Snowshoes
Well-known member
This morning, I was set up in the valley watching some coyote trails once again. A light breeze from the west and a temperature of 19F made sitting at the edge of the trees quite enjoyable.
Shortly after arriving I take a picture of my view.
Fifteen minutes or so passes before seeing my first pair of coyotes coming across the flat to the west but these ones are a bit too far away. I follow these two with the binoculars until they enter the bush and then its back to looking for any other possible candidates. A few more minutes pass before seeing a single on the same trail as the first two.
I’m starting to wonder if I miss judged what trails to watch, when I see a forth coyote take the same route as the previous three!
Part of me wants to move but I tell myself , “patience”, so I hold tight.
A couple minutes later I am rewarded with the sight of a nice looking coyote coming my way and I let this one get to 90 yards before stopping it with a howl. A 52 gr h.p. from the 223 drops coyote # 40.
The picture is looking back to trees where I sat.
The shot echo’s through the hills and I see a few coyotes to the north and northwest scatter in various directions. A couple minutes later, a single comes out of a draw to the west of me. The shot is doable as this coyote is much closer than those first 4. A howls stops it and a 212 yards shot has coyote #41 down. Quickly chamber another round when I see a second coyote come out of the same draw. It stops to look at its fallen comrade, I swing the crosshairs onto it and send a bullet its way. Missed my intended target ...... thinking I rushed the shot.
Figured that was probably it for the morning activities but talked myself into sitting for another 20 minutes. For some reason, I felt there could be a late comer and sure enough there was. Not a good looking coyote but if it kept coming , I would shoot it. Everything is looking good but then suddenly the coyote veers to the west and all I can see is its back. I muster up some relatively loud lip squeaks to try get the coyote back on track. Those keen ears pick up the sound and after a few seconds, the coyote is back on course. At a 135 yards out, it stops when it sees the first coyote shot. The crosshairs are placed on its chest and down goes coyote #42.
If the wind cooperates tomorrow, I will be back but setting up further west. 😊
Shortly after arriving I take a picture of my view.
Fifteen minutes or so passes before seeing my first pair of coyotes coming across the flat to the west but these ones are a bit too far away. I follow these two with the binoculars until they enter the bush and then its back to looking for any other possible candidates. A few more minutes pass before seeing a single on the same trail as the first two.
I’m starting to wonder if I miss judged what trails to watch, when I see a forth coyote take the same route as the previous three!
Part of me wants to move but I tell myself , “patience”, so I hold tight.
A couple minutes later I am rewarded with the sight of a nice looking coyote coming my way and I let this one get to 90 yards before stopping it with a howl. A 52 gr h.p. from the 223 drops coyote # 40.
The picture is looking back to trees where I sat.
The shot echo’s through the hills and I see a few coyotes to the north and northwest scatter in various directions. A couple minutes later, a single comes out of a draw to the west of me. The shot is doable as this coyote is much closer than those first 4. A howls stops it and a 212 yards shot has coyote #41 down. Quickly chamber another round when I see a second coyote come out of the same draw. It stops to look at its fallen comrade, I swing the crosshairs onto it and send a bullet its way. Missed my intended target ...... thinking I rushed the shot.
Figured that was probably it for the morning activities but talked myself into sitting for another 20 minutes. For some reason, I felt there could be a late comer and sure enough there was. Not a good looking coyote but if it kept coming , I would shoot it. Everything is looking good but then suddenly the coyote veers to the west and all I can see is its back. I muster up some relatively loud lip squeaks to try get the coyote back on track. Those keen ears pick up the sound and after a few seconds, the coyote is back on course. At a 135 yards out, it stops when it sees the first coyote shot. The crosshairs are placed on its chest and down goes coyote #42.
If the wind cooperates tomorrow, I will be back but setting up further west. 😊
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