I've been seeing lots of coyote tracks in my NW pasture and got their movement pattern figured out. Haven't seen a day light coyote around my place but twice this year. Seems they're moving at night. Since they're call savvy, I figured an ambush was the only way.
I had a clear night with plenty of pristine snow, no wind and a full moon. Grabbed my chair, sticks and .204 and hoofed it to a pre-chosen spot. On the way, I thought I saw movement on the 2-track about 300 yds. ahead. I watched for about 5 minutes but couldn't be sure. I tossed it off to illusion. You know how clumps of weeds can seem to wander at night if you look too long.
Got to my spot and set up to wait. I knew they crossed the north end of the pasture and I had a clear field of fire from my set. Not 15 minutes after I got set up I caught movement to my left, near the fence. Sure enough, something was working its way through. It looked like a feral cat by the way it slinked through. But it couldn't be. I knew that spot to be about 50 yds away and that figure was too big for a cat.
It was trotting north and away from me as I brought my rifle up to get a better look through the scope. Just as I did, it turned broadside to me. It was definitely a coyote and the cross hairs were on the neck. The muzzle flash momentarily blinded me but when I could see again, there was the coyote, DRT. Range finder said it was 119 yds.
As a side note, I backtracked that coyote and discovered there were 2 of them and they were, indeed, what I had seen coming down the road. They had cut into a thicket on the west and then came back after I settled in. The one I got crossed the fence and the other was moving down the ditch where I couldn't see it. I should have stayed put, because the next day there were tracks indicating a coyote had come back to investigate.
Going back out, shortly. Conditions are perfect. Wish me luck!
