shankbone
New member
My name is Shankbone...and I'm addicted to hand calls.
My collection isn't as big as most of the collectors on here, but I added a new commercial call last weekend while waiting for some custom calls from Rare Earth and Oregon310.
I coach track and our season ended on Friday, so I didn't have to host a Sunday clinic and had a little time to test out my new call. I headed down to a place a call "Coyote Canyon," which is a miles-long draw that connects two ranches I have access to. While taking a short cut to the middle of the first ranch, I spotted a coyote about 500 yards off to my right, up on the hillside. I'm no Chris Kyle, so I stopped my rig and through my binoculars, watched the large adult coyote watch me before loping off up over the ridge and out of sight.
I thought about circling around to the west of the coyote, but the nearest road was 1.5 miles away from the CRP that the coyote had disappeared into--and there is no way to hide a rig over there, so I continued to my destination. I parked and started the long walk in to a spot I had called in one coyote and spotted another in about four different trips.
I carried my sling seat with my calls and Mojo Critter stuffed in the mesh pocket, and my other hand held my Trigger Sticks tri-pod, which I love for elk and deer hunting, but I think I want to upgrade(downgrade?) to the bipod version for predator hunting. With my hands full, I hiked up out of the sagebrush-choked draw to the edge of farmer's field and started walking through the cheet grass at the edge of the field. A crosswind was blowing from my left to right, so my hopes were up for making it to the stand without getting winded first.
About a quarter-mile into my walk I saw two ears poke up out of the grass in a little dip in the landscape about 50 yards in front of me. I quickly dropped to one knee as the coyote jerked his head in my direction and took a step forward, exposing his chest. I gently set down my tripod and chair, trying not to spook the coyote. I had just put an Ultimate Sling rifle sling on my rifle and I had it in the backpack configuration, with one strap over each shoulder, so it took me a second to get the rifle to my shoulder. I worried that the coyote would bolt down into the draw, put when I popped my scope cover, he was still staring right at me. I thumbed the safety, centered the crosshairs, and--breaking tradition--squeezed instead of jerked the trigger.
After the blast, I could see one of his legs kick up over the grass, and then slowly fall. Now that the rush of adrenaline was over, I could tell that he was much closer than I had initially thought, maybe 30-35 yards away. At that moment I had a small pang of regret because I had my G29 in my chest holster and I probably could've made the shot with my pistol--but in split second, my mind went to my go-to gun. I'm no Chris Kyle with a rifle, and I'm certainly no Elmer Keith with a pistol, so it's probably better that I went to the rifle.
Here's where the little guy lay and a pic of my rifle. I'm really digging the Browning X-Bolt. The .243 58g Winchester ballistic tip ammo did not exit and certainly dropped this guy with authority, but a .22LR would've sufficed at this range.
He was certainly young and dumb and I would've preferred to have taken him this coming December, but there's no shortage of coyotes around here, and I have to hunt coyote year-round to keep my access to some of the places I hunt, this spot included.
I went ahead and hiked on to the spot I planned to test my new call, as it was still another 1/4 of a mile from where I shot. The call--a Circe--sounded "good" but not great, so I was glad I only spent $10 on it. The stand was dry, but I had a great view and it looked promising (as you can see in the landscape photo above).
I stripped the tail off the coyote to add to my collection for a friendly competition I have with one of my hunting partners. My little jack russel loves to tear 'em up. On the drive out, I stopped and did a few locator howls while enjoying the moon climbing up over the hills. I didn't get any responses, but I had a long drive ahead of me, so I was probably too impatient on my wait times.
Here's the sling I was using. It really does a great job holding my rifle on my bony little shoulders and it is certainly lighter than the Claw sling I was using earlier. Ultimate Sling
I coach track and our season ended on Friday, so I didn't have to host a Sunday clinic and had a little time to test out my new call. I headed down to a place a call "Coyote Canyon," which is a miles-long draw that connects two ranches I have access to. While taking a short cut to the middle of the first ranch, I spotted a coyote about 500 yards off to my right, up on the hillside. I'm no Chris Kyle, so I stopped my rig and through my binoculars, watched the large adult coyote watch me before loping off up over the ridge and out of sight.
I thought about circling around to the west of the coyote, but the nearest road was 1.5 miles away from the CRP that the coyote had disappeared into--and there is no way to hide a rig over there, so I continued to my destination. I parked and started the long walk in to a spot I had called in one coyote and spotted another in about four different trips.
I carried my sling seat with my calls and Mojo Critter stuffed in the mesh pocket, and my other hand held my Trigger Sticks tri-pod, which I love for elk and deer hunting, but I think I want to upgrade(downgrade?) to the bipod version for predator hunting. With my hands full, I hiked up out of the sagebrush-choked draw to the edge of farmer's field and started walking through the cheet grass at the edge of the field. A crosswind was blowing from my left to right, so my hopes were up for making it to the stand without getting winded first.
About a quarter-mile into my walk I saw two ears poke up out of the grass in a little dip in the landscape about 50 yards in front of me. I quickly dropped to one knee as the coyote jerked his head in my direction and took a step forward, exposing his chest. I gently set down my tripod and chair, trying not to spook the coyote. I had just put an Ultimate Sling rifle sling on my rifle and I had it in the backpack configuration, with one strap over each shoulder, so it took me a second to get the rifle to my shoulder. I worried that the coyote would bolt down into the draw, put when I popped my scope cover, he was still staring right at me. I thumbed the safety, centered the crosshairs, and--breaking tradition--squeezed instead of jerked the trigger.
After the blast, I could see one of his legs kick up over the grass, and then slowly fall. Now that the rush of adrenaline was over, I could tell that he was much closer than I had initially thought, maybe 30-35 yards away. At that moment I had a small pang of regret because I had my G29 in my chest holster and I probably could've made the shot with my pistol--but in split second, my mind went to my go-to gun. I'm no Chris Kyle with a rifle, and I'm certainly no Elmer Keith with a pistol, so it's probably better that I went to the rifle.
Here's where the little guy lay and a pic of my rifle. I'm really digging the Browning X-Bolt. The .243 58g Winchester ballistic tip ammo did not exit and certainly dropped this guy with authority, but a .22LR would've sufficed at this range.
He was certainly young and dumb and I would've preferred to have taken him this coming December, but there's no shortage of coyotes around here, and I have to hunt coyote year-round to keep my access to some of the places I hunt, this spot included.
I went ahead and hiked on to the spot I planned to test my new call, as it was still another 1/4 of a mile from where I shot. The call--a Circe--sounded "good" but not great, so I was glad I only spent $10 on it. The stand was dry, but I had a great view and it looked promising (as you can see in the landscape photo above).
I stripped the tail off the coyote to add to my collection for a friendly competition I have with one of my hunting partners. My little jack russel loves to tear 'em up. On the drive out, I stopped and did a few locator howls while enjoying the moon climbing up over the hills. I didn't get any responses, but I had a long drive ahead of me, so I was probably too impatient on my wait times.
Here's the sling I was using. It really does a great job holding my rifle on my bony little shoulders and it is certainly lighter than the Claw sling I was using earlier. Ultimate Sling
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