Snowshoes
Well-known member
A bit of a rusty start to my 2019-2020 coyote season. I’m not sure if it was due to an 8 month absence from coyote hunting or the years of grey hair catching up to me.
The morning coyote hunt started off the same as any other, with me walking to my intended destination at first light. After getting set up I glance at my watch and see I have 15 minutes before legal shooting light. I take the opportunity to take in the sights and sounds that nature had to offer. Some glassing of the fields between sight seeing passed the time away and the next look at my watch showed I had somewhat lost track of time. It was now definitely time to get things rolling.
Glass the fields again and this time I see my first coyote, a single at the edge of a slough 500 yards to the north of me. With some new sounds downloaded onto my e-caller, I’m excited to try them out.
Start off with a short burst of “new” rabbit distress and within a half minute after muting the caller, I notice a different coyote directly west of me. The coyote keeps looking back at the bush behind it and I fully expect another coyote to show. Sure enough a second shows but they seem content to sit down and evaluate the situation. I switch to vole squeaks but they still don’t budge. With the sun directly in their eyes, they seem reluctant to come any closer. After ranging the closet coyote at 307 yards, I adjust the reticle for 300 yards. A quick glance around before committing to the shot, reveals another pair of coyotes on steady trot from the north. These last two look to be locked onto the vole squeaks and I wait till they are hid behind a knoll before repositioning myself. Knowing when they reappear, they should be close. When the lead coyote shows, I see it’s cutting somewhat to the east to get downwind. A howl on my part stops the coyote in it’s tracks and with crosshairs placed on its chest, I pull the trigger. The bullet is sent harmlessly on it’s way and I’m not sure who is more confused by what just happened. The coyote slowly lopes away as it keeps glancing back my direction. I then realize I never turned the reticle back down for this 70 yard target. Some self scolding is rightfully administered as I reset my scope for a 200 yard zero.
A little frustrated with myself, I fight off the urge to pack up and leave. Knowing there likely could be more coyotes working their way from the vast fields to the bedding grounds in the bushes near me, I hold tight.
Fifteen minutes pass and I see a coyote crossing the slough ice to the north. I fire up the caller again with rabbit distress which instantly gets the coyotes attention. The coyote stops briefly, then kicks it into high gear and is on the run. I love watching a totally committed coyote coming hard across the field and this one didn’t disappoint. Like the last pair, it takes the same route and I’m ready this time (Or so I thought!).
Getting this coyote to stop was a challenge and when it finally does, I rush a 90 yard shot and once again miss.
After missing two nice looking well furred coyotes, I don’t even hesitate to pack up. I did however notice getting up after sitting for an extended period, took more effort than in years past
I hadn’t walked 60 yards before glancing back only to see another single coming across the field. This scruffy looking character stopped every 50 yards or so to scratch and give a shake. The sun was still working in my favor I guess as I managed to set up without alerting the coyote. A quick range shows 199 yards and this time when the trigger is pulled, the bullet flies true, putting this poor guy out of its misery. Walked over and took a field picture and then on the walk back to the truck, I realized those first two shots were no longer the primary thing bouncing around in the ole noggin. Nothing like a positive ending to forget those earlier events!
The morning coyote hunt started off the same as any other, with me walking to my intended destination at first light. After getting set up I glance at my watch and see I have 15 minutes before legal shooting light. I take the opportunity to take in the sights and sounds that nature had to offer. Some glassing of the fields between sight seeing passed the time away and the next look at my watch showed I had somewhat lost track of time. It was now definitely time to get things rolling.
Glass the fields again and this time I see my first coyote, a single at the edge of a slough 500 yards to the north of me. With some new sounds downloaded onto my e-caller, I’m excited to try them out.
Start off with a short burst of “new” rabbit distress and within a half minute after muting the caller, I notice a different coyote directly west of me. The coyote keeps looking back at the bush behind it and I fully expect another coyote to show. Sure enough a second shows but they seem content to sit down and evaluate the situation. I switch to vole squeaks but they still don’t budge. With the sun directly in their eyes, they seem reluctant to come any closer. After ranging the closet coyote at 307 yards, I adjust the reticle for 300 yards. A quick glance around before committing to the shot, reveals another pair of coyotes on steady trot from the north. These last two look to be locked onto the vole squeaks and I wait till they are hid behind a knoll before repositioning myself. Knowing when they reappear, they should be close. When the lead coyote shows, I see it’s cutting somewhat to the east to get downwind. A howl on my part stops the coyote in it’s tracks and with crosshairs placed on its chest, I pull the trigger. The bullet is sent harmlessly on it’s way and I’m not sure who is more confused by what just happened. The coyote slowly lopes away as it keeps glancing back my direction. I then realize I never turned the reticle back down for this 70 yard target. Some self scolding is rightfully administered as I reset my scope for a 200 yard zero.
A little frustrated with myself, I fight off the urge to pack up and leave. Knowing there likely could be more coyotes working their way from the vast fields to the bedding grounds in the bushes near me, I hold tight.
Fifteen minutes pass and I see a coyote crossing the slough ice to the north. I fire up the caller again with rabbit distress which instantly gets the coyotes attention. The coyote stops briefly, then kicks it into high gear and is on the run. I love watching a totally committed coyote coming hard across the field and this one didn’t disappoint. Like the last pair, it takes the same route and I’m ready this time (Or so I thought!).
Getting this coyote to stop was a challenge and when it finally does, I rush a 90 yard shot and once again miss.
After missing two nice looking well furred coyotes, I don’t even hesitate to pack up. I did however notice getting up after sitting for an extended period, took more effort than in years past
I hadn’t walked 60 yards before glancing back only to see another single coming across the field. This scruffy looking character stopped every 50 yards or so to scratch and give a shake. The sun was still working in my favor I guess as I managed to set up without alerting the coyote. A quick range shows 199 yards and this time when the trigger is pulled, the bullet flies true, putting this poor guy out of its misery. Walked over and took a field picture and then on the walk back to the truck, I realized those first two shots were no longer the primary thing bouncing around in the ole noggin. Nothing like a positive ending to forget those earlier events!
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