Snowshoes
Well-known member
Well it’s been awhile since any coyote activity on my part. Last weekend (Dec 2 & 3) we were gone & I never got a chance to get out hunting.
This weekend was warm which made Saturday’s calling a total bust. Did 2 stands in prime area’s but couldn’t even get the magpies excited. As a last resort I decided to check a nearby valley which proved to be encouraging. Bright blue skies and well above freezing temperatures made glassing the valley a real treat. A half mile away I see 3 coyotes bedded along the creek and 2 above them on a cow carcass. The ole brain gears are now put into motion of how to make a sneak on them.
My plans are short lived when I see all the coyotes suddenly on the move to the south across the valley. An addition 3 coyotes join the southward coyote migration for a total of 8 now. A half minute passes and I see the reason for the coyotes retreat, a tractor was coming across the field with a round bale and passed fairly close to the cow carcass.................................... Tomorrow will be a new day.
Sunday morning temprature was at the freezing mark & calm as I made the half mile trudge through snow that was too soft to hold up my body weight. Set up with my back against a large tree that was conveniently situated on a small knoll which gave me a good view of the valley floor. A few minutes of glassing reveals 3 coyotes in the hills but they look content where they were.
Awhile later, I see a coyote coming my direction on a slow but deliberate walk across the flats. It stops by some trees that I had earlier ranged at 156 yards. A shot to the chest has the first coyote down for the morning.
The shot didn’t seem to affect the coyotes on the far side of the valley too much as none where on the run. I watched three casually walk westward through the trees and two were mousing in the field on top.
Ten minutes after shooting the first coyote, I see another coming my way. This one is west from the first one and like the first, its stops by the edge of some trees long enough for me to get the cross hair lined up for the shot. Coyote number two down ( 124 yards).
Sit for an additional half hour but nothing else ventures across the valley. I glass the area of the cow carcass, which is fairly obscured by trees but I can make out a couple coyotes still there. Using the lay of the land I follow a draw towards the creek which will get me much closer to my intended targets. As I get to the creek bank I get busted by one of my so called targets. I have no choice but to set up where I’m at. Glass the trees where the barking & howling is coming from but cannot pick out the source of it. I see a coyote sitting in the trees looking my way but its not the culprit. No clear shot for this one so I keep scanning the area. I find another coyote sitting by the fence to the west but it too is not the one barking. Range the trees beside the coyote at 360 yards. I do have a clear line of sight so I set the turret for 350 yards and zoom up the scope to 22X. This is not a good looking coyote but they need thinned out also. Settle my heart beat and touch off a shot. The satisfaction of hitting a coyote who is sitting down and looking your way can only be appreciated by fellow hunters! My shot folds the 360 yard coyote where it sat. I am always a bit surprised when that happens.
The rifle shot echo’s through the valley which creates coyote movement in the trees. One coyote trots towards the downed coyote and stops to sniff it’s dead buddy. Unknown to it, there is a set of cross hair on it, a touch of the trigger causes the coyote to hump up and trot a few yards before falling over dead.
I’m very pleased with getting two coyotes at that range! Even though the last two coyotes were fur ugly, they were special in their own way.
I did see a third coyote bust out of the trees but it never presented me with a shot. I believe this would have been the one who was barking earlier.
This post is nominated for Hunter of the Month. Sorry, the nifty little .gif isn't rotating, so all you see is "Nominated" for now.
This weekend was warm which made Saturday’s calling a total bust. Did 2 stands in prime area’s but couldn’t even get the magpies excited. As a last resort I decided to check a nearby valley which proved to be encouraging. Bright blue skies and well above freezing temperatures made glassing the valley a real treat. A half mile away I see 3 coyotes bedded along the creek and 2 above them on a cow carcass. The ole brain gears are now put into motion of how to make a sneak on them.
My plans are short lived when I see all the coyotes suddenly on the move to the south across the valley. An addition 3 coyotes join the southward coyote migration for a total of 8 now. A half minute passes and I see the reason for the coyotes retreat, a tractor was coming across the field with a round bale and passed fairly close to the cow carcass.................................... Tomorrow will be a new day.
Sunday morning temprature was at the freezing mark & calm as I made the half mile trudge through snow that was too soft to hold up my body weight. Set up with my back against a large tree that was conveniently situated on a small knoll which gave me a good view of the valley floor. A few minutes of glassing reveals 3 coyotes in the hills but they look content where they were.
Awhile later, I see a coyote coming my direction on a slow but deliberate walk across the flats. It stops by some trees that I had earlier ranged at 156 yards. A shot to the chest has the first coyote down for the morning.
The shot didn’t seem to affect the coyotes on the far side of the valley too much as none where on the run. I watched three casually walk westward through the trees and two were mousing in the field on top.
Ten minutes after shooting the first coyote, I see another coming my way. This one is west from the first one and like the first, its stops by the edge of some trees long enough for me to get the cross hair lined up for the shot. Coyote number two down ( 124 yards).
Sit for an additional half hour but nothing else ventures across the valley. I glass the area of the cow carcass, which is fairly obscured by trees but I can make out a couple coyotes still there. Using the lay of the land I follow a draw towards the creek which will get me much closer to my intended targets. As I get to the creek bank I get busted by one of my so called targets. I have no choice but to set up where I’m at. Glass the trees where the barking & howling is coming from but cannot pick out the source of it. I see a coyote sitting in the trees looking my way but its not the culprit. No clear shot for this one so I keep scanning the area. I find another coyote sitting by the fence to the west but it too is not the one barking. Range the trees beside the coyote at 360 yards. I do have a clear line of sight so I set the turret for 350 yards and zoom up the scope to 22X. This is not a good looking coyote but they need thinned out also. Settle my heart beat and touch off a shot. The satisfaction of hitting a coyote who is sitting down and looking your way can only be appreciated by fellow hunters! My shot folds the 360 yard coyote where it sat. I am always a bit surprised when that happens.
The rifle shot echo’s through the valley which creates coyote movement in the trees. One coyote trots towards the downed coyote and stops to sniff it’s dead buddy. Unknown to it, there is a set of cross hair on it, a touch of the trigger causes the coyote to hump up and trot a few yards before falling over dead.
I’m very pleased with getting two coyotes at that range! Even though the last two coyotes were fur ugly, they were special in their own way.
I did see a third coyote bust out of the trees but it never presented me with a shot. I believe this would have been the one who was barking earlier.
This post is nominated for Hunter of the Month. Sorry, the nifty little .gif isn't rotating, so all you see is "Nominated" for now.
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