Tonight I got off my lazy keaster and went out looking for coyotes. I chose one of my favorite duck hunting spots for my first set. The lake is in a very sparsely populated area with a lot of swamp and heavily wooded hills surrounding it so I figured it would be a perfect place to try and draw a coyote out of hiding. It also helped that I knew of others that had hunted this area. I didn't get out until late in the day so I decided against walking all the way across the lake to what I figured would be the best spot so I went to my second choice it was only about 800 yards across the ice.

I set up the call and crazy rabbit and crawled into the cattails to sit and wait. Since I got out late I only had time for one long set. I played various different calls to no avail, I couldn't buy an answer. After about 45 minutes I caught movement on the other side of the lake, (right where I first wanted to set up). Sure enough there was a coyote making its way down the lake looking for the pup in distress. I forgot my bino's and range finder so I have no idea of the true range but it was a long ways, my guess is over 500 yards. I watched it in the scope but at 0 degrees the scope wanted to fog up on me. It made several attempts to work towards me then it ended up hitting the edge of the lake still headed my way in the woods. I ran out of daylight before it showed up again.

It was a long walk back to the truck realizing that if I had gone with my instinct I would have had that dog right in my lap. Live and learn I guess, I was close to taking the shot but I didn't feel like I was going to hit it and it was working toward me yet so I opted to wait. It was clear skies and almost a full moon so I did get to sit for a good half hour extra tonight. It is about -15 right now so I will have to see what morning brings, maybe I will get back there tomorrow.

Sounds like fun....except for -15 weather...makes my nose run. What sort of a caller do you have? Home-made or store bought?


Suz

keep at it dude it will happen for you.

Suz last night I took one of the AR's I built. I have a really accurate load that I worked up for the 5.56 using some Nosler Armageddon's. I am hoping for some warmer weather so I can get my Grendel zeroed.

No silly, your yotie caller...yip yip yip is it a homemade one or store bought.
Just curious..

Suz

I bought a Western Rivers call last winter for crow hunting and hoping it would help me get out chasing coyotes.

I just went to their web site, they've got lots of down-loadable recordings on there too.

Suz

Been homebound sick the past week and being cooped up in the house finally got to me. At first I started out just going to drive around and do some scouting for coyotes, of course I had to bring Grenny and the snow camo with. I tried to get to and area where I had seen coyotes across the lake area I like to hunt. Of course the only person at home back there is anti hunting and he used several foul words to encourage me to leave his property. Next I headed to the other side of the lake where there is a very primitive access. I had been in and out of there before I got sick but we have had some very windy weather. The first quarter mile wasn't bad, but all of a sudden I felt the truck go up where it should still be going down hill............. then the truck dropped through a snow drift. This is not unusual but the fact that I immediately started pushing snow with the bumper, now thats not good. That damn snow drift was well over knee high (and I'm 6'2") and hard as hell. I was able to keep moving back and forth for about six feet just not enough to free myself from all the snow under the truck. About fifteen minutes and some creative freelance work with the scoop shovel and I was free.
So I had to find another spot which isn't real hard around here. I strapped on the snowshoes and headed out to find a spot to call. After being sick and the scoop shovel work I only made it about 200 yards before I called it quits. I set the call out and sat down in the knee deep snow, it worked pretty good for a blind. After about 20 minutes I heard what I am pretty sure was a coyote way off in the distance. I kept calling and could here the neighborhood dogs barking from far to near. I caught a glimpse of something going through the brush but could not tell what it was. I caught a couple more glimpses before the sun finally faded. As I walked back to the truck the moon cast my shadow across the snow.

BUGGER...oh well mate, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Better luck next time.

At least I was out of the house.

yip the worst day hunting is better than the best day working.

wiersy111, your hunting stories are beginning to sound like stovey's.

Ouch!!!

Now today it is 34* and I'm stuck on the couch hacking and coughing. I think I might not have been ready to go out yesterday.

get well soon!