Coues deer are the smallest species of the whitetail family, with big bucks weighing around 100 pounds field-dressed. Don’t let their size fool you – these little deer are a blast to hunt! Their size makes them vulnerable to smaller predators like coyotes and bobcats. Because of this, Coues deer are very skittish. They have an uncanny ability to vanish before your eyes, even in the open desert terrain. They call them the Grey Ghost for this very reason. If you’ve never hunted Coues deer before, you’re in for a treat.
Coues deer are found from the low desert country up into the mountains. The best way to hunt them is by spending hours glassing through high-powered binoculars and spotting scopes. Bucks may be spotted as far as a mile away. Once a good buck is located, we stalk within shooting range and make it happen.
It doesn’t take a lot of horsepower to kill a Coues deer, but a flat-shooting rifle is important. Shots of 300+ yards are common, and many times we shoot out to 700 yards - or more. Being able to shoot accurately at long distances will help your chances of harvesting a trophy buck. The .30 caliber magnums have been popular Coues deer hunting cartridges for decades. Cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmore and the .28 Nosler have become popular recently, and with good reason. They are highly accurate and efficient hunting cartridges.
Our Coues deer hunts are conducted in units 16 and 23. We see bucks in the 90" - 100” class regularly and have seen bucks upwards of 130”.
Licenses are obtained through the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish draw, or by purchasing a Governor's Tag or winning a Raffle Tag. The application period to draw a tag opens mid-January and closes mid-March. Be sure and apply with us through the Outfitter Draw for the best opportunity to draw a tag.
In addition to the regular draw tags, one premium deer license is available annually to the general public. The hunt is available through the draw and is subject to the quota. The hunt code is DER-1-700 and it allows hunting with any big game sporting arm in any unit statewide, including state wildlife management areas and private land with written permission, anytime between Sept. 1 and Jan. 31. This is the best deer tag you draw in New Mexico and it's worth applying for!
Prices
1-on-1 5-day Mule Deer Hunt - $6,500.
2-on-1 5-day Mule Deer Hunt - $5,500 per hunter. (2-on-1 is two hunters and one guide.)
Governor's Tag or Raffle Tag Hunts - Big Horn Outfitters will put together a hunt package specifically for Governor's Tag holders or Raffle Tag holders upon the tag holder's request. Contact us for more info.