Coyots in the sand...

[1tonpower]

Trying to call in eastern mass has been difficult to say the least. If I wasnt busted by a wise dog by getting down wind of me, then it was the nature walkers and there dogs, or kids and their dirt bikes....today I'm in the sand dunes of the cape, 6 miles from anything. 22* out with a 10-15 mile an hour wind blowing NE. I'm starting my hunt at hunt at the far end of the dunes. I have have the wind in my favor, and the ocean on one side and marsh on the other, with a little luck I will be able to get on them before I'm busted. As for the walkers and their dogs I won't say that that it's guaranteed that I have the area to myself, because a lady and her Shepard walked up on me once in a field at sunrise with the snow flying in sideways... I'm feeling good about today. Happy hunting.

 

[Len Backus]

Good luck!

 

[1tonpower]

Me and my rifle had a nice 6 mile hike today.. I saw loads of fresh tracks all around, 1 stand nothing, 2nd stand nothing.. Or so I thought. I called twice and waited 10-15 mins between calling. I didn't see anything come in so I threw my pack on and slung my rifle.. Walking slow with the wind in my face and staying on the low areas between the dunes I begin moving to the next stand. Scanning ahead as I walk. About 300 yard from the 2nd call location I start to look for high ground for the next set... That's when I see him/her sitting on the top on a small dune, about 200 yards out, just on the edge pine woods. I dropped to a knee and unslung the rifle in one motion. With the scope on 4x the cross hairs find the target with out delay.... It's still sitting there, it has no idea I'm there. Be its looking in my direction...It's at my 11 and the wind is at my 12... I'm not to stable on a knee and I can't lay prone because I'm in a hole.. I twitch to a sitting position and used bone structor for support but I'm still to low. I cant get it in the scope. I still have my pack on. I don't want to move to much. I've been busted to many times. This is the first one I've called in and had the opportunity to shoot at... I adjust my seat and raise the rifle with my fingers... The cross hairs find center mass and I ease the trigger back... Pow! Then I see it sand up and walk off..it had no idea what that loud noise was, or where it came from. It just wasn't in the mood to stay around to find out... I check the spot where it was. And there's just tracks, no blood... Just tracks and matted sand from where it was sitting. I made 7 stand in those 6 miles and that was the only dog I saw. I'm sure this area is heavily called... And from the amount of tracks I saw there's loads of coyotes.. They are just very call shy. All and all I had a nice outing.

 

[1tonpower]

This is just a random pic of the area.. It's open mostly with spotty cover, and a few large areas of pine trees.

This is from the 2nd stand. I found the dog sitting on the other side of the dune you see in the back ground. That's about 500yrds away.. There's no doubt these are call shy dogs. And they know how to use the terrain move. Next time I go there ill try to ambush them at dusk. They seem to use the same trails in and out of the marsh at low tide...

I apologize for the long read about a non successful hunt. I needed to vent

 

[Len Backus]

Nice!

I'd say you had a very successful outing.

Keep at it and report back!

 

[zuba]

Thats pretty cool. I had no idea you could hunt the dunes like that over there. Atleast you got some fresh air!

 

[1tonpower]

Thats pretty cool. I had no idea you could hunt the dunes like that over there. Atleast you got some fresh air!

It's a nice quiet place when you have it to your self... Two years ago predator show did an episode out there. Since then anybody and there brother thinks their a pro hunter with a fox pro caller, they think it's ok to hunt there repeatedly with the same sounds in the same locations... I think stand hunting them like you would deer is my best bet. One area looked like a highway it's traveled so often

 

[HARPERC]

A cool story all the way through. One has to marvel at the adaptability of coyotes, they truly live sea to shining sea. Good picture , even unsuccessful was instructional in my view. What call did you use? What's their principle food source there? Are they aggressive with the dog walkers, and area pets?

 

[1tonpower]

I don't think they are real aggressive with dogs.. That area is stocked with pheasant during the upland season. I'm sure they love those pen raised birds. The rest of the time they have the same diet any inland dog would have.. They do eat crabs, shore birds and ducks if they can catch them.. And beleive it or not seagulls.. I saw a ton of seagull carcuses. Reed distress call. I bite down on the reed to keep the pitch high. It seems to work better. I think it was a knight and hale. I had good luck called with a diaphragm turkey call also. But until today I was always busted before I saw them.

I had a north east wind today. It worked out perfect for how I wanted to work the area. If I call there again I'll wait for a south east wind so I can work the other side of the woods better. I'm only interested in rifle hunting them now. Or I would set up in The woods, it's fairly open and you can move around quietly.. But is more suitable for an AR or shot gun... My plain is solid for next time I head in there... Wait for a morning low tide and watch that trail like its a Taliban supply route.

 

[Damol]

Cool pics, thanks for posting. You may get burned but it makes the the sucessfull
days seem that much sweeter.