Sorry guys but i am just too darn tired to repeat all the text and pic posting. Follow the link and there should be about 6 pictures if you scroll through the thread at GGVG. Thanks for looking.
GGVGUPDATEDI turn 59 tomorrow but my Birthday came a day early as I gained access to 5,000 acres of new ground that is unhunted. The only reason I got my foot in the door was because I played little league baseball with the rancher's son 50 years ago!!I headed out from headquarters at 8:30 am going west following a creek with high rock bluffs. It looked so good I couldn't believe it when nothing showed for 4 setups covering 2 miles using Utah Jack. There was no wind when i started but about a half mile into the hunt, the wind shifted out of the SE which is exactly opposite of the prevailing direction. I elected to go ahead and hunt downwind and hope for something coming from either side. At the fifth setup, I was nearing the end of the property and could see houses 1/2 mile ahead on the County road and the terrain had completely turned flat. Not much hope on this setup but I layed prone on top of the last little hill and set the FoxPro FX3 about 50 yards away. I decided to go with my all time favorite, woodpecker, and 4 minutes into the calling a yote came blasting in from my right and would not stop for three bark attempts. He overran the caller and spooked at the sight of it but didn't appear to smell anything. He loped past and started quartering away and a fourth bark halted his progress in time for a Starke 25 gr. HP from the .17 Remington to slip into the ribs at a sharp angle. The coyote stumbled for 15 yards and collapsed dead. Looked like the bullet may have taken out two ribs as there was quite a bit of surface damage. It was an a nice adult male. Lots more to come as I retrieve pictures from my host....
Closeup of first coyote......
I walked about 800 yards east into the 5 mph SE breeze and made a another setup by laying prone on top of a small hill and placing the caller about 60 yards out. About 4 minutes of the woodpecker squalling brought a coyote racing in over a distant hill about 500 yards away. Plenty of time to get adjusted as the coyote would be angling right at me. This time I started barking when the coyote was 125 yards out and she immediately put on the brakes staring right at me....too late as the fast little pill hit center chest and put her nose in the dirt stone cold dead. She was an adult female and I could not find the entrance hole. Wow...this is really starting to get fun!
Closeup of coyote numero dos.....
I walked about 1/2 mile due east and stopped at the top of the biggest hill around. I was right on a fence line and decided to lay prone and keep the caller right at my side. I was in the shade of the biggest post on the hill and let loose with the woodpecker again. Through the barbwire, I see 4 coyotes coming fast about 600 yards out....now the adrenalin is flowing as I have been made a fool of with this scenario before! I get adjusted and make sure the muzzle is past the wire. The yotes disappear behind a hill about 200 yards out and in a few seconds top out still burning rubber....chit man which one do I shoot! One of the yotes starts leading the pack as they come down the hill and then disappeared below me. I knew the next time I saw a coyote it was going to be in my lap coming hard so a got up on my knees and braced the rifle against the post. Suddenly, a lead coyote is appearing through the grass at very close range but senses something is wrong and darts to the right but stops...whop! Now, I jump to my feet and see the other three as they start climbing the hill angling away at full tilt.....somehow I manage to put a bullet into one of the runners but it doesn't go down. I swung on another and took a Hail Mary shot just as it rounded the hill and missed. I look back just in time to see the wounded coyote go down after traveling 75 yards with its' liver hanging out. I am way too happy not only for getting a double but for hitting a running coyote 150 yards away! The rancher was impressed when I got back and started showing him the pics on the camera. A great way to end my 58th year on this planet.
Looks like I got my pics out of sequence. Forgot to mention, the scope on the M-700 .17 Remington BDL is a Springfield Armory 4 x 14 with no AO. The 25 gr. Starke HP's were pushed by 24 grains of IMR 4320 and a Rem 7.5 primer.
