Ivar is back to hunting coyotes- today

[ivarhusa]

About the only goal I set for myself, after an extensive illness last year, was to be able to climb a barbed wire fence by first-frost.  This in support of my coyote hunting.

I am not up to climbing that fence yet, but I didn't let that get in the way of going out to a CAFO cattle operation that could always use fewer coyotes.  Estimating dawn to be 5am (not too conservatively it turned out), I hit the road at 4am for the 50 mile drive.  As I rolled in, it was already "shooting light", when I would have preferred a bit more darkness to sneak in.

Let's see this is May. It was freaking cold.  I put on my camo over-pants and warmest coat.  Hey, there was frost on the plants!  Air temperatures were about 37F.

There is a short walk from the vehicle to my favorite sniping perch.  At only about 100 yards from the car, I look out over a planted field to see a coyote looking back at me from 200 yards.  Sheesh! I set my stool down, set the bipod and tried to draw down on the critter.  He had skedaddled out of view.

As I approached my hide, behind a stack of RR ties, I spotted another coyote sitting somewhat comfortably, but perhaps aware of my presence, despite having not really exposed more than my head to his view.  I steadied the rifle over the ties and let go a shot at 240 yards (later measured).  I knew it to be a dead-on hold for my .204 Ruger.

I quickly chambered another round and spotted a (another?) coyote about 100 yards from where I'd placed my shot.  I took a slightly hasty shot and missed. Revved that coyote into high gear, in getaway mode.  I called for the next half-hour, but nothing came in.


I searched the area where I'd taken my first shot and found no sign that I had hit him.  I hadn't heard the tell-tale whump either. I concluded that the "second" coyote was also the first, with clean misses.  I need to get back to the range and practice my trigger squeeze over a bipod.

My second stand was a half-mile from the first, with good shooting lanes and lots of territory beyond that potential to hold coyotes. I'd seen them on previous trips, and heard some in the distance. State-owned land, too. Nothing came to the call, and as I was making my way back to the vehicle I fell, hurting my left knee a bit.  I am still not that steady on my feet that I can catch myself. It was painful enough that shouted obscenities were spontaneously emitted.

With lingering lameness, I called it "a day" at 7:15 am and drove back home.  Hey, I'd seen at least two coyotes, heard others, and had taken shots.  Not a bad day at all.  Enough to overlook the discomfort that remains in my knee.    

Ivar

[carpsniperg2]

still sounds like a good day, glad you are back after them good luck.

[rasbo]

time will make it better,,just seeing that your out and about,thats a good thing

[ICEMAN]

Good to hear you are getting out! Go get em' Ivar!

[saylean]

Welcome back Ivar. Great to hear you are out and about again....and with a vengence from the sound of it!

CHeers!

[bobcat]

Sounds like you've got a great spot. Just get there a little earlier next time.

[gramps]

Glad you are able to get out a bit.  Been thru' some extended recoveries myself and it is a good feeling to get out.   Best of Luck...Keep at it..slowly if need be.

[Big10gauge]

Hey Ivar, Nice to hear your making some progress after your extended illness. In a couple of weeks you're probably be able to hurdle those fences . I haven't been out yet this spring just for the sole purpose of shooting some coyotes figuring that the pups should be out and about with mama. But maybe towards the end of June I'll go out just to keep my trigger finger from getting too rusty. I did drop 3 coyotes while taking some guys out turkey hunting last month, all males. One more thing, if you're going to tell people that you missed a coyote tell them you were using a .223 or something as a .204 never misses.!!! 

[demontang]

Good to hear your back out and hunting. Everyone misses I know Ive missed some pretty easy shots under a hundred yards.

[Instinct]

good luck hope ya bag one soon!

[rasbo]

Hey Ivar, Nice to hear your making some progress after your extended illness. In a couple of weeks you're probably be able to hurdle those fences


keep your junk tied up though we dont want ya down again,or someone saying thats an old coyote hanging from that fence

[bearpaw]

congrats.....

We are having a coyote hunting competition and a shooting competition in Colville on June 12-13 with Remington as a sponsor with both cash and a new gun for prizes, you ought to bring a friend and come up.

[ivarhusa]

Bearpaw, can you supply a web address or contact info about the coyote contest in Colville?  I am curious, though may not be able to get up there.