New Year Eve Hunt, 8,9 and 10

[Grayfox]

While everyone else was heading out to celebrate the new year, I went out to do a little celebrating of my own. I headed out to a spot I had tried earlier in the year but decided to try calling from a different location. I set up the caller and then went to sit down. I was setting up my remote and forgot to hit mute and suddenly the caller goes off. I quickly shut it off and continued to get ready when I look up and see 4 coyotes running right at me. I knew they'd be swinging downwind when they got a little closer so I swung a little farther to the left. I got on one of them and squeezed one off. It dropped at the shot and the rest scattered. The caller kept going and I see another one coming back from the East. It runs up to the downed coyote and then keeps coming another 50 yards and stops. I squeezed the trigger and he's down too. Both had mange pretty bad so they got a ride home but that's as far as they went.

I pick them up and head to another spot. I hadn't hunted this spot for two years as the corn stubble was too tall the last two years for good visibility. I set up on the NW side of the field in the corn stubble with the caller in the hayfield to the South. I had a SW wind but I thought I had put the caller out far enough so if anything came in it would stay in the open. Wrong. I look over and see two working right at me to the East through the stubble. They swung down wind and bugged out. I turned the caller back on with a long howl and one of them turned and ran 160 yards out into the open field and stopped. I took my time and centered the crosshairs and dropped it. 8,9 and 10 were down.

Rob

[O.T.C.]

Hey there you need to be like a teacher on this, you already just saved me a topic when you answered a big question I had you get 1 lets say with others around do you ever get like a another chance at them or is the gig up ? Awesome shooting and thanks for saving some fawns and other prey for the other predators who have at. I have big interest in doing what ur doing, I live in coyote alley nowaday then again most of us do, they seem quite thick the past 5 years or so. Just heard a couple groups yopping and barking just 10 minutes ago full moon is nice but no snow, how much snow is ideal lets say more the merryer or little to none is ok do you ever try setting up on a carcass etc ? If we put anything behind our house it seems to get hit within 2 days, anything u could share I'd be all ears. Eyes I guess good luck hope ur out in the moon again soon!

[Grayfox]

I'd be happy with 6" of soft snow all year. The critters can move real well through it and it keeps the snowmobiles off the trails all night long.

I've never tried setting up over bait. You can't place it and hunt over it where I'm at. I'd rather call them in anyway. Otherwise it'd be almost like deer hunting, sit on a trail and wait for one to come walking by. Getting bored with that. Got three more the last two nights so I'll try to catch up on the rest of the year this week.

Rob

[O.T.C.]

Right on thanks for any and all tidbits, I agree on baiting them in, wasn't even sure if legal or if that's a method some use. How about gun/scope combo, clothing and is it an e-caller or ? Sounds like scent is quite important that they tend to want a whiff of what they may think is an easy meal. Thanks again, I'm storing these ideas and sharing them with friends etc. Much Appreciated.

[Grayfox]

Gun/scope combo is pretty much whatever you have that you can shoot good. If you want to save the furs you'll probably need to go with a .17,.222,.223, .22-250 or 220 swift. Some guys use .243 for bucking the wind like say out West but the areas I'm hunting and the distances I'm shooting don't require that. I use snow camo but you can use whatever you have at night but if using darker clothing just set up close to some cover and you should blend in just fine. As far as scent, I don't think its possible to fool their nose. When they smell something that smells like a human they don't stick around long. Best bet is to hunt with the wind in your face or what I like is a crosswind so the animal has the opportunity to get downwind of the caller but they should never make it that far. If you have your eyes open!

I'm sorry Mitchell. I couldn't help posting these pictures again from a few years ago. I promise to never show them again.