A Little Something Extra

Over the years of pursuing Coues Deer, I have returned home with many things. Certainly memories would be at the top of the list. Some trips resulted in a pack full of Machaca (dried meat). Some trips sent me home with the battle scars from the pokey, spiney, razor sharp vegetation that provide such a good hiding place for the Coues to live. All of these things have had an influence on the way I think and view many aspects of life. Some of the experiences and knowledge has served me well in other locations and situations as I have hunted other places. The little something extra I want to tell you about now has changed even the way I eat.
As my family will tell you , I like things HOT. One of my favorite dishes in the world is a soup called the Caldo tal peino. Wow with a little sqeeze of lime and the heat from Chipotle it is awesome. Now back to my story. In 2005 I was hunting in Sonora Mexico with my buddy Justin. One after noon we rode our horses into a valley to find some shade where we could sit and eat lunch. Paquico our good friend and mexican guide wandered along a small stream and picked something from small bushed that at first glance resembled wild rose bushes. As we ate the great lunch packed for us by his mother, Paquico handed us some small reddish peppers. These peppers were literally no bigger than the small plastic push pins used on bulletin boards.
1/8th of and inch to maybe 1/4 inch in diameter, they really appeared innocent enough. Aye aye yaye! My vision blurred, my nose ran a river of lava and I could breath fire for a good five minutes. I really thought I was going into cardiac arrest. Then almost as quickly as it hit, it was gone. Paquico laughed and in spanish said, " say hello to my little friend". I was amazed that one tiny little pepper could light me up like that. I have eaten peppers in chinese food that are not supposed to be eaten and not been knocked for a loop like I was by the little Mexican pepper.
Chiltepin soon became my seasoning of choice. Back at the ranch house Paquico told his parents of the crazy gringos eating chiltepin peppers. They brought out a small stone grinding bowl and a hand full of pepper. These were dried and would be ground up in the small bowl and sprinkled on what ever hit the table.
When we returned to hunt this same ranch in 2006 our adopted mexican mother had a quart sized bag of Chiltepin peppers gathered for Justin and I to take home.
I filled a pepper grinder with the potent little guys and now sprinkle them on everything from pizza or eggs to soups and sometimes even on ice cream?
Unlike most peppers know for their fire power the Chiltepin peppers do not make you pay the price twice, if you know what I mean.
Next time you are out in the field you may bring home more than just the game you pursue.

The extra mile

Just a short post here about the rewards of going the extra mile. Sometimes that may mean in your preparation, from acquiring gear to selecting the right outfitter or possibly scouting the perfect ranch. Then again it may mean literally what it says. Going the extra mile. In January of 2008 I had enjoyed nearly a full week of hunting with friends in Sonora. Justin had taken a great buck to add to his collection of many. He and I paired up to search for a great buck we had seen a few times with no shot opportunity presenting it's self. I finally had a shot which I hate to say was deflected by a small ocatillo branch that I failed to see focusing so intently on the great buck. Our search for the buck took the better part of two days and resulted in nothing but tracks.
We spent the final hours of our last day in Mexico covering new ground on foot. With about two hours of daylight left, I found myself watching Justin skirt a small ridge about half a mile away. As he approached a large rocky peak jutting out of the dessert floor, I followed through 15X Leica binos. I really thought my big buck could jump out any second. Finally I caught sight of movement in the thick cover between my location and where Justin was. It turned out to be a doe and a buck. Not the buck I was looking for but a very respectable buck none the less. Neither deer were aware of the human intruders. They fed and moved slowly in and out of the cover provided by both vegetation and topography. I reached Justin on the radio to let him know what I had discovered. It can be difficult to guide someone sitting next to you to a partially hidden deer, even when you are looking from the same vantage point and can describe a visual, rock to bush to tree to grassy spot to deer left leg. To try to guide someone to find a hidden animal when you are nearly a quarter mile apart and really have no idea what things look like from that point of view is impossible. Eventually Justin saw the deer move below him for a brief moment then they were blocked by more cover. I was really out of position to make anything happen so I decided to make a big trek and hopefully get lucky. I looped back out and around using a few small hills and valleys to travel. with less than 30 minutes of light I found my self peering over the crest of a hill and through a bunch of trees at the buck now bedded near some yucca. Justin was above the buck and off at an angle where he could possibly see any escape. I tried for several minute to maneuver closer but there just wasn't any way with out spooking the doe that was up and feeding. I waited a few more minutes thinking the buck would stand and offer a better shot. Knowing we were in for a night hike if things didn't happen soon I kicked on the GL2 and benched on my pack. With a slight squeeze on the trigger the deed was done. Justin and I collected gear from our two separate locations and arrived at the buck at nearly the same time. A few quick photos before the fading sun was gone and we were heading back towards camp. Have I ever mentioned about how I really appreciate the fact that Coues are much more manually transportable than say a big Muley! Even as small as they are, the rough terrain makes for some hard work. It really helps to have someone that's willing and able to help. Thanks JUSTIN! My 2008 Coues is another buck I'm proud of. They are all so unique. This buck, "The Extra Mile Buck"
taped out at 104 and has about two inches broken off. There are two in line cheaters that, along with some decent length give this buck a score to be proud of.

Road Hunters vs Rode Hunters

Nearly every year you can find the "unfortunate" soul, I'll explain later, who has simply driven his ATV, jeep or family wagon up and down the road and stumbled upon, or lucked into a great trophy. I say unfortunate because the road hunter completely misses out on every good part or our passion. How proud can you truly be of your trophy, regardless of the "net" or "gross", when there is very little if any emotion invested in it. I'm sure you can think of one or many trips that have resulted in a trophy that by B&C, P&Y or SCI standards would not measure up. In your book they may be the #1 and rival any world class animal. Like beauty, Trophy is in the eye of the beholder, so to speak. My first Coues buck was just shy of hitting the 100 inch mark by 3 1/2 inches. Really not a bad buck at all. My understanding was flawed after hunting mainly for giant Muleys often pushing the 200 inch range. I later realized how my 96 incher was at that time my greatest trophy. This realization came after plucking stickers and thorns from my hands, knees and rear end for weeks. I still to this day,five years later can't wear one of my most favorite hunting jackets because it is still holding those little barbs that feel like a bucket full of treble hooks and razor blades dumped on your back. I made the mistake of spreading my jacket over a small plant of some sort to sit on while glassing. Back to the Road warriors who don't have the investment of the proverbial "blood sweat and tears". When you spend hours, or maybe days just getting in or out of your honey hole, what ever you take home is a trophy. Some times all you take home are the memories and a battle scar or two. Although my first trophy Coues would only make the LC book, the overall trip was a world class introduction to the challenge of hunting Coues Deer. We spent many hours each day reaching far beyond any roads. Both on foot and horse back we covered many miles. What we didn't physically cover, we visually covered, planted behind powerful optics for as many as 6 hours at a time with out moving. What a great way to learn what to do and what NOT to do. I was able to learn, experience, enjoy. I harvested my first coues. I also was in camp with some great Friends I learned much from. The last day of our hunt, Bobby brought in the best Coues I've ever seen. A true world class animal. Not one you will find from your jeep! Click play below to see this amazing buck.

Head Banger to Wall Hanger

I'm not much different than most outdoors men. We need our fix or we go nuts. It's an addiction. There is no cure and the only helpful treatment is to just get out there and touch it, feel it, live it. So what is "IT"? Adventure, the thinking, planning, practice, stalking, watching, waiting, searching, running, crawling, cooking, laughing, missing and connecting. As I think of past trips and look forward to future ones I get the same sense of joy. From past trips the joy of hard struggles conquered, lessons learned and successes enjoyed. From the thoughts of future trips the anticipation of great adventures, trying new tricks, learning from past mistakes and from knowledge learned from others
About this time of year I usually head to Mexico to get my winter fix. I have to admit I've had the twitch this past week and really miss the trip south. My only release has been to remember and relive the great hunts of the past few years. Memories recalled by looking at photos and the beautiful mounts on the wall. After looking at a series of pictures I can remember the very second they were taken and say "Wow that was so Cool" to be involved with an adventure such as hunting the shadow of the desert they call the coues. Some hunts are only made possible through a combined group effort and others miraculously come to pass completely solo.
I'm so glad I was convinced to venture south and learn more about coues deer. It truly has made me a better hunter and things I learned have been used in many different areas.
It really is possible to escape for a week, about the time you are ready to bang you head off the wall, and have the adventure of a life time. You may even bring back a little table fare, a photo or two and quite possibly that wall hanger you have seen haunting your dreams LIKE A GHOST

The Gray Ghosts

December, January and February present most hunters few options to feed their hunger for adventure. It is during this time of year that the adventure of a life time awaits you, South of the border.

The gray Ghosts of Sonora Mexico can be as challenging to hunt as any animal on the planet.

Passion Biz Coues is the place to come and share with everyone your photos, stories and excitement about your passion of hunting the desert shadows.