northwest. Blue said we should set up and call from the southeast corner as a coyote would have to expose himself to catch our wind.
I was reluctant to set up on the southeast corner as a coyote, to catch our wind would have to circle way out into the wide open bean field several hundred yards from any cover. I did not think a coyote would feel comfort- able enough to do that in the daylight. I said we should set up on the northeast corner. With the light wind out of the northwest a coyote would not have to get far from cover to catch our scent. As with hunting big bucks, I like to have it almost right for the coyote, almost wrong for me. I feel that if it is totally wrong for the coyote he will get so ner- vous that many times he will simply not come in.
Blue agreed with my logic and we headed to the northeast corner of the woods. On the way our confidence rose as we found two sets of fresh coy- ote tracks, made sometime during the night. At the corner, I sat down on the north side of the fence row, Blue sat on the other side of the fence row about 10 yards out from the corner and maybe 20 yards downwind of me. He could see a couple of hundred yards down the east side of the woods and even though the woods were really thick, he had small openings where he could see into the woods maybe 60 yards or so. I could see a couple of hundred yards out into a picked bean field to the north. When I sat down I could not see behind me but I knew Blue had that area covered. I thought to myself that this was perfect. The only thing I did not like was that a main highway, I-94, was less than half a mile to the north. With the wind out of the northeast the traffic noise was pretty loud.
I figured because of the traffic noise, I should let out a couple of really loud howls, just to get a dog’s atten- tion. About two or three minutes after a couple of lonesome howls with my standard Crit’R•Call, I let go eight or ten squeals, waited maybe 15 seconds and let go with another, even shorter, series. Nothing moved for about three minutes so I cut loose with just three or four more squeals. I usually wait five minutes or more before calling again but shortly after the third series I saw a couple of raccoons milling around maybe a couple
of hundred yards away. I was wonder- ing how they would react to my call so I squealed three or four more times just for grins. The raccoons didn’t even look up. I sat pondering the reason for their complete lack of interest when Blue’s 22 Magnum cracked behind me. I know that you are supposed to keep calling after the shot but I could not help myself. I wanted to at least see what he had just shot at, maybe get in on the action. I knew Blue was shooting a 22 Magnum so I did not expect him to immediately drop a coyote on the spot. I instantly jumped up and turned around fully expecting to see either a coyote in the field or maybe catch a glimpse of one in the woods. Frantically looking, I don’t see a thing. I said, “Blue, where’s he at?” Blue replied, “He’s right here,”
and nodded toward the woods. I look and look but don’t see a thing. I begin to move through the fence row toward Blue, trying to get a look. Again I said, “Where?” He points and only 11 paces from him lay a dead coyote.
It was just so cool. Blue was really excited telling how it happened. He said he caught glimpses of it in the woods as it was loping straight at him on a direct line to get about 30 yards downwind of me. It had its head turned, looking in my direction, as it came. Just as it got to the edge of the woods running dead at him at 11 paces, he drilled it. Blue said his scope was full of coyote when he shot. I was surprised and somewhat impressed with the little 22 Magnum. The bullet hit center chest and exited just in front of the right hip. The coyote didn’t even move after it rolled to a stop. He must have come from quite a ways off as Blue said it had its tongue hanging out as it loped in. It was a really nice 38-pound male. Blue made the comment that get- ting a coyote was as good as shooting a 20" buck. He also said that when he goes out calling that he calls way too much. Later that winter after just one lesson from the master, Blue did finally call in and take a couple of coyotes. Very good, Grasshopper!
With all the luck I have had going
calling with someone for the first time, I no longer pass up a chance to take a new hunter along. In fact, if I meet someone who has a good place to hunt, I now, for obvious reasons, will ask him if he would like to go.
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