Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: ivarhusa on December 28, 2008, 02:23:49 PM

Title: First Coyote (called and shot)
Post by: ivarhusa on December 28, 2008, 02:23:49 PM: Fellow Hunters,

After a dozen or so unfulfilling attempts over the last year, where no coyotes were seen or heard, I finally connected today.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpages.pocketinet.com%2F%7Eivar%2Fphotos%2FFirstCoyote2008.jpg&hash=b6c3b9cd7998abe3e076b237e4c7a74a3819ad77)

This pup came into view about 200 yards out, and sat there looking at me. My squeaks didn't coax him in, and he looked pretty focused on my location. I figured I was "made", so opted to shoot.

I was very satisfied that he dropped at the shot, without so much as a wiggle.

I spent an hour at skinning him, at least for the practice. It took as much strength as I could muster, and I resorted to "helping" with a skinning knife. I punched a few extra holes in the hide, and didn't get the ears quite right. It had a gaping exit wound anyway.

In the end, I saved the tail and tossed the hide. Too much work to tan, especially for such a rough result. Practice, practice, practice. Gotta get me another one, now.

I was hunting on Feel Free to Hunt land near Eltopia. Previous visits to this site weren't encouraging, but this trip I could see fresh tracks in the snow as I made my way into my stand. I used the "Randy Anderson pattern" of howling first, then distress later. This dog came in about 10 minutes into the stand, my second stand of the day.

It was a beautiful day to hunt. If you can imagine it, there was a full (if light) rainbow arching across the sky in the direction I shot this coyote (sun was at my back, good). The light rain was brief and no bother.

Hope you enjoyed my account...

Ivar
Title: Re: First Coyote (called and shot)
Post by: saylean on December 28, 2008, 02:38:48 PM: :tup:

Thanks for the write up! Congrats~!
Title: Re: First Coyote (called and shot)
Post by: stumprat on December 28, 2008, 02:42:59 PM: Good job. Another one hooked. :tup:
Title: Re: First Coyote (called and shot)
Post by: 270Shooter on December 28, 2008, 02:46:56 PM: Great story. 8) Nice song dog ;)
Title: Re: First Coyote (called and shot)
Post by: Red Dawg on December 28, 2008, 02:49:53 PM: well done. way to stick with it and not giving up. make sure you make an entry for coyote madness. the forum needs your help badly.
Title: Re: First Coyote (called and shot)
Post by: ELKBURGER on December 28, 2008, 02:56:31 PM: Persistence paid off! Nice shooting.
Title: Re: First Coyote (called and shot)
Post by: Big10gauge on December 28, 2008, 06:37:38 PM: Way to go Ivar, Now you're hooked. You said that you were having some trouble skinning one. A few years ago BullElk and I videoed how we tube a coyote. We meant to redo it with better instructions and quality. But found other things to do,maybe this will help.
Title: Re: First Coyote (called and shot)
Post by: rainshadow1 on December 28, 2008, 06:56:54 PM: Outstanding, Ivar!

Excellent write up, sounds like a great day in the field!

Thanks for the story! Way to go!
Title: Re: First Coyote (called and shot)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on December 28, 2008, 08:37:09 PM: Very nice, congrats on a first!
Title: Re: First Coyote (called and shot)
Post by: bowhunterforever on December 28, 2008, 09:01:03 PM: Nice job! Good calling! :)
Title: Thanks for the good wishes...
Post by: ivarhusa on December 28, 2008, 09:17:36 PM: Guys,

Thanks for your well-wishing.

As I look at the picture, I see "what I done wrong". I am hanging the varmint "upside down" to what probably looks best. I think a tail drooping over with gravity looks much better than a head.

Whilst deciding when to shoot, I fumbled around a little bit trying to support the rifle on my 'sticks' at the right elevation for the shot. I'd made sticks with "multiple choices" of level to shoot from (shown in the photo), but I think a better idea is more-or-less "fully adjustable". I see that Primos sells such a shooting stick, but it is a monopod.

I just don't like the idea of lifting and spreading apart the legs to adjust the elevation. Too much movement (in my un-humble opinion, as I have so far one coyote to my name to claim for experience).

I believe I will try to cobble something clever up in the shop, now that Santa's elves have gone north for the year. Has anyone else tried to do this?
Title: Re: First Coyote (called and shot)
Post by: Bullelk on December 28, 2008, 09:55:31 PM: I recommend the harris 27.5 bipod with a swivel top a must, I've used shooting sticks before and found it is very hard to move left or right if needed to get the job done. I use the harris bipod and it is so easy to pick it up and move without a lot of unnecessary movement. If it is to high just lean back and pull the gun back, it will be right on. It does add some weight to the rifle but it is well worth it in the long run.

Good luck, and shoot straight.
Title: Re: First Coyote (called and shot)
Post by: Bigswedegml on December 29, 2008, 11:11:44 AM: Good job Ivarhusa, it can only get better from here.
Title: Re: First Coyote (called and shot)
Post by: gasman on December 29, 2008, 01:23:09 PM: Congrats.........
:hunter: