The Coues white‑tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus couesi), often called the “Grey Ghost,” is a diminutive subspecies of white‑tailed deer native to the oak‑chaparral mountains of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and northern Mexico. Bucks stand just over 30 inches at the shoulder and measure about 56 inches from head to tail. Field‑dressed bucks rarely exceed 80–90 pounds, while does average around 65 pounds. Their coat is grayish salt‑and‑pepper in winter and reddish‑brown in summer, with white “halos” around the eyes and a broad brown tail edged in white. Antlers consist of tines rising from a forward‑curving main beam.
Hunting Coues deer is renowned for its difficulty; these small deer inhabit rugged chaparral, oak and pine forests at 4,000–10,000 ft and are masters at vanishing into cover. Glassing from high ridges at dawn allows hunters to spot feeding bucks before stalking through steep canyons. Because Coues deer rarely offer a standing shot once jumped, hunters often take long‑range shots and use flat‑shooting rifles. Seasons are governed by state draw systems in Arizona and New Mexico, with hunts typically running from late October through December; in Mexico, hunts take place on private ranches and may extend into January. Patience, good optics and the ability to judge antlers—only three or four tines per side on mature bucks—are essential.
Coues deer populations have increased where habitat and water development projects provide browse and reliable summer precipitation. In Arizona, Coues deer constitute over 40 % of the state’s deer harvest, up from less than 15 % in 1961. Game departments regulate harvest through limited draw tags and manage for high hunter success while maintaining healthy herds. Predators such as mountain lions and coyotes keep numbers in check, and drought can reduce fawn survival. Conservation groups and landowners collaborate to conserve chaparral and oak woodland habitats and to install water catchments that benefit Coues deer and other wildlife.
Coues deer are sometimes confused with mule deer but can be distinguished by their tail: Coues deer have a wide brown tail bordered in white and raise it high when alarmed, whereas mule deer have a rope‑like tail with a black tip. Their graceful, “flagging” escape and ability to disappear into the brush earned them the nickname “Grey Ghost”. Fawns are usually born in August following a breeding season in January, timed with summer rains. Because they are among the smallest deer in North America, many hunters pursue Coues deer with lightweight rifles, and archers appreciate the challenge of stalking close in rocky canyons.
Coues Deer can be found in the following location:
Coues Deer has the following variations:
- (Varieties to be confirmed)
