Let Shadow Valley Outfitters help you on your next Coues adventure!
Shadow Valley Outfitters is the top producer of trophy coues deer in Arizona! We have taken numerous of bucks over 100" and dozens over 110". Our goal at Shadow Valley Outfitters is to put you on older age class trophy quality bucks. We spend considerable time and money during the off-season locating bucks, patterning them, and watching them age to reach their potential. These bucks are then hunted using a variety of styles including spot and stalk and sitting a blind, tree stand or water depending on the season and hunt. We have some exceptional guides eat, sleep and breathe coues deer, who produce trophy quality deer year after year. We can build a hunt to fit you physical ability and hunting style.
About the Elusive Gray Ghost - Coues Deer (whitetail)
The Coues white-tailed deer is a small, gray subspecies of whitetail found in southern and central Arizona. They live in rugged, brushy mountains and oak woodlands. The Coues deer, technically pronounced “cowz”, is perhaps Arizona’s finest game animal. Wary, and expert at using cover, whitetails rarely offer the hunter a standing shot once jumped. Famous for their eyesight and elusiveness, Coues deer are often called the “gray ghost” and require patience, glassing, and long-range spotting.
A mature 100” Coues is one of the most sought-after trophies in the western US. Tags for coues deer are relatively easy to draw. We offer a variety of Coues deer hunts throughout central and southern Arizona. Hunters can pursue the elusive gray ghost after successfully drawing a permit tag for a specific hunt, unit and season; or during any of the over-the-counter seasons (see OTC archery deer hunt description).
Coues deer can be found throughout most of the southern half of the state. The majority of units have trophy potential, however some have historically always produced big deer with great genetics. Below is a list of top producers. Units with the word physical next to them are rougher units which are more conducive to backpack style hunting. For non residents, November hunts are typically easy to draw. The muzzy hunts in 33 and 36a are typically a guaranteed draw if you want to hunt nearly every year.
Trophy Units
6A - Generally lower deer density with good trophy potential, especially in the southern half. There is also a good mix of physical habitat and non physical habitat.
6B and 8 - Physical - Extremely low density coues population but good trophy potential. Don't expect to see many deer at all and you can go days sometimes without seeing deer. Late December is the best time to hunt when bucks are more visible and moving.
22 and 23 - Physical - A top producer of a few trophy bucks each year. Don't expect to see many deer in the thicker areas of each of these units where glassing is extremely difficult. Access in general can be rough for a normal vehicle. The southern halves of these units have more deer than the northern halves. Late December is the best time to hunt.
24B - Physical - This is a big unit with lots of wilderness and a decent trail system. In 2019, much of the unit burned. It is recovering nicely and has decent coues numbers with good trophy potential. Historically it has produced some great and unique bucks.
27 - Physical - This is a big, very physical unit, with a lot of thick remote country. It has a solid coues deer population with great older age class bucks. Tag allocations and the current management structure for this unit is very conducive to deer gaining some age.
29 - Physical - This is a big, very physical unit, with a lot of remote country and a good trail system. It has a solid coues deer population with great older age class bucks. Coues deer can be found throughout the unit at all elevations.
31 - Physical - This is a big, very physical unit, with a lot of remote country and a good trail system. It has a solid coues deer population with great older age class bucks. Coues deer can be found throughout the unit at all elevations.
33 - Historically this unit has been a top producer for trophy quality bucks. In 2020, the northern half of the unit burned followed by a poor monsoon, and over 50% of the coues deer herd was lost. The unit is recovering slowly and a few trophy bucks are harvested each year. Portions of 33 are very physical and offer great hunting potential for backpack style hunters.
34A - This is a great trophy coues deer unit with decent access for all types of hunters. It has a mix of thick chaparral and pine forest as well as high elevation desert grassland.
35A and B - This is a great trophy coues deer unit with a mix of more accessible low elevation country and thicker, more physically demanding, higher elevation habitat. Glassing the thicker middle and upper elevation country can be a challenge but it produces some great bucks.
36A,B and C - These are great trophy coues deer units with high deer numbers and a mix of more accessible country and remote more physical backpack style habitat. Coues deer are found throughout all of these units, particularly in the thick mesquite and ocotillo grasslands. In terms of trophy ranking for this list, 36C is the best followed by 36B. Obtaining tags in these units is relatively easy as well.
If you would like to discuss your application strategy for your next coues deer adventure, reach Ben directly at 520-907-6079.
Pack-in hunts - One of the most effective ways to harvest that buck of a lifetime is through backpack style hunting. We offer pack-in style hunts for those who want the true experience. These hunts typically produce larger bucks but are more physically demanding. You and your guide will pack into an area, stay at a spike camp in either a tent or under the stars, and hunt from here. For fully outfitted hunts, your guide will pack water, food, and most camp supplies to the spike camp for you.
Let Shadow Valley Outfitters help you on your next Coues adventure! Our 5 and 7 day Coues deer hunts range from $4,000 to $7500. Backpack options are available.
