6 replies to this topic

[Bill D.]

This afternoon I headed to a ranch that I have not called in several months. The owner lets friends chase coyotes on quads so I have never done any good on the place. I called the foreman and he said nobody had been hassling the coyotes for quite a while so I decided to give it a try.The first setup was at the south end of the ranch and I only had to walk about 400 yards to get over a hill from the pickup. Down below me was a huge area of marsh grassland with a big reservoir about 600 yards away. The riparian vegetation, sedges and cattails, were chest high in most places. I set the FoxPro in an opening 50 yards below my set and started with Utah Jack. About 3 minutes into the calling, I see a yote by the reservoir a long way off just standing and staring. I turned the volume low and he wouldn't budge after a few minutes so I switched to Death Cries of a Coyote and he still didn't budge but as I was looking at him through the scope, I see something pop up and disappear in the tall vegetation. With my naked eyes, I see a coyote pop up about 300 yards out. It was quite comical watching the yote trying to stand on his hind legs to see over the vegetation. I get positioned and the coyote pops up again about 200 yards out but no possible shot as he wouldn't stay up long enough. I lose him for a couple minutes and then catch movement straight out about 300 yards as the coyote is trying to circle. There was no way he could get downwind without showing himself in some short grass rolling terrain but I was worried about the dog seeing my pickup. Lost him again for a few minutes and then he shows up directly to my right about 250 yards and is holding tight. I changed to the woodpecker and the yote starts for the caller......he crosses under a barb wire fence and stops 200 yards out. The .17 Remington was in position and with crosshairs on the throat and holding a squinch left for breeze, I touch the trigger and the yote's face hits the dirt. I could tell he was still alive as I would catch glimpses of movement through the tall grass. After a couple minutes, no more movement so I load up my gear and start heading towards the downed yote......whoa....he is up and running and falls again. Up again and running all screwed up but no shot in the tall weeds.....the yote then makes it into a very wet area with chest high vegetation. It is clear all around this spot so I watched for 10 minutes and he never came out. Approached the swampy spot with rifle at ready and it was bad muddy and standing water. I looked for several minutes around the edges but wasn't going to wade into knee deep water and mud for a stinkin' coyote. First one I have ever lost using the .17 Remington going back to the early 80's when I purchased the rifle.I drive to the far north end of the ranch and take off on foot for the most remote area on the place. No takers on the first setup and on the second setup, PH calls on the cell just as I am about to start calling. After a brief conversation in a low voice, I call but no takers. Walk about 800 yards to one of the highest places on the ranch and am greeted by a beautiful lake covered with Canada Geese about 400 yards away and across the boundary fence. I veered away as to not spook the geese and made a setup I was not happy with as far as visibility. After I started the caller and layed prone, I realized I was too low to have any warning of a coyote coming over a rise close to the FoxPro. I got up on my kness but stayed crouched over and watched the tall grass. Winthin 3 minutes, I see ears coming fast through the grass and I plop back down on my belly and position the rifle. The coyote was on the caller and smelled my scent but started loping towards me at an angle. I stayed flat and watched through the grass near my face as the coyote passed by 15 yards away. As soon as he got past by a safe margin, I scooched around and started barking....the coyote was in a medium speed lope and would almost stop and then resume the lope. I even tried howling with my own voice and the coyote nearly stopped again. The bipod kept hanging up on the grass and I couldn't follow smoothly with the crosshairs. With the yote nearing 150 yards out, I decided it was now or never so I picked out a spot 15 yards in front of the coyote and held solid. Just as the coyote's chest reached center scope, I pulled the trigger and was greeted by a wonderful WHOP and down she went! Hit in the hip, she came up and just stood in a ball trying to bite at the wound and bullet number two found the lungs....game over. I now realize that my heart is in overdrive....I really wanted this yote after not finding the first one and was dang lucky to dump her. I really felt too excited to get up so I grabbed the cell and called PH to share the fun. I knew this coyote had some very unusual black markings around the neck and head and was anxious to check it out up close and personal. My conversation with Pete allowed the adrenalin to subside so it was time to check out my opponent. A big female with black hair all around the neck and black forehead. A very neat hunt! BTW - Pete (PH) is a fellow FoxPro field staffer that lives in Maryland.

[Rimrock]

Good story, Bill. Thanks for sharing.

[Cranky Farmer]

Great story; I like the black coloring on her, too.

[ShooterJohn]

Great story and picture Bill. You tell a great story, it's like being there. That is some unique coloring on her neck. Maybe she was chasing a diesel pickup's tailpipe.

[joel1316]

Great story and picture Bill. You tell a great story, it's like being there. That is some unique coloring on her neck. Maybe she was chasing a diesel pickup's tailpipe.

+1Great story! Great detail!Thanks for sharing....

[ForkedHorn]

Nice story and nice Dog, good job! did you weigh her? She looks really big. and very unique coloring. looks like there was a german shepheard in the den?

[Bill D.]

Thanks for all the nice comments. She had a big frame for a female but only felt like about 28 lbs when I picked her up. I have only killed a few coyotes that exceeded 30 lbs. and they were all males.