The Baron of Bufflehead
03-15-2008, 09:58 AM
I had quite an afternoon yesterday. Talked to the farmers before I went out and they told me they saw 6 coyotes in one of their fields earlier that day. So, I went over there. I setup one field away, downwind, to call out a block of bush before I walked upwind of it and headed for the honey hole. Sure enough, a few minutes after the first sequence I see a 'yote coming out of the far bush, into the next field where the farmers saw the six. Then there were two... then three... and eventually there were 6 in the field.:MS: One started to come and disappeared below a hill but I guess 1/2 mile was just too far and there is also two fences and a creek to cross between their field and mine. I saw him heading back the way he came a minute or so later. Ended up with 2 laying in the field, one sitting and the other 3 all playing. Range was in excess of 400 yards to the closest dog, so no point in trying a shot. I tried some challenge howls, but all I got were interested stares and they eventually moved back into the far bush. I could see them playing/mousing along a bank in the the bush, so I made a long sneak down the field edge, over the creek, and up the next field edge. I got on the downwind side of the treed/brushy fence line. I got near the corner and set my FoxPro in a tree, then moved further forward and set up, hoping to call one or more back out to the field. I tried to start the FoxPro but I had hung it about 50 yards back and there were too many trees along the field edge and it wouldn't go.:PO: I figured moving back to get it was too risky. So, I pulled out by howler mouthpiece and did some pup distress. I'm facing upwind along the edge of the field/into the bush wehere I last saw the coyotes. Sure enough, I catch movement behind me, and a dog is circling to my downwind through a field of scrub bushes. I got turned around and went prone (the snow way too deep to use shooting sticks anyway). I yipped again and the dog stopped with his head low, peering at me from under a juniper about 120 yards away. I was still winded form the 1/2 mile tromp in deep wet snow, and just plain blew the shot. I got a bunch of short hairs and a sparse blood trail. I tracked that dog about 1/2-3/4 mile in the deep wet snow, which nearly killed this fat guy. He took me into the thickest, nastiest stuff on that property, which is obviously where the coyotes live. After about 3/4 mile the blood trail pretty much stopped and the trail got so intermixed with other fresh coyote tracks that I lost it.:CL: I guess if there is an upside to the story, I definitely figured out where the coyotes live on that property!
Weird thing is I heard coyotes howling about 1/2 hour later, in the general direction my wounded dog went. Then I heard two loud gunshots, a bunch of rabbit calling, then a bunch of man-made howls and more rabbit squalling. Then more real coyote yipping/howling another 1/2 hour later (I think it was real). Quite a crazy amount of action considering there is only supposed to be one other guy hunting that farm. He hadn't told the farmers he'd be there that afternoon (or else I wouldn't have gone in) and so I'm not even sure yet if it was him.:CF: :hs:
Went out this morning to some different spots to try and shake off that goof up, but didn't see anything. I sure hope that's not the bad note my season will end on. Gotta keep trying.
Weird thing is I heard coyotes howling about 1/2 hour later, in the general direction my wounded dog went. Then I heard two loud gunshots, a bunch of rabbit calling, then a bunch of man-made howls and more rabbit squalling. Then more real coyote yipping/howling another 1/2 hour later (I think it was real). Quite a crazy amount of action considering there is only supposed to be one other guy hunting that farm. He hadn't told the farmers he'd be there that afternoon (or else I wouldn't have gone in) and so I'm not even sure yet if it was him.:CF: :hs:
Went out this morning to some different spots to try and shake off that goof up, but didn't see anything. I sure hope that's not the bad note my season will end on. Gotta keep trying.