Called another 3 in tonight

[mcseal2]

Well if things had turned out a bit different I might have killed my first triple tonight. I had time for a couple sets before dark tonight and the first one produced nothing. The second one I saw a coyote mousing through a thicket that didn't spot me as I was walking in only about 150yds away. I was in a dozer built creek crossing be built in one of our pastures and there wasn't a good way to get out of it without being spotted or making to much noise. The sides of the crossing were steep and covered in oak leaves so I pretty much only had the 20ft wide crossing ahead of me without risking spooking the coyote. I knelt in the crossing and set my AR up on the sticks aimed right at the top of the crossing and shouldered, even flipped off the safety and kept my finger out of the trigger guard. I knew if the coyote came I would have to shoot fast and it would be close. I blew softly on the higher pitched side of the Verminator Viper call from my pocket, didn't get the FoxPro out. I heard the coyote coming seconds later as it trotted right into my crosshairs and I dropped it at 19yds. I started in on the call again immediately after the shot and then waited quietly for a couple minutes. Since my visibility was so poor and nothing had responded I slowly stood up to look around. I spotted another coyotes head in the tall grass at 150yds that spotted me and was downwind. I shot offhand at the head quickly but missed. A third coyote was standing on the skyline about 450yds off wondering what was going on. I tried the Verminator call again and it just stood there and watched. Slipping back into the crossing I grabbed my pack and got the FoxPro out, got the pup distress call going on it. The 3rd coyote immediately came at a run. I knew he would cross my wind at about 200yds since I had never made it into my intended calling spot. I barked at him twice and got him to stop just as he hit or was about to hit it. I took a quick shot and hit him but it may have been a bit far back. I heard the bullet hit hard and he dropped but made it back up and disappeared off the fenceline into the tall grass. I searched until dark but was unable to locate him. I don't think he made it far, but in chest high grass they can be tough to find without snow, especially when their winter coats are good enough to limit blood trails.

Although I was disappointed to lose the last coyote, and that I couldn't have got set-up with a better view and maybe got them all, it was a very exciting hunt. I found a pile of deer hair where one had died on my way in. Not sure if this pack was responsible, but if so a couple of them won't be doing it again.

Calling from lower areas with less visibility has seemed to be a great tactic this winter. I hunted a creek bottom with a friend last year and we did it from necessity but had a great day. I got to thinking about it and decided to do it on purpose here recently. I think everyone in my area tries to be up high with great visibility around them, I always had. Coyotes probably don't want to run up a hill to get their meals any more than I would. Also call shy coyotes would expect hunters in that scenario, and it's tough to avoid skylining yourself setting up. Calling these spots where visibility is only 50-200yds but the coyotes come down or over level ground has been working. Also I'm sold now on ending sets with pup distress if the scenario fits it.

I'm doing a good job of killing the first responding coyote with this method, but I'm not sure it's the best for trying to kill multiple coyotes from one set. That's where the elevation and visibility would probably really pay off. Tonight's scenario isn't the best since I never got to where I wanted to be, just dealt with what I had available. I'll keep tweaking it and see what I learn to improve on. I got one Saturday morning I saw while doing chores, so I'm up to 5 coyotes in the last 14 days, great for the local deer herd and our cows when calving starts in the spring. The pup distress is bringing in big mature coyotes too.

 

[5MilesBack]

I've been seeing so many coyotes I don't even have to call. But I haven't been shooting them yet as I'm chasing elk and deer and don't want to ruin that. I did take a shot at one that was moving in on about 30 turkeys the other day. He was "a ways" out there and I had set my scope for the first distance I saw him at. Then he moved and I didn't have time to reset the scope so swagged and shot just over his back. Sorry turkeys. I do need to go down and concentrate on the yotes though, so I'll have turkeys to chase this Spring. One morning there were five different packs howling at each other nonstop for about 10 minutes.

 

[mcseal2]

I had pics of the last couple on my last post, didn't take one of the yote last night.

I have never called where a wolf is a possibility but would love to have a chance at one someday. I would likely pack the 243 or 25-06 if I thought that might happen. I wrecked a bobcat once with a 243 and 75gr V max so I often pack the smaller guns unless it's windy or I plan to hunt more open coyote country. Or if the grass is really thick, it doesn't take a whole lot to make me pack the big gun since cats are much less likely than coyotes.

I am very particular about my guns zero, and check them all regularly. I'm fortunate enough to have a 100yd range in my yard, so it's pretty easy. I hate to miss coyotes and do it often enough even when its not the guns fault. The gun that's off is a mistake everyone makes, and a part of hunting. I buy great scopes and try to take care of them but even they are occasionally off zero. At least when it happens I know it's a mechanical failure and not my negligence. I hate to hunt with a gun I haven't got to personally put on paper or at least shoot an improvised field target with but I've done it and run into the same issue.

I also let the coyotes go until after our deer season. It is over now and I'm calling all the spots I waited on. I understand that scenario. I wanted so bad to hunt early when the young dumb coyotes were plentiful, but waited and it paid off with a great buck. Now I'm trying to make up for lost time!

 

[mcseal2]

That is a great movie, one of my favorites.

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

That is a great movie, one of my favorites.

I read the book and was surprised at how close the movie was to the true story. It is hard to believe that a lot of elements in the movie are based closely on fact. Amazing.