I left early the morning of Nov. 11th for Montana to try my luck on coyotes. I met a friend from Minnesota there and although the coyote count was low we really enjoyed our time hunting. We seen some great coyote country and a pile of deer but the unseasonable warm temperatures made for poor response from coyotes.
I left on the 16th for home, which had just received a heavy blanket snow. Drove all day and made good time with only two stops for fuel and stretch the legs.
Roads were good and I never seen snow till an hour before home. The further north I traveled the more snow I found. We had roughly 8 inches of the white stuff when pulled into our yard.
I did make the journey out to call coyotes at first light the morning of the 17th and the first place I chose was a ravine 4 miles from home.
Never seen anything there and after 20 minutes I found myself walking back to the truck with plans of my next location. Drove a couple miles on snow covered roads and then down an oil lease road where I parked the truck next to some
pasture land. The heavy accumulation of snow was taxing the legs on my 500 yard journey but I had a good feeling about this spot. Settled in by a corner post that gave me an elevated view of willow choked slough bottom that historically holds coyotes. Started the e-caller off with mole squeaks
and let them play for a couple minutes, then sat and waited before switching over to an open reed. I was about to put the mole squeaks back on when I see a coyote standing at the edge of the trees. The coyote is just looking the field over so I slowly lift the e-caller up and put mole squeaks on, the
coyote starts trotting straight towards me but stops 2 or three times to look back. I figure there to be a second one but can't see it. The coyote
then stops at roughly 275 yards and turns around and walks back towards the trees. The winds is perfect and I am sure the coyote never picked me out. It stops just shy of the trees, which I have already ranged at 317 yards. I raised up a bit with the cross hairs and touch off the trigger. I hear a
whap, the coyote yelps and tears off into the trees. Chamber another round and pull out the howler to do some yelps when I see a second coyote skirting the edge of the trees but unfortunately it was leaving. I gave some yelps anyways but the second coyote never came back. I sat for a minute watching
in hopes something might appear and sure enough I see a coyote along a fence line roughly 500 yards away. Its calm out so I try some more mole squeaks but not sure the coyote heard them as it disappeared into a draw and not sure what way it was headed. Play some cottontail and here comes the coyote
which is shortly followed by another. The two cover roughly 200 yards and then stop. I play some squeaks and here they come again. I let the lead one get to 209 yards and when it stops, down it goes. The second one trots back towards the bush and stops on a mound, raise up a bit with the
cross hairs and drop it in its tracks. Called some more but nothing else shows. (third coyote was 319 yards)
Four coyotes seen and three hit. I walk back and get the truck and drive down to where the first one tore into the bush. Found a light blood trail that led into the trees, which were so thick I had a hard time finding a spot to get into them. The bush was only fit for coyotes and magpies, not
humans! I was down on hand and knees at times trying to follow the faint trail. Long story short, I spent an hour and quarter looking but never found it after losing all sign.
Finally called defeat and walked out to collect the other two. The second coyote shot was not a good coyote but the last one was decent.
Went out for a quick stand before supper. Parked the truck on the east side of a large block of bush and walked to south side of the block. Set up in front a clump of wheat straw and started off with some cottontail distress. Almost instantly I have a coyote coming along the edge of the field. I let this one get well within range before pulling the trigger. 109 yard shot drops this one.