into a steep canyon where I planned to spend the day in a treestand near a waterhole.

"Use your radio if you need me," Brad said. "Otherwise, I'll see you tonight after dark. And don't worry; it will warm up soon."

Brad quickly disappeared into the dark, and I settled into my stand. It was a beautiful, peaceful morning. With drought conditions, water was scarce and wildlife soon started coming in. Several rabbits visited the water, and many songbirds zipped in and out. A slight breeze came up the canyon, over the water to my stand, making me think, Perfect position. Mike and his guides have this stand in a great location. By 8 a.m. the temperatures started to rise, the wind died, and I knew that with the five-month drought and numerous tracks around the small pond, Coues deer would soon arrive.

Sure enough, 30 minutes later the parade started. First to show up were a doe and fawn. Talk about skittish! Those two deer took 30 minutes to make it to the water. Stop, start, stop, start. Eventually the fawn couldn't wait any longer and walked in to drink.

Over the next three hours, 31 does and fawns came to drink. Then, at 11:15, a decent 8-point came to water. My goal was to take a record-book Coues deer, and this one would qualify, but I decided to pass. With so many deer coming to water, a bigger buck likely would show up.

My hunch was confirmed when, 15 minutes later, antlers appeared in the thick vegetation to my left. Must be that buck that was here earlier, I thought. Then, as he moved through an opening, I did a double take. That's a different buck, a dandy buck! And he is headed for the water.

Whoops, not just yet. Rather than coming to water, the buck bedded 30 yards away. Coues deer have proportionally large ears, and they use them to great advantage -- a lesson I'd learned the hard way the previous morning. I was sitting at another waterhole when a smaller 8-point buck came down a steep slope 25 yards from my stand. As I slowly turned to get ready for a shot, my pants apparently brushed the seat of the stand. The buck never hesitated. He simply bolted down the canyon with his white tail swinging high. A minute later I spotted him a half-mile away, still running as he crossed a far ridge.

With that in mind, I now sat absolutely quiet. Even though the rut was in progress, this buck did not move as does came to drink. Numerous Encino oaks in the area were loaded with acorns, and occasionally the bedded buck would pick up an acorn and eat it.

Finally, 20 minutes later, the buck's hormones apparently kicked in and he rose and headed for the water -- and the doe that was already there. With sweat dripping off my brow, I realized I was as wired as this Coues buck.

Continued -- click on page link below.