Had to get out calling!

hunt0168

hunt0168

Well-known member
Enough is enough! Everything has sucked weatherwise for far too long now. These cold temps don’t bother me too much by themselves, but with the crazy wind, deep snow and now a bright moon. Come on!

I had enough and said screw it… I’m doing something! Drove around and most of my spots are inaccessible with truck high snow banks and no parking. Called 3 of my places that stay plowed out for farming operations. Setups were tricky with the moon and wind, and a real grind to get where I needed to be with knee deep snow.

Started around 8pm at 6 degrees. Made 3 blank sets. Did get some fired up on first set but way off and sure they were across a road to the north of me. Longest of the 3 sets I made at about an hour. Lots of quiet time afterwards hoping for a miracle I never truly thought would happen.

Next 2 sets were completely dead. Never saw a deer or rabbit. Thinking everything was locked down. Finished around 11:30. Truck said -10 when I pulled away. No wind made it perfectly tolerable.

It felt great to get out, although after a couple hundred yards of trudging through the snow I started to question my feelings! Lol. Once my breathing calmed down and the sounds started it all felt right again. Just thought I’d post to say something! Another NY season flying by with terrible conditions.
 
I was not pleased to see no clouds and the moon coming up all weekend. I stayed home, bright moon has always been chitty calling for me, Although I need to try setting up closer to cover on bright nights, they just dont like open areas when its bright. Daytime around here calling one across an open field just doesn't happen
 
Widow maker 223 said:
I was not pleased to see no clouds and the moon coming up all weekend. I stayed home, bright moon has always been chitty calling for me, Although I need to try setting up closer to cover on bright nights, they just dont like open areas when its bright. Daytime around here calling one across an open field just doesn't happen
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Same here. Moon definitely added some complexity to the outings. First set where I got the responses was a nice little pocket with fingers of brush and overgrown fencerows. The other two weren’t ideal but doable if the coyotes were willing to travel from big cover along some brushy corridors to get to me. They weren’t willing! 😂
 
I know the feeling Bob. I have multiple cell cameras out and not a hint of movement on any of them. Hasn't been above freezing since the big snow so it's still 20 - 24" deep everywhere. Even the deer are using the plowed roads to get to the nearest hemlocks. Very little evidence of them moving anywhere. Forecast temps don't look to promising either.
 
It had to feel great just to get out Bob. I drove 120 miles yesterday taking notes as to what places I can get off the road to hunt. I will mount the last deer up tomorrow and plan on gettin after them after that. Moonrise is getting later about an hour each night so there will be some dark to hunt. You guys up there have had a crappy last couple of seasons for sure.
 
I went out for one set this evening and got closer to where I heard them last night. No response tonight.

I did pick up a heat signature out in the middle of an open field bordering the property I was on. Red fox. I played all coyote vocals and just picked up a signature that wasn’t there before. Thought it might of been an owl because I could only see its head and neck at first. About 150 yards out in the middle of nothing but snow. Odd thing is it appeared to be digging and rolling around in the snow. With no coyotes showing up I decided to play around. Rodents rabbits and birds sounds didn't get any reactions out of it. I played more coyote vocals and nothing. Just digging and rolling.

Might have been trying to find that damn groundhog that said 6 more weeks, or 8 more weeks, or months?!… Whatever the hell it is, it’s too much! 😂
 
Did the same, waited for clouds, busted out to my stand, walked 300 yds, kicked my a$$. Set up. after 28 minutes a group less than 300 yds away fired up. It was on the rifle, get ready close and never saw heat. Guessing they didn't want to show their stank a$$es in the open. stayed for 1 hr. Bout got hung up in the truck. Went to my uncles farm and the county pushed a 4' wall of snow in his entrance, moved down the road to another farm. Shuffled 200 yds to stand, a$$ was dragging at this point saw zilch. Waiting for the big melt!! and mud!!
 
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