They are tough

Being inspired by songdogs post, I made the decision to go out this morning.....
Got to the farm just before first light
Setup and started off with a coyote howl... Waited a couple minutes then started on dying rabbit....
After 5-6minutes playing dying rabbit off and on I see a coyote.
I setup thinking of drawing out a coyote from the bush on my left (180yds away) but no, this coyote is coming in (500yds out) from my 12 O'clock through the cut corn field. I know it's just a matter of time before he winds me. Sure enough about 250 yds out he stops and starts heading back. I manage to wolf out loud enough for him to stop at about 350 yd mark, take the shot and miss... :(
I continue on with my set hoping that another comes out.....sure enough, after another 5 minutes of playing coyote howl followed by rabbit distress another coyote from the same direction as the first one is coming down my way.... She too stops at about the 250 yd mark, this time I wolf at her right away, she is broadside, crank up the scope and take the 250 yd shot. To my surprise she jumps and starts the death spin.... but manages to find her legs and zips to the small clump of trees/brush and out of sight....I wait about 20 minutes and make my way to follow up on it....
I make it to the impact area and see blood, as I make my way to the bush area she ran into, I notice more blood, lots of it too....Now I am thinking this coyote it dead, so much blood but knowing how tough they are I learned not to assume...... So as I start making my way through the bush/shrubs and pass a big blood trail, she jumps out of the bush and gets about 15 yds into the field and stops, I quickly get my gun up and finish her off.... They are tough.... She has a nice healthy coat so despite the two gun shots, was worth skinning out..
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b4a8fdc9_o.jpg
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The blood trail
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The pose
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All skinned out
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Nice one. Congrats.

Great job

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Way to go Frank!

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Nice.

Did you skin it at the truck?


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Glad that I could inspire ya to get out Frank. Ha, Your so right about being tough. Amazing what they withstand.

I likely would have got up after the first miss and went looking to see where the bullet hit and make sure I missed and wouldn't have called in the second.

Congrats

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You are certainly the coyote whisperer. Great story and hunt. Congrats!

Good job another bites the dust

Nice one. Great shooting


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Good job on the recovery! They really are tough to kill. I shot my first one with my crossbow last month. I range him at 60 and put the dot dead center body mass (which is a little far back for coyote, just reflex from deer hunting I guess). He did the death spin and everything coupled with a loud and long snarl. I expected to find him dead a few yards from where I shot him. Instead I find a steady blood trail with some good pools of blood where he bedded, that would usually end up in a white belly soon after if it was a deer. But I follow this trail for over 70 yards and it ends at the river bank. The next day I follow the trail from the OTHER side of the bank (he SWAM) for another 70 yards or so that eventually ends. Next week I see the same coyote fit as a fiddle. He had to have been at least gutshot, with a 1.5" mechanical and he survived. Amazing.

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Originally Posted by Saskfly

Nice.

Did you skin it at the truck?


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Skinned it just inside the bush using a strong tree branch to lift her, tied her up by her back legs.... Having a dull knife on me made the job take forever though.... :(

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Originally Posted by fratri

Skinned it just inside the bush using a strong tree branch to lift her, tied her up by her back legs.... Having a dull knife on me made the job take forever though.... :(

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I watched Les Johnson's tutorial (Predator Quest). He hung it off a fence post,used an Exacto knife,a screwdriver,tail ripper and a pair of pliers for grip. It took him about ten minutes. He made it look pretty easy. I like your idea of doing them inside the bush, well out of sight of "prying snowflake eyes"

Good job Frank.

Great going you and Songdog are slaying them

nicely done and nice pics ! looks beautiful.

can you share more info on the Rifle and scope used ?

Great work. I skin them on site too if I can. I find if they are warm, it goes quicker. Also use a dog “choke chain” tied to a rope to cinch around a back foot when I hang them to skin.

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Originally Posted by fratri

Skinned it just inside the bush using a strong tree branch to lift her, tied her up by her back legs.... Having a dull knife on me made the job take forever though.... :(

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What happens to the fur then and do you leave the flesh in the bush? Sorry to sound stupid but obviously I know little about killing coyotes.

What were you shooting?

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Originally Posted by Sharon

What happens to the fur then and do you leave the flesh in the bush? Sorry to sound stupid but obviously I know little about killing coyotes.

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Hi Sharon
I take the fur home and flesh it out, prepare it for either action or a self tanning job..... I leave the body in the bush. I take the hide and the skull leaving the body behind, it will feed other coyotes and some birds...

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Originally Posted by Ata83

nicely done and nice pics ! looks beautiful.

can you share more info on the Rifle and scope used ?

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I am using a .223 axis with a bushnell 4x12 prime scope.... It shoots a 55gr vmax bullet...

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Originally Posted by fratri

Hi Sharon
I take the fur home and flesh it out, prepare it for either action or a self tanning job..... I leave the body in the bush. I take the hide and the skull leaving the body behind, it will feed other coyotes and some birds...

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Thanks for the info. What do you do with the skull?

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Originally Posted by Sharon

Thanks for the info. What do you do with the skull?

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I sell some, some I give to the farmers, they like to keep them in their office area.... I have given a few to some dentist and veterinarians.... Oddly enough, there are many people wanting one or two :)
They make for great conversation pieces, great in the man-cave or even as bookends :)
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...52bde766_z.jpg
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Excellent post.

I just got me icotec e caller delivered yesterday. :)

Setting up my Tikka T3x .223 and should be ready for my first hunt over the holidays! :)

I am going with a Vortex viper 3x9x40 BDC scope hope it has enough magnification for yote hunting.... lol

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Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter

Excellent post.

I just got me icotec e caller delivered yesterday. :)

Setting up my Tikka T3x .223 and should be ready for my first hunt over the holidays! :)

I am going with a Vortex viper 3x9x40 BDC scope hope it has enough magnification for yote hunting.... lol

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A 3x9 is plenty, I rarely zoom in more than a 7 or 8...... most times it stays at 4..
I like the a solid multi X style, it helps me see the cross hair lines easier... Those other scopes withe the dots are too small and the cross hair lines are too thin for me to pick up right away....
Always fun when they come running in and you try to get them to stop at the same time trying to centre them in the cross hairs, excitement at it's best :)
Good luck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fratri

I sell some, some I give to the farmers, they like to keep them in their office area.... I have given a few to some dentist and veterinarians.... Oddly enough, there are many people wanting one or two :)
They make for great conversation pieces, great in the man-cave or even as bookends :)
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...52bde766_z.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c8eb3d9d_o.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e7e05b50_o.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/4812/4...8ff33d56_c.jpg

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Man those skulls really are pretty. I didn't know their teeth practically take up their whole face under all that fur.

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Originally Posted by fratri

I sell some, some I give to the farmers, they like to keep them in their office area.... I have given a few to some dentist and veterinarians.... Oddly enough, there are many people wanting one or two :)
They make for great conversation pieces, great in the man-cave or even as bookends :)
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...52bde766_z.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c8eb3d9d_o.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e7e05b50_o.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/4812/4...8ff33d56_c.jpg

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Beautiful! My husband would love one of those. See PM

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Originally Posted by fratri

A 3x9 is plenty, I rarely zoom in more than a 7 or 8...... most times it stays at 4..
I like the a solid multi X style, it helps me see the cross hair lines easier... Those other scopes withe the dots are too small and the cross hair lines are too thin for me to pick up right away....
Always fun when they come running in and you try to get them to stop at the same time trying to centre them in the cross hairs, excitement at it's best :)
Good luck

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Excellent work :thumbup: Having done a few euro mounts I know the work involve.
If I shoot a wolf, I will give it a try.
I also have problem with the mil-dots. Multi X for this old guy also.

Did you tan them yourselve or send them out?


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Originally Posted by Saskfly

Did you tan them yourselve or send them out?


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Tan them myself..... Some come out better than others :)

Do you ever watch that "Mountain Men" show of which a good part is about how to tan?

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Originally Posted by Sharon

Do you ever watch that "Mountain Men" show of which a good part is about how to tan?

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I don't think I seen it, I tried googling it up but no luck..... Not sure how he does it, I suspect brain tan? I do mine like this....

Known as an alum tan.....After it is all fleshed out and washed, you take about 2.5lbs of salt, 1/2lb alum (found at bulk barn) mixed with 3 gallons of water.....let it sit in it (plastic 5 gallon pail) for about a week, stirring it up occasionally.... Take it out, wash again, then hang to dry..... As it is drying, (this is the hard part) you need to work the hide, pulling it in all directions. The more you work it the softer it will become..... If you don't work it, the leather portion does not get soft, it will stiffen up on you.... but the fur side does get soft making it a great man-cave display.... Oh the final wash should have some downy fabric softener in it so it makes it smell really nice :)

Do you flesh it with a knife or some tool?


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Originally Posted by Ashes1

Do you flesh it with a knife or some tool?


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A fleshing tool/knife..... Not the easiest thing to do though, definitely have made a mess of a few over the years, even with all the ones I have done, I still manage to put holes in them when I am not careful.... If you plan on doing one, you will need to be very careful, if you can practice on a raccoon or another non-trophy critter first, it would help...

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Originally Posted by fratri

I don't think I seen it, I tried googling it up but no luck..... Not sure how he does it, I suspect brain tan? I do mine like this....

Known as an alum tan.....After it is all fleshed out and washed, you take about 2.5lbs of salt, 1/2lb alum (found at bulk barn) mixed with 3 gallons of water.....let it sit in it (plastic 5 gallon pail) for about a week, stirring it up occasionally.... Take it out, wash again, then hang to dry..... As it is drying, (this is the hard part) you need to work the hide, pulling it in all directions. The more you work it the softer it will become..... If you don't work it, the leather portion does not get soft, it will stiffen up on you.... but the fur side does get soft making it a great man-cave display.... Oh the final wash should have some downy fabric softener in it so it makes it smell really nice :)

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Don’t forget to smoke it after it’s all tanned and stretched or you’ll be back to square one again.


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I haven’t shot a coyote yet but when I do I wanted to keep its fur. I just didn’t realize how much work was involved after skinning it


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Originally Posted by Goosesniper

Don’t forget to smoke it after it’s all tanned and stretched or you’ll be back to square one again.


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I have never smoked them and so far (maybe 8-9 years since I did my first one) and they are still holding up quite well. :)
I did read something about smoking them to make them waterproof? but never felt the need.
Merry Christmas

Thaaata boy frankie!

My husband received 2 coyote skulls for his Christmas present. He loved them - also big into taxidermy. Thanks to Frank for his excellent work. :)

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Originally Posted by Sharon

My husband received 2 coyote skulls for his Christmas present. He loved them - also big into taxidermy. Thanks to Frank for his excellent work. :)

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Glad he likes them....send a pic of their final resting place :)