Pretty good night! We made it to 20

[Grayfox]

Between Mitchell and I we've called and killed 20 coyotes this year. I think two years ago we had our best year with 26 so I think we have a pretty good shot at breaking that this year.

I started out last night with the first set hearing several groups howling around me but couldn't get anything to show. I was supposed to go back home and pick Mitchell up but after texting him around midnight he said he didn't think he could stay awake past the first set so he was just going to go home to sleep. So I decided to hit a new spot we got this year that I had been saving. The wind was right as I drove into the yard and after scanning with the binocs I could see one crossing the field going South. I waited until it was out of sight and got out and snuck out into the field and placed the caller and quickly scampered back to a hay rack to hide by. I started with a few howls with no response. I waited 15 minutes and it finally answered back. I sat there for another 10 minutes before I see it walking towards me but its out there a good 5-600 yards.it closed the distance in no hurry to around 360 yards but then sat down and just started toward me. I waited for another 5 minutes and did a few more howls. It just sat there. Then it starts pouncing at mice under the snow then sits back down. I did a few more howls but I could tell this thing wasn't going to come any closer. I could see it in my scope but not real well. I had to shut off my red dot because it was blocking out the animal. It started moving off to the South again so I waited for it to stop and touched one off. I heard the Wump of the hit and it went down. I could still see it moving around so I shot and heard it hit again. This time it stayed down. #16 was down.

I left that spot for an old reliable. I walked in to a field from the East with the wind at my back. The coyotes usually come from the South or West so I put the caller South of me and climbed a hill to the North of it about 70 yards away. There was a block of woods to the West of me but they usually have come from the field south of it. My scent should stay to the North of that. I called off and on for 50 minutes or so with no responses. I was thinking about wrapping it up when I see two little black dots moving around in the field SW of me. They appeared to be getting closer as they were moving in no hurry to the SE which was going to make it real hard for them to scent me unless they cut all the way back to the North. I waited until they were about as far SW of me as I wanted before I could possibly lose sight of them behind a hill then let out a couple howls. They stopped and stood there for a while then slowly started working North. I let them close the distance to what I thought was around 250 yards or so and they hung up. I waited as long as I could before they started to get a little antsy and drew down on one and touched one off. I heard the Wump and it went down in its tracks. The other one bugged out and again I thought it was over 350 yards when it stopped an thought possibly I could get it to come closer but it took off. Ended up with no shot but it headed West barking and howling, so tonight I'm heading a mile West and going back after him. It ended up being only a 164 yard shot. Seems I've been off by at around 100 yards on my night time range estimations lately. That one made my total for the year at 17 and with Mitch's 3 gets us to 20 with plenty of time to get more. Now I think I've got this year up to date. Hopefully this won't be the last.

Rob

[hugonian1]

I love reading your posts Grayfox.

Curious how many square mile area you cover to get on the amount of yotes you do.

The deer in your area thank you.

Keep up the good work.

[O.T.C.]

I concur. Might not need too large an area but having multiple spots to try it is huge. I wish grayfox was my neighbor. I'd get him into every farm in our area. Not only the 20 down but the little squirts the hens would've had also, great job and wishing all your bullets hit home as well.

[Grayfox]

OTC,

Have gun, will travel!😀

Having a good amount of land to hunt is in my opinion the biggest factor in killing these things around here. They get pounded during the day with dog hunters but they sure don't mind coming to the call at night. I travel an area of almost 80 square miles during the year so I do put a few miles on and only get in about three to four sets a night. 69 sets so far this year with 30 animals taken. 24 of the 69 sets were successful, 35% success rate.

Rob

[O.T.C.]

10 4 on that, wondering where in god's country you're located. Am talking to my neighbors this weekend about it, would be shocked if they said no as they let me hunt deer,turkey,bear,pheasant,geese,duck,grouse, and that'll about do it lol. Plus where I live there would be a really solid spot to set up or at least my trailcams are full of coyotes. I could envision just from where I live likely 4 good places to try it. A night's worth anyway. Here's a ? for you, I haven't lately been hearing them, not that I'm outside 24/7, but does that mean they moved out of the area ? Or are they just more vocal at times more so than other times ? My dad's is loaded with em also so I have 2 different radius's for you potentially depending on your location.