12 replies to this topic

[Gus McCrae]

I've spent my 27 years on this planet hunting as much as possible, but i have not hunted coyotes; until Wednesday. A buddy was supposed to take me out but called Tuesday night and said he couldn't make it. I slept in untill around 9 and lurked around this forum for a bit. I couldn't take another wasted day off work so I grabbed my gun and shiny new hand calls and hit the road. After a mile hike I eased my way to the top of a ridge with the wind in my face, careful not to skyline myself. I gave it a few minutes to calm down and started calling overlooking a drainage and opposing ridge line. 15 minutes in and no movement. I decided to get loud and desperate and maybe 10 minutes later I spot movement... Coyote!!! It broke over the ridge line and charged straight for me at 100 yards. It was in the bottom and out of sight in no time. I hung tight and in seconds it popped up at ten yards! The report from my Tikka .270 echoed through the canyon and the female coyote lay stone dead 10 yards from my feet! I can't believe my luck and thank the members of this forum for all of the valuable information Ive gleaned from your posts. I'm hooked!

[treffryraxter]

Great post much better than my first attempt lol

[Rimrock]

Well, you may as well kiss the wife or girlfriend goodbye. Your life is ruined. You just got bit by a bug that doesn't let go.
Seriously, that is great. Congrats. but

[Gus McCrae]

I still need to upload pics to my computer which I'll get tomorrow. I'm headed out in the morning hopefully the luck will continue. Oh and my wife is used to my absence due to hunting she'll get over it. I plan on toting my shotgun tomorrow in case one is on top of me again. Any suggestions on shot loads / chokes??

[DirtyDave]

#4 buckshot if you are in an area where you can use lead, or Hevi-shot Dead Coyote T-shot if you have to be lead-free. Mod or Full choke works fine.
Dont know If you hunt waterfowl, but if you already have some 3" or 3.5" Goose Loads, those will do the trick.

[modoc squeek shooter]

Congrats on your hunt. Good write up. Ed

[troutbum24]

Nice job McCrae! Next time you will have to bring out Woodrow Call with ya, and I recon there will be coyotes falling over left and right.

[Frank]

Other than that, there is nothing exciting about coyote hunting, eh? LOL

You did great and Congrats on your first kill... and so quickly too / didn't take a lot of stands before being successful.

If you're hunting open, or semi open terrain, not sure if I personally would "replace" a shotgun with a rifle, but would be great if both were with you. While I have little experience hunting them with a shotgun, we have killed only one & missed out on several other opportunities by having a shotgun exclusively on stand, when we shoulda had both, or at least the rifle instead.

Anyhow, good luck on your hunts and keep us posted... with pics of course. lol

[Shoot-it]

That's great isn't it fun to have them come into calls ! You did great I would stick with the rifle unless you want to carry both with you.
I myself am a primary predator hunter now even if I am deer hunting I am still looking for good calling spots.Once it get's in your blood your hooked.
Keep after it hope to see some more reports of your hunts.

[BCF]

If you hunt with a shotgun you HAVE to know your effective range by pattering with the choke/gun/load you will use. I have witnessed 3 different coyotes this year that were not killed with the shotgun because the shotgunner didn't know his range and passed up on a shot. (Yes, one of those was ME!)

I am totally hooked on shotgunning coyotes. It's fun as heck. I don't think about whether I'm busted, or whether they're going to stop downwind for a better shot, or whatever. If they're in range, running, or standing- SHOOT! Also, since I like to use hand calls, they're going to be focused on coming as close as they can to me.

[Gus McCrae]

I can't figure out how to post pictures from my iPhone. I went calling again on Monday and had a big male circle behind me and I was busted. I did get a bit of excitement though. I was using a fawn distress on my hand call which got the. Curiosity of a doe who came over a ridge at 100 yds to check me out and a monster 4x5 Black Tail was hot on her tail! Yes I am hooked on coyotes but nothing gets me more fired up than BIG bucks!

[ShooterJohn]

I would suggest emailing them to yourself and load them to photobucket and posting them that way.

[Thumper Dunker]

Way to go on your first.Your life is going to be a mess from now on.