Mark,
Well I've heard stories over the years regarding coyote's getting aggressive towards people here & there, but it's been real spotty. Possibly isolated instances, I use to think.
That was up until I got followed out of a large brush patch one night back in the mid to late 90's over near Geneseo, NY.
It was dusk and hard to see my pins, so I decided to climb down and work my way the several hundred yards to the road. About three steps from putting my foot on the ground, the fire whistle went off at the nearby firehall. All around me coyote's started howling. There were at least four of them I could discern from different locations, and the closest one was about 30 yds back in the thick brush behind me.
The hair on the back of my neck was as stiff as a bristle brush......man, I'll never forget that.
Never heard a thing prior to that.....not even a small twig snapping.
I held off for a few minutes, as I was about 10 ft. from the ground where my bow was laying. I heard slight movement in the grasses, but it was hardly more noticable than the light breeze that was blowing.
As I stepped to the ground, I heard the movement stop. I grabbed my bow and quickly knocked an arrow and stayed put on one knee, waiting, with the tree to my back.
I waited for several minutes, and figuring that nothing was coming, I started down the trail, heading to the road. The trail through the brush runs about 250yds., and comes out into open pasture for another 300-400yds. prior to the road where my truck was.
As I headed towards the pasture, I could hear brush behind me about 75yds. thrashing, like something was running through it towards my position.
I stopped once and could make out two dark figures standing low in the brush.........yep, coyotes. I could barely make them out, but knew what they were for sure. There was more than those two, and I had another 100-125yds. to go to get to the pasture. As I neared the field, I could still hear them following me, so I stopped and dropped to one knee and drew my bow back, waiting.......within a few seconds after I stopped, the sound stopped....dead silent.
I stayed at full draw for about an eternity, hoping that it would move before my arm got tired.......well they won, and I had to let my bow down. Within seconds afterwards, one of the group nosed around a slight bend in the trail and once he/she saw me, I could easily see it's ears perk up. I couldn't see the body to shoot at, just the head, and it was about 35yds behind me. Waiting for what seemed like an hour, I lipsqueeked, and did everything possible to get it to respond, or at least show itself fully.
It wasn't having any...............
I stood up slowly to see if I could see the full body at that angle....no luck. It circled back into the grass, and I thought it was history.
At first, I started to step backwards to the field slowly and hoped I could get one to show itself for a shot......nope. Finally said to hell with it and walked to the brushline.
Once I hit the field, I jumped the pasture fence and started across it. I stopped about 30yds. out to see if they'd follow to the edge. Nothing. Nope they're gone, I thought.
As I got about halfway across, I quickly turned to look over my shoulder and there sat three of them on the edge of the brush right at the fenceline that I crossed.
I'm sure there was a fourth, and maybe a fifth, but those three just sat there all focused on me with their ears pointed, and listening. If I wasn't at 125yds, I'd have flung an arrow at em'.
Another similar incident happened 2 yrs. ago out back of my house, hunting on my "island". After coming out into the field, to cross it, I stopped at the farmer/owner who was plowing, to shoot the breeze with him. With the tractor running and all, they sounded off about 75yds. back in the swamp, and I'm sure they followed me to within that distance.
They're getting real "ballsey" I guess.
Take care,
Bob
