As usual this post was first written for predator masters forum and edited for gun nutz and outdoorsman as I know some guys here like the coyote stories as well.
the weather here has been all over the map recently so I haven't had the itch to get out until a few days ago. like a switch was flipped, the weather turned cool and coyotes started showing up all over the place!
To keep up with the usual fall ritual the calls and rifle were placed in the truck for the off chance that work slows enough to make a stand or 2 before going home.
Screenshot_20231002-170822 by
brad harder, on Flickr
After practicing in the truck on the way to work I decided then and there that I would find a way to squeeze a stand in.
Sure enough timing was perfect to have 30 min for a fast stand right near the yard
I grabbed my things and hustled to a small rockpile that had been scouted earlier in the summer.
With a brand new set of calls previously won in a charity raffle put on by dirts custom calls I nestled into the rocks and got ready. I let out a soft squee on a coaxer with the hopes that the badger hole in front of me was occupied.
With no luck on the first series I moved up to the large closed reed which also produced nothing.
From driving by this area I knew there was pups somewhere nearby so I kept with distress and moved to an open reed to get some more rasp and volume out into the expanse in the hopes that it would wake something up.
Stumped that nothing was showing up I did a full 360 scan of the area and too my surprise there was 2 coyotes!.
Almost completely behind me out in the wide open field came 2 coyotes at a fast trot. The lead dog was dangerously close to my wind and miraculously sticking to the low ground where she couldn't see the truck.
Carefully pulling the gun around I pulled her up in the scope and hesitated. seeing the pup 300 yards behind her I pondered. "If she stays here for another minute I could probably get a crack at both of them". As if on cue the lead adult dog caught a massive whiff of danger and took off. Despite my barking, yipping, and kiyi's she never stopped.
Lucky for me the trailing dog was a pup who had no clue what just happened and stood there patiently as the shaking crosshairs were settled on its chest. At 290 yards the swift sent it's 50gr vmax right into the boiler room and with a single jump and spin the first coyote of the year was down.
DSC_0466 by
brad harder, on Flickr
DSC_0472 by
brad harder, on Flickr
Photo of the call that sealed the deal and the coyote that was patient enough to stand still
Also I need to point out, dirts custom calls are high quality top notch works of art and I can't stress enough how happy I am with his craftsmanship!
The Nikon was used in place of my damaged phone camera and I think it will need to come on more trips with me this year!
First coyote stand of the year
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