TLBradford helped the newbie seal the deal

[GrouseBane]

TLb gave me some good advice off my first board posting 2 weeks ago...... do what you are doing, don't get discouraged, go in the woods after them instead of sitting on the hayfield trying for a 200+ yard shot.

Update: I went in last weekend and decided to leave the 22-250 and went with a mossberg 935 auto 3 1/2 inch mag with "T" heavy shot.  I waited until about dusk and they howled back instantly.  unfortunately two hung up on the road 150 yards out (I must have moved) and sat until full dark.  Then I could hear several behind me in the woods yipping but no visual.  It was full moon so I listened as they hunted and caught a coon? or something. Pack went nuts and that was that.

Lastnight was cold and clear and I had 2 in McCleary yipping at me but never saw them.  I went to the farm and crashed there.  Got up and went into the woods near there on a long dirt road... 2 miles gated at both ends with a few short spurs.  First set was a patient 25 minutes at a "T" intersection.  Nothing showed, but the wind is blowing 15+ mph so time to move...stood up slowly and came to the road to see two coming in 200 yards out!  I crouch down and saw them trot away about another 100 yards and stop.  300 yards out is no match for the full choke so I think "I wonder if I can sneak back to the car 300 yards my direction and get the bolt gun...."  Amazingly one of them sits in the road and I am able to get to the rig, scope and range him at 650 yards.  I quietly load the gun and move his way low crouch on the road side.... 50 yards in I tip the barrel downward and the bolt slides shut "clack!" and he heads off.  So this is how Charlie Brown hunts.  When he trotted off he went down the road not off the side.  I hightail it back to the rig and race to the other end of the grade 2 miles away.

I get there, walk in 200 yards to the first "y" spur in the road.  Set out the remote caller 25 yards out and get mouth calls at the ready.  I give about 5 minutes of cool off period since I crouched behind my stump.  I am expecting an ambush now not really a call in so I take the 22-250 and position for a shot down the long road.  Rookie error 1: did not scroll the scope down from 20 power after the long range viewing.  Rookie mistake 2: had minimal expectations of success, especially from the spur on my right flank.  I hit the remote for "mouse squeak" and am looking at the remote to make sure my thumb is on the "Stop sound" buttom... after about 4 squeaks (3-5 seconds) I look up to see him inbound 50 yards out and closing fast, not off the main road but the spur... Swing the rem 700 up and realize the scope power error as I see nothing but fur in the glass!  Rookie mistake 3: squeeze and no boom 'cuz the safety is still on!  OMG!!! He spots the rifle barell swing and 180's it at an amazing clip but opts for the road not the brush...... all the skeet and sporting clays practice take over.... tail.. rump.. ribs.. nose.. 18" lead and stop just before a stump is about to block the shot.  His nose touches the vertical crosshairs 104 paces out... boom!  The recoil knocked me off target at 20 power, recover and no dog!  I must have hit..... it was a bit high but just a bit and I could have sworn I saw a flap of fur fly up as the scope recoiled up.  Maybe I can't hunt, but I know I can shoot.  I walk forward and round turn in the spur where the stump blocked the view to see a big blood splotch where he tumbled arse over nose and came to rest facing my way in the road.  I got him, took out the top of the neck and spinal cord!!!  I let out a victory howl and realize I just made rookie mistake 4: keep calling you might get a double!!

Anyway thanks for the advise and encouragement guys, several lessons learned today and what a rush!  pics of the dog and set... blue is where I first saw him, yellow is the e-caller, red is the shot.

[markts]

Awesome job. still waiting for my first. Markts

[Gutpile]

Way to go. Of all the dogs I've been able to call and kill, I've never had luck in the timber.

[509er]

congrats

[tlbradford]

Great Job GrouseBane.  Loved the story too.  All of those little mistakes will help make you a better caller too. Trust me though, they aren't just rookie mistakes. I guarantee that you will leave the safety on for a shot even after you have been hunting them for years.  My favorite that I am famous for is forgetting to load bullets in the rifle after walking to the stand.

I am happy we were able to keep you encouraged, but you did it by staying confident in what you were doing and working on your set-ups through trial and error.  Keep it up.

To bring up one thing that people can take a lesson from it is to be in a position, especially when you are alone, to look 360 degrees if possible, and to be able to get the rifle in a shooting position for as wide of an arc as possible.  You just never know when they may backdoor you or come from a crazy direction.  If you can, wait to move until the coyote is looking away, but sometimes that isn't possible.  It sounds like you made the proper judgement call on swinging and shooting.   

[Wanttohuntmore]

Good job and great story.  Makes me want to go out now!  Maybe next weekend, this work thing gets in the way.

[firecrotch]

congrats

[MHWASH]

Congrats, I'll bet your hooked now.

[Wile E. Hunter]

Have you begun to list the "other things" in your life that you'll have to set aside to more actively chase coyotes now? I've found that work around the house that my wife has requested works nicely for a start.