Big Lou
Well-known member
Never went out this morning. It was windy but, supposed to subside later in the day. Putted around home until about noon. Between 1:00-2:00, it was supposed to taper off heavily. I’ve actually had permission on this spot several times over quite a number of years and had never taken the time to explore it at all. Not even a drive by. Today was to be the day. I was pretty tuckered after yesterday and my back didn’t feel great when I woke. I had one set in me.
I drove close to an hour from home. Yeah, I probably drove by 25 or more coyotes on the way but saw not a one on my drive. Getting to the spot, I was immediately cross with myself for never investigating this. Either side of the road was a deep ravine, heavily treed on the slopes and a series of interconnected sloughs filled the bottom. Gooseberry, Dogwood, Willow, Cattails - my oath. The wind was good for either side. To the west, barley stubble and relatively easy walking. To the east, canola stubble that was drifted badly and looked like no fun at all.
I grabbed my howler and figured I’d let a couple rip. Maybe they’d tell me which side they were on. Or both sides. I just hoped for a nudge. I howled four times and waited. For sure three but, maybe four coyotes lit up about a half mile to the east. It sounded like they were all in different spots but, same general area. I just dropped and shook my head. “Of course they’re over there. I mean, why wouldn't they be? Nobody in their right mind would walk out into that punishment. Nobody except you”. I had a chuckle and a sigh, gathered my things and set off.
It took me quite a while to get in as it was just as little fun as it had looked from the road. I had been eyeing a spot to set up for several hundred yards and made my way to it. I slowly rolled over the top and it was just as glorious as I had hoped. Not quite perfect mind you but, I knew I was killing a coyote here. I was a touch more exposed than I wanted to be so I set the caller just 10 yards away and tucked into the hillside. I could see right down to the ice in two spots. A couple heavily used trails on the slope and in the bottom. A clear and commanding view to the downwind in the stubble.
I ripped a howl. Immediately, I had three answers. A bitch answered closest and two males maybe 200 yards further out than her. All three in different spots and not far away at all. I clammed up for 5 minutes, then rolled into some greeting and submissive whines at pretty low volume. Clammed up for another 5 minutes. Rolling into some Cornered Hottie, I paused another 3 minutes and then some Girl Fight. A flash of movement in the trees below had my attention and I muted the caller.
I spied a single coyote working its way towards me in the bottom. It started giving some pauses as it neared the edge of the trees and I could tell it was the bitch, then started going back the way it had come. It was stopping and looking back into the trees as it went. I was following it in the scope but, wasn’t about to touch off. “So, the game is afoot. Alright, I’ll play your game you rogue”. As I watched, I caught more movement in the trees and was able to see another coyote greet her. “Two there for sure. I’ll give them a minute to get brave and confident”.
60 seconds later, I let loose with Pound Town. Immediately, I saw silvery objects streaking through the trees. Three of them. I figured they would all be taking the same path she had taken initially and I was not wrong. As they all came to a stop facing me and the scope filled up with fuzzy faces, I settled on a chest at 80 yards. BOOM! CHOP! Folding like a cheap suit I was in motion on a fleeing coyote but there was too much crap in the way to try it. I switched to some pup screams as they disappeared and played for 30 seconds, then clammed up again.
A deep challenge filled the air only seconds after I had muted. “This boy is pissed. Let’s get aggressive”. I fired up fight challenge and he answered again immediately. He was within 200 yards but I couldn’t see him. A couple more challenges from him and then I hear RUGH RUGH RUGH. He comes into view on the move and is making these really aggressive noises with every bound. I’m following and trying to find a window to stop him but, not needed. I see he is swinging towards a lane down to the ice and I will need to stop him there. RUGH RUGH RUGH RUGH. He hits the opening and I try to make the same sound as him. “RUGH!! RUGH!!” He hangs a hard right and makes two big bounds towards me. All puffed up and angry. I can see his teeth and breath as he erupts into another challenge. This is my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE, no holds barred, pick of the litter shot opportunity at a coyote - mid challenge. The crosshairs find the middle of his chest and his head comes up in another challenge. BOOM! CHOP! The 6mm AI barks and he crumples like an empty chip bag, as the full brunt of the 75gr V-Max is delivered at 90 yards. “WHAT A DOUBLE!!”
It was a terrible notion to drop in there for a picture. However, I did just that. Two big males had fallen to me and one, I couldn’t ask for a better shot opportunity. The snow was hip deep in places and getting back up that slope was bad. Managed to tweak my back in the process. Limped back to the truck in discomfort. Double awesome that it was a tough slug out. Luckily, I was riding a high.
The second male as he fell mid challenge.
A view of the set.
Sorry for the crappy pic of the set. I did a pano view while I was there and those files are too large to load.
Anyway, I’m into the Robax and headed for the hot tub. My Co-worker and I got a pile of new access and are hitting it tomorrow. It looks juicy. Well, hopefully I’m able to hit it. Regardless, I hope you enjoy the read and pics as much as I enjoyed that set.
I drove close to an hour from home. Yeah, I probably drove by 25 or more coyotes on the way but saw not a one on my drive. Getting to the spot, I was immediately cross with myself for never investigating this. Either side of the road was a deep ravine, heavily treed on the slopes and a series of interconnected sloughs filled the bottom. Gooseberry, Dogwood, Willow, Cattails - my oath. The wind was good for either side. To the west, barley stubble and relatively easy walking. To the east, canola stubble that was drifted badly and looked like no fun at all.
I grabbed my howler and figured I’d let a couple rip. Maybe they’d tell me which side they were on. Or both sides. I just hoped for a nudge. I howled four times and waited. For sure three but, maybe four coyotes lit up about a half mile to the east. It sounded like they were all in different spots but, same general area. I just dropped and shook my head. “Of course they’re over there. I mean, why wouldn't they be? Nobody in their right mind would walk out into that punishment. Nobody except you”. I had a chuckle and a sigh, gathered my things and set off.
It took me quite a while to get in as it was just as little fun as it had looked from the road. I had been eyeing a spot to set up for several hundred yards and made my way to it. I slowly rolled over the top and it was just as glorious as I had hoped. Not quite perfect mind you but, I knew I was killing a coyote here. I was a touch more exposed than I wanted to be so I set the caller just 10 yards away and tucked into the hillside. I could see right down to the ice in two spots. A couple heavily used trails on the slope and in the bottom. A clear and commanding view to the downwind in the stubble.
I ripped a howl. Immediately, I had three answers. A bitch answered closest and two males maybe 200 yards further out than her. All three in different spots and not far away at all. I clammed up for 5 minutes, then rolled into some greeting and submissive whines at pretty low volume. Clammed up for another 5 minutes. Rolling into some Cornered Hottie, I paused another 3 minutes and then some Girl Fight. A flash of movement in the trees below had my attention and I muted the caller.
I spied a single coyote working its way towards me in the bottom. It started giving some pauses as it neared the edge of the trees and I could tell it was the bitch, then started going back the way it had come. It was stopping and looking back into the trees as it went. I was following it in the scope but, wasn’t about to touch off. “So, the game is afoot. Alright, I’ll play your game you rogue”. As I watched, I caught more movement in the trees and was able to see another coyote greet her. “Two there for sure. I’ll give them a minute to get brave and confident”.
60 seconds later, I let loose with Pound Town. Immediately, I saw silvery objects streaking through the trees. Three of them. I figured they would all be taking the same path she had taken initially and I was not wrong. As they all came to a stop facing me and the scope filled up with fuzzy faces, I settled on a chest at 80 yards. BOOM! CHOP! Folding like a cheap suit I was in motion on a fleeing coyote but there was too much crap in the way to try it. I switched to some pup screams as they disappeared and played for 30 seconds, then clammed up again.
A deep challenge filled the air only seconds after I had muted. “This boy is pissed. Let’s get aggressive”. I fired up fight challenge and he answered again immediately. He was within 200 yards but I couldn’t see him. A couple more challenges from him and then I hear RUGH RUGH RUGH. He comes into view on the move and is making these really aggressive noises with every bound. I’m following and trying to find a window to stop him but, not needed. I see he is swinging towards a lane down to the ice and I will need to stop him there. RUGH RUGH RUGH RUGH. He hits the opening and I try to make the same sound as him. “RUGH!! RUGH!!” He hangs a hard right and makes two big bounds towards me. All puffed up and angry. I can see his teeth and breath as he erupts into another challenge. This is my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE, no holds barred, pick of the litter shot opportunity at a coyote - mid challenge. The crosshairs find the middle of his chest and his head comes up in another challenge. BOOM! CHOP! The 6mm AI barks and he crumples like an empty chip bag, as the full brunt of the 75gr V-Max is delivered at 90 yards. “WHAT A DOUBLE!!”
It was a terrible notion to drop in there for a picture. However, I did just that. Two big males had fallen to me and one, I couldn’t ask for a better shot opportunity. The snow was hip deep in places and getting back up that slope was bad. Managed to tweak my back in the process. Limped back to the truck in discomfort. Double awesome that it was a tough slug out. Luckily, I was riding a high.
The second male as he fell mid challenge.
A view of the set.
Sorry for the crappy pic of the set. I did a pano view while I was there and those files are too large to load.
Anyway, I’m into the Robax and headed for the hot tub. My Co-worker and I got a pile of new access and are hitting it tomorrow. It looks juicy. Well, hopefully I’m able to hit it. Regardless, I hope you enjoy the read and pics as much as I enjoyed that set.
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