Baiting

Glad to see things are going well for you guys. I've slowed down posting on here, partly because I've not been actively baiting as much. I get out and do more calling at night at local fields. When my driveway alarms go off, I check and often shoot coyotes in my yard as they pass through. I've had a couple that passed through, and then I did some squeeks out the window and called them back in.

A couple weeks ago I had one walking away from me at 50 yards. I squeeked to stop him and he came running to me instead, and disappeared behind my tractor. He popped out from behind the tractor 16 yards from my kitchen window and stopped and looked at me. That was an easy shot =) Maybe I'll share that video.

A couple days later I was hunting a local field and had one at 200 yds. My rifle is zero'd at 200 yds (at my last sight-in i put 3 holes in a handwarmer folder in half at 200 yds hanging on a screw). I missed the first shot.....and second....and third......coyote is now sprinting across field and I have a 5 shot mag. 4th shot was a hit but coyote kept running. 5th shot was a hit and tumbled the coyote. Upon inspection it looked like 4th shot was a gut shot (would have been fatal), and 5th shot was shoulder. I don't usually attempt running shots. After missing the first shot (which should have been a hit) I suspected my scope was off. Likely close, but off a little. I figured there wasn't much to lose by attempting the running shots this point....and I was pleased to score a couple good running hits. It also removed a coyote from a field where coyotes killed a cow during birth a couple months ago.

DU thanks for sharing your experience with those hornady bullets. I like using 50 grain v-max, but I had several just splash on shoulder shots and coyotes ran off. I switched to Sierra gameking 55gr softpoint boat tail #1365. I've been very pleased with these bullets. Similar results to what you are having with the hornady's. I have hundreds, maybe thousands of various .224 varmint bullets. But for my primary workhorse rifle (CZ 527 american in .223, suppressed with thermal), I'll likely just keep buying these Sierra 1365's because they are working so well.
 
ct, I've heard good things about the 1365's, but I've had the Hornady 50's for 15 years probably and never used them before. Like you, I've got too many bullets, but seem to have a desire to acquire more. My calling ceased a few weeks back when the sundown just got to be too late for me to get in a decent stand before bedtime. Looking forward to Sept. and longer nights.
 
Thanks Mike, I will have to say that on this limited sample these 50 Soft Points have hit above their weight and done everything I have asked of them. Time will tell but at least for the time being they are hitting hard and making DRT's.
 
I had an unexpected visitor last night about 10:00. It turned out to be a good-sized male and I killed him at 98 yds. It was another DRT with this one being deliberately on the point of the shoulder. While it did break the shoulder, I could not find the entry wound and there was no exit. Again this is the Hornady 50 gr. SP, #2245 bullet that I have been testing of late. This kill makes the 13th on the bait pile so probably coming to a close on visitors shortly. I like even numbers so one more would be nice.

 
Thanks guys, and Mike I think this was the first time this one visited, so pretty skittish. If they come several times before expiring, they usually settle down somewhat.
 
Just shot another one on the bait pile right at 12:15 tonight. I haven't been out there to look other than it is DRT. I'll try to post the video tomorrow sometime. That's #14 for the bait pile so I expect it is about over for this year. Once in a while I get one in June but not often.

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Shot another one on the bait pile at 10:30 tonight. Another DRT with the 50 gr. Hornady SP. This coyote was coming up the side of the field where the rye is planted and saw a cat on the bait pile. It made a charge to catch the cat, but apparently the cat got up a tree. When the coyote stopped I gave it a broadside hit and lights out. That makes 15 on the bait pile for the season with 12 of them coming since January and 5 in May. I thought tonight would be a really good opportunity for one to show. I had one picture of one on the 26th but it didn't really hit the bait pile. Wind was brisk NE tonight and cool. A NE wind puts the scent off the bait pile across the field behind me and into the woods. I also let out 3 invitation howls about an hour ago hoping one would be in hearing range and come to investigate and then pick up the scent of the bait pile. Here is a picture just as she fell. Young female unbred. I managed to get the video uploaded, so here it is as well.

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I had a pair hit the bait pile last night. I had several chances to shoot the big male, but opted for the female hoping the male would stick long enough for a shot or come back looking for her. The wind was NE brisk again and iffy on the scent cone. I think the male may have gotten just a touch of my scent earlier when he moved to the left in the adjacent field. He didn't return last night at least not close enough for any cameras to pick him up. Maybe tonight!

 
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