Rocky Raab
11-03-2005, 12:31 PM
Folks, I had the real pleasure of hunting coyotes with Kirkned the other day. I read his thread (Man, I love Wyo!) in this forum, and contacted him.
I had to be in Green River on business, and Kirk and I met up the day before my appointment for a bit of afternoon 'yoting.
Well, Kirk is a fine guy. Also a big guy. We got my Durango stuck once, and Kirk carried the truck to firmer ground. With one hand.
No, not really. But he looks like he could have, if we had gotten stuck. Instead, we set up on three or four calling stands in an area that borders the fabled Green River.
We let the Foxpro wail for 15 to 20 minutes at each stand, and both of us saw movement in the sagebrush several times. But no dogs came into clear view until our last stand, just minutes before sunset.
We scrunched up against sage at the head of a little draw , and I changed the Foxpro from "cottontail duet" to "woodpecker in distress" in case a cat was nearby (we'd seen bobcat tracks in the dust while walking in). It would be our last stand, so we settled in for as long as it would take or the light lasted.
It didn't take long.
I again saw a dark shape make two bounds through the sage to my left, but then disappear. Moments later, the setting sun lit up a patch of silver fur just ahead of me. Coyote. It sat and stared in my direction from 200 yards out. I leanedinto the rifle scope, and was taking up trigger slack when I had the stupid idea to crank up the scope a bit. As I turned the dial, the coyote dropped down into the ravine. While I mentally kicked my own butt for wasting the chance, I waited for the 'yote to come closer. I was still waiting when Kirk's 6mm Remmie barked once.
Ah ha! Kirk's seen the same dog, I thought. Great! But then I realized i hadn't heard that wet towel whop of a bullet on fur.
A few minutes later, nothing else had appeared or moved, so we got up and moved to each other to compare notes.
Kirk had not seen the dog I should have shot at, but he did see another one coming in from his side. It came across three little rises, but then slammed on the brakes atop the last one before it entered our draw and just stood there. Kirk decided to shoot then, but must've missed (We found no sign of a hit despite a close search.)
Comparing notes and events, I believe that Kirk's dog probably saw me move when I first sighted at my coyote. That stopped it and made it suspicious.
I wonder if, in turn, my own coyote may have seen Kirk move when he turned towards the dog he saw? I would almost bet on it. The timing of the way both dogs reacted hints that both of them saw something they didn't like. I think mine saw Kirk, and then Kirk's saw me.
No dead dogs, but we found some great places to call - places with both prey and coyotes aplenty. Oh, and we each found a new hunt buddy, too!
A great day!
Oh, here's a view of the green River I took that same day. Not where we hunted, but a spectacular view. Where I'm standing is at the edge of a sheer drop many hundreds of feet above the Green. Enjoy!
I had to be in Green River on business, and Kirk and I met up the day before my appointment for a bit of afternoon 'yoting.
Well, Kirk is a fine guy. Also a big guy. We got my Durango stuck once, and Kirk carried the truck to firmer ground. With one hand.
No, not really. But he looks like he could have, if we had gotten stuck. Instead, we set up on three or four calling stands in an area that borders the fabled Green River.
We let the Foxpro wail for 15 to 20 minutes at each stand, and both of us saw movement in the sagebrush several times. But no dogs came into clear view until our last stand, just minutes before sunset.
We scrunched up against sage at the head of a little draw , and I changed the Foxpro from "cottontail duet" to "woodpecker in distress" in case a cat was nearby (we'd seen bobcat tracks in the dust while walking in). It would be our last stand, so we settled in for as long as it would take or the light lasted.
It didn't take long.
I again saw a dark shape make two bounds through the sage to my left, but then disappear. Moments later, the setting sun lit up a patch of silver fur just ahead of me. Coyote. It sat and stared in my direction from 200 yards out. I leanedinto the rifle scope, and was taking up trigger slack when I had the stupid idea to crank up the scope a bit. As I turned the dial, the coyote dropped down into the ravine. While I mentally kicked my own butt for wasting the chance, I waited for the 'yote to come closer. I was still waiting when Kirk's 6mm Remmie barked once.
Ah ha! Kirk's seen the same dog, I thought. Great! But then I realized i hadn't heard that wet towel whop of a bullet on fur.
A few minutes later, nothing else had appeared or moved, so we got up and moved to each other to compare notes.
Kirk had not seen the dog I should have shot at, but he did see another one coming in from his side. It came across three little rises, but then slammed on the brakes atop the last one before it entered our draw and just stood there. Kirk decided to shoot then, but must've missed (We found no sign of a hit despite a close search.)
Comparing notes and events, I believe that Kirk's dog probably saw me move when I first sighted at my coyote. That stopped it and made it suspicious.
I wonder if, in turn, my own coyote may have seen Kirk move when he turned towards the dog he saw? I would almost bet on it. The timing of the way both dogs reacted hints that both of them saw something they didn't like. I think mine saw Kirk, and then Kirk's saw me.
No dead dogs, but we found some great places to call - places with both prey and coyotes aplenty. Oh, and we each found a new hunt buddy, too!
A great day!
Oh, here's a view of the green River I took that same day. Not where we hunted, but a spectacular view. Where I'm standing is at the edge of a sheer drop many hundreds of feet above the Green. Enjoy!