Handcannon
Well-Known Member
March 3rd I went out to the tower coyote hunting Saturday am. On my way out I passed some hardwater fishermen on the ponds. I really wanted to fish but I wanted a coyote even more. Wondered if I made the right decision at the time. I get to the tower & I can see truck tracks all over the fields where I hunt. That's the last thing I wanted to see. I set-up in a small brush pile about 110 yards from where we saw the coyote last weekend, great vantage point as I can see everything. 2 hours go by & here he comes & there he goes. He thought today would be a good day to cross at the clearing 500 yds away. I watched him disappear. I walked the wooded part of the ditch & a big ol horned owl flew up & perched in a tree not 15 yds from me. I just froze & studied it through my scope. Very cool birds, I have been fasinated w/ horned owls since we had them on the farm when I was a kid. That made my day. I went home.
Sunday I went back out there. I am set-up on a terrace over looking the clearing in front of me, the wooded part of the ditch to the left & the 2nd pond to the right. I just get settled in & this UTV comes out of now where buzzes right by me. Then it drives all over the place, rounding up the cattle. I'm thinking this hunt is over before it even started. The UTV left, the cattle are corraled by the tower. It's only 7:30am....I've got plenty of time. This coyote usualy comes through around 8am to 9am. Sure enough he comes to the 2nd pond overflow for a drink. I tried to laser him but my range finder is only good for 800 yds. He was beyond that. I lined up my bottom post of the reticle & let the 243 fly. He jumped & ran about 20 feet & came back. I corrected the shot & this time he was burning rubber. I went down to the pond & found no blood. I eased up on the dam & scanned the area, no coyote to be seen. I stood up on the dam & looked down to the spillway. We spotted each other at the same time & we both had that "oh crap" reaction. He was running in the drainage to the big, 3rd pond by the dirt road. I lost him running in the scope. I got back on him at 145 yds & hit the top right hip. It exited the abdomen. Minimal fur damage, couldn't ask for a better outcome. It's a 1/2 mile to the tower from where I ended up. I was happy as could be & didn't mind the long walk w/ new fuzzy friend
I skinned it out keeping the pads & claws in tact, took it in to be flat tanned. Also kept the rifle casing to be put w/ the fur when I get it back.
Here's a recovery video if you're interested. It was very windy so you may want to turn down the volume. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct_zi7ZhLgw&list=UUpLqm5wQbu_uSsXrxQ4wqww&index=1
Here's a link to a video about my new 243 issues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-PNh4xojDI&list=UUpLqm5wQbu_uSsXrxQ4wqww&index=2
This new GoPro camera has a goofy lense - my head looks tiny - even though I am wearing thermals, sweatshirt, shirt, heavy hoodie & winter camo coat. And the fact that I need to loose 20 pounds. Hard to stay warm when you can't move around. Just sit there & freeze
Sunday I went back out there. I am set-up on a terrace over looking the clearing in front of me, the wooded part of the ditch to the left & the 2nd pond to the right. I just get settled in & this UTV comes out of now where buzzes right by me. Then it drives all over the place, rounding up the cattle. I'm thinking this hunt is over before it even started. The UTV left, the cattle are corraled by the tower. It's only 7:30am....I've got plenty of time. This coyote usualy comes through around 8am to 9am. Sure enough he comes to the 2nd pond overflow for a drink. I tried to laser him but my range finder is only good for 800 yds. He was beyond that. I lined up my bottom post of the reticle & let the 243 fly. He jumped & ran about 20 feet & came back. I corrected the shot & this time he was burning rubber. I went down to the pond & found no blood. I eased up on the dam & scanned the area, no coyote to be seen. I stood up on the dam & looked down to the spillway. We spotted each other at the same time & we both had that "oh crap" reaction. He was running in the drainage to the big, 3rd pond by the dirt road. I lost him running in the scope. I got back on him at 145 yds & hit the top right hip. It exited the abdomen. Minimal fur damage, couldn't ask for a better outcome. It's a 1/2 mile to the tower from where I ended up. I was happy as could be & didn't mind the long walk w/ new fuzzy friend
I skinned it out keeping the pads & claws in tact, took it in to be flat tanned. Also kept the rifle casing to be put w/ the fur when I get it back. Here's a recovery video if you're interested. It was very windy so you may want to turn down the volume. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct_zi7ZhLgw&list=UUpLqm5wQbu_uSsXrxQ4wqww&index=1
Here's a link to a video about my new 243 issues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-PNh4xojDI&list=UUpLqm5wQbu_uSsXrxQ4wqww&index=2
This new GoPro camera has a goofy lense - my head looks tiny - even though I am wearing thermals, sweatshirt, shirt, heavy hoodie & winter camo coat. And the fact that I need to loose 20 pounds. Hard to stay warm when you can't move around. Just sit there & freeze
