Howling nebraska coyotes

Rich Cronk

Rich Cronk

New member
I just got back from north central nebraska, where I did some howling around Oneill and Spencer. Mange seems to have taken it's toll on the coyote population but there are still a few of them around. I didn't see very much coyote sign, and only heard two or three of the buggers howling one night. While working a ranch west of Spencer where the owner has had a calf or two eaten by coyotes, I did manage to howl up one big old male. I had setup overlooking a deep canyon that looked quite promising. The view from my perch was fairly good except for that one patch of cedars on my far left about 40 yards away. I figure that the coyote would pop out of those nearby cedars, so I had the Mauser pointing in that direction. I howled three times and then went silent. The big male coyote popped out of those cedars and stopped to look around a bit. I could tell by the expression on his face that he was looking for something so I gave it to him in the form of a 100 grain Sierra moving out at 3200 fps. This coyote was stricken pretty bad with mange. He smelled worse than a skunk and his belly was that telltale pink color that spells mange. I think I did him a favor by feeding him the sierra because mange is not a pretty death. I will post his photo as soon as I get it developed.

Redfrog,
If you could only have been there and seen all of those wild turkeys! You would have turned from red to green my friend. Turkeys everywhere, and they were still mating! The turkeys have the coyotes out numbered about ten to one in that area. LOL /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Rich,
You were smack in the middle of coyote heaven there! Sound like you had a good trip. While I was planting corn one evening, a nice sized yote walked out of a borrow pit at the end of a field and just stood there staring at me. He knew I was over a half mile from my swift! I have the spot marked for later revisitation. Glad you had some success howling. I think that technique gets ignored alot around here. I've howled them in from places that have to get hit pretty hard since they're so close to O'Neill. Howling is something that alot of people won't try because they think it is to hard to do well, or they think it takes to long to get it right. Its their loss I say. More for you and me! Nothing like sitting up against a cedar tree southwest of Spencer and having 3 coyotes on 3 sides of you answer from less than half mile away. Music to my ears.
Let me know if you journey this way again sometime. We may be able to work out a hunt.

Rick L.
 
Rich, congrats on a successful hunt. I've hunted in and around Paxton and Keystone, quite a bit actually. On both the North and the South Platte. I'll agree on the howling, not many practice that technique and as flatshot said, their loss. Ain't nothing like sitting up against some blowdowns, using a hand call, howling with only the sound of an occasional passing freight train passing by....damn I love that area. Nebraska is in my opinion one of the best coyote hunting states left. The place was chocked full of them, beautiful scenery and willing ranchers.

You liked that herd of Merriams eh? Tons of them out there!
 
Greenside,
You pinned me down with that there question. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif The coyote pups are on the ground now, and I knew that if I got anywhere close to a den I could upset the mom and Pop by sounding like a strange coyote in the area. I did mix in some puppy squeals with the howls, so I will never know for certain if the old male came in to defend his pups or if he just wanted puppy for lunch. I couldn't ask him either because the Ackley caused him to become very dead. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Flatshot,
I will most certainly be coming out your way again very soon. I believe that the howling will become more effective after june 1st, and will remain a top coyote magnet at least through july. You may want to E mail me at cronkcalls@aol.com
 
Hey Rich, Good job on the hunt. You guys keep talking about those turkeys.Looks like I'm gonna have to try that. I think they have some in Alberta on a draw. The draws are out in a few weeks, so I'll check it out.
Redfrog
 
Wow Rich,
I just flashed back to some good old times!! I lived in O'neill for a few years. If we weren't cat fishing at Spencer Dam, we were chasing coyotes and coon along the Niobrara and the Elkhorn from Springview to Ewing. From your report it is still some of the friendliest country in the USA, and still has a few yotes.
 
MTSTCON,
Springview? Man OH man, you are talking about some mighty fine country. I started grade school just south-west of that town. It is indeed beautiful country in north central nebraska, and some of the most friendly people who ever walked the earth live in that area. The niobrara river is where I learned to swim. The breaks or "canyons" on both sides of that river are full of coyotes, rattlesnakes, deer, turkey and a whole lot of peace & quiet. Need I say more? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Good job Rich ,too bad there wasn't more,good to get rid of those mange coyote calf killers.Sounds like you had a good time though. Oh yeah lots of turkeys ,need to go turkey hunting sometime??? Nahh, can't give up a good day of coyote hunting for a turkey!!! Pat /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Rich,
Your right about that being God's country. I lived in the Rock & Holt county areas for just for a few years. I was born and raised in western Nebraska (Sheridan Co) where all the Merrimans (for you Redfrog) really live. LOL
 
Hi Rich, I've talked to you on the phone a few times and we were going this weekend right to where you were talking about. I wonder if we would have crossed paths on one of those country roads.I sure would have recognized an Iowa plate and surely would have recognized you. We'll be that way the last of October. Hope mange hasn't gotten any worse. Good luck this year.

Barry
 
Alright already! Would ya'll just shoosh! This pristine, virgin country is mine and ya can't have it. Turkeys? We ain't got no turkeys. Thems emus and ostriches. Why, I even seen Llamas and Angora goats here. I bet thats what you been seein', not coyotes. Them goats look alot like wooly ole coyotes. And forget the beautiful scenery. If it was so beautiful out here we would have more than the 1.2 persons per square mile or whatever it is, living in these parts. Naw, stay home. I'm sure you have it better wherever you live. Just ask Ted Turner. He owns half the state, but does he live here? Would he ever move the Braves to Hyannis? No, he's better off at home and so are you. No game here. Its all just Game and Parks propoganda in the brochure.
Excuse me, there's the oven timer. My baked pheasant and catfish fillets are done, er, uh chicken and fish sticks I mean.

Rick
 
Great pictures, Rich! Congrats on having some success on your hunt! Glad you had a good time. Mange must be kind of a problem right now. The last two I got back at the end of January had it, too. One was a really small, frail little female, and she had mange really bad. The other was a nice big male, and he just had the tell-tale signs of mange starting on his belly. Glad to take them out of their misery. Haven't called since then......I enjoy the cooler months for calling for some reason. Thanks for posting the pics!

Flatshot-- Well said...and 100% truthful! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 


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