Back to my roots…

Austin Laughlin

Active member
I don’t know if it’s like this for everybody, prolly not..

But I get so wrapped up in hunting coyotes, mentally, that if I have a 2-3 day dry spell.. My minds going 200mph at that point trying to figure out what I’ve done wrong or what’s going on.

So today, it was dang cold here. Went from short sleeve weather yesterday to 10 degrees with the wind chill, wind somewhere in fhe 15-20mph gusts. The warmer days we just had made the calling tough in my part of the country. So I took advantage today and went back to my roots of where it all started for me.

Got deep into the thickest cedar glade I could find, had to crawl in some spots it was so gnarly, and brought nothing in but my shotgun and my AP6 handcall. Left the Foxpro in the truck.

3 stands. 4 coyotes. Lord have mercy was it good to take a breath and get my head back in the game.

I wish I knew how to post photos on here from my phone, I’m still struggling with that lol but it was a good day nonetheless!

Y’all ever do something similar? Or am I just an odd duck.. Lol
 
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Nice! I wouldn't know what to do without 1/4 mile visibility in all directions lol. I should try that sometime though.
 
Sometimes it’s better to keep it simple. E calls can over complicate things if you let them. Going back to the basic hand call, and getting up in their comfort zone with a shotgun is good medicine for the hunter, bad medicine for the coyotes. Nice job.
 
This year I made a goal of mine to use my handcalls more especially closed reeds. I have done it on almost every stand I've made this year and man I sure seem to enjoy it more and it brings back memories of how I got started. I've done pretty good too averaging a killed dog every other stand here lately. I get to hunt every other week with my work schedule and usually on my 7 days off I hunt 3 to 4 of those days. Now sometimes it might just be a couple sets in the morning cause I've got to go take care of some cattle issues or take son to school. I would say in those days I probably average 5 coyotes shot. Plus, its so nice not to have to carry caller around. I'm like you I like to get into some thick cedars bottoms around here with the shotgun only and get to calling. The e caller has a purpose for sure, but sure enjoy the simplicity of hand calling.

Thanks
Jon
 
It’s a rush lol I hunt those glades a lot, and I’m not kidding when I say you might see 15 yards max. Maybe. A hard charging coyote will be at your feet by the time you shoot.
 
Originally Posted By: Austin LaughlinMan that’s a great average! You’ve been pretty hard on them sounds like! Lol congrats!

Thanks, I've been pretty fortunate this year that's for sure. I probably just jinxed it for me. LOL
Yeah at those distances one of those really tight chokes are no bueno. I usually run a modified.

Thanks
Jon
 
Man that’s awesome. I can only imagine lol I run a Legacy Escort Shotgun. 3” Chamber. Hornady 3” BB w/ Carlson XXF Turkey choke. It’s literally like a rifle, I swear. If I could posts pictures on here off my phone, I’d show y’all the pattern at 40 yards. It’s just under the size of a paper plate, and I’m not exaggerating.

I feel like a lot of people exaggerate their distances at shotgunning. Whether it’s on purpose or not, I dunno. But I see it quite a bit. But I’ve literally 2 shot dumped coyotes, at 77 yards with it. Ranged from my spot 77 yards. I’ll never get rid of this setup.
 
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