Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: SpokaneSlayer on October 23, 2008, 01:33:29 PM

Title: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: SpokaneSlayer on October 23, 2008, 01:33:29 PM: Went out yesterday evening with high hopes for the area I was deer hunting. Heard howling every night I was out there, and now that deer season is over in this unit, it's time to try and whack my first coyote.

I get out there around 4:30 pm and start to set up. This portion of the field is about 200 yds wide and I'm sitting in a finer of trees that extends out about 100 yds or so. Checked the wind, and it's perfect for this spot, blowing left to right. Set out my decoy and Foxpro out in front of me about 40 yds or so. Sit down and chill for a bit before ringing the dinner bell. About 15 minutes into my stand, some birds start chattering nervously. I scan across the field and here comes a coyote (a pup from this year) down off this small hill out of the woods. I reposition myself while he still has the sun in his eyes, I was sitting in the shadows. I wait to see how close he'll get and about 75 yds he turns around and starts to circle to get downwind of the decoy. I decided it was time, so I gave a small bark. the dog stops and turns broadside. I settle the crosshairs and squeeze. Missed! The coyote just looks around. So I rack another round. POW! Missed again! This time he starts to trot away. Another bark and he stops. POW! Another miss!!! He turns and trot a little faster. I bark but he still keeps going. I let a nice loud howl. That did the trick. By now he's 250 yds away. I hold a little high and squeeze off the last round in my magazine. All I see is poof of fur and that dog setting the grass ablaze running away. I couldn't believe it. 4 rounds and no hits. I even went over to where I shot last to make sure. I know it's not my rifle, although I think I'll be checking the zero tomorrow. Maybe blow up some canteloupe's for fun. The rest of the night didn't produce anything else. Planning hitting it again this weekend, probably another spot on the other side of the property.

My wife seems to think I just have problems with 4 legged critters. Maybe she's right...LOL!
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: DeKuma on October 23, 2008, 01:50:40 PM: Man, that sucks. At least you got after it. I have not put one on the ground yet either.
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: saylean on October 23, 2008, 02:04:47 PM: I did the same poof of fur trick on a coyote not long ago...I was thinking YES! when I saw him spin and bite...but then he runs up the hill and into trees!

Sigh..no blood..but i shaved him nicely. I will be checking my gun shortly as well...I missed two of em recently that should have been kills.

Better luck next time. Good work on keeping him around though. ;)
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: demontang on October 23, 2008, 02:16:33 PM: I would go check the zero I did the same thing and come to find out my scope was about 1ft high and 6" right :o. Keep after it and you will connect :)
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: AWS on October 23, 2008, 04:15:48 PM: My brother in law muffed a couple of easy ones and then nailed a real tough one. He realized in the excitement he was shooting when the coyote looked centerred in the scope and not putting the crosshairs where they needed to be, after he realized what he was doing they started to fall pretty good for him.

AWS
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: SpokaneSlayer on October 23, 2008, 08:24:51 PM: Well, I went out after work to check the zero. Fired 15 rounds using my bipod, just the way I shot yesterday. The grouping I got wasn't the best, all 15 rounds inside a 3" square at 100 yds, but considering my bipod swivels and cants a bit, I'd say the gun is on. The groups should tighten up a bit with a good cleaning. So it was all me that missed. :bash: I'm going to try again hopefully tomorrow or sometime this weekend.
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: demontang on October 23, 2008, 09:13:06 PM: LOL coyote fever :chuckle: I have missed some easy shots.
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: SpokaneSlayer on October 24, 2008, 09:04:04 AM: Yeah I think that's what it's coming down to. I'm going to try and get out this eveing again.
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: demontang on October 24, 2008, 11:51:34 AM: Good luck
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: SpokaneSlayer on October 24, 2008, 01:51:16 PM: Thanks. I can't decide if I want to hit the same field, or another spot on the same property. Thoughts?
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: Grizzly95 on October 24, 2008, 01:58:42 PM: Are you just heading south of town? Wheat fields and summer roads?
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: SpokaneSlayer on October 24, 2008, 02:00:31 PM: West of town, not quite to Fishtrap.
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: Grizzly95 on October 24, 2008, 02:03:39 PM: I live in the valley and a buddy and I head south and cruise the summer roads, have taken a few out there, usually long shots and on the run.
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: SpokaneSlayer on October 24, 2008, 02:08:50 PM: Public land? Where?

I hunt a small piece of state land that I found while looking for a place to deer hunt and heard coyotes every evening.
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: Grizzly95 on October 24, 2008, 02:13:19 PM: Most of it is private, the farmers don't give a crap about the dogs, but usually say tough *censored* about the deer hunting. I got a few maps showing some state land just outside of town.
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: SpokaneSlayer on October 24, 2008, 02:21:55 PM: That figures.
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: Sagedawg on October 24, 2008, 02:24:07 PM: Theres a good size chunk of stateland south of Cheney, that until it burnt held a few dogs. Slayer have you went due North of the base until you hit Long lake? I know there are quite afew around there.

Sage
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: SpokaneSlayer on October 24, 2008, 02:28:20 PM: No I haven't. Not sure where to go up that way.
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: Sagedawg on October 24, 2008, 02:35:41 PM: Inbound PM
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: demontang on October 24, 2008, 05:19:35 PM: If you do go to the same spot make sure you use a different sound or you might not see anything :twocents:
Title: Re: Still looking for my first coyote
Post by: MHWASH on November 01, 2008, 07:29:05 AM: Quote from: Grizzly95 on October 24, 2008, 02:13:19 PM
Most of it is private, the farmers don't give a crap about the dogs, but usually say tough *censored* about the deer hunting. I got a few maps showing some state land just outside of town.

Your right most farmers don't care about the coyotes, but do us all a favor and get permission.