Well finally the cat-n-mouse game with Mr. Coyote ended last night. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever be able to meet up with him. Around 10:30 PM last night the alarm sounded. By the time I got the foam off the window and ready to shoot, he was facing me, looking in my direction. Don't know if he saw the foam move from the window or what, but I put a round in center chest. In usual fashion from the Grendel, he ran. I fired another shot as he topped the ridge, but missed. Found him this morning. He went just out of sight over the ridge and was lying practically in the truck lane where I drive over to the cabin. Made for easy loading.
I used the 6.5 Grendel upper with Speer 90 gr. TNT, and Pulsar Apex XQ38 thermal scope. No exit and no blood trail, but he was running dead. I want to like the Grendel cartridge (love the looks of it) but it just doesn't perform to my liking.
I rested well last night and was toasty warm even though the temp was at 14 degrees this morning. Suddenly I heard the heater spit and sputter and quit.
I was out of propane at 7:30 AM, so I just packed up my gear, found the coyote and hiked the 300 yards or so to the truck. I then drove over to the cabin
to retrieve two 20# empty propane cylinders and the coyote. Due to snow and bad weather, I have had to backpack to the cabin a lot lately, except for
this morning. I barely made it up the hill with the truck and the slick road-tread tires. Just purchased this one a few months back, used and it came with
road-tread, which were like sled runners in the snow. I need to put some better tires on it.
Here is a photo of the cabin and path I backpacked from a previous snow. Part of the enjoyment of this winter's hunt is the beautiful scenery. We have
had more than usual lately.