1 stand...1 coyote...home for breakfast...

Curt Barrett

Active member
Headed out at the crack of 8:00 out for a "quickie" this morn. (say it Redfrog /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif ) Spitting snow, about 33 degrees with a light west wind. Wet out. Just enough snow to merit snow camo.

I planned on 3 stands tops or 1 coyote...whichever came first. Been away for 5 days and needed to do the family thing.

Set up at the head of a wide draw that was lightly treed. Hayfields on both sides of the draw. Had one come over the hill about 20 minutes into it. He was lost. Trotting along slowly, head low, then stopping and sniffing the ground. I did my best lipsqueak. Don't know if he couldn't hear it or what but he didn't look my way or anything. He appeared to be farther than I wanted to shoot but it was hard to tell with the rolling terrain. If I missed or he kept coming, he would disappear, either into the draw or back over the hill. Feeling cocky after a few long shots lately, I took a shot figuring it would be the only one I'd get.

For whatever reason, I missed and sure enough he went into the draw. After cussing under my breath I did some coyote vocalizations. Less than a minute later, here he comes, out of the bottom of the draw, almost straight at me but angling to the left. I'm tracking him through my scope while "whooping" trying to get him to stop. He is slowing down as he scans for the source of the whooping. I got my finger on the trigger, ready for when he stops. He finally notices the big white blob with the 24"AR swinging with him. He kicks the afterburners in and scorches off to my left. I fire another "warning shot. Snow and mud kick up behind from the bullet. He's almost to the fenceline separating the next hayfield from the one were in. He will be out of sight if he crosses the fence. I give a generous lead at the light speed yote this time and he cartwheels almost right up to the fence. Muss, where are you with the video camera when I need you? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Here's some pic's....

This is where my first shot and "clean miss" occurred. Facing straight in the wind. Coyote was standing almost directly above scope. To the far left of the pic is where he emerged after the missed shot, angling to the left. He was about 100+ out.

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This is where he finished his cartwheel trick. The coyote is dead center (pun intended) of the pic, about a foot or two in front of fence. It's the dark, horizontal object.

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Kooky, crooked, fencepost camera tripod shot....

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Good sized male for this area. Looks like crap wet but he will clean up nice. I weighed him on my high dollar fishing scale and he was around 32-33 lbs according to it. Felt like more packing him back. Critr-Calls kick butt is all I can say, and I'm zeroing my rifle tomorrow! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

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Home by 9:30 for Sponge Bob Square Pants! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
As usual Curt, great story and great pictures--even the crooked fence post tripod one. I really like the pictures of the area you are calling in. I wish I had more ambition and I'd carry my digital camera along. However, with winter clothing I'm not sure which layer to wear it under??? When it gets to 15 or 20º below zero that old camera battery might not last too long.

Anyway, thanks again for the great story and pics.
 
Merry Christmas to you, Curt. That's got to feel good to make a great running shot like that. What kind of terminal proformance are you getting with your 223. Sound good enough. Gotta love that German suplus snow camo poncho.
 
Curt , your a true gentleman , a warning shot is always the sighn of a great caller as well as marksman , we both know anybody can hit a standing coyote , but only a true caller can put them down at 35 M.P.H. I salute you , /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif And i agree 100 % on the critter calls . Jerry .
 
Great story, Curt. Thanks for sharin.
I agree with Jerry, the warning shot was mighty curtious of you indeed. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Curt:

Great story. I was driving by late last night in the snow!!!! I honked the horn but for some reason I don't think you heard me. :rolleyes:

I was planning on coming over your way mon. or tuse. I will give you a call on sun. save some for us ... PLEASE. LOL

Good job on the yote. Great pics .
 
Thanks Curt for posting! It’s been so long sense I have seen a coyote I almost forgot what they looked like! Work sucks!!! After the first of the year though I will be hard after it again.

Thanks.

Q,
 
Thanks guys!

Silverfox, I know what you mean about packing a camera. I didn't mind sticking it in my call bag with my foxpro. This time of year I don't use the e-caller much so packing it is more of a pain. These digital cams can eat the batteries. More than once I have packed it only to have it go dead when I need it.

Merry X-Mas to you too Christopher! I'm getting real good terminal performance I suppose. I'm going to switch back to the 55 gr. Sierra HP when I use up these 60 grainers. Both drop coyotes like a bad habit but the 55 gr. rarely damages the pelt. When it is dry snow the German camo works great. Not too waterproof.

Jerry and River Runner, I knew you guys would appreciate that display of coyote calling etiquette! LOL /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Jesse, that sounds good. Don't worry, plenty of coyotes left...weather permitting. Hopefully some of this mud will freeze up.

Q, buddy, I almost feel like a nerd posting less than a 6 pack of coyotes. LOL /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Looking forward to you getting some time off. My friends love those pics. Get that howler warmed up! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

You guys take care, Curt
 
Curt , Good story. I see now why you and Jerry shoot AR15's, you guys need 15 to 20 rounds per coyote with all the warning shots you take. (ha,ha) That is nice of you to warn them however. Your coyotes must cost more to kill, about .75 cents to a buck where I try to keep my coyotes under .20 cents. I still want to get an AR and have my eye on one now, but to give the poor coyotes a chance I am only going to load only 1 round and keep my cost of killing coyotes down.(ha,ha)
 
Rub it in Bruce. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I'm guilty as charged of racking up the ammo bill on this trip. For the record though, up until the last year or two, my weapon of choice was a bolt Win mod 70, 22-250. I've always used ARs to but I love the 22-250 for this country. Regardless of which is used, a monotonous amount of the time it is bang flop. I will say one thing, this stand was way, more exciting than my usual one shot stands. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I would put an AR against a bolt any day though. I just like them for the removable mag. Put ten in on Friday and I'm good for the weekend. Plus I look like less of a spaz when multiples show up. With the bolt that elbow gets flapping like yer gonna take flight and all. Ha Ha /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I saw a good deal on counseling for "obsessive compulsive disorder" (people that fret about .20 cents ) in the paper. Want the number? Hee Hee /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Happy Holidays to you bud!
 
Curt, It shows your good sportmanship and ethics to give that coyote a running start. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Nothing like nailing a running one to make you forget the miss. Good work

Enjoyed the photos also. Gotta say though, you look kinda like the Grim Reaper in snow camo. Remember when Merle used to kid ya about no smile in your pics. Well now there is nothing but a dark abyss where your smiling proud face should be.

I have a small tripod that each leg can be adjusted separtely. Its great for setting on fence posts,stumps,rocks etc. for taking those photos in the field. It weighs almost nothing and attaches to any camera with a threaded insert. I think they can be got for around ten bucks. It is one more thing to pack along though.

Take Care.
 
Hi Lonny, yeah, you know me...next in line for the sportsmanship award. HaHaHa

Grim Reaper is an upgrade from what my wife said I looked like. She said if I had a burn barrel next to me I'd look like one of the bums living under the Burnside Bridge (bum hangout in Portland). LOL /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I'll have to find me one of those tripods. Thanks for the heads up.

Called yesterday, but you were out getting a haircut the boss said. Nothing important. Just shooting the breeze.

Take care and have a great holiday. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Curt, What ammo company do you use, I may have to buy some stock /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif . Hey that is most of the fun pulling the trigger and letting the lead fly. It's only money, you can always make more. Besides my wife blows more than I do for a few extra shells shot at arunning coyote. Bruce
 
That might be a profitable move the rate I'm going Bruce! Ha Ha /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Course, today was just the opposite. What I would have gave for a chance to expend a few rounds... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Take care
 
Great story Curt, nice pictures too!! I closed my eyes and thought Howard Cosell was narrating on the blow by blow of the hunt. LOL!!
 
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