Me and my buddy decided to go and scout/call some land that I had found, but he hadn't seen it yet. Only problem was the winds were about 25mph sustained with 30-40mph gusts. Needless to say we only made one actual calling stand. We had no luck of course, our sound was not carrying for anything. So we decided to just hike around the section of land looking for places to call for the next time out. We were coming down a draw when a coyote popped out from about 80 yards in front of us and ran up a hill. I dropped down to one knee and found him in my scope. The coyote stopped for a moment at a little over 200 yards out. I held the crosshairs on him as best I could fighting the wind pushing on me and let one loose with my .25-06. My buddy said he saw the coyote crumble for a second and then it took off. I tried to get back on it, but it made it over the hill before I could get another shot off. We went up to look for a blood trail and had no luck. So we searched in the area it ran for about 30 minutes to no avail. We then decided to continue our hike circling the land back towards the truck.
On our way back to the truck we approached a draw that looked pretty good, but neither of us thought to stop, set up, and give it a try. Instead, we continued walking until we saw a coyote heading up the opposite side of the draw. My buddy let a round loose from his AR and hit just in front of the yote causing it to go straight away from us. With an opportunity like that I decided to chime in and send a round from my .25-06. I managed to shoot over it. Just then we caught movement going left to right through the draw......another coyote. We both let a round loose at that one, no luck, both behind it. Right after we shoot, coyote number 3 decides to take off at mach 4 to the left never looking back. I got back on the second coyote and manage to shoot behind it. After that shot, coyote number 4 (the biggest of them all) decides to leave the area also. We both shoot behind that one also. It is hard to lead those buggers, I was leading about a dog length to a dog and a half length. I guess I should have been leading two dog lengths.
That was by far the most adult coyotes I have seen in a group before. Is it common for adult coyotes to group up like that? It was a rush that is for sure. I wish we could have connected on one of those four. I also wish we could have found the one I hit. I hate leaving them to suffer.
Has anyone else seen that many full-grown coyotes together this time of year?
