4 replies to this topic

[Bill D.]

I arrived about 11:30 am to the new ranch after the fog burned off. Today was the day I was supposed to take the rancher's ten year-old son out to try for his first coyote. Tyson was a very polite and well mannered young man but terribly shy and didn't want to go hunting with me. I took off on foot to cover the huge area where I was busted by 6 coyotes a month ago. Between the second and third setup, I got busted by a single that took off running side hill 500 yards ahead. On my way to the fourth setup, I spotted a coyote 400 yards ahead and immediately hit the ground......watching through the scope, I was relieved to see the dog had not spotted me. It was too wide open to try and set the FoxPro caller out so I just stayed low and started with a young female howl. The yote immediately looked my way and then sat down. I waited for a minute and then started with the Utah Jack slowly raising the volume as I watched the coyote intently through the scope. When I reached about 1/3 volume, he started trotting my way and dropped out of sight in a wide basin. I immediately hauled butt for the fenceline and layed behind the biggest post I could find. I was watching the ridge ahead of me 200 yards away expecting to see the coyote topping out and coming head-on. Instead, I finally spot just ears bouncing along off to my right as the dog was attempting to circle downwind. Finally, the coyote showed its' head and the top of its' back as it stood still surveying my location. I held right at the top of the back and sent a Sierra 50 gr. Blitz on the way from my .222 and heard a nice whop. Twice I could see the coyote's head as it was struggling and then nothing. Gathered up my stuff and quickly headed that way......the big male yote was stone dead with a broken back. The bullet caught the bottom edge of the spine and probably cut the big artery that eventually splits into the two femoral arteries running down each back leg......no exit.  Treywest1.jpg   85.07K   21 downloadsAfter covering 4 miles with no takers, I finally reach the far end of the ranch and was surprised to find some motts of oak tress. I didn't know there was a wild tree anywhere on the ranch. There was a good looking creek running through the neighbor's property with brush and trees so I set up on a steep hill with the caller below near the property boundary. In a couple minutes, a big doe came around a hill and circled the caller about 50 yards away. I decided to have a little fun and switched to the fawn distress and the doe got mighty upset and was pacing back and forth. In a few seconds, four more deer came running around the hill and joined the big doe. They all stood staring back in the direction they came from so my radar was focused that way. In a couple minutes I see the ears of a coyote in the weeds as it rounded the base of the hill. In a couple more seconds I would have a clear shot but all of a sudden the coyote reversed direction and was gone.......I looked up to see that big doe running towards the coyote but she pulled up and returned to the other deer. I shut down the caller and waited 5 minutes until the deer had wandered off and started calling again but never saw the coyote again. Neat experience but no blood! I made a few more setups crosswind as I made the long walk back but no more action. I reached the ranch house right at dark and Tyson was by my pickup waiting....his shyness disappeared and he wanted to see the stack of 8 x 10 hunting pictures I keep in the truck. He also wanted to hear all 32 sounds on the FoxPro. I let him lay on the ground and look through the scope but the stock is just too long. I think he is now ready to go hunting and I will borrow Dad's Browning Hornet with a shorter stock for Tyson to use next time I come to the ranch.

[Rimrock]

You did it again! And another one with a white tipped tail. I hope you have that young man's interest now. It's always great to see a boy's face with their first success.I may have to get my wife a Foxpro for her anniversary.

[ShooterJohn]

That's a very nice coyote Bill. Good story as usual, you're a pretty sly fox pulling the wool over that coyote's eyes. Another white tip for your collection. Sounds like the second coyote didn't want anything to do with that doe. But he'll be there for next time. Thanks for the story and pictures.

[Bill D.]

John - I didn't even notice the white tip on this coyote's tail until I got home and put the pics up on the screen. The yearling female had quite a bit more white on the tip.......sure makes me wonder if they are kin?? I should have shot that dang coyote while it was moving through the weeds......crosshairs were steady and I was sooooo close to pulling the trigger. Didn't have any idea that darn doe was gonna charge as I was looking through the scope at the coyote. I couldn't believe the coyote didn't come back when the deer left......must of had his butt whipped in the past.

[ShooterJohn]

I couldn't believe the coyote didn't come back when the deer left......must of had his butt whipped in the past.

That must be it Bill, nobody wants their butt whipped twice. Plus the country being so open where you're at I'm sure had something to do with him vamoosing.