Gear list: January Coues deer

Items needed for a winter Coues deer hunt

Dave Loescher
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Coues deer hunting terrain

Name: Dave LoescherSpecies: Coues deerSeason: JanuaryAverage Temperature: 30-65°Expected Weather: 30-65°Weapon: RifleLocation: Arizona or Sonora Duration: 7 days

The Arizona and Sonoran desert landscape is covered with plants wielding thorns. Multiple cactus species and mesquite bushes are at every turn and will shred most fabrics as well as unprotected hands. For this reason, the clothing that I take to the thorny desert requires thought and must be able to defend itself against the harsh vegetation.

Although the days can get warm, avoid wearing outerwear that will “pull” or “pick,” or, in other words, allow a thorn to hook the individual threads and create a hole or begin to separate the fabric. Merino wool is great for base layers in the Sonoran desert, but it is one of the worst fabrics against mesquite brush. Make sure to cover your merino wool with a durable outer shell fabric that will resist shredding. Otherwise, that expensive merino top will be shredded quickly. Down jackets are great for the early morning glass or pre-dawn ATV ride, but the thin shell will fall victim to the thorns if not covered with a durable outer layer shell.

Thorns from the desert

Without a doubt, one of the most important pieces of gear is a pair of leather palm gloves. These are armor for your hands, and without them your hands will look like you have been fighting with an alley cat.

Your optics are critical for success on a Coues deer hunt. The desert landscape is covered with granite and bushes that will instantly conceal a grey-bodied Coues deer. Bright, crisp optics with high magnification are important if you are planning to find Coues deer. I personally like to use 15-power optics on a tripod as well as a spotting scope that will zoom to at least 48 power. My “Big Eyes” (27X or 40X binoculars) are also along on any Coues deer hunt. Glass slow, and plan to spend a lot of time behind your optics. A rifle that can accurately shoot long distances and a laser rangefinder are also necessities.

In addition, a reliable ATV or UTV will help you to access some of the old mining and ranching roads that cover the Sonoran desert. Make sure to have a compressor and tire patch on board.

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Item Description

Item Description

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Packing

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Backpack

Item Description

Outdoorsmans Long Range Hunter Pack

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Pack Cover

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KUIU Sil-Nylon XL

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Clothing

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Base Layer Top

Item Description

Sitka Merino Zip T

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Base Layer Bottom

Item Description

Sitka Merino Bottom

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Insulation Layer Top

Item Description

Sitka Jetstream Vest with Windstopper

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Insulation Mid Layer

Item Description

Sitka Traverse Zip T

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Insulation Layer Top

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Sitka Kelvin Down Hoody

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Outer Shell

Item Description

Sitka Jetstream Jacket

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Pant

Item Description

Sitka Mountain Pant

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Rain Jacket

Item Description

Sitka DewPoint Jacket

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Rain Pant

Item Description

Sitka DewPoint Pant

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Merino Beanie

Item Description

Sitka Merino Beanie

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Gloves

Item Description

Sitka Mountain Glove

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Insulated Gloves

Item Description

Sitka Stormfront Glove

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Balaclava

Item Description

Sitka Traverse Balaclava

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Weapon

Item Description

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Rifle

Item Description

Ruger M77 chambered in 280 Remington

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Gear

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Spotting Scope

Item Description

Zeiss Diascope 65mm and tripod adaptor

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Tripod

Item Description

Outdoorsmans Legs with Jim White Pan Head

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Binoculars 10x

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Zeiss Victory

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Binoculars 15x

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Zeiss Conquest HD

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Binoculars 40x

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Doctor Optic Aspectrum

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Camera

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Canon with ScopeCam Adapter

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Knife

Item Description

Havalon Piranta

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Headlamp

Item Description

Black Diamond

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Sunscreen

Item Description

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Lip Balm with Sunscreen

Item Description

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First Aid Kit

Item Description

Category

Item Description

Category

Item Description

Packing

Backpack

Outdoorsmans Long Range Hunter Pack

Pack Cover

KUIU Sil-Nylon XL

Clothing

Base Layer Top

Sitka Merino Zip T

Base Layer Bottom

Sitka Merino Bottom

Insulation Layer Top

Sitka Jetstream Vest with Windstopper

Insulation Mid Layer

Sitka Traverse Zip T

Insulation Layer Top

Sitka Kelvin Down Hoody

Outer Shell

Sitka Jetstream Jacket

Pant

Sitka Mountain Pant

Rain Jacket

Sitka DewPoint Jacket

Rain Pant

Sitka DewPoint Pant

Merino Beanie

Sitka Merino Beanie

Gloves

Sitka Mountain Glove

Insulated Gloves

Sitka Stormfront Glove

Balaclava

Sitka Traverse Balaclava

Weapon

Rifle

Ruger M77 chambered in 280 Remington

Gear

Spotting Scope

Zeiss Diascope 65mm and tripod adaptor

Tripod

Outdoorsmans Legs with Jim White Pan Head

Binoculars 10x

Zeiss Victory

Binoculars 15x

Zeiss Conquest HD

Binoculars 40x

Doctor Optic Aspectrum

Camera

Canon with ScopeCam Adapter

Knife

Havalon Piranta

Headlamp

Black Diamond

Sunscreen

Lip Balm with Sunscreen

First Aid Kit

What I Would Have Done Differently:

I need to take my camera out of my backpack more often. I always take a lot of harvest photos and wildlife video, but I lack the support photos for looking back at memories of the hunt. The Arizona desert offers great quail hunting so I will plan to take a shotgun with me next time in case I am lucky enough to harvest early.

Pieces of Gear I Couldn’t Live Without:

1. Zeiss Conquest HD binoculars - Glassing with binoculars off of a tripod makes picking apart the desert terrain a lot easier. Plus the tripod keeps the binoculars steady allowing you to glass more effectively.

Glassing with 15 power binoculars

2. Outdoorsmans Tripod with Jim White Pan Head - This fluid tripod head has smooth and vibration-free movements thanks to the sealed ball bearings. It is also very compact.

Dave Loescher glassing with 15 power binoculars

3. Ultra high-power binoculars - I either use Docter Aspectrum 40 Super Wide or an old pair of “Big Eyes” made of two Kowa spotting scopes mounted together. In addition to their obvious benefit when glassing extreme distances, the ultra binoculars also provide an advantage when glassing for bedded coues deer. Locating bedded bucks typically requires finding the smallest piece or part of a deer in deep cover.

Dave glassing with big eye binoculars

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