YoteslayerWA
Well-known member
This year has been my worst year of my 15 years of coyote hunting. I typically get 25-40 coyotes a season. This year I have only killed 5 coyotes and it has been very disappointing. This may be my last outing before I give them a break until fall. I decided to try to make the best of a decent condition day and go hunting.
The ranches that I usually hunt are right in the middle of calving season, so I decided I would hunt around the cattle and try to pick up a coyote or two without calling. At first light I sat at a spot overlooking a heard of about 200 heifers with calves. I waited about an hour, and nothing ever showed up. off to the next spot.
I drove over to the other large herd and scanned for coyotes. I spotted one making its way down toward the herd of cows. I assessed the situation and decided to move in on the coyote. I had the sun at my back, wind in my favor and the herd between me and him. I figured the movement of the herd would mask my movement and I could get to a decent range.
I was able to get much closer to the coyote and my plan had worked. The coyote was by a couple of newly born calves and their mothers, and the one mom was trying to chase of the coyote. I took a range and the coyote was 350 yards and facing me. I dialed 4 MOA and decided to take the shot. The coyote disappeared from the ledge he was standing on but the sound told me I had connected.
Shortly after the rancher showed up to feed the cows. He informed me he had a cow go down and told me the location of the carcass. I decided that would be my next move.
I got parked about a half mile from where the carcass was located and had the wind in my favor. I got in to about 150 yards when I saw where the cow was located. There was one coyote on the carcass and he had no clue I was there. I got the tripod set up and took the shot. The .260 did its job and the coyote went down without s flinch. Upon the shot I caught movement to my right and there was a second coyote running across a winter wheat field. He never stopped and I missed him one on the run about 400 yards out.
I made a few calling sets after that and they were both blanks. The wind was starting to pick up so I chose to call it an early day.
The ranches that I usually hunt are right in the middle of calving season, so I decided I would hunt around the cattle and try to pick up a coyote or two without calling. At first light I sat at a spot overlooking a heard of about 200 heifers with calves. I waited about an hour, and nothing ever showed up. off to the next spot.
I drove over to the other large herd and scanned for coyotes. I spotted one making its way down toward the herd of cows. I assessed the situation and decided to move in on the coyote. I had the sun at my back, wind in my favor and the herd between me and him. I figured the movement of the herd would mask my movement and I could get to a decent range.
I was able to get much closer to the coyote and my plan had worked. The coyote was by a couple of newly born calves and their mothers, and the one mom was trying to chase of the coyote. I took a range and the coyote was 350 yards and facing me. I dialed 4 MOA and decided to take the shot. The coyote disappeared from the ledge he was standing on but the sound told me I had connected.
Shortly after the rancher showed up to feed the cows. He informed me he had a cow go down and told me the location of the carcass. I decided that would be my next move.
I got parked about a half mile from where the carcass was located and had the wind in my favor. I got in to about 150 yards when I saw where the cow was located. There was one coyote on the carcass and he had no clue I was there. I got the tripod set up and took the shot. The .260 did its job and the coyote went down without s flinch. Upon the shot I caught movement to my right and there was a second coyote running across a winter wheat field. He never stopped and I missed him one on the run about 400 yards out.
I made a few calling sets after that and they were both blanks. The wind was starting to pick up so I chose to call it an early day.
