Good hunt but no kill

[fratri]

Got out for a set after work I figured with the cold temps and light winds made for ideal calling conditions. So rush off, get to the farm and make my way to the back portion. I notice lots of tracks in the fields and in the small bush I had to get through to my calling position. I set up my ecaller and decoy about 40 yds into the field and to my left. I get back to my sitting position get settled in and start screaming dying rabbit sounds with my open reed call. I scream for about a minute and then stop. I try and get my ecaller going on low volume but it doesn’t turn on, I am thinking I forget to turn it on? (I like to keep my ecaller on a low volume when I use my hand calls, I figure if a coyote shows up to my screams he will hear the ecaller and focus in on it allowing me to setup for the shot undetected) Anyway the foxpro doesn't play so I scream out again with my hand caller for about another minute and stop. A few seconds go by and out pops a coyote about 180 yds out and sits looking in my direction. A few more seconds go by and out pops another coyote, a double great but…..They both sit and watch in my direction for a minute before one of them starts to leave (goes behind the treeline into the back field) The second coyote starts to follow but stops just as it hits the tree line, I line up the 185yd shot, bang, it runs off..... The other coyote takes off too, no shot on that one. Foxbang doesn't turn on (caller is off) so start with some pup distress sounds using my open reed howler call. A minute goes by and that second coyote comes running back into the back field, turns and he runs away, I call, he runs back, he runs into the bush I keep calling he keeps coming back into the far field never getting any closer than a couple hundred yards. We do this for a good 5 minutes before he stops in what looks like a clearing through the trees. I line up the shot, take my time and feel real comfortable with the shot and squeeze the trigger only to hear branches breaking…….the coyote runs off... I try pup distress sounds for a few more minutes before grabbing my gear and go look to see if I hit the first one because the second shot was a complete miss. I get to the first shot coyote area and see a couple small drops of blood, follow the blood scatter specs for about 400 yds before I can’t go anymore so I give it up. He looked like he was not slowing down and the lack of blood probably means he lives.... I went to have a look at the second one I shot at just to make sure and no blood, complete miss..... It’s still light enough that I can make another set on the other end of the farm. So I hurry (fast trot) and travel about 500 yds in the opposite direction, cut across a couple fields, get to a fence line about 250 yds from the big bush and about 150 yds from the closer bush. I start calling with my open reed rabbit distress sounds, do that for a minute and wait , do it again for a minute and wait....Notice a little tree stump at the back of the big bush, glass it and it’s a coyote sitting watching my area from 250yds out. I try a few different things for 10 mins but he does not want to move, just sitting there. I go silent for a bit he starts to move but disappears back into the bush. I continue to call dying rabbit and pup distress when I see the coyote run straight out of the bush and cross the field from my right to left about 250 yds away and he is moving fast. I lose sight of him quickly no chance for a shot. The wind is in my favour so not sure what caused him to run across the field so fast. I try for a few more minute (pup distress, dying rabbit) but losing the light fast decide to pack it up. As I am walking back to the truck I look up and there is a coyote coming out of the bush walking into the field and is coming toward me. I have my gun in its case already, I probably have about 2-3 minutes of legal light left so drop down and try and get my gun out of its case, with my gloves on and the zipper being difficult my hearts racing as I try and get the gun out all the time watching the coyote as it is closing the gap. He probably get about 80 yds from me before he saw me and said to himself WTF....turned and ran away.... lol……I never ended up getting my gun out for him but what a great rush.... No kill but a great hunt nevertheless...

Today was stand number 7 and 8 for me since my last coyote....so I went 6 stands dry since last coyote…. I think with the cold temps the coyotes are hungry and on the move but a little surprised they never committed all the way. So if the winds are calm and the temps stay cold get out there and call….

Good luck and thanks for letting me tell my story….

[grizzlygreig]

Enjoyed the read... Thank you!... Stay on them dirty fykkers....

[impact]

Great story and very inspiring Frank. Yes, they are out there but are very Wiley such I also experienced last Sunday morning but eventually persistence pays off. I can't hardly wait to try again this weekend with my new caller.

[skypilot]

Great read Frank.

I wish we had them around here that thick. Been tough, with the mange and cold weather around here to even find tracks lately.

[beagles1111]

Franks the legend

[terrym]

Sounds like a wild hunt. Look at it this way, nothing to skin.

[OntHunter73]

Frank I feel your pain, I had the same small blood trail afew weeks ago. Tonight i went out and nadda . Lots of tracks but no point in shooting tracks .

[GW11]

Lots of action on that hunt! Thanks for the read, great story.

[outback]

At least you are still seeing them and are able to learn and build off the experience. I just seem to be spending time sitting in the cold field learning what I seem to learn every time out. That it's cold and the yotes are afraid to come out in front of the o'le .223. Good luck getting back into your groove and knocking a few down.

outback

[COYHUNTER]

GREAT read frank...................i had 2 coyotes come out last friday.............but wouldn,t come in closer than 400-600 yards,,,,,,,they walked across field and walked to big bush to the east........the closer one was limping..........might need you here one day