Yotarunner
CGN Regular
- Location
- Eastern Alberta
So last minute Nana decided she wanted to take the little one for the weekend which freed up the Mrs and I to go hunting!
With our bird hunting crew already occupied we made plans to go for the first coyote stands of the year.
First set was a new area where we overshot our parking spot and ended up in an awkward spot where a coyote circled downwind and was gone.
Second set was a dud
Third set was a spot we have always had really good luck on so despite the high winds we were hopeful. As we walked over the bank of an oil lease towards the hill we usually sit, I spotted a coyote mousing roughly 300 yards away. Hastily we setup against the berm and began to call.
Using a new prototype cottontail call I let out a quick series and instantly was rewarded with a coyote coming in at a fast trot. At 30 yards and 30 seconds into the stand the swarm of Hornady BB folded the first coyote like a cheap tent.
Knowing this couldn't have been the first coyote we saw I continued the bunny blues with no luck.
Switching up tactics I keyed den mayhem on the foxpro to hopefully snap the other coyote into responding. Time went on with no luck until we caught a flash of movement in the distance. Sure enough a new coyote had joined the fray. With this new position I was hoping that the rolling hills around us wouldn't push them downwind. Looking to my right I spied ears poking through the grass quickly followed by another set.
After meeting up both coyotes came running in hard from right to left 100 yards in front of us. With the Mrs filming i hesitated on the running shot and could not get the first coyote to stop. Finally coming to my senses I muted the foxpro and swung on coyote number 2. Sure enough she stopped and with a ker-WHUMP we had a double.
PXL_20241005_214517751.PORTRAIT by brad harder, on Flickr
IMG_20241005_210230_073 by brad harder, on Flickr
We did one more quick stand with no luck and took a break to run some errands.
With time in the evening for one more stand we rushed out to my calving pasture for a final sunset stand.
Driving past the dead pit we spooked 4 coyotes and the Mrs was giving me funny looks. Knowing the area was worth more than a hasty running shot at a fleeing pup I kept going.
Seeing one of the same fleeing pups again I was getting some serious questions about what we were even doing here if we weren't shooting.
Smiling I began with cottontail cries once again and it wasn't long before "right there! He's staring right at me" perplexed at seeing nothing I kept calling. Sure enough the coyote had showed behind a salt trough for the cows and the 2 feet difference between where we sat meant the Mrs could see the coyote but I couldn't. Finally able to coax the coyote from behind his wood and tin shield she brought her 22-250 to bear and with a tremendous BOOM whop! I was reminded why i usually wear ear pro when her short rifle is brought out. Having shot a little low on the first shot fur flew once again as she finished the coyote off.
With the fox bang on the foxpro now playing den mayhem and my ears ringing I decided to let it play. Sure enough another coyote showed on my side and the 220 swift was leveled on the coyote. Looking into the setting sun I could barely make out coyote and cross hairs so like all professionals need professional excuses I will say the sun got in my eyes and I missed my shot. Darting further to the left I missed again and as the coyote was about to get over the hill the final round produced a loud ker-WHAP. Sadly as I hastily threw a new round into the gun the coyote got up and stumbled back to the bush before a final finishing shot could be used.
IMG_20241006_092548 by brad harder, on Flickr
With our bird hunting crew already occupied we made plans to go for the first coyote stands of the year.
First set was a new area where we overshot our parking spot and ended up in an awkward spot where a coyote circled downwind and was gone.
Second set was a dud
Third set was a spot we have always had really good luck on so despite the high winds we were hopeful. As we walked over the bank of an oil lease towards the hill we usually sit, I spotted a coyote mousing roughly 300 yards away. Hastily we setup against the berm and began to call.
Using a new prototype cottontail call I let out a quick series and instantly was rewarded with a coyote coming in at a fast trot. At 30 yards and 30 seconds into the stand the swarm of Hornady BB folded the first coyote like a cheap tent.
Knowing this couldn't have been the first coyote we saw I continued the bunny blues with no luck.
Switching up tactics I keyed den mayhem on the foxpro to hopefully snap the other coyote into responding. Time went on with no luck until we caught a flash of movement in the distance. Sure enough a new coyote had joined the fray. With this new position I was hoping that the rolling hills around us wouldn't push them downwind. Looking to my right I spied ears poking through the grass quickly followed by another set.
After meeting up both coyotes came running in hard from right to left 100 yards in front of us. With the Mrs filming i hesitated on the running shot and could not get the first coyote to stop. Finally coming to my senses I muted the foxpro and swung on coyote number 2. Sure enough she stopped and with a ker-WHUMP we had a double.
PXL_20241005_214517751.PORTRAIT by brad harder, on FlickrIMG_20241005_210230_073 by brad harder, on FlickrWe did one more quick stand with no luck and took a break to run some errands.
With time in the evening for one more stand we rushed out to my calving pasture for a final sunset stand.
Driving past the dead pit we spooked 4 coyotes and the Mrs was giving me funny looks. Knowing the area was worth more than a hasty running shot at a fleeing pup I kept going.
Seeing one of the same fleeing pups again I was getting some serious questions about what we were even doing here if we weren't shooting.
Smiling I began with cottontail cries once again and it wasn't long before "right there! He's staring right at me" perplexed at seeing nothing I kept calling. Sure enough the coyote had showed behind a salt trough for the cows and the 2 feet difference between where we sat meant the Mrs could see the coyote but I couldn't. Finally able to coax the coyote from behind his wood and tin shield she brought her 22-250 to bear and with a tremendous BOOM whop! I was reminded why i usually wear ear pro when her short rifle is brought out. Having shot a little low on the first shot fur flew once again as she finished the coyote off.
With the fox bang on the foxpro now playing den mayhem and my ears ringing I decided to let it play. Sure enough another coyote showed on my side and the 220 swift was leveled on the coyote. Looking into the setting sun I could barely make out coyote and cross hairs so like all professionals need professional excuses I will say the sun got in my eyes and I missed my shot. Darting further to the left I missed again and as the coyote was about to get over the hill the final round produced a loud ker-WHAP. Sadly as I hastily threw a new round into the gun the coyote got up and stumbled back to the bush before a final finishing shot could be used.
IMG_20241006_092548 by brad harder, on Flickr
