Snowshoes
Well-known member
I still had some holiday time left and figured this week would be as good as any to take off.
My plans were to coyote hunt in the morning, getting 1-2, possibly 3 sets in.
Not hunting all day hard, as I have some other projects needing my attention.(Friday might be the exception)
Monday Dec.17
Went back to the area of the poultry farm this morning to see if I could find a coyote or two(same area as last Saturday). The breeze was from the southwest which was perfect for where I wanted to sit. Parked the truck in a ravine to north this time around instead of on an approach to the east. From there I walked to the southwest towards a north/south fence line. On Saturday I seen a couple coyotes headed north along the fence line and that would be where I would sit today. For the last 100 yards of my trek, I was following a well packed coyote trail that ran along the fence. Not only encouraging to see such a well packed trail, it did make the walk easier.
Got set up in front of a thick willow bush and it wasn’t long before seeing four coyotes on the manure piles east of the barns. A few minutes later I see another coyote cutting across the field to the west of me. Being a few minutes before legal shooting light, this coyote is safe but I'm not worried as I expect more coyotes to venture past in the next half hour or so.
The coyotes don’t disappoint, as I have a pair coming up the trail towards me within 20 minutes. A bark to stop the lead dog is followed with a 60 yard shot which puts it on the ground. The other coyote spins around and it’s gone.
Wasn't to long before I see 5 other coyotes leaving the area to the south. Sat for another half hour but nothing else ventured my direction.
Drag the coyote to a spot where I can get the truck to. Fifteen minutes later I pull up and it dawned on me, that I forgot to take a picture of where I dropped the coyote. Took an "after the fact" picture before loading it up.
Next spot is two miles straight north. I have always wanted to try calling this area but for some reason never got around to it. Parked the truck in a low spot and from there walked into an area with a series of slough bottoms and brush. Looked the area over and realized I didn't like where I was located. Walked back to the truck and left the area, to leave this area for another time.
From there I head 3 miles northeast to a slough bottom where I shot a double a few weeks back. Went through a series of different calls but never seen any coyotes. A half mile away, there was a tractor loading round bales on a truck which may have had the coyotes a little leery.
Tuesday Dec.18
This morning was very similar weather conditions to yesterday. At first light I am already sitting in a spot where I can watch the same area of the poultry barns as yesterday. I set up to the southeast of the farm today and once again I see a total of five coyotes but luck was on their side this go around. Never had a decent opportunity for a shot and my stalk on one was a total bust also.
From there I head two miles west and a half mile south to an area I haven’t called for a couple years. I do see a coyote on my drive but the wind was wrong to try calling this one.
I arrive at my call location and I’m very disappointed with what I see. Almost all the small bush patches have been brushed. A few years back, my son and called in a group of 5 and we managed to take 2 here. It was a much colder morning with considerably more trees back then.
Still a few small bush patches and a fair bit of pasture land with a large slough in the center. Tried calling the area but to no avail.
From there I drove a mile east and 3 miles north to a fairly large bush patch that also has a few small sloughs in the center.
My son and I tried calling this spot 3 years ago but had no luck. I liked the look of the area and figured it deserved another try.
Parked on an approach and as I am getting my gear together, I hear a coyote give a few short howls to the west of me. My heart beat now increases with anticipation of calling a coyote in . I walk a quarter mile west and set up with some brush behind me and a large popular tree at my back. I am set up looking west to southwest.
Start off with a couple howls using the diaphragm reed but get no answer. Then a few minutes later I switch to distress cries using the bite call but still no sightings.
Last hope is to try some yelps with the diaphragm reed and that produces a coyote along a fence to the northwest. A quick range shows 382 yards.
I’m set up perfectly as the sun is in the coyotes eyes and I can see its straining to see that phantom coyote on the flat between us.
I give some more yelps and the coyote comes 20 yards closer and I keep using this technique to get the coyote closer & closer. The coyote covers a fair bit of ground but then sits down,leaving only it's head visible. Yelps were no longer working so I try the bite call again but that doesn’t work either. I try lip squeaks and that gets the coyote on the move again. Two more series of lip squeaks brings the coyote much closer but once again it decides to sit down and look the area over. I range the coyote at 204 yards and the next move is to put the crosshairs on its chest. A touch of the trigger sends a bullet to its target. Nice female coyote ( on the trail & facing the direction it came from).
[/
Not getting a lot of coyotes on my last couple outings but I am thankful to not come home empty handed
This post and several of the follow-ups are
My plans were to coyote hunt in the morning, getting 1-2, possibly 3 sets in.
Not hunting all day hard, as I have some other projects needing my attention.(Friday might be the exception)
Monday Dec.17
Went back to the area of the poultry farm this morning to see if I could find a coyote or two(same area as last Saturday). The breeze was from the southwest which was perfect for where I wanted to sit. Parked the truck in a ravine to north this time around instead of on an approach to the east. From there I walked to the southwest towards a north/south fence line. On Saturday I seen a couple coyotes headed north along the fence line and that would be where I would sit today. For the last 100 yards of my trek, I was following a well packed coyote trail that ran along the fence. Not only encouraging to see such a well packed trail, it did make the walk easier.
Got set up in front of a thick willow bush and it wasn’t long before seeing four coyotes on the manure piles east of the barns. A few minutes later I see another coyote cutting across the field to the west of me. Being a few minutes before legal shooting light, this coyote is safe but I'm not worried as I expect more coyotes to venture past in the next half hour or so.
The coyotes don’t disappoint, as I have a pair coming up the trail towards me within 20 minutes. A bark to stop the lead dog is followed with a 60 yard shot which puts it on the ground. The other coyote spins around and it’s gone.
Wasn't to long before I see 5 other coyotes leaving the area to the south. Sat for another half hour but nothing else ventured my direction.
Drag the coyote to a spot where I can get the truck to. Fifteen minutes later I pull up and it dawned on me, that I forgot to take a picture of where I dropped the coyote. Took an "after the fact" picture before loading it up.
Next spot is two miles straight north. I have always wanted to try calling this area but for some reason never got around to it. Parked the truck in a low spot and from there walked into an area with a series of slough bottoms and brush. Looked the area over and realized I didn't like where I was located. Walked back to the truck and left the area, to leave this area for another time.
From there I head 3 miles northeast to a slough bottom where I shot a double a few weeks back. Went through a series of different calls but never seen any coyotes. A half mile away, there was a tractor loading round bales on a truck which may have had the coyotes a little leery.
Tuesday Dec.18
This morning was very similar weather conditions to yesterday. At first light I am already sitting in a spot where I can watch the same area of the poultry barns as yesterday. I set up to the southeast of the farm today and once again I see a total of five coyotes but luck was on their side this go around. Never had a decent opportunity for a shot and my stalk on one was a total bust also.
From there I head two miles west and a half mile south to an area I haven’t called for a couple years. I do see a coyote on my drive but the wind was wrong to try calling this one.
I arrive at my call location and I’m very disappointed with what I see. Almost all the small bush patches have been brushed. A few years back, my son and called in a group of 5 and we managed to take 2 here. It was a much colder morning with considerably more trees back then.
Still a few small bush patches and a fair bit of pasture land with a large slough in the center. Tried calling the area but to no avail.
From there I drove a mile east and 3 miles north to a fairly large bush patch that also has a few small sloughs in the center.
My son and I tried calling this spot 3 years ago but had no luck. I liked the look of the area and figured it deserved another try.
Parked on an approach and as I am getting my gear together, I hear a coyote give a few short howls to the west of me. My heart beat now increases with anticipation of calling a coyote in . I walk a quarter mile west and set up with some brush behind me and a large popular tree at my back. I am set up looking west to southwest.
Start off with a couple howls using the diaphragm reed but get no answer. Then a few minutes later I switch to distress cries using the bite call but still no sightings.
Last hope is to try some yelps with the diaphragm reed and that produces a coyote along a fence to the northwest. A quick range shows 382 yards.
I’m set up perfectly as the sun is in the coyotes eyes and I can see its straining to see that phantom coyote on the flat between us.
I give some more yelps and the coyote comes 20 yards closer and I keep using this technique to get the coyote closer & closer. The coyote covers a fair bit of ground but then sits down,leaving only it's head visible. Yelps were no longer working so I try the bite call again but that doesn’t work either. I try lip squeaks and that gets the coyote on the move again. Two more series of lip squeaks brings the coyote much closer but once again it decides to sit down and look the area over. I range the coyote at 204 yards and the next move is to put the crosshairs on its chest. A touch of the trigger sends a bullet to its target. Nice female coyote ( on the trail & facing the direction it came from).
[/
Not getting a lot of coyotes on my last couple outings but I am thankful to not come home empty handed
This post and several of the follow-ups are