Is there aerial shooting of coyotes in your area?

My mistake. When I listened to the O'Neil Ops podcast, I got the impression that you were not the one aerial gunning but rather worked with a guy that did. On a completely different note your sounds work quite well. First time I used them I called in a double and once I missed; I was able to get them to reappear using your "wife beater" sound.
 
Cal Taylor said:
As for the gunning itself, it requires a cast iron stomach and nerves of steel! Low level flying in rough country is nothing like the you tube videos from Texas in the flattest country imaginable.
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Seems like a pretty dangerous thing to do. Know there have been some bad crashes doing it.

- DAA
 
I don't do a lot of it anymore Lazer32. But still a little occasionally. I would prefer to be ground crew most of the time and go find coyotes for them and mop up cripples. I've done my share of gunning. I don't mind the air, but like Dave said, it is dangerous and I have known several guys whos lives were ended in that way. But I don't think its any worse than some of the highways I drive with oilfield traffic. The guys I know that a really great shots from the air do it a lot and stay tuned up. I'm not the greatest in that category and there are far better gunners so I generally let those guys do all they want. I still fill in once in a while. I do know first hand the glide ratio of a helicopter when it quits running in the air and its similar to a good sized lead weight. But like they say, any landing you can walk away from is a good one. Any landing where you can re-use the aircraft is a great one!
Take offs are optional. Landings are mandatory.
 
This reminds me of a story I read in the Denver Post, way back in the early 80's when they could/would write about this stuff.

There was a Colorado State Representative, from SE Colorado, that would fly to Denver for legislative sessions, and he would shoot coyotes from the aircraft. One day, his shot hit the propeller and he was forced to land.

Somebody got ahold of the propeller, polished it up (I seem to remember the propeller was wood?), and gave it to him on his retirement from the State Legislature.
 
Back thirty years or so ago it was legal for us to hire a helicopter and gun coyotes on our private ground. The ranchers hereabouts would pool their resources and take turns in the helicopter. I don't think it is anymore. I got to go up once. It was pretty exciting. We had a really good pilot.
 
Cal Taylor said:
I don't do a lot of it anymore Lazer32. But still a little occasionally. I would prefer to be ground crew most of the time and go find coyotes for them and mop up cripples. I've done my share of gunning. I don't mind the air, but like Dave said, it is dangerous and I have known several guys whos lives were ended in that way. But I don't think its any worse than some of the highways I drive with oilfield traffic. The guys I know that a really great shots from the air do it a lot and stay tuned up. I'm not the greatest in that category and there are far better gunners so I generally let those guys do all they want. I still fill in once in a while. I do know first hand the glide ratio of a helicopter when it quits running in the air and its similar to a good sized lead weight. But like they say, any landing you can walk away from is a good one. Any landing where you can re-use the aircraft is a great one!
Take offs are optional. Landings are mandatory.
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What was the highest (single day) number of coyote kills you can recall?

How about the highest number among some of the other ADC guys you know?
 
Doggin, I have broke a hundred once in the helicopter. 30 to 60 is more normal. Never that many out of the plane for me. Here anything over 20 in the plane is a pretty good morning. We hardly ever fly for more than 4 hours at a time. I do know of a helicopter deal that went over 200 in a morning in western Nebraska. I have heard of planes going over a hundred in places in Nevada.
 
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