2010 Hunt from a FL point of view:
Maybe this can be informative to other southeastern hunters.
Other members have already covered the hunt, awards and thanks.

We don't get much chance to hunt predators in the southeast like the western members, however probably because of that and because we do now have coyotes competing for our turkeys and deer, I want to shoot them.............. No better place to learn how that to see all of you pros in action.
Last year at Globe I got there late and left early. Rented the best available, a jeep all wheel drive that was just not suitable to hunt from. Didn't get to meet many members or hunt with any.
This year being retired and having plenty of time decided to drive my truck out and go early. It was the first time I went that far, into unknown hunting conditions without hunting private property with prior arrangements.

We had a very hard freeze for here so I left on Saturday morning around 11:30AM with intentions of stopping west of Houston. Got out there and felt fine so kept going. Stopped at a truckstop around 12:30 that night to gas. Very few places to gas so I would stop when the gauge got between 1/2 and 1/4 tank. I also had a 5 gal. can in the tool box just in case. Went into the restraint, it was 18 degrees, they said that they had 4 degrees the night before. Ordered a Texas Omelet (6 eggs, 2 onions, a bell pepper and a quart of jalapenias), before I finished I was sweating all over and had to rake out the last 2 cups of those peppers from [beeep]. Gas was $2.899. When I left there I saw many deer on the side of the road and I mean right beside the pavement. Didn't hit any and just one close call. Where I live the deer feed on the rightaways but Texas deer must be eating the edge of the asphalt. Just before daybreak I started wishing that I had stopped for the night but was only about 300 miles out. I called the Hotel and asked if I could get into my room early. Was told check in time was 3 PM period. I stopped in a "picnic" area. They have almost no rest stops with facilities. It was 18 degrees, I slept for about 3 hours in the truck. Started out again and found a real rest stop. Good thing I didn't have to #2, It was open air, looking at the sky. Has anyone ever had their backside stuck to a toilet? I called the hotel again after 8AM got the day manager and they had my room ready when I got there around noon. Took a nap and found a grocery store as the room had a refrigerator and microwave.

Monday got license at Wal-Mart and tried to get maps. BLM didn't have much and Wal-marts all 3 had sold out.

Tuesday, had the perfect day, was taken out by a real pro (I will thank him privately to keep down the envy) and learned how little I knew about hunting coyotes and driving in that country. Score 2 for him and one miss for me, a low percentage shot at a coyote in overdrive. I saw the difference in methods. Gona get a gilley coat and sticks to stand up with. Elevation was about 4,000 ft., I live at less than 300 ft. I was noticeably breathing a little harder but for 67 it wasn't bad at all, even if he does walk fast. Never had so much fun.

Wednesday, didn't have anybody to hunt with so I decided to go north from Denning. Everyone else seemed to be going south or west and the mesquite will take your paint off down there. Made a couple of calls and then found what looked real good (with my new found knowledge). It was like a dry stream bed about a quarter mile wide by 2 miles long with a 50ft. high bank up to the road. I placed my FP Scorpion down in a bush 50 yards out and got back up on top. It was open enough that I thought a coyote could be seen from a long ways out. Got down prone, laid gun beside me and started the call. Low and behold ol' wiley popped out right below me. He had come in under the bank and out of sight. He stuck his nose to the caller and took off. I missed a running shot through the brush, then the sneaky dog ran up the hill to my left and headed for my truck. No shot........ Lesson: don't be ready, be really ready........ Could have got him with gun pointed at the call.
Driving on north stopped in Hillsboro at a neat little gathering place for a sandwich, in my camo, and got into conversation with the owners, and everyone else in there except 4 fellers from California. learned an amazing "fact":: They didn't have coyotes out there until they came west across the Missip from the east! That's what they said. Yep..
Believing that a man should not be single minded (as women think) I decided to ck out the Gila National forest. Very impressive from Kingston to SanLorenzo. 30 MPH is dang fast, first gear down hill, switchbacks, snow on everything but the road and straight up and down, Well worth a day away from hunting.

Thursday, Went up north a different route and asked a Mexican family if they knew where I could hunt coyotes, they wanted me to shoot pigs and after struggling with intentions they directed me to a place to kill coyoties which was the local kids shooting range from the casings around. Left and finally found someone to let me hunt their ranch around 1:30PM. Went west for a 3 stands, no action. Then backtracked and went east closer to the mountains thinking that if I was a critter with all my winter clothes and the temps about 60 I would be high or in the shade or both. I set up just over a rise about 200 yards from the truck and around 8 minutes two coyotes come from up high on the opposite hill kind of parallel. At about 150 yds. the lead dog takes off at 45 degrees to my left while I am trying to get on it so I switch to the back dog that is backtracking slower. Remembered to bark at it and finally got it slowed down enough to shoot at an estimated 250+ and low and behold, rolled it up, was thrashing around and got over the hill. Got over there about 30 minutes later and looked but it was getting dark and I didn't want to have to walk out after dark on those rocks.

Friday went back to the same ranch with Stu and hunted from around 10AM until around 3PM, real windy and hot 62 degrees. No luck.

Saturday went to the egg shoot with a $50 donation as I wasn't shooting an ideal gun for that. A Rem.700AS in 270W. with a 3.5-10 AO Leupold VX-III. Broke an egg on 4 th shot first round and 3rd shot on second round. Missed on the third one shot round. Went to banquet, unbelievable prizes.

It is hard to describe the talent of the speakers we had and in personal conversation they are willing to tell you all the good stuff of how tos.

Sunday, dropped off a couple of stranded PM members off at the ElPasso airport and drove home. left hotel at 10AM and got home about 7:30 Monday morning.

Can't wait to next year, not just to hunt out there but to spend some time with great people.

It was good to meet you, brother.

You did really good at the egg shoot with that big ole' rifle you brought!

Rudy

Doubleclutch, It was good to meet you at the hunt...I'm glad someone else understands the effect the elevation can have on us 'low landers'...

I thought you did really well at the Egg Shoot. You were some serious competition for me...

It was nice to meet you. I was surprised to see what you were shooting at the egg shoot.

Usually I would shy away from large groups, but in this case the more the better. What a great group of hunters with none of the puffing up and posturing to be the most important. If I am able I will attend next year, I'll be there.

As for the 270; I can't remember a critter that complained about being over killed. It was pointed out to me though that at longer range that the 130gr. Hornady custom interlocks probably act as FMJs on light animals. I have tried to explain how to buy a gun - IF POSSIBLE - before and am not sure it gets much attention. First I want to buy from a shop that shoots the work they do. Right now I know of two such shops. One in Kissimmee, FL where mine was born and one around by Atlanta, GA where Brad (fly-low-man) got his 06. In Nov. 1991 I needed a new gun and handled this one and liked it, R.700AS, @$495. They shot it and decided that it was capable of good accuracy. Then they exchanged the trigger with Neil Jones for a Rem. trigger that he had gone over $35. + $9.50 labor. Free floated barrel $17.50. Bedded action with Devcon $40. Mounted my scope and shot $16.25 worth of Hornady ammo to sight it in and prove their work. They tune for factory ammo. Then they called me to come out and shoot it and see if I still wanted it. I sure did..... Any one can shoot a good gun if they follow procedures, although I will have to admit that it gets harder with age. The only oil that has ever been in that bore is very old fashioned simple oil, no fancy synthetics. That was why I got rid of my last one. It started throwing shots all over and we didn't know why until much later when others discovered the same thing and did extensive cleaning. Shooting a lot is the key to shooting well. I haven't shot that much the last few years but when living in Central FL and hunting on ranch land I averaged about 200 rounds per year, with only a few on targets.

I bought one of the first AR-15s to be sold to the public and couldn't wait to Get rid of it. I have had the AR bug several times but resisted it since. I shot several at the egg shot, thanks Scott and Moe of Specialized Dynamics. Had trouble getting behind the scopes. Then BC Buck - Ken let me shoot his with the Trijicon scope and boy did I like that setup. This told me that I need to buy from a dealer that I can try the whole thing from. The bug is alive again, thanks Scott, Moe and Ken.........................

Brad's Folks lost all of their young goats while I was in NM and Brad was off playing in the wild blue. and various circumstances have kept us from trying to kill the culprits, coyotes. We are going to try it this afternoon. The way that area is laid out we may not be able to catch them in calling range.

Great to meet you Sir. I hope you and I both make it back next year as I am sure that I would enjoy making a few stands with you. Who knows I just may let you use that R-15 with the ACOG in the field IF you dont already have one of your own.
Good luck with those Goat killers.
Ken

Glad you made it out, friday was fun. Maybe next year we'll manage to call something in

I'd really like to drive if I get to go, so we may end up with a couple of trucks & lots of hardware.

James, every hunt brings something new for me. Of course there are new faces and places, but this year was something unexpected.
A guy from Florida brought kumquats
There's not a lot of Albertans who can say they've tried them, but I can. Since I've been back I've even "googled" them

They will survive to -10C or 14F but I don't think they will tough out the - 40 weather.

I'll just have to get my fix at the hunt next year, if you decide to bring some.

Those Kumquats were just a starter, haven't decided what to bring next year. Maybe some of that clear liquid that kills intestinal parasites. Who knows? It's a wealth of uncharted things around here.
Glad you liked them. You could build a solarium?

P.S. 3 stands this afternoon = nothing.

" You could build a solarium?"

Now you sound like my handler. She's been after me for years to build one.

We welcome welthy Canadians down here, bring money, buy nice eco friendly parcial, grow kumquats and tomatoes, you will love it. Went out this afternoon, 72 degrees, 3 stands = nothing but mosquito bites.

Doubleclutch, it was good meeting you and getting to talk with you at the banquet.

A big THANKS, Doubleclutch, from one of the stranded PMers who you kindly dropped Sunday at the El Paso airport!

(Note to self: ALWAYS use TWO padlocks, not one, on the Pelican rifle case when traveling out of an airport located next to a drug war combat zone...this to avoid having to take a cab to Walmart to buy a 2d lock).

Good to meet you James, you almost had me considering the dark (wheelgun) side.

See ya next year.

Great story. A ghillie coat with stand up sticks. I know who you had the pleasure of hunting with. One of the good guys for certain. Grizz

Double post.

Yellowhammer, same, absolutly.
Jvafour, on the way, my pleasure & loved your soap box.
mmleon, only takes one shot per, have confidence, die believing.
Grizzlyone, I feel blind sitting now..............