One more notch on the 17 REM!

[Grayfox]

My youngest son, Mitchell and I finally got a chance to hunt together this morning and we came back with a little fur in the truck.

Left the house at 12:30 and got to the first set around 1 A.M.

Called for an hour but saw and heard nothing.

2nd set: We set up on the SE side a narrow field that runs East/West with a large pond 500 yards to the West. Last year we called it once and had one come off the pond but it circled around and popped out 10 yards behind Mit and spooked. This morning I used rabbit distress on and off then through in some long howls. After 45 minutes I just sat quietly for another 10 when I see a dark spot on the ice comeing our way. I lip squeeked to Mit and got ready. Just as the coyote got to the shoreline I looked down and moved my gun and when I looked up he was gone. I waited another 10 minutes but he never showed. Tried more soft distress and a few howls but nothing. I know right where we'll be sitting, one night during the next moon though!

3rd set: The wind switched from South to NW at the end of the 2nd set so we regrouped and headed to one of our best spots. We hunted this one once this year and had one come out 80 yards in front of Mit but he never saw it. We're facing North overlooking a 100 acre corn stubble field. There's a big swamp off to our NE. We're backed up to some round bails about 8 feet apart. I start with woodpecker off and on with low volume for 15 minutes and then did a few long howls. We saw some movement way off to the North but they just hung in the trees. I think they were deer anyway. We sat for another 20 minutes in silence then I turned on the coyote pair with Rob filling out the trio. I put down the howler and see a black spot in front of Mit. I said, Mitch is that one in front of you, nothing, now it's moveing West. I start tracking it,waiting for Mitch to get on it. I said right in front of you but apparently he was looking at the ones in the distance. When it stopped agian I heard him say, shoot it, which I did. Young female. Pretty good fur too.

After that we headed home as Mitch needed to get a few hours of sleep before his jazz festival this morning and concert tonight. If we can get a little sleep today we'll give it another shot tonight.

Rob

[harvey lee]

Sounds like a fun night.

[bdafisher]

Those 17's are awesome little guns, not to take anything away from the shooter of course.

[Stringerless!]

Nice ! A question for you. How in the world do you keep your hands warm ? I would love to try this but know that I would last about a half hour tops. Even with those shake up handwarmers.

[HooknHorns]

How do you keep your eye glasses from fogging up with a face mask when its that cold? My buddy and I seen a couple the other night when the skies were crystal clear but never got shots. When its dead still out, my voice tends to carry a little more than I thought. You two definitly have some good spots and your system down. Love hearing reports cause it kinda keeps me in a positive mental atttitude to stick it out.

[Grayfox]

Stringerless,

I don't use any handwarmers. When it's 10 degrees or above I just use my light gloves and when it's colder I use my light gloves under a pair of insulated glomits. My trigger finger and thumb of my light gloves are cut off for shooting and operating the remote and if they get cold I either slip them inside the glomits or since the front of my jacket is usually open anyway,just slip my hand agianst my body.

HooknHorns,

When it's been real cold I've been using a balaclava face mask pulled down around my neck and then a fleeced lined facemask pulled down so the eye opening is pulled down under my chin. Then another hat on top. Yeah, glasses really are a pain in this weather.

Rob

[TUMBLEWEED]

For fogging issues, you could try

2 ounces white vinegar, 1 quart hot water.

Dip soft cloth into mixture/wring lightly

wipe down your lenses and let dry

[HooknHorns]

Does the mix work on scopes and binocs?