How about some pics of your varmints? (Page 5 of 24)
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Originally Posted By SongDog:
Some of you may know Rhett got his 1st rifle at Christmas time last year. Since then we have been practicing shooting and going over basic what to do's. The To Do's, he has pretty much got them down,before stand, during stand, and after. Tonight was his 1st venture to the hunt with his rifle. I am the back up gunner. I will do everything in my power to have him take the shot. He knew that if the behavior shows that a coyote is going to bug out, I will take the shot. We start calling and it wasn't within the 1st 10 minutes, Rhetts feet goes to sleep so I set him up differently so he can get comfy. This worked and he was fine. 15 minutes into the stand, I throw out 2 no dominant howls. Three minutes later the coyote appears right in front of Rhett about 200 yards and approaching at a good clip. Rhett says, "I'm on him Dad, what me to take him" I tell him no, let it come closer the coyote is fine. He asks again when the coyote is at 150 yards, "do I take it now?" I told him to relax, not yet. Here is when the excitement really kicks in for me. It is time for Rhett to take his 1st shot at a coyote. Coyote gets about 100 yards and we need to do something before it gets our wind. I tell Rhett get on him and I will get him to stop and take a good shot. Rhett says in somewhat of a shacky voice, "Ok". I had to bark 3 times to get the coyote to stop and when it did, BANG! Rhett lets it fly from his H&R Ultralight youth 223, coyote flip flopped and takes off slow but at a trying run. So the backup gunner, which is me, pulls up my new CZ 527 varmint in a 204 and hammer it. Coyote is down, we are excited as we can be. I told alot of people that when Rhett nails his 1st coyote, Ole'Dad may shed a tear. I was shocked that I didn't . Rhett was so excited it was funny So there was no time for happy tears tonight. I got Rhett settled down and told him we need to stay hooked (as Uncle Byron says) and went right into the pup distress. Well, we couldn't wait and called it quits. HAD TO GET HIS 1ST DOG I was so very proud of him and I truly know I have a awesome calling partner. He was so worked up that he jabbered the whole time going to the coyote and all the way back as we dragged the coyote back to my folks house, who we called behind. It was another wonderful Fathers Day (which is everyday)! Sent Rhett after the caller, he says "Your not gonna turn that up on me are ya?" I made him jump before whe he was carrying it. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/Canislatrans/100_1797.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/Canislatrans/100_1799.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/Canislatrans/100_1802.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/Canislatrans/100_1803.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/Canislatrans/100_1804.jpg In Christ, Song Dog Oh My! It does not get better than that. Thanks for sharing. |
| Rizzo, I like the new ghillie outfits that you and your buddy are sportin'. Are they just a piece of ghillie with a hole in the middle for your head to go through? (That's what I've been thinking of making...maybe with a hood too.) |
Before he goes to bed at night the boogeyman checks under his bed to make sure Chuck Norris isn't there.
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Originally Posted By WWCND:
Rizzo, I like the new ghillie outfits that you and your buddy are sportin'. Are they just a piece of ghillie with a hole in the middle for your head to go through? (That's what I've been thinking of making...maybe with a hood too.) Most of the guys I hunt with use leafy full suits or leafy tops - I prefer the Ghillie, but WILL NOT wear it during the warmer months - it's hot as hell! It's a production top, made by Rancho Safari, with short sleeves and a hood that I wear when I'm on stand. When not in use, it rolls up into a nice little bundle with a strap and buckles. Here's a picture of what mine looks like opened up, the hood is at the top: 
I've been thinking of going out and taking some pictures with it on to see how well it breaks up my outline. |
| Cool. Thanks for the reply Rizzo. I'd like to see the photo comparisons with and without the ghillie too. Always trying to improve the camo. Which reminds me...this year we noticed while coyote hunting that if you put your legs flat on the ground rather than sitting with your knees up you cause less shadow and actually blend in much better. |
Before he goes to bed at night the boogeyman checks under his bed to make sure Chuck Norris isn't there.
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One of my friends uses an ASAT Leafy Suit, and I have to admit it's the best camo I have ever seen. If I were really concerned with camo, I would get one. I just don't think its that big of a deal and I don't like the idea of hiking around all day with a 3-D suit on. I'm a big fan of ASAT though, even just their regular camo that isn't 3-D. The thing to remember is that camo patterns are like fishing lures, they're made for the hunter and not the game he is after. Don't worry about "blending in", its much more important to just break up your outline. Check out ASAT, I think its the best one out there.
Rizzo, how much do you usually have to hike where you hunt? Is the ghillie suit a pain in the ass to hike with? |
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Originally Posted By Hutch477:Rizzo, how much do you usually have to hike where you hunt? Is the ghillie suit a pain in the ass to hike with?
I agree with Hutch - people put too much emphasis on camo. I wear mostly all BDUs or some basic cheap camo. Anything that breaks up your outline and helps you blend in is gonna work - keeping still is the problem that most guys have. ASAT is pretty cool, though, and keeps it simple and effective. Too much pattern = a blob at any normal distance. Check this picture out. This is about 30 yards away from the camera - can you tell what camo pattern I'm wearing? All that really matters is that I blend into the surroundings. The Ghillie suit helps to break up the outline (pics of that being used inbound soon), and to answer your question, Hutch, it's really not a pain in the ass to hike with. The 3-D stuff gets snagged on everything in sight, but the jute doesn't seem to have that problem. It's wicked hot in the warmer months though, so a Ghillie is a late Fall/Winter thing. Sometimes my call lanyard will get tangled in the jute, but it's not that often - you just have to learn to work with it. I normally hike at least 200 yards from my vehicle, but there are some days where I'll put a few miles behind me before I get back to the truck, hitting a few stands along the way. The more you get away from where everyone else has hunted, the better you'll do. |
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Originally Posted By rizzo1318:
Hmmm. Even I wouldn't eat that. +1 bonus point for not wearing camo, +2 bonus points cause I can see you in your underwear shooting coyotes off the backporch.  That brings up a funny story  When we first built the house, we were here about 4 months. I ended up killing alot of opposums(sp?) and coons gettting into things. The neighbors dog was always hanging out here. One night while we were in bed the dog is going nuts right outside our bedroom window. I look outside to see the opposum he was barking at. Out the house with the 22 w/ only my undies Wife sure thought it was funny, but after I was done, we could sle
In Christ, Song Dog |
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Hey now, who hasnt shot varmints while standing in their undies.
I used to keep a gut pile 150 yards from my bedroom window. Just far enough to keep em coming, but close enough to see the eyes at night. Many a coyote died whilst I was free ranging 
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"Now boys.........you're fixin to let them teenage hormones get you in a world of trouble"
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Originally Posted By rob99vm04:
Predator hunting looks like so much fun. I have a few questions. I've been thinking about doing this in Upstate NY where my in laws are located. I have a 17 HMR and I would like to try and shoot some Coyotes. I'm wondering if thats legal up in NY. I can't see why not, but then again, a lot of laws seem stupid to me. Go to THIS WEBSITE to check New York's laws and license requirements. The good news is that you can night hunt predators in NY. |
I took a newbie friend of mine out calling today. He got a few shots off at a coyote, but was unable to connect, though I think he still got bitten by the addiction bug. Luckily, I didn't share his accuracy troubles, as I connected on this nice furred up dog and also had the chance to whack a raven at the end of one of the stands.
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Here ya go guys... first one ever. I was on my bosses 130 acre ranch in swan valley, ID. I was on a ridge sitting on the north side in some sage grass looking south towards another other ridge which had willow bushes and fur trees. After I sat down and got my calls and cross sticks out, I began making a few interrogation / locator howls. A couple minutes later I heard a few dogs howl back over on the other side of the ridge I was looking towards. I did a few more howls and about 5 minutes after that this coyote showed up on the top of the southern ridge between 2 trees. The adrenaline is really starting to flow, so I slowly get the scope up and she is just sitting there in the snow looking in my direction. I then start with a series of rabbit distress calls and she stands up and starts making her way down the hill heading right for me. I am following her the whole time through the scope, and when she gets to the bottom and out into the field she turns around and looks back... I figured she wasn't going to be the only one to show so I start looking back up where she came from and saw two more coyotes sitting right where she was before. So she keeps on heading my way and about 100 yards out I get my safety off, put the call down and try to get a good hold on the gun. My heart is really beating at this point. She stops and is looking at me about 75 yards.. so I start squeaking with my lips and she keeps coming in. She is really starting to get close at this point so I bark with my voice a few time trying to get her to stop. She stops 35 yards away and bam. While I was squeezing the trigger she started walking again, so I ended up getting a gut shot. Oh Well. Ill get a nice pelt out of it... I'm so hooked!!!
http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq82/astrapat/IMG_3385.jpg http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq82/astrapat/IMG_3388.jpg http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq82/astrapat/IMG_3390.jpg |
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Thanks Rizzo... Especially from you.. The yote doctor!! I must have watched "Calling all Coyotes" with Randy Anderson about a hundred times trying to learn their language. I just love howling!
There was a ton of track out there so I might head back out Friday. It also looks like a good spot to get a elk this year with my flintlock rifle! |
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Elk with a flintlock?! Now that's a true hunter!
You know, howling is a calling skill that most guys overlook or discount, but I have howled in many a wary coyote, at all times of the year, when just using distress wasn't working. Learn the different types of howls and you will be five steps ahead of the average predator caller. Keep us posted on your future progress - looks like you're off to a good start! |
5 coyotes taken by me and my brother in November. 2 with his 7mm-08, and the other 3 with his 22-250. I shot one of the five.
Added one more to the pile in December. Brother 4, Me 2. 
11 coyotes in January. I got a triple while feeding cows with my brother with his 22-250. Brother 6, Me 5... i am catching him! 
We call with a FoxPro electronic call but all of these were taken while feeding cows except for the first two which my Bro got while deer hunting. Here is my coyote AR.... Haven't broken her cherry on a coyote yet tho! (shot a turtle on a log last week at 130 yards) 
Remington R-15 Nikon Buckmasters 3-9X40 LaRue SPR mount ammo i use varies and have found that really no matter what brand or grain i shoot i can hit a clay pigeon target at 100 yards. I am home on spring break working on my farm so i am going to try and coyote hunt some. Hopefully have some new pics to post sooon. Edit: I know i have posted these somewhere before but recently found this thread and thought these belong here best. |
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My first kill with my R-15....Pics and Story!
Went coyote hunting on my ranch this evening. Drove in and called one spot, nothing came but there was a grass fire abouta mile away and all the sirens going i could here some coyotes that sounded close. So i drove over the hill and spotted one running off. Too far to try a hailmary shot, let him live for another day. Went to my tripod i have set up for deer hunting, if i didn't see a coyote i was at least hoping to see some deer. Started doing the jack rabbit distress with my Ki-Yi call. did it a few times, no response. Then heard something behind me, from the direction i walked in so i didn't think anything would be coming from that way, looked and saw this... 
A doe eating a bale of milo we set out for cows right were i walked in from. Watched her walk to the feed plot we have set up. 
Did a few pup yips (distress) and saw 4 does and 3 fawns come from in front of me towards the food plot. waited about five minutes and did the pup yips again, real excited like. Then I heard loud crashing coming through the trees and got ready, a couple does and a fawn busted out of the brush and looked at me and kept glancing back. 
I pup yipped one more time and heard more crashing! Then this nasty little coyote came hauling balls out of the creek to see what was up, stopped about 20 yards from me looking up at me, kinda caught me off guard, started to come closer so i raised up real fast and shot her in the neck. Aimed for the chest but hit her high, i guess because she was so close. Flipped over backwards and was graveyard dead. 
Then the rest of the deer on the feed plot came running out and were looking at me and the ceder trees and everything else suspicious, i waited for 15 minutes for them to leave so i could climb down, 
Finally they left. |
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Started off this morning heading out to my favorite place. I had this overwhelming feeling of killing somethng before I got there. It was just starting to get light and I began with a non-dominant howl and sat for a second or two. I then went to the Scorpion on the Baby Cottontail at 25 in volume. At this point I thought I may have started a bit early, due to light but I can see good through the scope and figured, too late to turn back now . Off in front of my stand to the left, 3 quick blurrs are running at the 5 minute mark. I knew right where they would pop up at, so I made my adjustments. Only one I could see and he stopped right in my scope at about 75 yards. I had no choice to take him . After my CZ 204 made that the hit, I immediatly went into the pup-distress (love presets) and then back to Baby Cottontail. The way the land laid is very easy for the others to drop down into the other bottom. Well, they did and stayed there even after our conversation back and forth. I sat there for a bit (quietly) to see if one or both may show back up. I got up because I was tired of waiting and wanted to make another stand which was dry.
I have shot too many with the mange this year and just glad this one didn't have it . Also felt good to be able and get out to call. It has been crazy, not too many stands made so far. Way less than I want it to be. Here is a pic of my view 
Pic from coyotes view (JIB to the left and my stand to the top tight) 
From behind coyote 
Coyote as he lays 
In Christ, Song Dog |
"The Green Gun" (as i have named it) STRIKES AGAIN! Called these two in tonight using Primo's Ki-Yi call. Did the pup distress. Called the first one, on the right, within 15 minutes then drove 4 miles away and called the second coyote in, on the left, within 10 minutes. On the second spot after i killed the first one, I opened the gate and looked at the clock and it was 7:56. Drove 200 yards, walked 100 yards, set-up, called, shot the coyote, walked back to the pickup and drove to pick him up, and locked the gate at 8:08. So the actual calling probably took less than 5 minutes!! Awsome hunt! The first coyote was around 25 yards and the second was about 75 yards. Need to start using my RF. Love my homemade ghillie suit,.
The one on right had a really pretty coat, real dark brown and kinda black. Big dog too. 
The "Pile" total comes to 13 now, plus the mangy one i shot last saturday. Left it where it layed. Didn't even want to touch that nasty thing. 
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Here is a beaver I killed back in January. Killed two more a week later but didn't have my camera. This one was by far the biggest. A female. I bet she weighed something like 45 or 50 pounds. It took all i had to hold her up like that in the picture. Biggest dam beaver i have ever seen!
My friend is getting the hide tanned and the skull bleached. You can kinda see my homemade ghillie in the back of my pickup behind me. Pics coming soon on that too |
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It's been a good season and today I decided to put it to bed. The predators are still out and about but in the interest of next season's population, and with the close of fox and bobcat season, I made my last two stands today. And what a day it was! I got to see a lot of wildlife - in the course of just a couple of hours, I saw well over a hundred quail, two nesting red-tailed hawks, and a couple of burrowing owls leaving their burrow for the morning hunt. Add to that the six mule deer and of course, my two coyotes, and it was a regular Animal Planet out there!
On my first stand I'm watching some quail feeding about 20 yards away when they all get a little nervous. I'm about 12 minutes into stand and here comes my first customer, a nice light coyote. She keeps looking over her shoulder, so I'm really hoping for a double. Finally she stops at around 50 yards and starts to sniff the ground, looking around a lot. Still no second coyote so I decide to dump her right there. I get on the pup-in-distress, but to no avail. So I go to check out my coyote, take a couple pictures, and then decide to go against what I usually do and I head downwind a ways. I really had a feeling that there was a second coyote around, so I head a couple hundreds yards away, set up in a creekbed, and jump right into a mix of pup-in-distress and rabbit squalls. This male coyote comes barreling in at about 3 minutes and I dump him as he turns to head further downwind. Now I'm not saying this is the original second coyote, but it's pretty coincidental that the first was a female and then just a few hundred yards away, here's this male. They were both about 2 years old, as well. Either way, it was a great morning and a good 2 for 2 count on stands. I didn't get out as much this season as I usually do, with the new business and new baby and all. But with these last two dogs, I'm sitting at 24 coyotes, 5 foxes, and 1 bobcat for the season - and I'm feeling just fine with that. I plan on doing some calling this summer, but just for the science, not the killing - I'll leave their fur on until next fall.
The female fell in the midst of these cow bones. Kinda cool looking! 
She had a really nasty exit wound - kept that out of the picture. 
The male was a solid DRT shot. 
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