Well, I think I finally got this Lymes "chit" behind me. Started the Monday before Thanksgiving and after the 2nd week of doxycycline I felt better so made 4 "dry"sets last Thurs., 4 Mon. with answers at 2, and 4 last night (Thurs).
Monday night I had walked about 3/4 mile from the road and 300' up elevation to the 1st set and got answers both to my east and west but neither were close. Stayed close to an hour with 1 more response from the east. Broke the stand and backtracked to the next hollow for set # 2. About 15min in I get a response to a pair howl to my west and within 4-500 yds at the bottom of the hollow-thinking "maybe". 35min later nothing has shown--kinda normal for here. This place is tight and I can only see 50-60 yds in front of me down the hill where I expect they might show and maybe 100y left and right except for a 20 degree swath at my 9-10:30 into the hayfield knob that I made my first set over said knob. Paying most of my attention in the 180 degrees downhill because of the tightness I would only occasionally glance towards the knob.
Yep, here comes 2 running to pup distress at maybe 60yds uphill off the knob. I mute the call and spin me and the tripod 90+ degrees (which now has the legs at least 1ft. up the hill from where they were adjusted for). One makes me and runs while the other stops to take a dump (remind you of anything Owen), problem with the "crapper is #1. I can only see its hips and tail because of a tree trunk, #2. my gun is pointing way too high and as I raise up and move the tripod it gets finished and runs after the other!!
Now to Last night. Hunted 3 sets on different farms with nothing seen or heard. Driving towards home I was pondering where to go for my last set and decided to go to a property that butts up to town. This hayfield wasn't mowed as of late Oct. but figured it would be huntable now as the vegetation has died--well it was bushhogged. It is between 50 and 80yds wide ad about 350yds long bordering a big thick hollow that ends in a subdivision at the south.
Started with some rat distress, silence, then a lone howl. A few minutes later I got an answer from several coyotes at the bottom of the hollow. I went quiet for about 10 min then did some whimpering/whines with the diaphragm for maybe 30seconds. I could see some deer now and then in the woods a hundred or so in front of me and suddenly they took off running. I turned on record and according to my scope 1:38 later 2 coyotes were at the woods edge. Quick vid cause it was tight. She flopped down the hill about 10-12 yds. 3rd one of this color I have killed over the years. 1 at 8:50 am, 1 with red lights, and this one.
Monday night I had walked about 3/4 mile from the road and 300' up elevation to the 1st set and got answers both to my east and west but neither were close. Stayed close to an hour with 1 more response from the east. Broke the stand and backtracked to the next hollow for set # 2. About 15min in I get a response to a pair howl to my west and within 4-500 yds at the bottom of the hollow-thinking "maybe". 35min later nothing has shown--kinda normal for here. This place is tight and I can only see 50-60 yds in front of me down the hill where I expect they might show and maybe 100y left and right except for a 20 degree swath at my 9-10:30 into the hayfield knob that I made my first set over said knob. Paying most of my attention in the 180 degrees downhill because of the tightness I would only occasionally glance towards the knob.
Yep, here comes 2 running to pup distress at maybe 60yds uphill off the knob. I mute the call and spin me and the tripod 90+ degrees (which now has the legs at least 1ft. up the hill from where they were adjusted for). One makes me and runs while the other stops to take a dump (remind you of anything Owen), problem with the "crapper is #1. I can only see its hips and tail because of a tree trunk, #2. my gun is pointing way too high and as I raise up and move the tripod it gets finished and runs after the other!!
Now to Last night. Hunted 3 sets on different farms with nothing seen or heard. Driving towards home I was pondering where to go for my last set and decided to go to a property that butts up to town. This hayfield wasn't mowed as of late Oct. but figured it would be huntable now as the vegetation has died--well it was bushhogged. It is between 50 and 80yds wide ad about 350yds long bordering a big thick hollow that ends in a subdivision at the south.
Started with some rat distress, silence, then a lone howl. A few minutes later I got an answer from several coyotes at the bottom of the hollow. I went quiet for about 10 min then did some whimpering/whines with the diaphragm for maybe 30seconds. I could see some deer now and then in the woods a hundred or so in front of me and suddenly they took off running. I turned on record and according to my scope 1:38 later 2 coyotes were at the woods edge. Quick vid cause it was tight. She flopped down the hill about 10-12 yds. 3rd one of this color I have killed over the years. 1 at 8:50 am, 1 with red lights, and this one.
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