SmallCaliberCentral

I've been trying all winter to bust a coyote with my .204 with no luck...but today was different.
I live at the base of the east slope of the Cascade Mountains. As you can see in the pics, it is pretty heavily forested around here. It's tough to find a spot where you can see them coming in before they wind you, and sometimes they come in so fast it is hard to get a shot. This time it was the latter.
I hoofed it down a dirt road for about 3/4 of a mile in a section of national forest that had burned last year. Most of the trees were still standing, but a lot of the brush had burned up. I found a place to make a stand where I could see about 150 yards in front of me with out to much interference. I sat at the base of a pine tree with a good view of the open area. I set my caller up about 50 yards away, and let the bunny distress squeel. About 5 minutes into the session, 3 dogs came runnin down the hill to my right at about 75-100 yards away. Thats right, 3 of them. I waited until I could move my shootin sticks without being detected, and took aim. I started to squeeze the trigger on the middle one, but just before I could shoot the lead one winded me, or the call, and took off the way it came. This spooked both the others. They ran about 50 yards, and stopped and looked back at the call. I tried to get a fix on one of them that stopped at the top of the hill, but there was to much brush in the way. Next thing I knew they were gone. But they never saw me.
I sat there letting the call wail for a very long 30 seconds or so, and sure enough one of them appeared at the edge of the hill. I could see her head and neck, but her body was behind some brush at 125 yards. I knew this might be my last chance, so I squeezed the trigger. I didn't see it drop, but I saw fur in the air so I ran up the hill towards the other 2 dogs to see if I could get a running shot. Never saw them again. When I got to the one I shot, it had a baseball sized exit wound. I guess that is what you get when you hit them in the neck.
Man...that was fun.

Well done bullFrog, nice looking coyote ya got there.

Way to go Bullfrog. Coyoting is an exciting sport that challenges you continually. I got one Saturday in the fog. I like the camo on your rifle. Thanks for sharing and the great pictures.

Way to go Bullfrog...you're makin' us proud! Good job.

bullfrog--Good going!!! At least you got the .204 blooded!!!

What bullet are you using? If it is a handload, do you have any idea what your muzzle velocity might be?

Silverfox - I was using factory hornady loads with 40 grain v-max. I don't reload as of yet. I would like to get into it, but right now with a new business, and a new son I don't have time.

Bullfrog: As a neighbor, I'll just wish you good luck on the new business, and congratulations on the new son!

Way to go dad!

Thanks Rick! The business is 1 yr. old, and the Boy is 3 months. Both are doing great. I can't wait until the boy is old enough to go huntin with his old man. Probably should wait till he can walk.

Hey good job bullfrog. Hunting coyote's is challenging I have long dry spells also hunting them. That dog has some nice color to it, They take on the color of the area they are in amazing. When I was eighteen I saw what looked like a wolf near a trail head to Charity one of the three Sisters. It was long legged and wooly twice I saw dogs like this the other was on the Deshutes river canyon near Moody Junction toward the Columbia river. Good hunting. Congadulations on the new child and buesness,

It's brutal waiting for the kids to grow up! My lil 17 mo. old is walking around the house QUITE well, but she falls in the sagebrush alot out in the field!

Bullfrog; Good goin on the coyote. But where is all the snow? If you were up here in Alberta the coyote's nose would be dragging in it. Makes it pretty tough to go anywhere on foot.