Well to get everyone exited for that Predator Hunt that is comming up...here is a story of Rusty & I's coyote hunt last week.
Rusty and I went out hunting Eastern Oregon for 3 days and ended up getting a day and a half of hunting in....and my first double!
I met Rusty at his house in Portland at 6:30am, I loaded my gear in his rig, got the 4-wheelers loaded and headed out. We have been hunting together now for awhile and we have become a very good team in my opinion. I think that a good hunting partner plays a huge part in being successful, especially at this game. We arrived at the first peice of land at about 9:00am, unloaded the 4-wheelers and headed down the road. It was overcast, some threatning fog in the distance, about 36 degrees, and very good looking morning to shoot a few dogs. The fisrt set brought nothing in after about 30 minutes, so off to the second...this time it was my turn to call and Rusty was the shooter. I let out a few lonesome howls on my Cronk howler then started in on the dying rabit blues with my Sly Dog Custom call (I love that call), about 4 minutes into the set I hear Rusty lip squeking, I look in his direction to try and see what he is looking at but I dont see anything, finally I see the dog, he is a bit hesitant to come in and tries to circle downwind (out about 250 yds), he catches our scent and starts to head out away from us presenting Rusty with one last shot, which he takes and makes, the coyote jumped up, and started twirling around, we knew he was hit, but he started to run away
so we both took a few more whacks at him to try and put him down but with no avail. We looked for him but could only find ONE DROP of blood, that was it with no other sign...he was dead, but not found.
We made a few more sets the last one being unforgettable, this time it was Rustys turn to call and I was the shooter. Rusty let out a few lonesome howls to start off then went right into the rabit blues. The way we were positioned on this set was we were overlooking a rievens with the far side being about 200 yards away and right in front of us about 30 yards was a small hill blocking our view of the bottom. About 5 minutes into the rabit screams I was watching the far hill and something happens to catch my eye eight in front of me...a coyote...at 25 yards....running straight for Rusty who is 20 yards to my right....me without my gun up...this could be bad
I decided I had to get my gun up
or he was going to run Rusty over, I would just have to hope he doesnt see my movement. I got it up, he was now at about 15 yards, I bark, he doesnt stop
again I bark....he doesnt care, hes still going, I lead the coyote (soon to find out not the right amount), and fire....the coyote puts on the brakes so fast that dirt flew (or it was from my bullet hitting the ground and not the freakin coyote!
) The coyote hesitates not knowing what to do for a split second...enough time for Rusty to get a shot at him, but didnt hit him, then I took a few more whacks at him (probably would of done better if Id of been throwing sticks
) and he got out of there faster then he came in....which is FAST!
The day ended at about 1pm when the fog rolled in not letting us see further then 100 yards. So we went back to the cabin we were staying at and licked our wounds.
Next day we woke up to a very big surprise....the first snow of the year...4 inches of it!
We couldnt wait, we could finally use that snow camo!
The first couple of sets produced nothing but the next would show to be worthy....We walked up the fence line, it was my call, Rusty was the shooter, Rusty took his position while I followed the fence up about 60 yards futher so I could see over the hill looking straight up the fence line, and down at the cattle that we right below us. I let out a few howls, the way I always start out then went into the dying rabit with my trusty Sly Dog call. About the third set of rabit or so I looked at the top of the fence line on the hill and I see a coyote on the horizon running straight down the fence right for me...I let the coyote get so that we couldnt see eachother, there was a small reiven that he was going to have to go through to get to me where we wouldnt be able to see eachother, as I got my gun up I look and see a second coyote running down the fence also...I knew that Rusty was not going to beable to see these so I would have to shoot them, I flip up the scope covers, flip the safety off, and I finally see the first coyote show up right infront of me where I thought he would about 30 yards from me....I didnt shoot, I wanted both of them, so I waited for the second one while the first one kept looking around getting closer to me now he was 20 yards from me...where is that second one....she better hurry up or this thing is going to step on me!...15 yards now...finally she shows up at 30 yards...I put the crosshairs on her, squeze the trigger...down she goes with a 90 grain Hollow Point from my .270
...jack another shell in..get the first coyote in my scope who is about 15 yards still, not knowing what in the heck is going on looking around paniced but not running just standing...until another Hollow Point dropped him deader then a rock!
My first Double, Rusty came up thinking I missed or something..yeah right I dont miss...
Got two! We hauled them back to the wheelies and off to the next set.
Here they are:
We called in a few more dogs...including 3 on one set that Rusty called in.
It was a pair that didnt want to come in and never presented a shot and them a single that we couldnt connect on.
After both days we ended up calling 9. It was the best trip we had been on and with the highest success so it was great!
See you at the Ifish Predator Hunt........
Nick~
Coyote Hunt Story......
skein
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