Yotarunner
Custom Call Maker
So this year as a birthday gift the family gave me a full day of zero work, chores, honey do lists etc so I could go out hunting for a full day (most of my usual outings are after work or half day)
The weather was looking to be windy until late morning so with that in mind I was out at 9 o'clock hiking to a spot I have been eyeing up for years. The snow was deep and upon getting to my spot I realized I may have an issue. With nothing coming in I stood up and like I suspected. 800 yards away across the meadow sat 2 coyotes looking towards me with looks that said " I don't care how good it sounds I'm not running through that crap!"
The next few spots I ran into the same problem. Deep and half crusted snow kept me from getting to where I wanted to be.
Finally got into the hills where snow had been blown off a bit and got setup.
Usually this spot is ideal with a south wind but with today's west wind a hike higher up the hill was needed to get a better eye of the valley.
Starting off with some cottontail cries on a new call I call the Meatbawl I had barely finished when a blonde dot appeared highlighted against the trees. (Right above the tip of my barrel in the picture) A quick "wah wahhh" on the call had it racing my way followed by its mate.
As they came in I keyed Mrs mccottontail at low volume on the foxpro (center right edge of the picture) hoping to get them to circle downwind into my lap.
Sure enough they dropped down the hill and came back up the side circling for the downwind. Getting greedy I was slowly reaching for the shotgun when the lead dog looked up the hill at me and did an about face mid stride.
Gripping the rifle once again I barked and howled to no avail. With no other options I swung on the lead dog and with a BANG and a WHUMP the first dog dropped. Racking the bolt fast as I could the crosshairs caught the second coyote just as it was dropping over the hill the 50 gr VMAX made a WHOP and it crashed over the hill.
I don't usually take running shots but with these guys leaving as well as needing to practice for an upcoming contest I did it anyways and as a result I made an absolute mess of both hides
The rest of the afternoon was quite fruitless. I wandered around looking for new ground and came up empty. Later in the afternoon I found myself near where I killed a triple last year.
The access was poor but with some good old fashioned exercise it was doable.
Hiking through crusty knee deep snow I questioned my sanity as the first spot I got to turned out to be a bad location then the second and by the third I was cursing anything and everything that could include the word snow.
Finally 30 min later I came huffing and puffing to the top of a ridge overlooking a long sweeping valley. Trying to not skyline myself I hastily placed the foxpro 20 yards in front and sat down against some silver willow bushes.
With the coyotes I'd seen today all in pairs I decided to catch my breath while the foxpro played some female howls. No answer. So I blew a few answering howls with one of my M4 howlers. No answer. Finally after playing a series on the Meatbawl cottontail a coyote came over the hill and stopped.
The small pup looked around for the source of the sound but kept checking behind it as well. Watching for a second to show up I patiently waited as it turned and pinned its ears forward towards whatever was behind the hill. Suddenly it turned and ran off before I could even fire a shot. Cursing myself for not taking the opportunity I keyed the foxpro and ran through multiple sounds with no luck from the first coyote or whatever was down below.
Switching gears tony tebbe's den raid was put on and soon enough another coyote was charging across the valley headed my way. Not wasting any time I got in position and as the coyote edged over the hill it was hit with a resounding ker-WHOPP and was down for the count. A bit more fight sounds only produced a coyote wayyyyy off in the distance that took a look then turned away.
After feeling like I had thrown the kitchen sink of sounds into the valley I was gathering myself up when I noticed what looked to be the first coyote down in the valley.
Making a snap decision I ducked down and got behind a hill to rush the next 150 yards ahead to get a vantage to try and call this coyote back. On my way I saw that I was being watched. The coyote that had turned away was now across the valley watching me. Figuring he had seen me and wasn't coming I rushed up and plopped down on my belly in the snow. Now 2 coyotes could be seen in the valley running and playing with each other as they got further and further away. Winded and lying on my calls I sat the foxpro in front of me and put on good ol lightning Jack.
The 2 in the valley couldn't give a rip. They glanced briefly and kept on jumping and playing. Disheartened I glanced to the hilltop to see that the coyote that watched me setup was making like a rocket down the hill!
In a mirror scenario like the first 2 of the day the coyote was getting to 60 yards and he caught me going for the shotgun and began to exit stage left.
Like I do this all the time I got back on the rifle and dumped that coyote running like I take running shots every day! Upon closer inspection he was a large healthy tooth worn male! Whatever made him come running like that I will never know.
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