Opened Coyote "Season"

[tt35]

I finally got out for some stands yesterday morning to start getting the kinks out. Had a few challenges (like my shotgun magazine not feeding) so I took only the new .243AI on the first stand. A mature female ...showed up in just over a minute and went down five yards from the FOXPRO Shockwave. At seven minutes a big male ran right by the downed female. It took a few barks and then a voice howl to get him to stop at about 110 yards where he dropped immediately as the 65 grain V-max hit. (Bullet performance was perfect--no exit on either coyote.) The first stand of the year, the first double and the first coyotes with the new .243AI!

Unfortunately, the bullet of the third round stuck in the throat of the rifle and pulled out of the case when I tried to clear the chamber. Argh! I went back to the truck and was able to get the shotgun mag freed up so I took it back out and left the rifle.

Second stand was a blank. Third stand had one show up at seven minutes just eight yards from me. It stopped about twelve yards from the caller but turned to leave. I stood up and shot behind it and the shotgun failed to feed for the follow-up shot. Double Argh! One more coyote got downwind out of shotgun range and left without a shot.

So, three stands, four coyotes called and wo in the truck. The male was a big one for the desert. He was about 35 pounds. Terrible cell phone photo. Just added for those "No photo, it didn't happen" types!



Go forth and slay stuff.....

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

Nice work! some more of those worthless pieces of crap gone. I live in New Hampshire and have a great deal of difficulty calling dogs in. I've only ever called in 2 dogs all the time i've used calls. I kill most of my coyotes off bait. Could i be doing something wrong or is it just the eastern coyote? i use a fox pro spit fire call.

 

[dstark]

Nice work! Sounds like a lot of action, that's unfortunate about your shotgun.

Just bagged my first coyote of the season this last weekend. He was a target of opportunity not called in, tagged him at 340 yds with a 100gr btsp from a 243 win. Dropped him like he was struck by lighting not even a twitch. No exit wound. That's my longest shot on a coyote as of yet.

Now a question for you callers- I use a FoxPro spitfire. When you run a distress call do you pause it every so often or just let it run? I usually run mine for a minute or so them pause for a couple minutes, but I'm wondering if I'd do better to just let it run?

 

[HARPERC]

Nice work! some more of those worthless pieces of crap gone. I live in New Hampshire and have a great deal of difficulty calling dogs in. I've only ever called in 2 dogs all the time i've used calls. I kill most of my coyotes off bait. Could i be doing something wrong or is it just the eastern coyote? i use a fox pro spit fire call.

tt35 has articles posted on this site that are well worth reading. I hunted with him a couple of years ago, and that was well worth it also. I'm going back this December.

 

[tt35]

Thanks for the props, Carl.

dstark: Great shot! Surprising there was no exit especially at that distance. Nothing wrong with the Spitfire. I normally just let the sound play. I will adjust the sound level but I generally don't start and stop. The idea is that even though not strictly "realistic", if they are responding, I want to keep giving them what got them interested. I start quieter then increase it. Then I'll reduce the sound back to a moderate level assuming that any distant coyotes are already keyed on the location and getting closer. A little increase and decrease of volume through the stand adds realism IMO.

Creedmore shooter: The articles I put up on our website have resulted in some positive feedback from those using the tips. You can find the articles here: Predator and Varmint Hunting Gear Specialist | No Off Season - Articles & News The approach and the set-up articles will help with a lot of the most common problems. But, some say that "coyotes are coyotes no matter where you are". And, there are principles that work everywhere but coyotes in different parts of the country do respond and act somewhat differently. Stay after them. It gets easier as you get a few on the ground. Good luck!