Diary Of A Kansas Coyote Hunt Member Bob Jager
Coyotes and bobcats lured the author (at right) all the way from Michigan to Kansas for a predator hunt. At left is Jim, another hunter.
ing any predator hunts this evening. The Michigan winter of 2011 dropped ample snow for potentially excellent hunting conditions. Twenty to 25 mph winds gusted to 40 mph. The drifting snow closed schools and made travel risky. Wind sounded like a train going through my woods. It’s doubtful any predators could hear a call tonight, much less be lured to it. The Internet provides entertain-
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ment and information about weather like this. I like to check on my fellow hunters and noticed a forum with a thread reading “Need Coyote Hunters.” It seems that Hickory Creek Outfi tters that hunts Kansas is having a coyote problem. Owner and guide Jeff Bron- dige needs hunters in Kansas to kill coyotes. He has my attention. We exchanged e-mails and I found
he lives only 30 miles away. Arrange- ments were made to meet and discuss details of the trip. Jeff informed me he has a clientele of more than 70 deer hunters with thousands of acres to hunt. He believes coyotes are killing fawns. Eliminating even a few coyotes could save future trophy bucks. Local ranch- ers suspect an occasional calf may fall
tanding in the garage door, there was no chance of do-
victim as well. Killing a few coyotes would be great for all but the coyotes. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2011 Plans are made to meet at his
lodge northeast of Sedan, Kansas, on the evening of February 9. Jim and I ask permission to head down a day early and do some scouting. By 2:00 o’clock Wednesday morning we are on the road and drive the 1,015 miles in just over 15 hours. Scat is everywhere on the gravel roads as we complete the last 10 miles. We’re excited! The next morning we awoke to a
record breaking –27 degrees. The van froze in place but after a little persua- sion it did move. On our way to town for licenses we see coyotes and plenty of fresh tracks. Scat littered the road about every half mile. No doubt there are coyotes here. On Thursday evening our host
Jeff and guide Wes arrived as well as two other hunters, Harold and Randy, all the way from Michigan, . We got out maps and made plans for the coming day. Even as we do, coyotes are howl- ing outside. The plan is to get up at 5 o’clock. Harold, Randy, and Wes will head south in the morning. Jim, Jeff and I would start tomorrow’s hunt 400 yards from the lodge.
Rifl es, electronic callers and mouth calls, and backpack were equipment the author took on his Kansas hunt.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2011 Our Kansas hunt begins and I am
in the middle controlling the caller with Jeff 150 yards to my right and Jim 200 yards high to my left. The FoxPro sits 25 yards in front of me and the Mojo twitches next to it. No sound even escapes the caller when coyotes start howling from three directions. I think to myself we have an audience, and I smile. Fifteen minutes of distressed rab-
bit and woodpecker sounds fi ll the air but with no success. For the next 15 minutes the caller plays coyote barks, howls, and cries. Unseen by me a coy- ote was coming in from Jeff’s direction. I sounded our rally signal as it ap- proached and scared it away. Another minute or two of calling and the coyote may have been ours. Analyzing our fi rst stand, Jeff said
the coyote was small and concluded it might be a female. One of the calls used is a coyote puppy scream. On the next stand we decided to play that sound only. We drive to the north end of the property 2½ miles away and take ad- vantage of the wind. I am setting up the caller and
decoy as Jim goes 100 yards to my left and Jeff 200 yards to my right. Before
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