First Encounter - Coyote

Pahunter01 · 02-21-2008, 05:57 AM

I just wanted to share my first Coyote ecounter. I have been huntingthem now for my second year. I live in the burbs in Pittsburgh and have not had success till last Sat. My buddy and I were walking to a field edge to set up and we noticed2 coyotes up in the field about 300 yards away. Due to game regs we can only us a rim fire in this county I had a 17 HMR and my buddy had a slug gun. This shot was too far for the fire power we had. So we attempted to call them in with a rabbit in distress call. They wanted nothing to do with it. It seemed that they were looking for mice up in the field. We called for 15 minuntes and out of thin air a 3rd coyote came charging in from out left. It came within 96 yards of us and stopped. I shot and missed. (head shot). It ran 40 yards stopped and looked back. I shot again and missed (head shot).

This is the end of my story....It did not turn out so well. However after it was finished my buddy and I looked at each other and could not believe how exciting it was. I do believe I saw so pumped up from the coyote coming in, that I felt like I was 12 years old andseeing my first buck having buck fever.

Even though It was not a kill it was such a great time. Can not wait to go this weekend.

Do you think those Coyotes are educated? Would we have success going back this weekend? or should we wait till March 15 or 16th when we are entered in a Coyote hunting contest? Would this be enough time to let things cool off or are they educated for the rest of the year?

musclecarman92 · 02-21-2008, 07:37 AM

I say no the shot scared it it will come back its probly already been back but you missing with the .17 probly not you me and my uncle took his the the range and was tack driveing with it he has missed 7 squirrels with it his son has missed 2 with it and i have missed one with it so we took it back the the range and didnt move the scopes cross hairs or anything but was driveing tack againso that sums up why i dont like the .17HMR

yodeldog3 · 02-21-2008, 03:56 PM

Hey PAhunter01, welcome to dog hunting we all have missed at one time or another. I agree those dogs may have been back that night. You may want to save thoe yotes for you contest. The two you saw first may not have heard you, they may have had herd that song before to. If that ever happens again try a different call. Mouse squeekes, deer bleats, flicka or house cat sounds. sometimes thats all it takes.

coyote#68 · 02-21-2008, 10:36 PM

exciting isn't it,many times they are on you so fast you dont have time to think,those head shots are easy to miss it happens to everybody,just try again,you might try howls,they will sometimes respond to howls when distress sounds have no effect,just don't howl to much.I sometimes make an interrogation howl or two before I start to use distress calls just to make them think there is an intruder eating their food.Welcome to the sport it's very exciting it will give you many fond memories inthe field.I would give them a few days atleast to settle down.I'm sure if you ask some local farmers they will let you coyote hunt,I've been given permission to predator hunt on farms that I can only dream about being able to deer hunt on.Keep on hunting and you will surely score,and an encounter is very rewarding even if you dont kill it,you were still successful at tricking a very smart,illusive animal into range!!

devil dog · 02-22-2008, 03:23 PM

Pahunter01, good deal, you probably didnt hurt the hunt in the future, just do your set-up in a different spot next time and use a different call like a mouse squeeker. By the way, you say your from the burbs of Pittsburgh, where at, I grew up in a then small town of Ohio Township, close to Avolon. Back then we were still allowed to use centerfire rifles until I was 15, we also didnt have coyotes back then, just alot of deer, turkey, grouse, rabbits and squerril. I was back there this past Sept. for my neices wedding, I cant beleive how much has changed there!.

Pahunter01 · 02-26-2008, 11:26 AM

Devil Dog...

I live in Imperial in Alleghney county.

Thanks for all the advice. I am going to keep at it and trust me you will hear when I am successful!!!!