During Jay's talk Friday night, Ragn walked up and handed me his phone. It was Jiminaz, and he wanted to know if I was up for a hunt with him on Saturday morning. We had tried to get together last year, but it didn't happen. Since my 3 day state license had expired, Jim was kind enough to come and hunt the rez since I was already paid up there for Saturday.

Jim swung by the lobby about 6am, and after loading my gear, we headed for a spot on the rez that I was had been wanting to hunt. I had hunted this spot with Crapshoot 2 years ago, and we had killed a couple.The first stand found us over looking this wash (the same one where Lance killed a coyote 2 years ago) and after about 10 minutes of calling, I heard Jim start going through the sounds on the FX5. I though maybe he was just bored or his ADD was kicking in, but a few minutes later I heard him shoot, and saw a coyote burning up the canyon wall.



A minute or so later, I heard a "gooble" and knew he was ending the stand. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

He then told me we had 2 come in and hang up around 200 yards out on his side and sit down to watch. That is when he started to changing sounds to try and get them moving. When they didn't he took a shot, but missed. He said something about the EOtech not being a long range scope, and after seeing him shoot an egg at 200 yards with his Bushmaster Varminter, I knew it wasn't his shooting.

We moved on down the road and tried several more spots that looked a lot like the first, and had coyotes howling in the distance at several fo them, but nothing came in.

We decided to drop down into some lower country and set a couple of "Ladder stands", with Jim on the ladder with the rifle and me on the ground with his shotgun. But still no takers.

On the 5th stand, we set up on a couple of rock out crops overlooking a flat. Jim was almost directly over my left shoulder about 75 yards with the caller kind of between us.

After about 5 minutes we had a hawk fly in and a few ravens. After Jays talk the night before, I wasn't about to look up at the raven when he flew directly overhead <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif" alt="" /> but I sure thought about it. A minute later, I heard something over my left shoulder and couldn't help but look. That is when I saw a coyote come trotting by about 20 yards away and leaving fast. I swung my gun and sticks as he went behind some bushes and when he cleared, I "wolfed" (who started that anyway, Jay?? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />) He didn't stop so I just rolled him up. I meant it when I told Billy Leal I was through missing! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />


This was my view and if you look close you can see the coyote laying about 45 yards out.




Myself and Jiminaz


We tried a couple more stands before we headed off to the egg shoot, but didn't have any luck. The last stand was overlooking a draw behind a big pond dam. Jim thought we might draw out a bobcat, and about 2 or 3 minutes into the stand a covey of quail flushed, followed a few seconds later by another quail flushing. I gripped my rifle a little tighter hoping to spy a bobcat slipping in. A minute or so later some more birds flushed closer to me, but I never saw whatever it was that caused it. We sat a full 20 minutes, until I heard the turkey "gobble".

It was getting time to head in and we stopped at Wendy's for a burger before heading out to the gun range.

Jim, I really enjoyed the hunt, and I hope we can do it again next year.

When we arrived at the gun club, the members were already piling in.



MIVarminthtr, Blumpkin, yotenighthunter, Redfrog, RanUtah


venatic, M-m-miss!, and knock'emdown

I also got here Freddy telling about his 500+ yard head shot on a coyote that morning. I looked like he was going to be the one to beat. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif" alt="" />

I also got hear venatic and leal telling about calling a coyote with the tally-ho that Jay had given David the night before. I also got to hear how leal missed AGAIN! and things got real "western". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

OK...that did it! Billy's new name was confirmed. He shall for ever after be know as M-m-miss! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ya'll can't appreciate the humor, but we sure can.





Kerry Carver, Songdog, RagnCajn, rockinbbar

There was a lot of standing around, visiting and checking out the competition before the shoot.


bigdog1, Tombo, cgmartin



All the guns had to be weighed in to be sure they met the rules.

azcowgirl, bigdog1, rockinbbar, cgmartin



yotenighthunter, rifledog, pdbuster


kodiak61 - songdog



Kerry Carver, knoc'emdown, venatic



Kodaik61, Jiminaz, MichaelJMcCasland

AZmoose, sw_sniper


SteveB, bcbuck, Uncle Jay Nistetter

I took lots of pictures. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />



rockinbbar, RagnCajn


shameless, Bill, MIVarminthntr, onefoot


Monte - George


Tombo, pd_buster


bcbuck, bearmanric, and Tac20 on the firing line

It was interesting to see how many different ways the guys got comfortable to shoot.

There were 27 shooter registered to shoot, and they all started at the 100 yard line. If they broke their egg at 100 they would move on to 200. Of the 27 shooters, 22 broke their egg at 100, and of those 22, eleven broke their egg at 200.


cgmartin, azcowgirl, M-m-miss!


Tombo, pd_buster, MIVarminthntr



SteveB and Jay Nistetter I think Jay would have broke his 100 yard egg, but the smoke got in his eyes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I know Weasel likes LOTS of pictures. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />


nmleon, yotenighthunter

I think Stephen still had his ear plugs in from the night before so he didn't have to listen to Redgrog. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


PatB, Jiminaz, Jeff Mock

sw_sniper and her lucky Scooby chair

MJM, Kodiak61, and Kerry Carver


rockingbbar

venatic


The infamous gopher. Predator hunters as a lot have ADD so they were spell bound by this little critter

Even Jay is not immune to ADD <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Off the 11 shooters that broke and egg at 200, only 3 were able to repeat the feat at 300.

Those were venatic (first shot), JessieL and Kerry Carver.
They then had to move back to the 100 yard line for a sudden death shoot off. Miss, and you are out. After breaking the 300 yard egg on the first shot, venatic missed his shot when they moved back to 100.

Jesse and Kerry both broke, but everyone thought Kerry had missed. Except me. I had been looking through Ragn's spotting scope and saw the yoke drop out the bottom of the egg.


In case you ever wondered what a .17 Fireball would do to an egg at 100 yards. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I'd say that is "fur friendly"! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />



[b]The Top shooters- third to first--Venatic, Kerry Carver, JessieL

After the shoot, all the losers (or non-winners if that makes you feel better <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif" alt="" />) got a chance to win a set of predator sniper sticks used in the shoot. The sticks were donated by Brent Rueb- thanks Brent! I don't recall all six of winners, but we have it somewhere.




RagnCajn presented the Miami-Globe Gun club an appreciation award after the shoot.





azcowgirl, Barbara, Ragn Cajn



RanUtah set up to sell shirts, caps, and tickets.



Rainshadow1 set up to show off some of his calls and knifes

That's good YH, keep em coming! I like seeing these pictures from the hunt.

Scottmilk9 and the his partner (somebody help me) from Tactics LLC, set to up to show off some off their AR uppers and goodies. Scott is a new sponsor at PM and donated an upper that we will be auctioning off on-line soon. Scott, it was good to finally meet you.


Scottmilk9 with Tactics



Rifledog



bearmanric showing off some calls, and Kerry giving him a little love









Some of the guys waiting for dinner and visiting. I think you have figured out who everyone is by now.



CATDADDYCOLD and birddog3

Saturday was a long eventful day. Stay tuned.....



As things were being set up, the member also had the opportunity to buy more raffle tickets. After seeing all the great prizes donated by our sponsors, they just had to get more.



Weston, bigdog1, Jiminaz, Kodiak 61.



cgmartin and Scottmilk9

Oce we had eaten, we called time on the silent auction announced who had gotten what. We had some beautiful calls donated by our HOB call makers, and I would like to give a special thanks to all of those guys. Those calls were getting a lot of "oohhs" and "ahhhs".

We also had a card rafle for a Dtech uppper. Here Ragn Cajn is explaining it to Knockemdown. It turns out Freddy won the uppper. Like he needs another Dtech. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />



There was also a card raffle for Foxpro Fury, that was won by Redfrog.



We also had another Foxpro Fury and Game Treks that were in the general raffle along with a TON of other prizes. Everyone who attended the banquet got something, and some of the non-attending members were also drawn for prizes.

We also had some great trophies make by RanUtah to present to the egg shoot winners.



{b]JesseL 1st winner of the Dtech Rifle, Kerry Carver 2nd and winner of the Foxpro Scorpion, and Venatic 3rd[/b]

As we customarily do, we awarded the Will Craig Award to an outstanding PM mod/admin/member who has gone above and beyond to show thier support of PM. This years award was presented to Randy Reeves (RagnCajn). Many of you have met and even hunted with Randy and know how much Randy has contributed to not only PM but predator hunting in general. If you know Randy, you also know he is very modest and generous to a fault. Randy is a great ambassador of the sport, and I am lucky to call him friend. Very well deserved. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif" alt="" />



The 2009 Will Craig Award winner- RagnCajn

And this year, we didn't forget the group picture. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />



If you didn't make the hunt this year, then start thinking about going to next years hunt NOW! Don't just think about it, make up you mind that you WILL be going. I hope to see you at the hunt in 2010.

Yellowhammer,
Thanks for doing this for the people that can't get there. Myself included.
Jim

I didn't know rainshadow was still a pup. I've got kids that old.

GREAT PICS!!

Yellowhammer--thanks for all the pictures. It makes those of us that did not attend "FEEL" as if we really were there. I really hope to make it there someday, Lord willing. Thanks again--JB

That looks like a lot of work Sean, and you're doing a fine job of it.

I'd be happy to sit a stand with you anytime Sean, and i mean that sincerely. After it was all said and done, I wish I had commited to coming earlier so we could have had a full day. There's some other out of staters I'd like to drag around with me too.

On another note, I took that "little green rifle" to the range on Sunday and it was about 6-7" left and 4" high at 100 yards. I would have had to flinch pretty bad to connect with that first coyote at 200. Good thing most of my shots this season have been close. Makes me feel a little better about some of the recent misses though. Got 'er all dialed in now and finished with a nice 3" group at 200 yards before I put it away. I won't have any excuses next time.

It was GREAT being there and seeing everybody Saturday.

Love the photos and captions.

Great pictures, Sean!

I hope lots more guys'll show up next year! They just don't know what they missed!

Barry

More great play by play Sean. It really helps me keep names with faces straight, even though I was there, I still get confused as to who's who!!