Should have taken the shot…

[hunt0168]

The rain stopped yesterday around 7:30 or so and I suited up and headed out. I hit the spot that I killed the female of a pair back in January. Winds were right out of the north so I setup about halfway up a north/south fenceline facing west on one of the pastures of a small dairy operation. It’s only 150 yards wide east to west but approximately 600 yards long north to south. I started with some whimpers pretty quietly and after a bit went into prey distress seeing how I haven’t had any recent luck with vocalizations. I put on Titmouse Tantrum around 20 on the foxpro for a minute or so, then would toggle between it and Nutty Nuthatch raising and lowering the volume a bit. Winds were gusting pretty good at around 20 mph and as I’m scanning I pick up heat in the Southwest corner of the pasture. A coyote staring intently towards the sound. Clear shot but at 300 with the wind I felt better trying to work it in a bit. I muted the call and got it moving which I figured was the ticket. I thought it would come right down the fence line then swing out to catch the wind. So much for thinking! It headed northwest into the brush and trees never to reappear. I hit it with more bird distress, pup distress, submissive beggar, table scraps etc to no avail. I went quiet to hear a group open up well off to the northwest when I assume the one I was targeting started challenge barking deep into the woods northwest of me. I assume at the group that just fired off. I threw out some challenges of my own and stood for a good while without any further action. Hit 2 more stands with only a red fox to get me a little excited for a split second, and another group howl across the road on the third set. Got home at 1:00 AM. Work night I would have loved to stay out as the winds had calmed down somewhat and it was very dark due to the heavy cloud cover. I think it could have been a good night with more time. Optimistic thinking!… lol..

 

[Spurchaser]

Ok, stupid question…you play bird sounds at night? Guess I’ve always associated them with daytime calling, mainly because I never hear any at night. You may have just unlocked a whole heap of new prey distress sounds for me.

 

[hunt0168]

Ok, stupid question…you play bird sounds at night? Guess I’ve always associated them with daytime calling, mainly because I never hear any at night. You may have just unlocked a whole heap of new prey distress sounds for me.

Absolutely! Definitely play bird at night Spur. FP Ranting Red Bird, Nutty Nuthatch, MFK Goody Woody and Thrasher have all called coyotes at night for me. There’s more, but those are my go to’s.

 

[hunt0168]

Ok, stupid question…you play bird sounds at night? Guess I’ve always associated them with daytime calling, mainly because I never hear any at night. You may have just unlocked a whole heap of new prey distress sounds for me.

This is a red fox from last night flushing a bird off the ground. I assume a Killdeer. Had it caught it there probably would have been a bit of bird distress ringing out.

 

[jmeddy]

At least you got to see one Bob. Hopefully you can pull the trigger again before April 1.

 

[hunt0168]

At least you got to see one Bob. Hopefully you can pull the trigger again before April 1.

March 29th is last day this year, Mike. Robbing me of 2 days!

I’m thinking the one I saw was the mate to the female I killed there a couple months ago? I broke one of my usual rules and setup in the same spot I killed her. Wondering if that joker from last night had a good memory? Lol… I just wasn’t comfortable with the shot distance and the wind. It was partially behind some brush as well. If it was calm I probably would’ve sent it.

 

[soup]

Bob,
You lost nothing. Not shooting when you know you're not comfortable with the distance
is a smart hunter. I'm sure you'll get him this week. You really did get some excitement.
Soup

 

[Don_P]

Yup, almost over for the year Bob.
Sat in my "hide" Sunday, March 22, ....left at 8:30pm. With the warm light rain and ice still on the lake, foggy was an understatement, couldn't see 10 feet.
6 hrs later, Monday, March 23 2:49am......

 

[hunt0168]

Yup, almost over for the year Bob.
Sat in my "hide" Sunday, March 22, ....left at 8:30pm. With the warm light rain and ice still on the lake, foggy was an understatement, couldn't see 10 feet.
6 hrs later, Monday, March 23 2:49am......

View attachment 28337

That’s how it goes, Don. Seems like more often than not.

 

[6mm06]

Soup said my feelings exactly. I don’t like taking iffy shots, would rather just wait and keep quiet.

 

[hunt0168]

Soup said my feelings exactly. I don’t like taking iffy shots, would rather just wait and keep quiet.

Agree. No shot was taken for a reason. I’ve made shots at that distance before, but I much prefer closer. If the wind wasn’t part of the equation it may have been a different outcome.

 

[jmeddy]

March 29th is last day this year, Mike. Robbing me of 2 days!

I’m thinking the one I saw was the mate to the female I killed there a couple months ago? I broke one of my usual rules and setup in the same spot I killed her. Wondering if that joker from last night had a good memory? Lol… I just wasn’t comfortable with the shot distance and the wind. It was partially behind some brush as well. If it was calm I probably would’ve sent it.

Well Bob, the 29th ends my 75th trip around the sun so l am sending you some “mojo” for a kill night.

 

[IndexFinger]

Absolutely! Definitely play bird at night Spur. FP Ranting Red Bird, Nutty Nuthatch, MFK Goody Woody and Thrasher have all called coyotes at night for me. There’s more, but those are my go to’s.

I have called in Coyotes using .. Crow at night more than a few times.
I don't think Coyote can reason that Crow Roost at Night. They just know that when a Crow or Crows are raising hell about something. It something going on that they need to take a look at . Also used Bluejay distress around here with good results at night.
.

 

[hunt0168]

I have called in Coyotes using .. Crow at night more than a few times.
I don't think Coyote can reason that Crow Roost at Night. They just know that when a Crow or Crows are raising hell about something. It something going on that they need to take a look at . Also used Bluejay distress around here with good results at night.
.

I just think distress is distress. Honestly, I get way more call ins to bird distress at night than rabbit. Probably because EVERYBODY plays rabbit. And I agree that coyotes do not possess the reasoning skills to discern what time of day something should be making noise. Bluejay distress is another one that I have had success with.

I have never tried crow vocalizations at night, but can see how it might peak the interest of a coyote. I might need to try running rabbit distress and crow sounds with my Foxpro Fusion feature that allows 2 sounds at once.

 

[Spurchaser]

Didn’t mean to hijack the thread, but thanks y’all!!

 

[spotstalkshoot]

I have seen surprising numbers of birds(on the ground) moving about in the spring/fall migrations, making a lot of noise. I'm sure predators would utilize the food source if possible. Which likely would be sick or injured or those at disadvantage because of darkness. Of course during nesting seasons, eggs and chicks are in play.