a cool full moon double

jmeddy

Well-known member
Thursday night was 1 day shy of the full moon, but it sure did not look like it. Clear skies with a brisk NE wind made it feel like November. Forecast said mid 40's with 2-3MPH winds and that is how I dressed. I got COLD! Got back to the SUV, it said 35 and the wind was at least 6-8.
The coyote I killed last Sat was one of the fastest and these were not the longest but darn near it at 78minutes in set.
This was the 3rd set of 4 set night with a lot of miles between farms. About a half mile walk back the ridge and I had a feeling that it would not be pastured when I got there which it wasn't. Looking 'down into it' it would be huntable as long as they weren't on my hillside. Call is downhill about 60yds N of me with NE wind.
About 15-20min into the set I get a group answer from across the hollow maybe 800yds away. About 20min later I get a single howl answer into a fight from my side of the hollow. I go silent for a while. I am playing a pup fight when I catch a glimpse of heat 3-350yds away. In a little bit it shows up again closer as a coyote mousing then 4 then eventually 5. I know that the fence they are in front of is just shy of 300 and want them closer so am 'biding' my time. I went from the pup fight to a pup distress, then a rabbit, a bird, and finally another rabbit before they decided to come my way.
I was hoping they would get closer (I had muted because of the bright moon and me not being in a shadow), but they must have smelled something else cause they took the quick left, so I shot. Young male DRT 215yds per onx. The other ran into a very thick briar patch about 50yds down the hill that my light would not penetrate more than a few feet. Landowner called me a bit ago and said it stinks :ROFLMAO:. From the video it looks like it should have crumbled. I think I will be leaving these 55NBTs in the rearview and loading 58vmaxes in the next day or so. My 16" barrel is giving me 3050fps at an accurate load-trying faster opened them beyond what I accept. It was the 4th runner that I have had that was hit with either the quarter away or broadside double lung. The other 3 were pass throughs--I had very few pass throughs with the vmax but out of my other gun though they were running faster. I will have to chrono my already worked up load then do some coyote testing.
This is a kinda long vid but thought some might enjoy watching the younguns learn how to catch mice or bugs--I can't think there were that many mice there. I watched them for over 10 min. before shooting.

 
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Good job Mike.

I can't call one in to save my ass. Finally saw one last night at 500 yards out heading my way, but never saw him again. Stayed on point for almost an hour & gave up.

Those BT's might be a bit too hard for the velocity you're running, 58's might be a good move, or tip the powder can a little more.

I sure like the 70 BT's at 3200 though.
 
Sounds like a good hunt except for the colder than expected temperatures and the runner. At least you’re getting into them, Mike!

I agree with your decision to run with the v-max 58 grainers. Also agree with alf on the speed you’re running the NBT’s being the most likely culprit.
 
Thursday and Friday nights were cooler but nothing but a couple deer in the pines Thurs. Full moon but clouds Thurs, full bright Fri. Sat next to new tractor barn, heard one yip Fri. Night pic, guess I moved. They put a porch on the back to shoot at the berm, out of the sun.
barn1.JPG
 
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