coyote_jr
member
Hello all,
I've been reading the threads on THR for a couple years but never really had the urge to post. I guess I have always felt like everything has already been said and I couldn't really contribute.
Well, I still feel like that somewhat, but, after bagging my first coyote this summer I just can't resist.
I'm not a hunter at all. I mostly just like owning firearms and target shooting. One day a couple summers ago, I was visiting a friend and took some of my rifles out to her ranch for her sons to shoot. Somehow they talked me into going out with them to look for coyotes. I'm not a morning person, so when they mentioned we would need to go out around 5am I was none too thrilled. But I did go out one morning with them, and they gave me a couple pointers on how to hunt coyotes. I wasn't thrilled at first about the event because as I said, I never really had any desire. About an hour into that hunt, one of the boys was calling with a rabbit distress call and along comes this silvery ghost like shape in the distance. Suddenly my heart is racing and I'm trying to remember what to do. The coyote stopped maybe 25 yards away from me and I take my shot. In an instant I see a cloud of dirt instantly followed by that coyote in the air above it, I swear that thing must have been 6 feet in the air, and then just as fast, it was gone in the brush. Even as I type this the scene is burned into my memory. The boys started in on me on the walk back to the truck. They couldn't believe I missed that close, and back at the house we laughed about it all through breakfast.
All joking aside, something else, besides that missed shot and endless ribbing, happened that morning. I was hooked on hunting coyotes.
Fast forward to this summer. I visited my friends again and this time I had alot more practice with my rifle under my belt. My friend Rick took me out and did the calling. We went out early in the morning, set up in a couple mesquite bushes about 10 yards apart. This time, it only took about 5 minutes to see a coyote. It came from left to right and trotted in at a nice pace. I raised my rifle and gave a lip squeak, which Rick said to do when I was ready to shoot, and sure enough it stopped dead in its tracks and looked right at me. This time, I took my shot, and continuing to look through the scope, saw nothing. I thought I missed again and I'm thinking "Oh great
" but keep looking. Then I see it struggling to get up. Second shot misses completely. Third shot drops it for good. I know you're supposed to kill with one shot but, well, I'm not that good yet I guess. To you one shot, one kill guys I do apologize. Anyway, whew...what a feeling. It was a young male. Rick, who is a professional trapper, tells me that's probably why it got so close, because of its inexperience.
I was using my Bushmaster .223 with a 3x9 scope, Federal 50 grain HP, and it was about 65 yards out. My first shot hit around its hips and must have paralyzed the back legs. Third shot was behind the right ear.
Well that's my story, I know it's no big deal, one measly little coyote, but I'm still pretty excited about it. I can't wait for next summer. I'll try my best to drop them on the first shot next time. I still don't really care for hunting in general but going out for coyotes is alot of fun. I think as long as its fun and not serious, which growing up in Pennsylvania all the deer hunters seemed so serious, it will continue to interest me.
Anyway, happy hunting and I'm glad to be on THR forum.
I've been reading the threads on THR for a couple years but never really had the urge to post. I guess I have always felt like everything has already been said and I couldn't really contribute.
Well, I still feel like that somewhat, but, after bagging my first coyote this summer I just can't resist.
I'm not a hunter at all. I mostly just like owning firearms and target shooting. One day a couple summers ago, I was visiting a friend and took some of my rifles out to her ranch for her sons to shoot. Somehow they talked me into going out with them to look for coyotes. I'm not a morning person, so when they mentioned we would need to go out around 5am I was none too thrilled. But I did go out one morning with them, and they gave me a couple pointers on how to hunt coyotes. I wasn't thrilled at first about the event because as I said, I never really had any desire. About an hour into that hunt, one of the boys was calling with a rabbit distress call and along comes this silvery ghost like shape in the distance. Suddenly my heart is racing and I'm trying to remember what to do. The coyote stopped maybe 25 yards away from me and I take my shot. In an instant I see a cloud of dirt instantly followed by that coyote in the air above it, I swear that thing must have been 6 feet in the air, and then just as fast, it was gone in the brush. Even as I type this the scene is burned into my memory. The boys started in on me on the walk back to the truck. They couldn't believe I missed that close, and back at the house we laughed about it all through breakfast.
All joking aside, something else, besides that missed shot and endless ribbing, happened that morning. I was hooked on hunting coyotes.
Fast forward to this summer. I visited my friends again and this time I had alot more practice with my rifle under my belt. My friend Rick took me out and did the calling. We went out early in the morning, set up in a couple mesquite bushes about 10 yards apart. This time, it only took about 5 minutes to see a coyote. It came from left to right and trotted in at a nice pace. I raised my rifle and gave a lip squeak, which Rick said to do when I was ready to shoot, and sure enough it stopped dead in its tracks and looked right at me. This time, I took my shot, and continuing to look through the scope, saw nothing. I thought I missed again and I'm thinking "Oh great
" but keep looking. Then I see it struggling to get up. Second shot misses completely. Third shot drops it for good. I know you're supposed to kill with one shot but, well, I'm not that good yet I guess. To you one shot, one kill guys I do apologize. Anyway, whew...what a feeling. It was a young male. Rick, who is a professional trapper, tells me that's probably why it got so close, because of its inexperience. I was using my Bushmaster .223 with a 3x9 scope, Federal 50 grain HP, and it was about 65 yards out. My first shot hit around its hips and must have paralyzed the back legs. Third shot was behind the right ear.
Well that's my story, I know it's no big deal, one measly little coyote, but I'm still pretty excited about it. I can't wait for next summer. I'll try my best to drop them on the first shot next time. I still don't really care for hunting in general but going out for coyotes is alot of fun. I think as long as its fun and not serious, which growing up in Pennsylvania all the deer hunters seemed so serious, it will continue to interest me.
Anyway, happy hunting and I'm glad to be on THR forum.
