Took to School, School of Hard Knocks

[Sand Gap Sniper]

As mentioned in the thread from yesterday, I went and tried calling in a coyote on the farm next to my partents farm last night. After some calling, a coyote appeared about 30 feet from me to my right, BUSTED. I learned a couple of lessons that I thought I would share, maybe it will help someone else.

Lesson 1. Don't get to far from your downwind guy... My dad went with me, I set him up down wind of me since I would be doing all of the calling and was hoping to get him the shot instead of me, but I got so far upwind of him that there was an area between us that neither one of us could see. Of course the coyote came up in that area, he couldn't see it, and I couldn't get the shot, you will see why in lesson 2.

Lesson 2. Don't set up where you can't shoot down wind, even if you have a downwind guy with you... I took for granted that he could see the area better, so I set up with a big poplar tree right beside me on my right (wind was right to left). I was watching in front of me and to my left, again, taking for granted that my dad could see the area to my right, I caught a little movement to my right on the other side of the tree. I leaned up and there he was, just standing there checking things out, withing 30 feet of me. Now what???? I sat still until he started looking at the ground and sniffing around, I moved my gun about 1/2" and he was gone in a flash.

Hope my stupidity helps someone else, I know these lessons are sure burned into my memory. :rolleyes:

Why don't some of you guys post some of your lessons learned also? Might help dumb people like me....

[Jimmie in Ky]

Always take the time to check all possible routes to your setup before you sit down.Every trail and creek bank or wash coming in to it. Two extra minutes of looking around can mean the diference.

Sit in such a way that all movement is limited to just tilting the weapon to the target. Gun on your knee so that all you have to do is shift it slightly.

Do not move if you can help it. Even the slightest tilt or movement of the head can get you busted.I still haven't learned this one well after all these years.Just moving my eyes only has gotten me busted! Move only when the animal is out of sight.

This sport is very addicting as you are learning already. I go out an shoot a doe or two for meat right quick and get to chasing the coyotes once we have had a good frost to help even the odds some. Jimmie

[Sand Gap Sniper]

Come on now, I know some of you guys have had some hard lessons. I know I ain't the only idiot. Or am I???:rolleyes:

[Bray]

I learned that when I was hunting woods or thicker cover to take my Shotgun instead of rifle. In a situation like yours when a coyote can appear from nowhere and run in a flash a shotgun would have likely meant success (just like jumping a big rabbit).

An effective decoy will help take some attention from you. Granted you aren't going to be able to do jumping jacks but it might buy you enough time to find one in your scope.

Last but not least, read everything Jimmie in KY says. That man has forgot more about Coyote hunting than most will ever know.

[Snareman2]

Live and learn, just make you better. There are more coyotes out there and many more times ahead of you. Good Post. Thanks

[Jimmie in Ky]

I have already been through what most of you are beginning to learn. And I can tell you they are still teaching me every time out. I won't even pretend to know all there is about hunting coyotes. A pack hunting group will give me the shaft everytime, I still haven't figured a way to take them.

Take everything you read on the net with a grain of salt. Everybody is going to telll you all kinds of things . Some of which they don't understand themselves , and some to sell you the latest gizmo you don't really need.

Work on your woodsmanship and always ask why things happen. What made that animal do what it did. Where did it come from? If a coyote hears a sound it will respond to it in some fashion.

I am as bad as the next guy about collecting equipment, especially calls. All you really need are two calls, one good closed reed and one open reed. Be sure to practice with them just like any musical instrument, that is what they are. These two calls can make a wide variety of sounds that will attract predators.

I have put a lot of coyotes in front of newbies over the last few years. ONE big mistake they make and I made many times myself, is being in too big a hurry to put fur on the ground once it is spotted. If that animal is not going to get your wind then keep it coming as long as you can. Get that good shot! One young man I hunted with last winter was th coolest I have seen . I called in the first coyote he had seen worked with calls and he got a real lesson. I did not know he was out of position for the shot. I positioned that animal 3 times before I killed it. He kept cool and did not even twitch and let me work that animal for that one good shot.

If the animal rushes in bark to stop it. If it comes in real slow and stop and starts keep it coming with lip squeaks until you can get that good shot. Keep your cool and you will do just fine. Jimmie

[vabirddog]

Lesson 1. Don't get to far from your downwind guy... My dad went with me, I set him up down wind of me since I would be doing all of the calling and was hoping to get him the shot instead of me, but I got so far upwind of him that there was an area between us that neither one of us could see. Of course the coyote came up in that area, he couldn't see it, and I couldn't get the shot, you will see why in lesson 2.

Lesson 2. Don't set up where you can't shoot down wind, even if you have a downwind guy with you... I took for granted that he could see the area better, so I set up with a big poplar tree right beside me on my right (wind was right to left). I was watching in front of me and to my left, again, taking for granted that my dad could see the area to my right, I caught a little movement to my right on the other side of the tree. I leaned up and there he was, just standing there checking things out, withing 30 feet of me. Now what???? I sat still until he started looking at the ground and sniffing around, I moved my gun about 1/2" and he was gone in a flash.


# 3) Be extremely careful shooting downwind if you have a downwind guy with you.

Good luck and hunt safe