Took my youngest son out this AM and got some training in. We went a few miles out in the west dessert just as the sun was coming up. We set up 60- 80 yards apart, let things settle for a few minutes, then let out a female howl followed a minute later with a group response. Waited some then did a juvenile howl and wimpers, followed by some puppy wimpers. Did some other similar coyote vocals for about 20-25 minutes. Nothing. Set the call playing coyote puppy wimpers and crys and let play.
In about 2 more minutes I notice a dog at about 405 yards (ranged him with range finder)and just stood there for 5 minutes just looking in our direction watching the the dogs out in front of me. Tried a couple of differant sounds to see if it would come closer, no doing, checked the range chart for bullet drop, 405 yards 15 clicks of elevation. Look back up to see if it was still there and gone. Searched around, found it at 350. Stayed there for a couple of minutes so we set the sound on the foxpro to play canine puppy whines and let play. The dogs are out to my right and down in a bowl now and the coyote is moving to their left but out 300 yards still and out of sight of the dogs. Wind is blowing from the dogs to the yote. She now commits and moves opposite of the way she was going and comes toward the dogs now at about 250 yards. She goes out of site now behind a small rise so we wait while the canine pup whines play on. Reduced the volume and waited hoping my son might spot her and get a shot. Well, not many seconds later she crests the hill right in front of me at 150yds. Readjust the scope to zero and wait a few more seconds to see if my son or the dogs spot it. Nope. Adjusted the rifle in the shooting sticks, steadied the crosshairs on her chest, set my finger lightly on the jewel trigger and sqeezed, letting the 40 grain Berger go. Whop. Stryker wirled and got to her first grabbing her by the throat and did the death shake. Cooper got there shortly after. They did some stretching and shaking it while I got pictures. Took her tail off to take home for the pups to play with.
On the way back out to the road we saw several rabbits and son got a couple. He threw them in the back where Cooper took a few chews and swallowed one whole. Kept the other away from him, took it home and gave it to Ida. She loved it too. Stryker just kinda turned up his nose at it.
Had a fun trip with my son and his dogs. Good training for Cooper too.
Stryker watching
In about 2 more minutes I notice a dog at about 405 yards (ranged him with range finder)and just stood there for 5 minutes just looking in our direction watching the the dogs out in front of me. Tried a couple of differant sounds to see if it would come closer, no doing, checked the range chart for bullet drop, 405 yards 15 clicks of elevation. Look back up to see if it was still there and gone. Searched around, found it at 350. Stayed there for a couple of minutes so we set the sound on the foxpro to play canine puppy whines and let play. The dogs are out to my right and down in a bowl now and the coyote is moving to their left but out 300 yards still and out of sight of the dogs. Wind is blowing from the dogs to the yote. She now commits and moves opposite of the way she was going and comes toward the dogs now at about 250 yards. She goes out of site now behind a small rise so we wait while the canine pup whines play on. Reduced the volume and waited hoping my son might spot her and get a shot. Well, not many seconds later she crests the hill right in front of me at 150yds. Readjust the scope to zero and wait a few more seconds to see if my son or the dogs spot it. Nope. Adjusted the rifle in the shooting sticks, steadied the crosshairs on her chest, set my finger lightly on the jewel trigger and sqeezed, letting the 40 grain Berger go. Whop. Stryker wirled and got to her first grabbing her by the throat and did the death shake. Cooper got there shortly after. They did some stretching and shaking it while I got pictures. Took her tail off to take home for the pups to play with.
On the way back out to the road we saw several rabbits and son got a couple. He threw them in the back where Cooper took a few chews and swallowed one whole. Kept the other away from him, took it home and gave it to Ida. She loved it too. Stryker just kinda turned up his nose at it.
Had a fun trip with my son and his dogs. Good training for Cooper too.
Stryker watching
