Non-Typical Coues Buck Breaks 120-Inch Mark

Up for a challenge? How about hiking into the Southwestern mountain ranges of Arizona for Coues deer? And take your bow to make it even more interesting!

Taylor Bullard and his hunting buddy, Kevin, did just that last year. They ventured into the wilderness and and brought home an awesome velvet non-typical. But it was no walk in the park, as their hunt got off to a tough start.

“We had packed in four miles and set up our main camp,” Taylor said. “The plan was to work further in until we found some bigger bucks.”

But rain set in, and they were essentially stuck in the tent for the first four days.

When the weather finally broke, Taylor and Kevin headed in another three miles to set up a spike camp.

“We ranged out from there and begin glassing a large area which had burned the year before,” he explained. “There were plenty of deer, but I was looking for something special.”

Taylor took a tumble and messed up his bow sight on day five, which meant hiking all the back to the main camp to work on it. He made the emergency repair as they discussed the hunt.

Realizing that time was running out, Kevin said, “We've got to get you a big buck tomorrow.”

Repairs completed, the pair returned to the spike camp. Their plan was to sleep in and let the morning fog clear out.

“I woke up early and saw clear skies,” Taylor said. “So we decided to hike further in than we had gone before.”

With each mile they found more deer.

“We were moving slowly like we would on a stalk, using binos to check out everything,” he continued. “And then I spotted a great buck looking right at us through the pines.”

Taylor ranged the unalarmed buck and drew his bow to shoot just as Kevin exclaimed, “Oh my God, it’s a giant!”

“I managed to get the shot off and thought it was perfect, but the arrow hit a branch and sailed high,” Taylor said. “The buck ran toward us, then turned down the hill. I remember saying 'Kevin, I just missed him!'

The stalk continued and they spotted the buck feeding as if nothing had happened about 200 yards down the mountain.

Taylor told himself that this was his second chance, and it was time to make it count! He got a quick range and sent another arrow on the way. This time he found his mark and the buck bounded off, disappearing into the thickets.

Taylor found his arrow stuck in the tree directly behind where the buck had been standing, and they began trailing. There was plenty of blood, but 200 yards later they jumped the deer.

“I was a little confused at that point,” he added. “But a little further in, I spotted him again and put another arrow in him. When we walked up to him I was overcome with emotion!”

The deer scored 120 4/8 inches, putting it number five for non-typical velvet Coues. The rack has points going in every direction, and two prominent droptines.

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