I was assigned to guide Doug (form Pennsylvania) and LKVL (Jeffrey from Minnesota). I met them both Thursday night at the Country Kitchen and made arrangements to pick them up at 5:30am Friday morning. At first light I stopped at a familiar area and howled a little to locate coyotes. From back across the paved road came responses from several directions. We crossed over to the south and headed in the direction of coyotes. After a short distance I could see Michael McCasland's Bronco parked up ahead. It could have been Michael responding to my howling so we backed out and headed back across the paved road again to make our first stand probable no more than a mile from Michael. On the first stand I called in a male coyote which was cautiously coming in. I thought it had already passed by Doug who was on the right side of the stand. After moving my shooting sticks only when the coyote was screened from view or looking the other direction was I able to get the shot. One shot, one coyote down. On the next stand I did the calling again and called in another coyote which Jeffrey shot and hit. I continued to call after the shot for several minutes hoping other coyotes might also come in. After the stand we went out to find the coyote. Doug found blood and we looked for quit some time but never found the coyote. On the next stand I used my ladder and also did the calling again. There was no action on this stand. For the rest of the day we rotated the calling for each stand between each of us. We made one or two more stand before lunch again with no responses. I found a small mesquite tree and had a long, leisurely and quite informative lunch. We talked about trapping (Doug and Jeffrey are both trapper), coon hunting, night hunting, calling techniques used in the east and west, and much more. After lunch we made a couple more stands. I had called a stand and nothing came in. I signaled I was ready to end the stand. Jeffrey started calling indicating that something interested him, so I began calling again for a few more minutes. After the stand Jeffrey said he had seen two something’s way off it the distance that had headed out in opposite directions but never came to the call.

During the predawn discussions Doug and Jeffrey said calling and killing coyotes wasn’t a main priority but they wanted to see some of the country that Arizona has. Since we had called this area pretty good a change in scenery was in order. We traveled through the R-100 No Hunt Zone the Ash Flat area. While we were traveling through the R-100 area Doug spotted a band of Antelope off to the south. We stopped and watched them for a few minutes until they loped off into the distance. The R-100 area and the first part of the Ash Flat area are classic grassland prairie habitat. Even if calling was permitted in this area I would find it really different and difficult. Arriving at the Ash Flat area was more of the same and disappointing. I back tracked to the paved road and headed up the Nantac Rim. Topping out we immediately entered a dense Ponderosa forest. Good bye coyote stands, hello fox and bobcat. Time was running out and one stand was about all we had time for. We pulled off onto a side road and parked the truck. Since this was close country I didn’t take a firearm and would do the calling with Doug and Jeffrey on either side of me. On the way to the stand bear tracks were found in a mud puddle in the road. I called this stand and again nothing responded. The sun was low and time to head back to the Country Kitchen and dinner. Arriving at the Country Kitchen I was informed by Critter I had an urgent message at the front desk and to call home. I was informed that there was a death in the family and I returned home.

My PM hunt experience was great. Doug and Jeffrey are great guys and I’d hunt with them again anytime. It was really nice to meet some more new people. To the organizers of the hunt you all pitched in to make this another great event, all of you did a great job. I’m certainly surprised and pleased to have won a couple of raffle prizes.

I’ll be looking forward to next year. Thanks.

Bill

Thank you, for your help Bill. I am sorry to hear about what had happen.

We missed you Bill, Best wishes to you and your family.

Bill sure summed up our hunt with accuracy. Bill was an excellent guide and one heck of a good caller. I was truely impressed.

Bill.... Thanx for spending the the time and sharing your experience with us. (BTW...Sorry to hear about your loss)

My mother-in-laws passing didn't come as a surprize but it was still a shock to the family. Thanks for your kind words.

Bill

I sure had a good time hunting with Bill and Jeff. Bill seemed to have an uncanny ability to pick out good stands, and some of those hunting stories he told us had my sides hurting from laughing so much. Jeff shared some good insights into trapping coyotes that I hadn't previously considered. It was definitely a good day of hunting. I sure hope to see you guys again next year.
Doug