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#Post#: 1681--------------------------------------------------
long 48 hours of hunting,24 sets...
By: Prairie blaster Date: January 8, 2013, 10:31 am
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2:30 AM and we start the 3 ˝ hour drive. The wind here was just
howling and the temperature was +25*, not a good way to start a
coyote trip. Two months ago we had to pick a date and go with
it. I kept a good watch on the forecast but up here a two
forecast is only a 50/50 thing and even that is giving a benefit
of a dought.
6:00 AM we pull over to check the wind and get our stuff on and
ready to “Get to callin”. The wind had shifted from the
southwest to a slight breeze out of the northeast but the
temperature had fallen to around 0* and there was 5 inches of
very light fluffy snow. Perfect for “Callin”.
Moon/sun up.
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We had coyotes howling at us at most every set and many of them
we had dog come in to 500 yards but they were very spooky and
noncommittal. One of the sets early we had a set of coyotes
working in from a LONG coulee and looked like they would end up
in our laps, but… A coyote popped his head up in front of my boy
at under a hundred yards were it came from, who knows. He took a
shot, nothing, and then all hell broke out just 80 yards to my
left. A coyote was scolding me at the top of its lungs,
startling the heck out of me; I took a shot, well let’s just say
there is two very luck coyotes still running around. We cranked
out some more sets as the day went own. The sun up north here
never gets very high and is always in the south so the light
northeast wind worked very well for us. Around noon we’re doing
a set in the “Brakes” mixed pine, juniper, sage brush, and long
grass. We decided in the beginning to use all coyote vocals and
pup in distress calls. There was a coyote contest going on in
the area and it had a bunch of teams out calling and we wanted
to use something they probably wouldn’t be doing. With this in
mind it cuts out any chance of fox or cats but we were intent on
coyotes. After a long calling set we just about gave up when a
Very nice Female coyote poked her head up over a ridge. I caught
the movement and took a look. YUP, I radioed the boy and goosed
the scope up to 12. Resting the crosshairs on here shoulder and
gently squeezed the 22/250’s trigger. We could see the snow fly
just behind her and she did a flip, first fur in the box.
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A 312 yards and a clean kill, and I missed an 80 yarder shortly
before.WTH? We cranked out set after set without any committed
dogs, lots of coyotes; they just wouldn’t come within 500 yards.
After dark we went in to a small town and got a room for the
night A LONG day and a shower sounded real good. A quick dinner,
a hot shower a hand full of “Aleve” and sleep came fast.
The alarm went off at 5:30 and we started again.
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This time we stayed up on the flats more, calling BIG draws and
short prairie grass flats. About the same results, lots of
responders and lookers but few committed coyotes. We did manage
to miss a few, “should have had” shots and a few “Oh my god
shots”. Toward the end of the day my boy managed to connect on
one that slipped in under me.
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His shot was a little over 200 yards but if I had seen it, it
would have been under 50 from me. All in all a great hunt and we
will defiantly do it again but next time I’ll try to find out
when the tournament is and plan a different time. All the extra
shooters out made for tuff killing. 599 miles round trip and 24
set’s that a big hunting trip for this old fart. The boy is out
as we speak. Man to be young again.
More pics.
A golden eagle sleeping.
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A rabit being shot with a 204
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#Post#: 1730--------------------------------------------------
Re: long 48 hours of hunting,24 sets...
By: stevec Date: January 13, 2013, 6:30 pm
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Sounds like a good time! I hate it when I miss but it happens.
It always seems like its the "EASY" shots I miss!
Steve
#Post#: 1847--------------------------------------------------
Re: long 48 hours of hunting,24 sets...
By: Yote59 Date: January 25, 2013, 7:03 pm
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Sounds like you had a great time. A miss at 80 and a kill at
312. Oh the woes of coyote hunting. Congrats....thanks for
sharing.
#Post#: 1851--------------------------------------------------
Re: long 48 hours of hunting,24 sets...
By: Bwana J Date: January 25, 2013, 9:27 pm
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Sounds like you had a good trip. Two kills and a bunch of
Quality time with the boy, thats a win win situation in anybodys
book. Congrats and thanks for sharing.
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