Well Thursday was a no-go. Winds 12-15 mph, blowing snow all over the place. NOT the kind of visibility for lettin' a .308 loose...
Went this morning with Chuck. Wind at 2-3mph, PERFECT! Everything was coated in white, and LOTS of fresh Coyote tracks in the snow... I took rifle AND shotgun. Sometimes my glasses get fogged and I have missed Coyotes this way. I figure, if that happens, I'll put my glasses in my pocket and use the shotgun (870 with 00 Buck).
Two stands (Chuck works this afternoon), called three Coyotes, killed two. Third one was (apparently) at about 375 yards (when I THOUGHT he was at 300). Bullet went right under him (should've seen him haul #$&!).
Here's the story (pic at the bottom, I HOPE)...
We were running a little late (slept in) and reached our first stand at 7:30. A cattle pasture (with about 45 head) 500 yards across and about a mile long. A fence row and several mature trees run East/West, dividing the pasture in half.
We start walking in along the trees/fence, and this lady pulls up on the road, probably the wife of the guy who owns the cattle (leasing the land for grazing). From 150 yards away she hollers, "Hey! Do you have PERMISSION!?" I answer back, "YES!" Then she wants to know, "From WHO?" So I tell her, and she says, "COOL! THANKS!" and drives off.
Now, I figure every Coyote in two Counties knows we're here... But, we're knee deep in snow, and half way to our stand... We figure, "We already here. Let's TRY."
I'm between two large trees, in the shade (fat guys don't like sittin' on the ground...) I'll watch the South, while Chuck takes the North. I'm on a slight slope, so nuthin' from the South can see me, but EVERYTHING from the North can see me. I'm using a Johnny Stewart Cottontail cassette, and call in a Coyote (at about 14 minutes) from the North (Chuck's side). He MISSED the standing shot (STILL can't figure that one out). I turn around and see this Coyote running across the pasture... I'm thinkin' "Shotgun or Rifle" (he's at about 40 yards... I reach for the rifle (too LATE for the shotgun), as Chuck DROPS this Coyote (D.R.T.) with a running shot!
At our second stand (where I got a DOUBLE the day after Thanksgiving) we spot two sets of fresh tracks as we walk in. They're heading right to where we plan to set up... Chuck sets up along the fence, and I get between two large trees (standing in the shadows). I had placed the remote speaker on my Johnny Stewart Attractor on the barbed wire about 100 feet away...
Chuck and I are about 100 yards apart, and can't see each other. After Chuck calls for about 12 minutes, I see a Coyote to the North, at nearly 400 yards, but he's coming my direction... I hit the Cottontail sound on my Johnny Stewart Attractor, and he begins closin' in on the noise... He's on the other side of a large ditch (40' across and 20' deep), but there's no water running in it. My .308 is zeroed at 200 yards, which is just about the distance to where I expect him to cross. At just about the perfect distance for my zero, the Coyote takes a pause... I'm rested on a shooting stick, supported against a tree, nice and solid... This is a pretty long shot, but I don't want him to get my scent. I start to squeeze, slowly...
Just as I'm expecting to hear my rifle to fire, I hear CHUCK's rifle fire! Behind me, to the SouthWest he's just dropped ANOTHER Coyote!
My dog takes off, but takes that last "look back" at about 300 yards. Or, at least I THOUGHT it was 300... I rested the crosshairs barely above his back and fired... The bullet went under him (between front/back feet) and threw snow everywhere on the other side.
Wiley Coyote says, "Exit! Stage North! Even!" and is GONE!
What a GREAT morning. Chuck's at his place skinnin' 'em right now. I'm sitting down to breakfast...
Here's the Pic. He's holding MY rifle, his was already cased up when I dug out the camera...
HUNT SAFE!
70Tactical