Snowshoes
Well-known member
After a non productive day of coyote hunting yesterday, I had high hopes for today.
For some reason, I had a good feeling about seeing coyotes this morning as I worked my way towards a pre-planned lookout spot. Ahead of me was a field of fresh snow combined with a light breeze from the north which should put the odds in my favor.
Reached my destination and set up just in time for some heavy flurries of snow. Waited out the ten minutes of heavy snow before uncapping the binoculars and scope. A continuous light snow fell as I glassed the slough bottoms to the north. Only magpies and ravens were seen on my first scan, with the same results on the second, third forth and fifth scan.
Ten minutes later I see movement at the edge of one of the sloughs to the north. The binoculars confirm two coyotes traveling together followed by a single. They looked to be headed south which was good news for me.
Reposition the rifle in anticipation of where the coyotes should appear is rewarded with the sight of the lead coyote to the west of me. As if it had read the script, the coyote stops and I steady the cross hairs on its chest. A touch of the trigger sends the 64gr hp to its mark. ( later ranged @ 187 yards).
The crack of the rifle shot sends the second coyote towards the bush which I’m trying my best to stop with barks & howls. Just before entering the bush, the coyote stops to look back at the downed coyote. A 209 yard shots drops coyote number two.
A quick look for the third coyote which I expect to be making tracks in the opposite direction is a negative. With all the draws and hills, I just figured the coyote made it’s escape without me seeing it.
Reached over to pick up my brass when I see the third coyote skirting the first coyote.
With a watchful eye, the coyotes focus is directed at its downed partner. I bark, which stops this coyote and another 64 gr hp is sent down the tube of the 223AI. Coyote number 3 goes down. (Ranged at 162 yards).
Getting all three coyotes sure was something I never expected.
After picking up the coyotes, I head a mile and half west to an area of a medium sized slough bottom. A thick patch of bush to the north typically holds a few coyotes and with a slow approach to the slough, I found a good spot on the edge of the cattails to set up.
Take a few distance ranges of the area before pulling out my diaphragm reed. Fight off the gag reflex as I put it in my mouth. Start off with a couple howls and wait for 4 or 5 minutes before switching over to yelps. My yelps are cut short after seeing a coyote coming across the ice from the west. I take the diaphragm reed out of my mouth and get the rifle into position before I bark and howl to try stop the coyote. This one is not slowing down, so a running shot is required which rolls the coyote 60 yards to the southwest of me. (Not good fur)
Back to yelps with the diaphragm reed and within a half minute I see coyote at the edge of the cattails to the west. The coyote spots the downed coyote and starts trotting towards it. I let a bark out which stops the coyote and a 123 yard shot has it down.
I see one coyote vacating the area a quarter mile to the west and I decide to put a halt on the calling. I likely will be back in a few weeks to try this spot again.
When I came back with the truck to collect the coyote, I see another one trotting across the field and headed for the bush. A good sign for future calling!
For some reason, I had a good feeling about seeing coyotes this morning as I worked my way towards a pre-planned lookout spot. Ahead of me was a field of fresh snow combined with a light breeze from the north which should put the odds in my favor.
Reached my destination and set up just in time for some heavy flurries of snow. Waited out the ten minutes of heavy snow before uncapping the binoculars and scope. A continuous light snow fell as I glassed the slough bottoms to the north. Only magpies and ravens were seen on my first scan, with the same results on the second, third forth and fifth scan.
Ten minutes later I see movement at the edge of one of the sloughs to the north. The binoculars confirm two coyotes traveling together followed by a single. They looked to be headed south which was good news for me.
Reposition the rifle in anticipation of where the coyotes should appear is rewarded with the sight of the lead coyote to the west of me. As if it had read the script, the coyote stops and I steady the cross hairs on its chest. A touch of the trigger sends the 64gr hp to its mark. ( later ranged @ 187 yards).
The crack of the rifle shot sends the second coyote towards the bush which I’m trying my best to stop with barks & howls. Just before entering the bush, the coyote stops to look back at the downed coyote. A 209 yard shots drops coyote number two.
A quick look for the third coyote which I expect to be making tracks in the opposite direction is a negative. With all the draws and hills, I just figured the coyote made it’s escape without me seeing it.
Reached over to pick up my brass when I see the third coyote skirting the first coyote.
With a watchful eye, the coyotes focus is directed at its downed partner. I bark, which stops this coyote and another 64 gr hp is sent down the tube of the 223AI. Coyote number 3 goes down. (Ranged at 162 yards).
Getting all three coyotes sure was something I never expected.
After picking up the coyotes, I head a mile and half west to an area of a medium sized slough bottom. A thick patch of bush to the north typically holds a few coyotes and with a slow approach to the slough, I found a good spot on the edge of the cattails to set up.
Take a few distance ranges of the area before pulling out my diaphragm reed. Fight off the gag reflex as I put it in my mouth. Start off with a couple howls and wait for 4 or 5 minutes before switching over to yelps. My yelps are cut short after seeing a coyote coming across the ice from the west. I take the diaphragm reed out of my mouth and get the rifle into position before I bark and howl to try stop the coyote. This one is not slowing down, so a running shot is required which rolls the coyote 60 yards to the southwest of me. (Not good fur)
Back to yelps with the diaphragm reed and within a half minute I see coyote at the edge of the cattails to the west. The coyote spots the downed coyote and starts trotting towards it. I let a bark out which stops the coyote and a 123 yard shot has it down.
I see one coyote vacating the area a quarter mile to the west and I decide to put a halt on the calling. I likely will be back in a few weeks to try this spot again.
When I came back with the truck to collect the coyote, I see another one trotting across the field and headed for the bush. A good sign for future calling!
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