Went out to count Tule Elk for the rancher and shot 4 coyotes!

derbyacresbob

derbyacresbob

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The Rancher wanted me to drive through his ranch to get a Tule Elk count, so I had to take my Foxpro and my new Ruger American 223 Rem.

Before it was daylight I was walking on a ranch road heading into a flat area that I have called coyotes in and seen plenty of Tule Elk in the past. The road I was walking on had a fence next to it so after walking about 500 yards from where I parked my truck I found some big wood fence posts to sit in front of and set my X24 about 60 yards out in front of me.

I started out playing MFK 16wk Smack Pup sound for about 4 minutes and then switched to MFK Pound Town. After a few minutes of MFK Pound Town I saw a coyote heading for my X24 when it got to about 60 yards from my X24 it stopped so I shot it with my 223 Rem and it dropped like a rock. I did see 2 more coyotes running off in the distance after I shot.

I witched to Pup Distress 3 and about 5 minutes later I saw a coyote standing about 200 yards away from me and it was looking towards my X24. I held just below the coyotes back and the Hornady 35 gr NTX lead free bullet made a great sound when it dropped the coyote straight down.
IMG_2817 by Robert Morris, on Flickr

I went looking for Tule Elk and worked my way through the ranch up into some higher country where it was quite a bit cooler than it was down in the flat country. At about 12:30 pm I was on top of the mountains at about 3,000 ft elevation. My first calling stand at the high elevation I had to go to cross wind stands because the wind was blowing pretty hard up the steep and narrow canyons blowing the sounds back behind me.

I started out with TaterTot2 sound and had a coyote start screaming at my Foxpro a few minutes later so I turned to where I could see the coyote and nocked it down.
IMG_2836 by Robert Morris, on Flickr

I only had to walk about 400 yards to get my sounds into a completely different area. I started out with MFK Table Scraps and about 4 minutes later a big male coyote came in from the cross wind side and when it stopped I dropped it with a 35 gr NTX bullet.
IMG_2859 by Robert Morris, on Flickr

I ended up seeing 68 Tule Elk so it was a fun day!
IMG_2867 by Robert Morris, on Flickr
IMG_2872 by Robert Morris, on Flickr
 
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You’re new Ruger and those little NTX pills seem effective, Bob. Sounds like an awesome way to spend a day! As always, thanks for sharing the hunt and great pictures.
 
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Thanks for the great replies gentleman.

The Tule Elk act like Antelope and coyotes! They are perfectly happy in wide open country with no cover. Just a few miles up the mountains there are Junipers and Oak Trees but these Tule Elk prefer to be on top of open hills and ridges.
 
Great write up Bob. What are your thoughts on the Ruger you are using? I just ordered one yesterday. I originally planned on getting the Gen2 but multiple sources recommended Gen1 for better accuracy. When I handled both in the store I liked the way the Gen1 felt over the newer model as well. Have you been happy with yours?
 
Curt Barrett said:
Great write up Bob. What are your thoughts on the Ruger you are using? I just ordered one yesterday. I originally planned on getting the Gen2 but multiple sources recommended Gen1 for better accuracy. When I handled both in the store I liked the way the Gen1 felt over the newer model as well. Have you been happy with yours?
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Another vote for 1st gen. I have had 2 in 243, shot the one out and accuracy went from .5moa to 1moa so I gave it away and got another. The newer one had a much stiffer stock in comparison. Both shoot/shot my handloaded 58 and 75 vmax at WELL under .5moa.
 
That is a Gen 1 Ruger American 223 Rem. I also have a Ruger American 6mm Creedmoor. I put 2 pound pull Timney triggers in both of my Ruger American rifles.
 
Great to hear you guys are happy with the gen1 model. I’m glad I changed my mind at the last minute and got it as well. Thanks for the input fellas!
 
Spurchaser said:
Not Bob, but that looks like the Gen I Predator line
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Crap, reading my reply it sounds like I thought Bob was using a gen2. I did know it was gen1. My bad. I was happy to see he was using one. Figured it that dog slayer was using it I made the right decision getting the gen1 too. Lol!
 
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