Newbie from SoCal

Jackpot

FNG
Joined
Jun 15, 2020
Messages
20
Location
Murrieta, CA
Hello everyone, new to the site and also a new hunter. I’m all geared up, and just about to start getting my boots dirty. Planning on starting off with some coyotes to try and learn some things and figure out what I am doing. Have twin 5 year old boys I‘d like to take hunting when there older, so its time to get rolling. I’m sure I’ll be having a lot of question here pretty soon. Glad to be here.
 

TheGDog

WKR
Joined
Jun 12, 2020
Messages
3,410
Location
OC, CA
Don't be hard on yourself if your kids don't warm up to it like you'd always imagined they would.
 

Fowler530

WKR
Joined
Oct 31, 2019
Messages
1,524
Location
NorCal
Welcome from NorCal!! Lots of great information and experience to help you out with around here! Glad to have you aboard!
 
OP
J

Jackpot

FNG
Joined
Jun 15, 2020
Messages
20
Location
Murrieta, CA
Well, I thought I would give an update since my first post. Today was officially my first hunt day ever,lol, and solo. Did some driving to get away from people. I’m in Temecula, CA but drove a couple hours out to the desert. Pictures are of the area of my first stand. Walked in about half a mile. Posted up, elevated with a bush behind me to blend in. Watched the area for maybe 15 minutes before starting the Ecall. Started with female coyote, then the rabbit in distress. repeated for 10 min or so. Then tried coyote pup. After maybe 20 min, sure is shit a damn coyote rolled on in. Watched him circle the call for a min or 2, when I thought he was close enough, I took the shot. MISSED! 😞 Couldn’t get off a 2nd shot. I realized once I was about to shoot that I really didn’t have good support to aim. Was shaky. I’m sure nerves were kicking in also. The damn dog bolted up to the top of the ridge and barked at me for 10 minutes straight after that. Tried calling again to see what would happen but apparently the gig was up.
2nd stand was uneventful, except for the sheriff coming and checking my ID and hunting license. Thought I would make it more than a day before that happened.lol. All was good and there were no issues. I guess the BLM land I was on is a dope running area. Go figure.
I’ve came to conclusion after my first day that I could use some shooting sticks and a butt pad. Also I don’t have a range finder, so I’m not real sure how far the shot I took was. Thinking maybe 150-200 yards. super frustrated I missed the shot at that range, but it is what it is. After missing the shot and the dog barking at me for 10 minutes straight, is there any chance at that point of waiting awhile and calling again or is it just time to pack it up and go? is a range finder needed? Any pointers are appreciated.
Overall I’ll take it for day one, since some lesson were learned. Will have a go at it again in a couple weeks, and try to shake the nerves out. Need to maybe find some closer spots though. boots are officially dirty now..
 

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Joined
May 13, 2015
Messages
3,943
You just gave that coyote an education it will never forget. But hey, that is the learning process. Keep at it, doný shoot without good support )get set up with proper support ahead of time. It will all come together.
 

PhotoHunter

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 17, 2013
Messages
161
Location
So. Cal.
Good job getting after it! I've never called coyotes, but I think once they know you're there, the jig is up.
 

TheGDog

WKR
Joined
Jun 12, 2020
Messages
3,410
Location
OC, CA
Well, I thought I would give an update since my first post. Today was officially my first hunt day ever,lol, and solo. Did some driving to get away from people. I’m in Temecula, CA but drove a couple hours out to the desert. Pictures are of the area of my first stand. Walked in about half a mile. Posted up, elevated with a bush behind me to blend in. Watched the area for maybe 15 minutes before starting the Ecall. Started with female coyote, then the rabbit in distress. repeated for 10 min or so. Then tried coyote pup. After maybe 20 min, sure is shit a damn coyote rolled on in. Watched him circle the call for a min or 2, when I thought he was close enough, I took the shot. MISSED! 😞 Couldn’t get off a 2nd shot. I realized once I was about to shoot that I really didn’t have good support to aim. Was shaky. I’m sure nerves were kicking in also. The damn dog bolted up to the top of the ridge and barked at me for 10 minutes straight after that. Tried calling again to see what would happen but apparently the gig was up.
2nd stand was uneventful, except for the sheriff coming and checking my ID and hunting license. Thought I would make it more than a day before that happened.lol. All was good and there were no issues. I guess the BLM land I was on is a dope running area. Go figure.
I’ve came to conclusion after my first day that I could use some shooting sticks and a butt pad. Also I don’t have a range finder, so I’m not real sure how far the shot I took was. Thinking maybe 150-200 yards. super frustrated I missed the shot at that range, but it is what it is. After missing the shot and the dog barking at me for 10 minutes straight, is there any chance at that point of waiting awhile and calling again or is it just time to pack it up and go? is a range finder needed? Any pointers are appreciated.
Overall I’ll take it for day one, since some lesson were learned. Will have a go at it again in a couple weeks, and try to shake the nerves out. Need to maybe find some closer spots though. boots are officially dirty now..

Get you one of these types of Predator Seat Cushions. The back support is much appreciated.

If you don't have to hike far in, the short Primos Trigger Stick with 3 legs is real cool, especially when you're on a sloped surface.

If I have to hike-in a bit, I instead bring along the Cabelas Kwik Stik shooting sticks. Pretty cool. they're like just $20. I really like these for the weight savings. they just can be a little frustrating sometimes if the soil is very soft. But I use these all the time for popping Ground Squirrels out to like 100yd+

BTW... the land in that photo looks awfully familiar! ;) I'd say you weren't back in there far enough.
 

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TheGDog

WKR
Joined
Jun 12, 2020
Messages
3,410
Location
OC, CA
And yeah, the second you missed and he went to a distance and barked. That stand was blown. Just stop the caller. No sense in creating a negative association with that caller sound for others that might be nearby and not there yet.

Sucks when they go right to that barking the moment they first lay eyes on the caller. If that happens you can tell they know about callers and decoys from before. On another day back there, you might try completely different sounds to avoid negative associations.

Also bring mouth calls with you so you can change it up a bit. maybe start off with them... but then maybe after 2 or 3 callings with that... then change up to the caller after a 2+ minute wait... so that way, when they're closer to arriving they're focused on the caller away from you. I'm likin' the Dan Thompson calls I have. Their Weems Replica, The JackRabbit extra long range, Baby CottonTail, and the Coaxer call be bout all ya need. Primos Lil' Dog howler call is good value too.

And you should definitely consider that KillSuit Mesh Ghillie suit I'm wearing in the pic. Blends in crazy good out there.
 
OP
J

Jackpot

FNG
Joined
Jun 15, 2020
Messages
20
Location
Murrieta, CA
Ya. I wasn’t really in that far. Maybe next time I’ll go further in. Not that it will help much if I miss.😖not sure I wanna keep driving that far or not. So much private around my area though. I just got a trail cam. Might set that up closer to home and see what comes of it. Thanks for the seat and stick recommendation. Haha ya your pics also look awfully familiar. Looks like same area. You always driving that far?
 

TheGDog

WKR
Joined
Jun 12, 2020
Messages
3,410
Location
OC, CA
Ya. I wasn’t really in that far. Maybe next time I’ll go further in. Not that it will help much if I miss.😖not sure I wanna keep driving that far or not. So much private around my area though. I just got a trail cam. Might set that up closer to home and see what comes of it. Thanks for the seat and stick recommendation. Haha ya your pics also look awfully familiar. Looks like same area. You always driving that far?


Send me a PM for further discussion.
 

Zak89

FNG
Joined
Jun 17, 2019
Messages
51
Well, I thought I would give an update since my first post. Today was officially my first hunt day ever,lol, and solo. Did some driving to get away from people. I’m in Temecula, CA but drove a couple hours out to the desert. Pictures are of the area of my first stand. Walked in about half a mile. Posted up, elevated with a bush behind me to blend in. Watched the area for maybe 15 minutes before starting the Ecall. Started with female coyote, then the rabbit in distress. repeated for 10 min or so. Then tried coyote pup. After maybe 20 min, sure is shit a damn coyote rolled on in. Watched him circle the call for a min or 2, when I thought he was close enough, I took the shot. MISSED! 😞 Couldn’t get off a 2nd shot. I realized once I was about to shoot that I really didn’t have good support to aim. Was shaky. I’m sure nerves were kicking in also. The damn dog bolted up to the top of the ridge and barked at me for 10 minutes straight after that. Tried calling again to see what would happen but apparently the gig was up.
2nd stand was uneventful, except for the sheriff coming and checking my ID and hunting license. Thought I would make it more than a day before that happened.lol. All was good and there were no issues. I guess the BLM land I was on is a dope running area. Go figure.
I’ve came to conclusion after my first day that I could use some shooting sticks and a butt pad. Also I don’t have a range finder, so I’m not real sure how far the shot I took was. Thinking maybe 150-200 yards. super frustrated I missed the shot at that range, but it is what it is. After missing the shot and the dog barking at me for 10 minutes straight, is there any chance at that point of waiting awhile and calling again or is it just time to pack it up and go? is a range finder needed? Any pointers are appreciated.
Overall I’ll take it for day one, since some lesson were learned. Will have a go at it again in a couple weeks, and try to shake the nerves out. Need to maybe find some closer spots though. boots are officially dirty now..

Enjoyed reading this, I'm from SD and have went through Temecula many times. Can't believe you got checked for your license the first time out!

Rabbit season opens up in a couple of weeks, looking forward to getting back out there.
 

TheGDog

WKR
Joined
Jun 12, 2020
Messages
3,410
Location
OC, CA
Enjoyed reading this, I'm from SD and have went through Temecula many times. Can't believe you got checked for your license the first time out!

Rabbit season opens up in a couple of weeks, looking forward to getting back out there.

Makes sense. They haven't had anything to do now for a long time. Wouldn't surprise me if we all get hassled a bit more this season.
 
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