hunt0168
Well-known member
Edit to add the found runner. It’s a lot messy, so only showing the better end!
This is a little long, so bear with me. It’s no secret that my season has been dismal. Well last night I turned things around! I hit it hard with a new approach. With the gift of good MOJO sent my way from @jmeddy and trying something different than what hasn’t worked, I made 4 sets, called 5 coyotes, took 4 shots and recovered 3. The 4th is definitely a dead coyote, but it made it into some nastiness when I wasn’t looking after having me believe it was down for good!
All were called with hand calls. The Foxpro was set out and was only going to be used to steer them away from me if necessary. It wasn't needed. My Varmints Inc. Micro Howler and Kerry Carver Pup/Female Howler was all that was used, and Oh My did they produce!
First set was extremely windy and only the Micro Howler was unleashed. A few lone howls and a few minutes of silence. Nothing showed so I got a little more aggressive. I scan to have one screaming through corn stubble right at me at about 150 yrds. Got on the gun when it stopped at about 100 and acted like it saw me. Possible as the moon was pretty bright. Right as the trigger was breaking it turned and the shot caught it far back. I could see it losing intestines as it ran through the stubble and tumbled tail over head on a full tilt run. This is the one that got away when I was hammering out some kiyis and pup sounds. It left me a trail. I may go back today to see if I can find it. I hate it when they don’t die quick.
Second set I deploy the same tactics. Open with female lone howls followed by deeper lone howls on the Micro and get immediate responses from 2 separate coyotes. Both very close. I get a little aggressive and they both get worked up barking and challenging. I give it right back and go quiet. 15 minutes later I hear a killdeer bust into flight with its telltale departure song. I pick up heat back in the brush a few minutes later this male works his way in looking for the intruders. Not sure why I included the e-caller in the picture as it wasn't used. Habit I guess?
Third set finds me at the sheep farm where I had someone shoot 2 rounds on the adjoining property a week or so ago. Same exact tactics as the previous set. No vocal response this time, but after a couple minutes of silence I pick up heat down in the bottom behind a finger of trees that extends out from the main timber. I can tell it’s “The Gimp”. This is a coyote that I have been frustrated with for four years. Could never get it to commit to the property I have permission on. She has a severe and distinctive limp on her front right leg. She finally cleared the finger of trees at 125ish yards looking for Mr Micro and company and was met with a 55gr NBT from my 243. DRT! Badly deformed foot and in need of a good orthodontist!
Fourth set was again the same exact tactics. Hey’ it’s working! I’m setup in an empty paddock at a horse farm. It butts up to a block of private that I do not have permission on. I open with female lone howls and answer with male and run through the more aggressive stuff after a few minutes. About 5 or 6 minutes goes by without a response. I was about to call again when I pick up heat coming my way but outside the paddock fence. I get on the gun in hopes that it keeps advancing and comes through the steel gate. Well luckily I peered through my scanner one more time because inside the paddock at 75 yards standing on the edge of the pond was this big female! She didn’t remain standing for long!
Her boyfriend never entered the paddock. He hung back in the woods on the other property bitching me out, unwilling to come to her rescue no matter how hurt I sounded.
I wanted to keep going but with the bright moon and a NW wind I couldn’t think of a spot where I could get into the shadows. I did try one spot but about 15 steps into the winter wheat field I needed to cross, the frozen ground was just too noisy to continue. Arrived home at 3:45 AM and struggled to pass out with a smile on my face! Lol. Then Shoots100 texts me at 4:41 AM to acknowledge my success and tell me about his night.
It’s all good… I would have done the same!
This is a little long, so bear with me. It’s no secret that my season has been dismal. Well last night I turned things around! I hit it hard with a new approach. With the gift of good MOJO sent my way from @jmeddy and trying something different than what hasn’t worked, I made 4 sets, called 5 coyotes, took 4 shots and recovered 3. The 4th is definitely a dead coyote, but it made it into some nastiness when I wasn’t looking after having me believe it was down for good!
All were called with hand calls. The Foxpro was set out and was only going to be used to steer them away from me if necessary. It wasn't needed. My Varmints Inc. Micro Howler and Kerry Carver Pup/Female Howler was all that was used, and Oh My did they produce!
First set was extremely windy and only the Micro Howler was unleashed. A few lone howls and a few minutes of silence. Nothing showed so I got a little more aggressive. I scan to have one screaming through corn stubble right at me at about 150 yrds. Got on the gun when it stopped at about 100 and acted like it saw me. Possible as the moon was pretty bright. Right as the trigger was breaking it turned and the shot caught it far back. I could see it losing intestines as it ran through the stubble and tumbled tail over head on a full tilt run. This is the one that got away when I was hammering out some kiyis and pup sounds. It left me a trail. I may go back today to see if I can find it. I hate it when they don’t die quick.
Second set I deploy the same tactics. Open with female lone howls followed by deeper lone howls on the Micro and get immediate responses from 2 separate coyotes. Both very close. I get a little aggressive and they both get worked up barking and challenging. I give it right back and go quiet. 15 minutes later I hear a killdeer bust into flight with its telltale departure song. I pick up heat back in the brush a few minutes later this male works his way in looking for the intruders. Not sure why I included the e-caller in the picture as it wasn't used. Habit I guess?
Third set finds me at the sheep farm where I had someone shoot 2 rounds on the adjoining property a week or so ago. Same exact tactics as the previous set. No vocal response this time, but after a couple minutes of silence I pick up heat down in the bottom behind a finger of trees that extends out from the main timber. I can tell it’s “The Gimp”. This is a coyote that I have been frustrated with for four years. Could never get it to commit to the property I have permission on. She has a severe and distinctive limp on her front right leg. She finally cleared the finger of trees at 125ish yards looking for Mr Micro and company and was met with a 55gr NBT from my 243. DRT! Badly deformed foot and in need of a good orthodontist!
Fourth set was again the same exact tactics. Hey’ it’s working! I’m setup in an empty paddock at a horse farm. It butts up to a block of private that I do not have permission on. I open with female lone howls and answer with male and run through the more aggressive stuff after a few minutes. About 5 or 6 minutes goes by without a response. I was about to call again when I pick up heat coming my way but outside the paddock fence. I get on the gun in hopes that it keeps advancing and comes through the steel gate. Well luckily I peered through my scanner one more time because inside the paddock at 75 yards standing on the edge of the pond was this big female! She didn’t remain standing for long!
Her boyfriend never entered the paddock. He hung back in the woods on the other property bitching me out, unwilling to come to her rescue no matter how hurt I sounded.
I wanted to keep going but with the bright moon and a NW wind I couldn’t think of a spot where I could get into the shadows. I did try one spot but about 15 steps into the winter wheat field I needed to cross, the frozen ground was just too noisy to continue. Arrived home at 3:45 AM and struggled to pass out with a smile on my face! Lol. Then Shoots100 texts me at 4:41 AM to acknowledge my success and tell me about his night.
It’s all good… I would have done the same!
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Of course I forgot about that!