Last cold day this year, I hope. I decided to hit the fields.
Started out at a place I havent been to too much this year. Herd some howls, but couldnt pull em in. I know where they are denned up but dont wanna walk there right now. Ill wait till the sun burns off abit more snow first. Which wont be long now since it looks like really good weather for awhile now.
Second place I went back to redeem myself from last week, but no one was home. Must of been out wondering around because I went right into their home bush. Fresh tracks but no prizes.
It was nice and calm all morning but come dinner time the wind picked up to about 30km, so after this place I decided I would pack it in and take the long way home. I wanted to go by a place where I think I lost my shooting sticks a few weeks before. When I got there I just grabbed my rifle and started the small walk to where I had to go. As I got to a small ridge I kind of peeked over a hill and saw 4 coyotes walking down the river my direction. I started to run behind a bit dirt mount (gravel pit) to get out in front of them. They were taking their time because they were checking all the bushes along the edge of the river, so I got in front of them a ways and snuck into a good position.
I was set up on the north side of the river and they were walking down the south side of the river heading east which was 305-310 yds across, with a wind coming down the river from the west at about 30 kmph. I dialed up my scope but only had a chart with 15 and 20 km winds on it, so I just added alittle more to the 20km chart reading. All I had to do now was sit and wait from them to get across the river from me. I was there for felt like about 15 minutes, because they would go up on the bank play around with each other. Finally when they were almost across from me I blew on a lil mouse call I had to get their attention and make em stop for a shot. I looked for the nicest one of the bunch and fired, which in turn dropped it in its tracks. Two of the yotes run up the bank with the third running east along the rivers edge. I tracked that one for a few seconds until it ran up the bank into a bush. I gave it a nice lil lead and fired, didnt hear any poppin sound but it felt like a really good shot. Sat for a few minutes for a look see with nothing moving I got up and made my way across the river. As I was about three quarters the ways across I looked west down the river and saw a coyote walking across it. I pulled out on of my hand callers and made a few howls and pup distress calls. It barked back. We played this game for ten or so minutes. I finally made my way over to the downed coyote with this other coyote still barking my direction about 700-800 away from me.
My prize
Yes that a head shot.
Kind of missed judged the wind alil, well it paid off anyways.
This is a pic looking back at my shooting position. I popped over the ridge where the dirt is exposed and then came down the low ground to the left of that just above the shrubs.
Shot the male so now Im thinking that its mate is the one thats still barking at me from the west.
This is a pic looking west. The still barking coyote was behind that bush to left a ways.
After this pic I decide to see if I could sneak up on it some. Got to walk a ways before I got too exposed. Layed out prone and tried ranging this coyote but the range finder wasnt picking it up, even ranging the hill behind this yote that it was on now. Kept trying but it wouldnt range it. POS. I guesstimated it was about 750yds, dialed up 14.5moa on the scope for a shot and was like 2-3 ft low. I could see the splash. Coyote didnt move. lol Next shot about 1.5 ft low, the coyote just looked at where I hit. Finally after a two more shots I was so damn close to hitting it, it finally ran over the hill out of sight. After thinking about it, it was more like 850yds away. The furthest Ive ever shot a coyote was 451, so I was pretty excited to be shooting this distance and almost hit it.
As I walked back to the dead coyote and got ready to drag it back across the frozen river, which I can hear it making some funny/scary noises this whole time. I look west again and here comes that same coyote, this time walking along the north side of the river. I sit and watch for abit. It finally stops half way up the hill and lays down looking around. Im guessing waiting for its mate to come running over to it, but we all know that aint gonna happen. I didnt want to move because I didnt want it seeing me yet, so I just watched. Oh and BTW I only have one round left, so I wanted it to get a lil closer before I was going to shoot on it. Well it didnt move.
So I ranged it and its sitting at 538. Yeah it works lol. Damn POS.
Took a few pics while waiting
Sat still for a few more minutes and decided I was going to try to take a shot on this girl. Dialed everything up, but last time I think the wind was stronger then I thought so I gave it a couple extra clicks for good measure. Well anyways those extra couple of clicks cost me this coyote because I shot just above it legs in front of her chest. Again it didnt run away, but it did stick its nose in the ground where I shot like it was looking for a mouse. Damn I sure wish I would of brought my backpack on this excursion. Arg After having no more ammo on me I got up grabbed the dead coyote by the legs (forgot my drags too) and started across the river. About a quarter the way across this other coyote sees me and starts barking at me. It even starts walking my direction barking. It must of knew that didnt have any ammo left because it got to about 250yds away from me and not running off. Oh well Ill get her next time.
Oh yeah with all the excitement I forgot to check if I hit that other coyote, it felt like a good shot but anything can happen. And didnt find my sticks.
It was a big read but wanted to share it with your guys. Cant wait for summer now to pull out the steel gongs to shoot. I think Im gonna have to push the range abit this year.
Till next time
Started out at a place I havent been to too much this year. Herd some howls, but couldnt pull em in. I know where they are denned up but dont wanna walk there right now. Ill wait till the sun burns off abit more snow first. Which wont be long now since it looks like really good weather for awhile now.
Second place I went back to redeem myself from last week, but no one was home. Must of been out wondering around because I went right into their home bush. Fresh tracks but no prizes.
It was nice and calm all morning but come dinner time the wind picked up to about 30km, so after this place I decided I would pack it in and take the long way home. I wanted to go by a place where I think I lost my shooting sticks a few weeks before. When I got there I just grabbed my rifle and started the small walk to where I had to go. As I got to a small ridge I kind of peeked over a hill and saw 4 coyotes walking down the river my direction. I started to run behind a bit dirt mount (gravel pit) to get out in front of them. They were taking their time because they were checking all the bushes along the edge of the river, so I got in front of them a ways and snuck into a good position.
I was set up on the north side of the river and they were walking down the south side of the river heading east which was 305-310 yds across, with a wind coming down the river from the west at about 30 kmph. I dialed up my scope but only had a chart with 15 and 20 km winds on it, so I just added alittle more to the 20km chart reading. All I had to do now was sit and wait from them to get across the river from me. I was there for felt like about 15 minutes, because they would go up on the bank play around with each other. Finally when they were almost across from me I blew on a lil mouse call I had to get their attention and make em stop for a shot. I looked for the nicest one of the bunch and fired, which in turn dropped it in its tracks. Two of the yotes run up the bank with the third running east along the rivers edge. I tracked that one for a few seconds until it ran up the bank into a bush. I gave it a nice lil lead and fired, didnt hear any poppin sound but it felt like a really good shot. Sat for a few minutes for a look see with nothing moving I got up and made my way across the river. As I was about three quarters the ways across I looked west down the river and saw a coyote walking across it. I pulled out on of my hand callers and made a few howls and pup distress calls. It barked back. We played this game for ten or so minutes. I finally made my way over to the downed coyote with this other coyote still barking my direction about 700-800 away from me.
My prize
Yes that a head shot.
Kind of missed judged the wind alil, well it paid off anyways. This is a pic looking back at my shooting position. I popped over the ridge where the dirt is exposed and then came down the low ground to the left of that just above the shrubs.
Shot the male so now Im thinking that its mate is the one thats still barking at me from the west.
This is a pic looking west. The still barking coyote was behind that bush to left a ways.
After this pic I decide to see if I could sneak up on it some. Got to walk a ways before I got too exposed. Layed out prone and tried ranging this coyote but the range finder wasnt picking it up, even ranging the hill behind this yote that it was on now. Kept trying but it wouldnt range it. POS. I guesstimated it was about 750yds, dialed up 14.5moa on the scope for a shot and was like 2-3 ft low. I could see the splash. Coyote didnt move. lol Next shot about 1.5 ft low, the coyote just looked at where I hit. Finally after a two more shots I was so damn close to hitting it, it finally ran over the hill out of sight. After thinking about it, it was more like 850yds away. The furthest Ive ever shot a coyote was 451, so I was pretty excited to be shooting this distance and almost hit it.
As I walked back to the dead coyote and got ready to drag it back across the frozen river, which I can hear it making some funny/scary noises this whole time. I look west again and here comes that same coyote, this time walking along the north side of the river. I sit and watch for abit. It finally stops half way up the hill and lays down looking around. Im guessing waiting for its mate to come running over to it, but we all know that aint gonna happen. I didnt want to move because I didnt want it seeing me yet, so I just watched. Oh and BTW I only have one round left, so I wanted it to get a lil closer before I was going to shoot on it. Well it didnt move.
So I ranged it and its sitting at 538. Yeah it works lol. Damn POS.
Took a few pics while waiting
Sat still for a few more minutes and decided I was going to try to take a shot on this girl. Dialed everything up, but last time I think the wind was stronger then I thought so I gave it a couple extra clicks for good measure. Well anyways those extra couple of clicks cost me this coyote because I shot just above it legs in front of her chest. Again it didnt run away, but it did stick its nose in the ground where I shot like it was looking for a mouse. Damn I sure wish I would of brought my backpack on this excursion. Arg After having no more ammo on me I got up grabbed the dead coyote by the legs (forgot my drags too) and started across the river. About a quarter the way across this other coyote sees me and starts barking at me. It even starts walking my direction barking. It must of knew that didnt have any ammo left because it got to about 250yds away from me and not running off. Oh well Ill get her next time.
Oh yeah with all the excitement I forgot to check if I hit that other coyote, it felt like a good shot but anything can happen. And didnt find my sticks.
It was a big read but wanted to share it with your guys. Cant wait for summer now to pull out the steel gongs to shoot. I think Im gonna have to push the range abit this year.
Till next time
