12 replies to this topic

[Bill D.]

On my third visit to the new ranch, the owner turned me loose on the last unhunted portion.....about 1,800 acres. The first picture is of a yearling female that I took on my second setup. She wouldn't come any closer than 300 yards so I lobed a 55 gr. SX from the .222 through her lungs. Later, I missed a slow runner broadside at 100 yards - I may have to have a couple sessions with a shrink over that poor performance! Last setup of the day as the sun was setting produced another yearling female with mange.....easy 50 yard shot in the shoulder......she took off fast and carwheeled within 40 yards with blood and chunks of lung flying through the air. In between dead coyotes, I got busted by a group of 4 and and a pair.....they spotted me moving between setups in the wide open grasslands.  Trey_south3.jpg   106.83K   30 downloads  Trey_south2.jpg   61.5K   27 downloads

[Bill D.]

Closeup of the first coyote taken at 300 yards......this is a shot of the exit hole which was about nickle size in the skin. She spun around 6 or 7 times before falling dead.This is the second coyote taken at 50 yards right at sunset.....the SX bullet blew a big hole through this young gal with chunks of lung hanging out. Amazing she made it 40 yards. She had mange on her tail and rump.

[Cranky Farmer]

Great work! The rancher pleased with the thinning of the coyote population you've completed?

[Rimrock]

Thanks for another good story and pictures. No cattle to contend with on this hunt?

[Bill D.]

Great work! The rancher pleased with the thinning of the coyote population you've completed?

He knows I have only scratched the surface and understands I have to rest certain areas before calling again. I am scheduled to go back and take his ten year-old son out next weekend. I am taking him to the first pasture I ever hunted on this ranch.......I got busted by two different trios while walking but they didn't get shot at and didn't smell me and didn't hear any calls so I think we will have a fair chance if they don't spot us walking. I really want to help that young man get his first coyote.....he will never forget it.

[ShooterJohn]

Nice work Bill! You and your FoxPro's are doing a good job. Great story and pictures as always.

[Cranky Farmer]

Good on ya for taking the time to take his son out!

[Switch]

Bill, is that a long-eared Bison behind you on that first picture? Great job on the coyotes. I always enjoy your stories and pictures of your successes. Keep 'em coming. And, man, you should write a book on predator calling. I've got an FX3 and am just trying to find the time to put some hours on it.

[Thumper Dunker]

Good going . Its great your taking his son out.

[Switch]

Bill, one more thing. Did any of the coyotes cue into the jack-in-the-box decoy and how did they act. Thanks.

[Stiff Neck]

Great pics and story! I have the same questions for you Bill. You hunt a lot and nail your share of them. I noticed you use your decoy quite a bit. If it didn't work, you probably wouldn't bother right? What benefit does your decoy offer and how do the coyotes react to it?

[Bill D.]

Great pics and story! I have the same questions for you Bill. You hunt a lot and nail your share of them. I noticed you use your decoy quite a bit. If it didn't work, you probably wouldn't bother right? What benefit does your decoy offer and how do the coyotes react to it?

On this hunt, the decoy was along for the ride but I didn't use it because the wind was blowing so hard that it kept bending the wire. I have used it a lot and it works great. The most typical reaction when a coyote spots it is to come charging in but when they get close, they put on the brakes realizing something is weird. That is great because you get a standing shot without having to bark. DAA, the guy who recorded Utah Jack for Foxpro had the same exact results.....he has had coyotes slam on the brakes anywhere from 100 yards to close range.Last year, in Texas, on my first hunt with the Jack-in-the-Box decoy, I had a pair of coyotes come charging through thick brush and spotted the decoy when they were about 20 yards away......they never slowed down and one ripped the topper off the wire and both dogs hauled butt. I found the topper about 30 yards away. Those are the only coyotes that have actually grabbed the decoy. I had one that ran half circles around it from about ten yards out 2 or 3 times before stopping for the shot. The only bobcat called when using the decoy came charging right up in a low crouch and then sat up with the decoy practically slapping him in the face but never grabbed it. I had a coon right at sunset come charging in and bit the topper but quickly let go like he smelled human scent.It obviously works best in open country where a critter can spot it. The motion of the decoy combined with distress sound is a deadly combo for call shy coyotes. Last year, while calling in the grassland hills of CA, a coyote appeared on a hill top 400 yards away and just sat down. I was watching him through the scope when all of a sudden, his mate appeared on the scene.......she took one look at that decoy twirling and swaying and the race was on. I was sure one of them was going to grab it out of competition but when they got about 20 yards away, they split up and and stopped 5 yards away with the decoy right between them just starring hard......naturally, I shot the big male and missed the female who was easily traveling faster than my bullets.....haha!I have always been a skeptic about using a decoy because it is hard enough to get a hard charging coyote to stop without the added incentive of a decoy. The FoxPro JIB has changed my old stubborn mind. I have used various toppers, mostly homemade, and settled on the bunny because it can be seen further away. DAA has stuck with the synthetic coon body/tail that comes with the JIB and has no complaints.

[Bill D.]

Thanks for another good story and pictures. No cattle to contend with on this hunt?

Rimrock - yeah the cattle were bad and probably the reason I got busted by so many coyotes. These calves weren't coming to the call like my other hunt......this time they would just take off running all over the place which caused other small herds to do the same. The first coyote which wouldn't come any closer than 300 yards watched a herd of calves go running by which may have her on red alert. I watched one bunch of calves a half mile away going beserk for no reason......I think maybe they had just been stocked and were looking for a way home.Thanks to all for your nice responses.