Finally called one in!!!

B

Bowyer

New member
Well it happened. After 7 unsuccessful attempts to call in a coyote it finally happened. My first set was not showing any promise so I set up on the edge of a big clover field next to an area where the farmer said they den. I had my Foxpro going with a rodent squeak, because yesterday I saw one mousing in a similar field. About 9:00 I saw 7 deer slowly cross the far end of the field. I watched them through my scope for about 5 minutes as they paraded by. About 10 minutes later all 7 came back through with their tails up. I considered this a good sign and got ready. Sure enough about 5 minutes behind the deer is a coyote. It got into the end of the clover and just sniffed around. It then decided to roll in the clover. All this time my Fox pro is wailing away. I'm watching this coyote on 9x at about 350 yards as I switch from rodent squeak to rabbit distress #1 for a while then to rabbit distress #2 then to squirrel distress. I did each for a few minutes, but the coyote ignored them all. Finally as a last ditch I switched to pup distress. I immediately saw it's head come up out of the clover followed by it's body at a good trot. It made a straight line to the call, which was about 50 yards ahead of me. When it got about 50 yards from the call it started zig zagging so I shut it off. At this point I have a coyote bouncing through the clover at about 80 yards with my scope on 9x still (didn't dare reach up to adjust it with the coyote coming straight in) and and took the shot. How I missed I have no idea. I think the moment got the better of me. I hadn't felt this excited since I first started chasing coyotes with hounds. Now when they come by it's old hat and I just shoot them, but there was something about having that coyote coming into my call. I then reached up and set my scope back to 3x where is should have been and proceeded to fire the last 4 shots out of my EBR at a coyote doing mach 2. No fur or blood. I blew it big time. One educated coyote.

At least I learned what call seems to be working in this area. The others were a waste of time. I also think I need some shooting sticks. Resting you elbow on your knees is OK for shooting targets but was not very stable on the coyote. Especially when the adrenaline gets the best of you. My scope should be on 3x and stay there unless taking a long shot at a stationary coyote or woodchuck. Being at 9x when a coyote decides to hit the afterburners is no fun.

Oh, well. Thanks to all for your input. You guys made this possible. I'm now hooked and will spend every waking moment thinking about the next chance to call.
 
Congrats Bowyer, good story. It's great when you just happen on a coyote before it's responded to your call. You can watch him react to different things and gain insight into what's going on in his head. A dog that's rolling in the clover has probably got his fill and is enjoying a nice after dinner lounge in "his" easy chair. He might not be too interested in dessert. But even on a full belly, she (probably she) wants to know what's screwin around with one of her pups. I'm by no means an expert on coyote hunting (still a novice actually) but it makes sense to me that depending on what situation you find a coyote in (hungry, full, pressured by other predators, with young, etc.) different stimuli will be needed to entice it to get up off its butt and investigate. I've just started using coyote vocalizations and I think I'll try closing my stands with some pup distress in the future. Thanks for the story.
 
I never expected the pup distress to do anything this late in the year. I'm obviously a novice too. I've been chasing them with hounds for years, but this is very different and very exciting. So much to learn....so little time.
 
earlier this year a freind and i tried calling in the high country ( between 10,000 and 11,000) just for fun. we was using a cottontail in distress w/pup distress, after a short time presto out pops mr.coyote. his mistake.

as for getting excited, anytime i see a coyote i get excited.it is even worse when i have one respond to a call, but that is why its so great.
 
Great job Bowyer, but don't give up on those other sounds. Coyotes are individuals, and that sound at that time just happened to flip his/her switch. It may be another tune next time. It pay's to be flexable.

Byron
 
Bowyer congrats on calling one in.I like to keep my scope on 4x.Shooting sticks are a great idea,I bring mine every time I go out calling.What caliber rifle do you use?
 
Bowyer,

What a great adventure you had! Too cool. I get a good jolt every time I call in a predator and I like that.

I use variable power scopes on most of my rifles. My EBR has a 3.5 Trijicon ACOG and is the exception. With the variables, I crank them down to the lowest power setting as I remove them from the cases (at the vehicle) or set them to about 2x or 3x if I am using the 1.5-6X B & L 4200 Elite.

I put 6x30 Steiner binoculars around my neck for glassing the A.O. (Area of Operation) and stash them inside my cammo over-shirt so they do not bounce around as I walk to my stand. I also put a prey distress on a lanyard around my neck (got to have a back-up). On my rifle, I cammo-tape a rodent squeeker in such a way that I can manipulate it from my firing position.

I also carry a thick closed-cell foam "butt-pad"--cammo, of course, and a pair of Stoney Point colapsing shooting stix (that I set up in the most probable direction of approach).

Once in position, I glass the area (after I place any e-callers or decoys, if I am using them) for about five or ten minutes to get to know the various shapes and to estimate distances (setting a mental range card) to likely avenues of approach.

Sometimes, I will drop a few drops of InHeat Scents scents around my location to confuse my prey. Please note that I do not know for sure that I works; I also do not know that it is a waste of time and $$$. I have had coyotes nearly brush by me on the way to my remote e-caller on many occasions last year (when I began to use this method).

Bowyer, maybe my method, or a part of it, will help you in the future. Think creatively; even more creatively in hunting areas that see more "pressure".

Best of luck in the future.

Cheers,
 
Thanks Karl, I could use all the help I can get. I ordered the shooting sticks last night and will definitely carry Bino's to use instead of my scope. I will even look into the scent sticks. I am a firm believer in cover scents for deer and have been using them for coyotes too, but the sticks look cool.
 


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