Post by: ivarhusa on May 22, 2010, 04:10:00 PM
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
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 22, 2010, 04:15:36 PM
Post by: rasbo on May 22, 2010, 04:30:38 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on May 22, 2010, 06:04:23 PM
Post by: saylean on May 22, 2010, 06:06:55 PM
CHeers!
Post by: bobcat on May 22, 2010, 06:35:44 PM
Post by: gramps on May 22, 2010, 08:08:14 PM
Post by: Big10gauge on May 24, 2010, 08:20:48 AM
Post by: demontang on May 25, 2010, 07:40:03 AM
Post by: Instinct on May 25, 2010, 01:29:06 PM
Post by: rasbo on May 25, 2010, 01:53:22 PM
keep your junk tied up though we dont want ya down again,or someone saying thats an old coyote hanging from that fence :yike: :chuckle:
Post by: bearpaw on May 25, 2010, 02:40:45 PM
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.
Post by: ivarhusa on May 26, 2010, 11:16:02 AM