January 2022

Snowshoes

Well-known member
Finally after several days of cold-cold weather, we get a decent day to be outdoors. Just 24 hours prior, the ambient temperature was -22*F (wind-chill of -40*F) but how things can change, as this morning I was greeted with +23F and basically no wind. Knowing this warm weather is to be short lived and back into the negative teens by tomorrow morning, I busted a trail into the field yesterday with the truck just to make sure for ease of waking at first light today. My view to the southwest where I expected the coyotes to come from.

Sat for a half hour and other than one raven flying overhead, I hadn’t seen any activity. For some reason I felt I should look to the north and sure enough I see a coyote step out of the bush just a few yards away from me. The coyotes eyes and mine meet simultaneously but I don’t dare move. The coyote slowly turns around and walks back into the trees. I go to reach for the rifle but the coyote walks back out and gives me a second look before slowly retracing its tracks.
Once the coyote is out of sight, I move the rifle into position and figure either the coyote will come back out or I’ll try calling it later.
Five minutes pass and I have almost given up on that coyote reappearing but then I see something that looks out of place further to the north. With the aid of the binoculars, I can see the coyote peaking through a thin stand of trees. I get a range of 148 yards and wait out the situation as I don’t like where the coyote is standing. The coyote isn’t budging, so a few lip squeaks are sent its way. The coyote cautiously walks a few feet and stops but this time its in the clear. A 64gr. Berger sent on its way at 3155 fps finds its target, dropping coyote number one.
My view to the north along the trees. I later stepped off to where the coyote originally came out and it was a mere 29 paces. I guess my camo worked!

The spot where I was sitting

Fifteen minute pass and I see a coyote almost a half mile to the east. This coyote doesn’t really show any sign of what direction it intended to travel but if it did decide to come my way, it likely would scent me long before it would be in range.
I swing my attention back to the south but this area is still void of any coyote activity. I look back to the easterly coyote and see its now sitting down and looks to be enjoying the first sun-rays of the day.
I glance north and there is another coyote standing by the downed one. A few sniffs and it turns to look to the east which presents me a broadside shot. Once again the 223AI is called upon to send a bullet on its way. Coyote number two down which is also at 148 yards.
The pair as I found them.


 
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Originally Posted By: lockrotorCongrats on starting the New Year a double bang. What brand of seat is that?

Thank you lockrotor,
The seat is one I ordered off the Les Johnson Predator Quest site.
I see you can get the same seat off Amazon but its called the Beard Buster EZ Chair Camo.
 
Nice work SS. pics are great also. They really help us invasion how it went down.

I've never used a seat. 95% prone.
A seat is just more to carry in and I want to shoot 3+coyotes on every stand lol
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Originally Posted By: borkonNice work SS. pics are great also. They really help us invasion how it went down.

I've never used a seat. 95% prone.
A seat is just more to carry in and I want to shoot 3+coyotes on every stand lol
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Thank you borkon
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If I could get 3+ coyotes on every stand, that seat would be history lol
Actually the seat folds in half and has a long carry strap which makes it painless to pack along. I pack minimal equipment
to each stand but the seat always comes with. I likely use it 95% of time when shooting
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From the looks of all the tracks in the snow I would say you hunt in a target rich environment. It's beautiful there. All but the -40F! We don't get many furred up Dogs like that in Kentucky thanks for sharing. It appears you are a pretty fare photographer also. Please continue.
 
Originally Posted By: flowjFrom the looks of all the tracks in the snow I would say you hunt in a target rich environment. It's beautiful there. All but the -40F! We don't get many furred up Dogs like that in Kentucky thanks for sharing. It appears you are a pretty fare photographer also. Please continue.
There's a fair bit of coyote activity in this particular spot and I try to hunt it a few different times every season. One thing about the -40F weather, it does fur up the healthy coyotes but also plays a big role in culling the sickly ones.
Thank you flowj for taking the time to post
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Nice shooting! I was sad to be stuck in the city during the warm spell but oh well il just shoot em in the cold anyways. Got a few stories up on the old outdoorsman forum if your interested. I don't have much fun posting threads on here anymore. Guys like you are the only thing that keep me coming back.
 
Originally Posted By: YotarunnerNice shooting! I was sad to be stuck in the city during the warm spell but oh well il just shoot em in the cold anyways. Got a few stories up on the old outdoorsman forum if your interested. I don't have much fun posting threads on here anymore. Guys like you are the only thing that keep me coming back.

Our warm weather didn't last very long yesterday, did it. By 11:15 a.m. the wind kicked up here causing whiteout conditions and the rush of cold air to follow. Then more snow overnight didn't help maters. A lot of the back roads/trails were barely passable before but they will be blocked in now.
Another cold week ahead of us and it looks like I'll need to dust off the snowshoes if I want to get out next weekend. ( not a fun prospect)
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I don't frequent the AO site too often but will check it out.
Thanks for the heads-up Yotarunner.
 
Originally Posted By: borkonIf it wasn't for your posts SS, I would very seldom visit PM.

Thank you borkon and Yotarunner for your interest.
That's it, I'm asking for a raise!
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( doubt I will get it though)

10% on nothing, is probably more than I'm worth anyways
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good work Snowshoes! Ive read your Nov/Dec threads and now this one. You never let up!

I've made 17 stands this fall/winter and only one coyote to show for it. We've been in a cold snap for the last 3 weeks and knee deep powder is hampering coyote movement. Just did a 4 day hunt with a good friend, we made 12 calling sets and never even heard a howl. Snow shoed 37km though haha

keep up the killin'
 
Originally Posted By: todbartellgood work Snowshoes! Ive read your Nov/Dec threads and now this one. You never let up!

I've made 17 stands this fall/winter and only one coyote to show for it. We've been in a cold snap for the last 3 weeks and knee deep powder is hampering coyote movement. Just did a 4 day hunt with a good friend, we made 12 calling sets and never even heard a howl. Snow shoed 37km though haha

keep up the killin'
The snow and cold temperatures have really hampered the coyote activity here too. Probably not so much for the coyotes ( I really don't know what they have been up to
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) but for myself. If I see the wind-chill is going to be in the minus forties I don't bother going out anymore and we have seen lots of those temps. lately.
You are definitely putting in the effort!!
The snowshoeing alone is a huge feat! That is 37 km (29 miles) further than I've snowshoed this year.
The weather is suppose to warm up next week and I'll take advantage of that to pack trails into some hunting spots. Most will be with the aid of the snowmobile but a couple require snowshoes to get into the area.
I guess I could walk the hilltops where there isn't a lot of snow but those ole dogs seem to pick me out then
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Originally Posted By: fratriAlways enjoy the pics and the read, Thank you
I hoped to go out this weekend but the forecasted wind-chills have me questioning the sanity of that idea. Sounds like it’s to warm up in a few days now. I’ll be looking forward to when it does.
 
It warmed up some and I needed to get out and try my luck calling, even if it meant snowshoeing in.
The temperature was -15°F but the breeze put a bite to the air, feeling like -29°F..
The first location I headed for had me going through a couple thick stands of snow covered cattails. I appreciated the snowshoes but my legs were getting a real workout.
I set up a half mile from the truck and although a decent area, nothing showed.
The walk back with the big feet on was considerably easier.
Next stand I wasn’t overly excited about the walk but being an area that usually produces coyotes, the 3/4 mile walk in, seemed worth it.
After breaking trail in 2.5-3 foot deep snow, a few rest were required. It’s times like this that I remember that I’m not as young as I used to be.
Once I reach the trees that surrounds a large cattail infested slough bottom, I kick off the snowshoes and follow a coyote trail that worked it’s way through the cattails and into open area of the slough. Historically coyotes have come on the ice from various locations so I range various spots where I thought the coyotes may show from. Distances varied from 106 to 238 yard.
After my second series of calls, I do see a coyote but it just skirted the cattails for a few feet before ducking into them. At first glance it was encouraging but then realized the coyote was going away from me. It was then I realized the wind swirled directions which put an instant end to this set.
Packed up and worked my way back to the snowshoes. Once again the walk back was somewhat easier following my trail and after cresting the last hill,
the relief of seeing the truck is welcomed, even it was still almost a half mile away.



 
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Oh, thats too bad, no coyotes
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Sure looks like a workout for sure.....
Thanks for sharing what you got to go through to get into some spots.... We are lucky down here, so far only a couple of inches of snow
 
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