Well, it's been a few years since I hunted coyotes Friend of mine runs an outfitting business and asked me to guide a few guys. Why not?
Time to blow the dust off the calls. To tell the truth, my calling was rusty. The wife didn't mind me practicing in the gunroom a couple nights to get things back on tune.
Conditions were terrible to say the least. Waist deep snow in some places, -40 some days, with high's of only -26. Perfect coyote hunting conditions!
First day was not bad, got 3 sets in and had coyotes answer and approach on the last set at dusk. We counted 5 come, but man they wouldn't break cover. I played with em a bit, and only managed a shot at about 280 yards. The coyotes got lucky that day.
Next was the same, cold, deep snow, and we had to battle the sun, but a north wind was good for us on our set-ups. First set, no luck, apart form the neighbours dog telling us to leave.
Second set, a good 300 yard "walk" (more like a swim), through 3-4" of powder. Set-up with a shotgun in play about 15 yards from a heavy bush in front of us. Did the normal set with no answer or movement. End all my sets with a howl and had a big ol male answer us from about 1/4 mile away. Could not get that bugger any closer.
Next set was nice. Set up along an abandoned lease road. Let er rip on an interrogation howl and had 2 packs answer us, one was probably 1/4-1/2 mile downwind of us, the other was probably 300 yards upwind in the thick stuff. I played a high pitched distress call and got em howling again but they just wouldn't step out. Darn, darn, darny, darn...
Next set, we set up in about a 5 acre open area, about 400 yards off a big ol slough to the east. Tried the e-caller this time, but even with fresh batteries, the cold was just too much for it, so I had to resort to my breath again. But it worked, had a little coyote show up about 140 yards off. But you know, it would not step out. I could see him in the woods about 10 yards or so. He would sit, scratch his ear, lay down, scratch other parts, but would not come out. My shooter's line of sight was obstructed by an old hay bale in the middle of the field. Dang it.
Last set off the day, we set on this slough about 300 yards off the tree line. I howled and they answered right now. I howled again and they answered back. I got em on the hook boys!! I waited bit then I hit em with a high pitch distress call and they yipped again and they closing the gap quick. But those buggers circled into a big patch of bullrushes and we just waited for them to show. It was getting too dark too shoot. As we just got in the truck to leave, they started yipping again. Next time, you're mine next time...
The next week was much of the same but with more planning and hard work, we managed to get 6 and had wolf come close but he didn't present a shot to us.
It was awesome to get back at 'er!!
Time to blow the dust off the calls. To tell the truth, my calling was rusty. The wife didn't mind me practicing in the gunroom a couple nights to get things back on tune.
Conditions were terrible to say the least. Waist deep snow in some places, -40 some days, with high's of only -26. Perfect coyote hunting conditions!
First day was not bad, got 3 sets in and had coyotes answer and approach on the last set at dusk. We counted 5 come, but man they wouldn't break cover. I played with em a bit, and only managed a shot at about 280 yards. The coyotes got lucky that day.
Next was the same, cold, deep snow, and we had to battle the sun, but a north wind was good for us on our set-ups. First set, no luck, apart form the neighbours dog telling us to leave.
Second set, a good 300 yard "walk" (more like a swim), through 3-4" of powder. Set-up with a shotgun in play about 15 yards from a heavy bush in front of us. Did the normal set with no answer or movement. End all my sets with a howl and had a big ol male answer us from about 1/4 mile away. Could not get that bugger any closer.
Next set was nice. Set up along an abandoned lease road. Let er rip on an interrogation howl and had 2 packs answer us, one was probably 1/4-1/2 mile downwind of us, the other was probably 300 yards upwind in the thick stuff. I played a high pitched distress call and got em howling again but they just wouldn't step out. Darn, darn, darny, darn...
Next set, we set up in about a 5 acre open area, about 400 yards off a big ol slough to the east. Tried the e-caller this time, but even with fresh batteries, the cold was just too much for it, so I had to resort to my breath again. But it worked, had a little coyote show up about 140 yards off. But you know, it would not step out. I could see him in the woods about 10 yards or so. He would sit, scratch his ear, lay down, scratch other parts, but would not come out. My shooter's line of sight was obstructed by an old hay bale in the middle of the field. Dang it.
Last set off the day, we set on this slough about 300 yards off the tree line. I howled and they answered right now. I howled again and they answered back. I got em on the hook boys!! I waited bit then I hit em with a high pitch distress call and they yipped again and they closing the gap quick. But those buggers circled into a big patch of bullrushes and we just waited for them to show. It was getting too dark too shoot. As we just got in the truck to leave, they started yipping again. Next time, you're mine next time...
The next week was much of the same but with more planning and hard work, we managed to get 6 and had wolf come close but he didn't present a shot to us.
It was awesome to get back at 'er!!
