Coyotes in Mark Twain National Forest

Pruson

Pruson

New member
A really good article in the FFG Magazine in refernce to coyote hunting in the Mark Twain Nat. Forest. Those long ridges are inviting. I hunted there last month following a fresh snowfall. Followed a whole pack of coyotes down one of those long remote ridgetop logging trails, really fresh sign in the snow was easy to follow, fresh scat. It was a day to remember. Didn't kill anything but truly enjoyed the Great Outdoors that day. Found a bobcat sanctuary up in the rocks above the river just below the ridgeline. I grew up there and apppreciate it more when I get the chance to go visit it. You guys who live there really got it good. Was that article written by one of our own members here?
 
Was that article you read written by a fellow with the intials GC? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Glad you liked it. I guess I've missed it somehow, what issue is it in? Where were you at in the forest when you hunted it, I mean closest town around?
Come on over to the Eastern section of Predator Masters and read the big "Calling Tactics and Tips" thread, we talk quite a bit about the Mark Twain there. This past weekend Christopher from PM came out from Ohio and hunted the MTNF with me. We had a fun and I enjoyed their company. He posted about his weekend.
 
GC, I hunted east of a little town called Falcon MO, off Hwy 32. The area is called the Winnipeg section and then I shifted to an area near a crossroads known as Cedar Bluff down around Brownfield MO. Don't know when I will get back there again, but I know I will someday.
 
I shot my first Buck in MTNF. I didn't hunt coyotes back then. I will have to go down there for a day and do some calling.
 
SORRY GC, it was in the latest issue. I just pulled it out of the mailbox this afternoon. I think it's the March 03 FFG.
 
That's some pretty country. I turkey hunted up there several years ago and finally managed to get a bird. It was my first turkey. A lot different than what I am used to.
 
I live in the middle of the Mark Twain NF, about 75 miles from where ,I think, GC lives.

Great place to live, hard place to make a living. A few years ago, the county in which I live was listed as the poorest county in the state, with the lowest per capita income. It is the second largest county in the state, at 999 square miles, but the Mark Twain National Forest occupies approximately 75% of the county. This means no property tax revenue from these lands, or at least not as much as they would generate if they were in private hands. So, it ain't all rosy, but I don't know anywhere I would rather live.

My son and I killed 3 coyotes this weekend, in fields adjoining MT Forest land. That makes 5 each for us this season, and 1 bobcat each. A bit of friendly competition between father and son.

Pruson,... where did you live here in Mo? What induced you to move to Virginia???

When I was in the U.S. Army, I was stationed at Ft. Meade, MD. for 1 1/2 years. I could never understand the rule prohibiting hunting in Maryland on Sunday. At that time, Virginia had the same regulation. Do they still have it, and, if so, WHY?
 
Pruson is right. I was with him on his last hunt. Fresh tracks and sign everywhere. We didn't get anything but had a great time. I went back to all the same areas yesterday. Nothing again. It snowed all day while we were out. Very beautiful country!!!

Hey Sonny!!

The old barn and silo area had more fresh coyote tracks than I've ever seen before. Plenty of cat tracks back up in the Rocky bluffs also. There is nothing like sitting in the mouth of a cave overlooking the whole valley in a snow storm. While the JS612 Plays the superjack blues.

Missed one Saturday. He must have been 350 yards out there. Held high and let a round go. Missed !!! Stepped it off it was only about 160 yards. OOOpps. Shot right over him. I gotta get a range finder next or maby glasses.

See Ya
 
Pruson,
Thanks for the information of which issue the article is in. It's odd, my subscription issue isn't here yet, nor is the March issue on the shelves at the local stores. I think I know where Falcon is on 32 hwy.

Steve, I wouldn't know what a 160+ yard shot was like. In my neck of the woods a field is a rare thing. I think it'd be neat to have an opportunity to actually see a coyote responding to the call. In my situation, as soon as I see one it's time to get on the trigger!
 
I lost my first bow kill to a pack of coyotes in the Mark Twain. I shot a doe about ten minutes before dark. I went back to camp to wait a while and get the lights and some help. We tracked her for about three hours before we gave up, not a lot of blood and rough ground. It was cold so I thought I could find her the next morning and save the meat, but my brother noticed a lot of yotes coming by his stand the next morning so he check out the area and found what was left of my deer (not much!) and six or seven yotes. We gave up 100 yards too soon! We always saw yotes during firearms deer season and a few bobcats. A local hog producer, and old timer that still turned his sows out on gov. land, chased a black bear off more than once.

Closest town was Good Hope east of Chadwick.

LRW
 
I've never lost a deer to coyotes, I've been lucky and just never lost a deer. However, after field dressing a deer out, I've seen the intestines devoured by coyotes in less than three hours before. This during the midday hours.
 
Don't you guys drop sync on this Missouri Coyote Hunt you all talked about now. I got a wide open calendar if coyotes are involved. I am learning more about this Rich Cronk Killr Jr he sent me, we're singing the blues now. I want to use it in conjunction with the FoxPro of mine. Sliding up and down on the reed at the same time as you're opening and closing your hand really "walks the dog." /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I've been trying to find out the regulations hear in Mo. for Predator hunting and am haveing a hard time. Can one of yal help me out?
 
You can go to there website or write or call your nearest Conservation Office, They sent me a packet full of stuff when I requested it.
 
I wonder if they would think I was poaching deer, if I was sweeping an Optronics Red lens'd Spotlight around at night with Super Jack blaring away on the JS 612 Deluxe somewhere down in the MTNF, ask em for. Ya think they'd turn the other cheek? gotta know for sure
 
I would say as long as your not calling from a vehical and have the tape player going you would be fine. They might come over and investigate the situation a little more(Talk to you) and if your doing something against the law give ya a spankin and let you go. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif The agents didn't seem like they new the law on hunting coyotes very well anyway. I have never been or heard of anyone being stopped while hunting yotes. While the conservation law book doesn't really explain the laws on coyotes very well I found out what the book says and make judgement calls from there. Just my $.20 worth...
 
In Missouri you can't use any electronics at night. To include e-calls AND lights of any sort. There is a bit of a mini-debate about lighted reticles in scopes which utilize batteries to provide the illumination.
Some Conservation Agents may use officer discretition and warn you without writing the tickets, others may not. I know for a fact that in two of the counties I hunt, these particular Agents will in fact write that ticket as we've discussed it before. In fact, they'll write every ticket, to include killing a coyote in the closed season during the spring turkey season. Personally, I think it's best to play by the rules then you don't have any worries.
 


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