Bowhunting Mule Deer and Coues Deer in Arizona High Country

But a while back, I decided to change my approach to my bowhunting calendar in a way that would provide a change of pace and scenery. Nowadays, my Eastern whitetail pursuits end in early December, allowing for a trip “Out West”, allowing me a chance for bowhunting mule deer and Coues deer in Arizona. So it was in mid-December 2009 that I found myself driving toward new adventure in the high, lonesome country of southeastern Arizona.

As I rolled down the highway, my heart was filled with excitement. Winter’s grip on the Midwest was already tight, and I was glad to be heading away from it as fast as I could go. As I’ve gotten older, long, cold December days spent in a treestand — while hoping to ambush one of the highly educated and greatly thinned-out bucks of the Corn Belt — have begun to hold less charm for me. Always an ardent pursuer of Western species, it has never taken much to get me ready to head that way. Give me an open season, a valid tag, a little fuel and a cooler full of food and you can consider this Okie long gone!

From years of past experience, I already knew where I was headed — the Galiuro Mountains and all their foothills — a great place for bowhunting mule deer and Coues deer in Arizona. This rich diversity of habitat held a potpourri of sights, sounds and smells. From wilderness peaks to arid desert arroyos, there was an endless amount of country to be explored. Furthermore, I could drive an hour to the east and ascend to the summit of snow-capped mountains that rose to almost 11,000 feet. There I could frolic under the cover of mature spruce and pine while constantly enjoying a panoramic view to kill for. What more could a middle-aged bowhunting junkie want?

Bumping down the rough, two-track road for what seemed like forever, I finally made it to my old camping spot. Nestled under the shade of a cottonwood grove, this remote location had been good to me for many years. After erecting a sufficient base camp, I unloaded my ATV and headed out toward the spot where I’d establish a secondary camp. This spot would serve as a staging area on days when I ventured far into the backcountry. Arriving at the location, I quickly placed a tent, sleeping bag/pad and a cooler with plenty of drinks. From here — in the days to come — I’d hike many miles into trackless country in search of mule deer and Coues whitetails.

THE GIFT HORSE As the eastern sky began to lighten on my second morning in the Galiuros, sweat was already trickling down the small of my back. Though the desert night had been cold, an hour of hard hiking found me anything but chilled. By moon and starlight, navigation had been relatively easy, and thus I found myself well into the wilderness by the time shooting light arrived. It was my intention to cover lots of ground while glassing from prominent points in hopes of finding a group of desert mule deer does. I knew finding a group of females located in a remote area would enable me to keep an eye on them for the foreseeable future. The big bucks would appear as the rut soon set in.

Farm-Raised vs. Wild Salmon: What's Better? | Shade at Desert ...

Eat your salmon, but pay attention to where it comes from. The American Heart Association recommends a diet heavy in the juicy, antioxidant-rich fish, but how your fish is raised can impact your health.

Farm-raised salmon often live in densely-packed pens with poor water circulation, and are fed low-quality artificial food. This can result in them carrying traces of toxic chemicals called PCBs. Though the average PCB level in farm-raised salmon is well under the FDA’s safe guideline, it’s best to limit your consumption of farm-raised salmon to once a week. If you eat it more often, reduce the fat content by trimming the skin and/or broiling. Wild salmon may be more expensive, but they don’t taste significantly different, and their chemical levels are negligible.

Eating this fish in moderation is the way to go—packed with healthy Omega-3 fatty acids and protein, salmon can be both healthy and delicious. For recipe ideas, click here .

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