Iowa hunters

Cedar Rapids here, havent been out yet. had 2 come under my stand bowhunting. one of them started rubbing its nose and pawing at a scrape I was hunting over, had to put the wack on it. never been that close to one it was less than 15 yards away
 
Today a little before 7am went out and saw that I had a opossum in one of my live traps, so I went inside and just got my ruger 10/22 and instead of going back outside I shot him from my upstairs family room. After I shoot it 2 times to make sure it was dead, I mean right after one coyote ran about 10 yards vertical from the trap towards my creek, then another right after!2 coyotes! And I cant believe it, it just happen so fast, I really had no time to think or aim to look into the scope. So I rushed and got some camo on and my pack back of goodies and my remington r15, went looking for a while, then I set up my johny stewart caller, then I went into one of my tree stands and waited and called, but nothing! So any advice what I should of done? Or anything? Still I cant believe those 2 got away from me!
 
Well this work thing has been getting in the way of the hunting thing. Looks like I need to remedy that PDQ. Seen several yotes and a bunch of fox this fall. Lots to shoot along the Mississippi.
 
I've been out several times between D.M. and I.C., zilch so far (seems like a common theme). All our crops are out, finally. I usually dont start until late Dec but thought I'd try it before shotguns season to see if they were any dumber.
Two coons investigated the last stand and the RRA collected its first double, so it wasnt a total waste. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Finally heading out in the mourning to do a little calling. Been tring to get a deer with the bow but I think its time to try for a few coyotes before shotgun season starts. Seen one coyote last week while bowhunting, he would have been toast if I had the 250!
 
Live in Iowa but have called many other places, Iowa in my estimation is some of the poorest calling available, generally speaking ,although some areas may be acceptable. One call stand in ten response may be and has been the last number of years a pretty optimistic expectation in my area.There are so many distractions as a coyote comes to the call.. roads every mile,livestock being tended daily in fields, deer hunters,pheasant hunters, dogs barking at you call ,lack of cover, pickups chasing coyotes etc,. Alot of places the furthest you can get from a road is 1/2 mile.And the last several years a definite lack of coyotes.I have done and know how to successfully call, but here it is not hardly worth the time.Coyotes become very wary once the bird seasons and deer seasons start and don't respond consistently.
 
I had my best day so far calling without actually killing one. My Dad and I started this mourning before first light. We got set up on a hillside overlooking a cut CRP field and picked cornfield. I didn't get more than 5 min. into a seq. when I caught movement. I think the coyote was circling around my Dad but he got impatient and shot at 206 yards. He missed and I started to do a pup distress. Couple minutes later after I started back up with the bunny blues, I see another one leaving about 250-300 yards out so I let one fly. Another miss for me. I didn't even notice there were two more coyotes coming in from the north. Four coyotes in one set, would have made for some awesome video if we would have atleast got one. This in within 100 yards from where I shot my first called in coyote last year.
 
I have only been out 3 times, been sick then the wife was sick, I got out 2 times the first weekend in Nov. and then today, have not called anything in. But Thanksgiving night was good, kinda. I was watching TV and could here some noise outside, went to the garage and could here about 4 or 5 coyotes howling and yapping, sounded like the were in the road ditch, so I grabbed a hand call and 17HMR, which was the fastest gun I could grab and opened up the garage door and stood inside and started to call within 3 min. I could see something moving around so I did a couple of lip squeaks and here it comes, I barked when it got under the security light about 40 yards out and took the shot it went down and flopped over in some tall grass, so I started to call again and nothing else responded. I grapped the flashlight and went looking for it, nothing not even blood. Got up the next morning and went looking for it but never found it. I was aiming for it's chest, but must not of got a good hit on it. Next time I will take a little more time and get the 223 out. I called one in and shot it last year about this time of my back deck.
Right now I should be out in the sandhills of NE calling but had to cancel because the wife was in the hospital for 3 days earlier this week, oh well, I will just go next year and add an extra day or two. Good luck all you Iowa guys.

Booger
 
I was out Wednesday morning and made 6 stands before the wind whipped up too much. I called one in on my first stand and none of the next 5. He was 60 yds away and wouldn't move, so I shot him with my 12 gauge (wish I had my .223), using Carlson Dead Coyote choke and Dead Coyote shell. I definitely hit him, but he turned and trotted into the woods. I found no blood, nor did I track him. So much for Dead Coyote 70 yd. advertisement! The coyote just stared at my moving decoy and didn't see me.
I live in SE Iowa.
 
i have been out once just coyote hunting, called two and shot one, but let me tell you about a deer hunt i had a few weeks ago

i was stalking a doe, when i heard her blowing at something. the wind was in my favor and i know she hadnt seen me so i figured she wasnt blowing at me and i could continue the stalk. so as i crept closer and closer i got to a thick pine tree and heard a low pitched moan... when i got to looking around i had walked up on a bobcat mother and her kittens, one of the kittens got out of the nest and walked right to me. I backed out and went far enough away to loose the intrest of the kitten and watched a while but the cats never came out of the tree till i left and i didnt want the kitten to get two far out so i just snuck out of there and kept hunting, didnt get the doe but it was an awsome hunt in my book. most people will never get that close to a bobcat and her litter. i will also never go hunting without my camera agian!!!! cause i wish i had pictures. this year is going to be a good one for predator hunting i can feel it in my bones. i just wish it wasnt so inconveniant to go out during deer season(s). I will probably do very littel yote hunting in iowa till the last week of december anyway.
 
I live in adair county iowa, have been out four or five times.Have called two coyotes but murphy took over so no
fur. we still have a lot of corn and beans out in the
fields yet. Has been a terrible year for farmers to get
through harvest.
 
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