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Author
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Topic: Few coyotes
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2dogs
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posted January 20, 2006 06:20 PM
This last wk, the snow has been gone. Been out 3x, [tough spottin], only seen a couple singles. Both a 1/2 mile out. One was hunting, the other bedded.
The bedded one seen me, before I seen him = game over.
Today we got a fresh wet 2.5" of snowfly. Sunday looks promicing. As they, should be paired up good by now ![[Cool]](cool.gif) .
[ January 20, 2006, 06:29 PM: Message edited by: 2dogs ]
Posts: 1034 | From: central Iowa | Registered: Apr 2005
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scruffy
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posted January 24, 2006 06:52 AM
Did you see any sunday? And did your snow last that long? Mine was mostly gone by the end of the day Saturday and sunday finished it off.
I made it out during the snow for one stand Friday since I knew I wouldn't be able to go out over the weekend. It was pretty watching the snow come down but didn't call anything in. After the stand I went to look for tracks, followed a fence to my west and then walked a straight line south through the cover they would have approached through. No tracks... Oh well, it was on my place and my "dogs" are pretty educated since I do alot of call testing/practicing there. Before the snow I found a pile of scat only 70 yards from the house, there are tracks in the creek, so I know they are in the area. The next time I call my place when I have a half hour to kill I'll climb up in a tree stand and use a bird distress handcall. Something different they haven't heard. They are likely pretty tired of my distress and howls... ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
I spent the weekend (baby sitting and ) converting Johnny Stewart .mp3 files to .wav and then "mixing" them and saving the new files as .wav and then converting them back to .mp3 for use on my MP3 player. Some of my creations were "owl-crow fight" with "high pitched cottontail", "owl-crow fight" with "cottontail cries", "housecat distress" with "rodent distress", "crow come here" with "canine pup distress", etc. They sound pretty good. Gerald has said multiple times how combining sounds works very well, especially when one is a "confidence" sound like crows. So I'll give it a try. A buddy of mine is heading down in a couple of weeks for a day of coyote and crow calling. I'm interested to see how the two "owl-crow-rabbit" tracks work with a decoy "spred" of the predator supreme, a few crows, and an owl decoy work. I think before each stand we'll have to decide which we are going to shoot, crows or coyotes, because either might come in. But that's a good problem to have I guess.
This Saturday I might get some field testing in, one maybe two stands. Hopefully I'll have some pics of some fur to post afterwards.
later,
scruffy
[ January 24, 2006, 06:54 AM: Message edited by: scruffy ]
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Git R Done
Posts: 361 | From: south central Iowa | Registered: Nov 2005
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2dogs
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posted January 24, 2006 10:19 AM
Scruff,
I spotted two[singles] yesterday. I can't remember last Sunday, LOL! The last couple of wks, has been slim spotting ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif) .
Their hanging back into the sections, out of sight. More into timber patches & timbered creeks. Even when the Sun is out, still nothing much. I believe they have [breeding on their minds] ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif) . Not laying out napping, eh.
I'm gonna wait for a little snow. As well as, resight my scope. For close-quarter contact[paver brick, coyote]
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2dogs
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posted January 24, 2006 05:41 PM
Scruff,
Drove 80 miles today, looking 360, = nada. Sunny out, wind NorWester ripping 30-60mph.
Didn't even spot a young single [meeso-male], go figure ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
BTW, Sunday = nada
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scruffy
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posted January 25, 2006 07:40 AM
It's looking like I'm going to get two stands in on Saturday. One solo stand at first light and then one with a couple of newbee's mid morning. I took one of them a few times last spring when I was doing some ADC work south of me a ways and he's been hooked ever since. Every time I took that kid calling with me I called in atleast one coyote. On two occasions I called in a howling and yipping pack! So I think he may have picked up some unrealistic expectations, thinking I call a coyote most times out and that since they aren't they're doing something wrong.
So he and his hunting partner asked if I would take them out and give them some pointers. They've been calling for two months and said they've called in hawks, owls, crows, farm dogs, feral cats, raccoon, etc. Pretty much everything but a coyote.
After some thinking I came up with two possibilities. All of the things they've called in are mainly hearing and sight based. Since coyotes are hearing and scent based, I wonder if the wind is killing them. And that's easy to find out. I'll drive up to the field and before we get out of the truck I'll tell them which direction the wind is from, point to where we will be setting up 300 yards in, point to where the coyotes likely are 800+ yards in, and ask them the best way to approach the stand, how the coyotes will approach it, etc.
If they don't say the word "downwind" I think I know their area for improvement... And that will be the lesson for that stand. If they know how to work the wind then they likely aren't doing anything wrong, it's just that slow around here... But we'll give it a shot, I'll have them call and I'll observe. See if one of them is moving to much, see if they sit so they can see their downwind side, see if they skyline themselves, etc.
But on my first solo stand at first light I'm not sure how I'm going to call. I'm debating on using a howler and trying some lone howls and some pup distress and then go to some bird distress on the lohmans screamer (high pitched peacock turkey locator). Or I might use the ecaller with the new mixes I created. I guess I'll let the wind decide. If it's breezy I'll use the ecaller's extra volume, if it's calm I'll use handcalls. I average more coyotes with the ecaller, but there's no better way to start the day than a few handcalls sporatically piercing the cool air as the sun peaks over the horizon behind you. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
later,
scruffy
[ January 25, 2006, 07:42 AM: Message edited by: scruffy ]
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Git R Done
Posts: 361 | From: south central Iowa | Registered: Nov 2005
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2dogs
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posted January 25, 2006 10:30 AM
Re-checked my scope this am, useing the mildots. Set my target out 50yrds. At 50yrds, each dot represented 1.5". Explains why, I shot under that coyote.
Took only 2.5 dots to put the crosshair on [o] @ 70'.
If I would've used the "proper" amount of dots the other day. Woulda, whacked that coyote hard. Frankly, I wasn't planning on shooting @ one 70' away. But, should've planned for such an opportunity
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Set the target out 440yrds. Had a 10mph quartering downrange crosswind[across the bullit path]. Wind pushed my 95gr hog 5" to the Right.
I'm good to go now
Posts: 1034 | From: central Iowa | Registered: Apr 2005
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2dogs
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posted February 03, 2006 05:21 AM
Last couple of days. Drove over 120 miles spottin. Not a coyote seen. Let a lone a deer or pheasant or even a rabbit.
I'm startin to wonder if there isn't a huge "single's-bar cavern". Where there all meeting . Probably talking about, staying away from a little Gray Truck
Obtained a couple more farms to call on. They both are adjacent & promicing. ie; Timber tracts, wide open bottom land next to the [timbered]Iowa River.
No big whoop, I haven't had enough yet .
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scruffy
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posted February 03, 2006 06:51 AM
Yea, I don't know if it's been so warm that everything has gone nocturnal and beds down during the day in crp and stuff to soak up the sun and warmth or what... That's what I would be doing I guess.
I'm hopeful with the temps dropping things will finally get into a normal winter pattern. They're saying tomorrow up in your area that it might not get above freezing! Gotta love that!!! I'm going to be way south, so it'll probably be low to mid 30's I'm guessing.
Are you hunting tomorrow? Rooster is driving 2 hours down to my area and then I'm driving us 1 hour down to hornet's area where we'll hunt all day. Hopefully the winds don't get too out of control, looks like 10-15mph predicted right now.
later,
scruffy
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Git R Done
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2dogs
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posted February 03, 2006 10:18 AM
Over cast, wind rippin NorWester @ 25 mph. Drove 53 miles spottin. Seen 3 crows sitting ontop of 3 adjacent fence posts. There's my sign, duh! LOL!
They are definately, holding tight to cover. If only, I could scent a female in estrus...males close by ,eh ![[Razz]](tongue.gif) .
plugged up hole huffer-dogs
BTW, I don't shoot crows. Hunting saga, continues Sunday.
[ February 03, 2006, 10:20 AM: Message edited by: 2dogs ]
Posts: 1034 | From: central Iowa | Registered: Apr 2005
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2dogs
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posted February 12, 2006 10:50 AM
Man, the coyotes have just disappeared . The last 3X, I've been out spotting & callin. Not even a sparrow seen.
I did manage to call in one lone snow Goose this am, go figure . That's a first, LOL!
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scruffy
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posted February 13, 2006 07:40 AM
I called one coyote Jan 28th along with a couple owls, hornet called one coyote Feb 4th (I called in 60+ some crows on the day...), and last saturday I made one stand, got a group of 6 deer up and moving 10 minutes into the stand, then a group of 4 deer moving 20 minutes into the stand. They were 600+ yards away, hard to see, glassing them when they stopped, they'd all look at something, then start running all out again. Not sure what was chasing them.
Then instead of making a second stand I went to the range, first time my savage has been to a "range", it was sighted in over a two track next to a corn field. Shooting off the harris BR that was in the truck, and using my chain sawing ear muffs, at 100 yards I plinked 6 rounds to make sure she was on. When aiming around 2" low at 100 yards I could hit a small shoot and see sticker the size of a quarter easily. So I'm sighted a little higher than I usually do... I'll go back when there is little to no wind, bags, warmer (21 degrees when I was plinking....), and try to sight it in so it's 1" high at 100.
But I really enjoy shooting that savage!!!
Mid week they're predicting rain, changing to snow, few inches accumulation (on top of the ice probably....) and then temps dropping back down with lows in the single digits and highs in the 20's. That'll hopefully help get them moving by the weekend!
later,
scruffy
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Git R Done
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
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posted February 13, 2006 05:19 PM
Why would you sight in a rifle to hit 1" high at 100 yards, instead of having it hit dead on?
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Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take
an ass kickin'.
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Leonard
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posted February 13, 2006 09:13 PM
Because that's the way I've always done it. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
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posted February 14, 2006 03:38 AM
But why one inch high? I know a lot of people do that. I just can't figure out why you would sight in a rifle to miss. And if you are going to do that, Why sight it in 1" high? Why not an inch to the left, or two inches low?
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Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take
an ass kickin'.
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2dogs
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posted February 14, 2006 05:59 AM
I'm getting real close to ending the season. No doubt many are carrying pups. Might be getting some snow here Thurs[that would help]. Hitting it hard Fri & Sat.
Thinking back. I remember around late January. One of Dad's Bud's[Willard]. Stalked in on a pr of Reds. That guy was a shooter, for sure[well most of the time]. He shot the larger[male] first. The female ran, then came back to her dead mate.
Willard, knocked her hard with his .243[chest shot, exited out her abdomen]. Blew preamie pups onto the snow. He quit shooting in January, after that. He said, one was jet Black.
My passion for hunting them, never dies. I'll probably still go out. But only for the unknown coyote or coydog.
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2dogs
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posted February 14, 2006 06:11 AM
Haven't seen the ole 4-pack for quite some time. I think, the first wk of January was the last time ![[Frown]](frown.gif) .
Makes me curious, whether they were a pr with yearling pups. Or some nomads that hung together. I've watched them many X's from afar. Never did see any of them exhibit [Alpha] behavior. All appeared the same size & color, as well.
One of my farmer friends. Said, she has a pack that often hangs in her section. Occasionally running through her yard, yipping. Year after yr.
Her dogs always want in @ night, smart dogs
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scruffy
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posted February 14, 2006 07:20 AM
Tim, it's simple geometry, angles, and such.
With my 22-250, 3700fps mv(estimated...), and the scope in high weaver rings giving me a 1.75" center scope height the following trajectories occur with different settings (from ballistics program).
100 yard zero
100:0", 150:-.29", 200:-1.5", 250:-3.76", 300:-7.17", 350:-11.94"
100 yard approx 1" high (1,11" to be exact in bal pgm), 225 yard zero (what I usually sight in for)
100:1.11", 150:1.37", 200:.72", 250:-.99", 300:-3.85", 350:-8.07"
100 yard approx 2" high (1.94" to be exact in bal pgm), 275 yard zero (what I have right now)
100:1.94", 150:2.61", 200:2.37", 250:1.07", 300:-1.36", 350:-5.17"
So you can see how an inch or two at 100 yards makes a big difference in the angle/rise of the bullet and the overall trajectory of it. Having the scope zero'd at 100 yards puts you -7+" low at 300 yards compared to almost 4" low at 300 yards when sighted 1" high. When set 2" high at 100 you're only -1.36" low at 300 yards, but you also have to remember your 2+" high from 100 to 200 yards on those frontal head shots (yea, I've missed a couple because of that over the years.... ).
So the 1" high is a nice compromise of long "flatness" and not hitting very high over the crossairs from 100-200 yards.
Also, the higher the rings the "flatter" the trajectory. A rifle sighted 1" high at 100 with "low" rings where the scope is 1.25" above the bore, hits -5.17" at 300 yards. The same rifle, load, etc with "high" rings with the centerline of the scope 1.75" above the bore, sighted 1" high at 100 yards, hits around -3.85" at 300 yards.
Yea, only about an inch and a quarter flatter, but an inch is an inch, could be the difference between a fatal and a wounding shot.
So some (most?) try to get the lowest rings possible, others like me (I think we're a small minority) try to get the highest rings we can and still have a consistant firm cheak weld, for me and this rifle stock the weaver highs work perfect.
Anyway, an "old timer" told me to always "aim in the fur". He said over my life I'll have a lot more kills if I "aim in the fur" and have my rifle sighted "appropriately". Unfortunately I never asked him what "appropriately" was, what he sighted in for, I was just a dumb kid at the time, but I've heard and read the advice many times since. And still don't know what "appropriately" is in regards to sighting in. So I've been doing 1" high, as I said, it's a good compromise.
But what I have right now, 2" high at 100, I can aim for the boiler room out to 300 yards, no hold over, and out beyond that aim at the top of the "fur" and hit a coyote out to 350 yards on a broadside coyote. On a facing coyote, crossairs on the top of his head/"fur", the shot can go out to 400 yards and hit the vitals.
If a coyote is beyond that with my 22-250, I probably should not be shooting him with that rifle. IMHO, out beyond 350/400 yards I'd be better served with more gun and a heavier bullet.
It's all geometry (and a ballistics program doesn't hurt either. )
Edit: actually, the more I think about it and look at the numbers, I think I'll stick with the 2" high at 100 for awhile, try it out. It looks good on paper, we'll see how it works in the field. I've made some shots out a rifle sighted 2" high at 100, either not intentional (sighted in wrong) or borrowed a buddies 6mm rem "truck gun" which is sighted in 2" high at 100 for coyotes that come around his horses (his "target of opportunity" shots are mostly long shots). I'll just have to remember to aim for the teeth on head shots so I don't shoot over the coyote's head between 100 and 200 yards.
later,
scruffy
[ February 14, 2006, 09:11 AM: Message edited by: scruffy ]
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Git R Done
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2dogs
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posted February 14, 2006 12:11 PM
Teeth ![[Eek!]](eek.gif) Which one, Scruff
One more push for old man Winter Scruff. Watch that jack-goat-muncher, she's gonna be a tad cool this wk-end
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scruffy
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posted February 14, 2006 02:03 PM
I'm using the white pvc call body, not the copper body. That copper body really bites you if any part of your wet warm lips touch that cold dry copper! Lows in the single digits the end of the week, that copper would have alot of bite!!!
I think I still have some of my blood on the copper from the last time if got really cold, LOL.
Besides I like the PVC's white color, snow camo..., just have to remember not to drop it!
edit: quote:
Teeth Which one, Scruff
Aim small / miss small.
later,
scruffy
[ February 14, 2006, 02:06 PM: Message edited by: scruffy ]
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Git R Done
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2dogs
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posted February 14, 2006 04:30 PM
You hunting alone, or with Hornet or Rooster?
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albert
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posted February 14, 2006 05:26 PM
Thanks scuffy good answer
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for what it's worth, eh!
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
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posted February 15, 2006 04:35 AM
Sorry, but it looks to me like all you are doing is compromising accuracy.
The trajectory doesn't change or become better depending on how you adjust the scope.
If you wanted to hit an inch or two high, wouldn't it be easier to just aim there?
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Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take
an ass kickin'.
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scruffy
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posted February 15, 2006 07:19 AM
Tim, if all my coyotes stood at 100 yards I'd certainly zero for that range, LOL!!! But to be honest, my range estimation sucks at times, yea, I could get a range finder but I doubt I'd have time to range most of the coyotes I call. I have just enough time to get the rifle positioned and bark them or pause the ecaller to stop the coyote for a shot before the coyote slips back into cover. So I'm either stuck guessing "Is that coyote out at 250 or 300 walking away?". With a 100 yard zero I'll be -3.76" low at 250 yards, -7.17" at 300 yards. Where do I aim? At the top of his back? If the coyote is 250 yards or there abouts I'll kill him, if he's 300 or a little farther I'll hit him low or miss.
However, sighted 1" high at 100 on that same walking away coyote, if the coyote is 250 yards I'll hit him -.99" low, if he's 300 I'll hit him -3.85" low. So on that coyote with that sight in I'd aim a freckle high (an inch) and be right on.
With my rifle currently set 2" high and the coyote is walking away at 250 to 300 yards I don't have to think. The rifle is 1.07" at 250 yards and -1.36" at 300 yards. I just aim dead on.
In the end it's all personal preference. I disagree that I'm sacraficing accuracy. Your rifle with the 100 yard zero is geared for 100 yard accuracy. My rifle is geared for 200-300 yard accuracy, and still kill from 0-200 without adjusting my aim. Sighted 1" high at 100 I can aim dead on a coyote 0-275 yards and be an inch high to two inches low in that yardage spread, which will result in a dead coyote. Sighted 2" high I can aim dead on 0-315 yards and never be more than 2.5" high or low. With that sight in, and aiming a freckle low from 100-200, and a freckle high beyond 300 I can efficiently aim at the coyote with very little though (and that's the key for me, we don't want me to have to think because I'll mess it up... LOL).
Like I said, it's personal preference. If you like the 100 yard zero, it works for you, that's great. I just don't like the faster drop off of that trajectory curve, -1.5:200, -2.49":225, -3.75":250, -5.32":275, -7.17":300. That's 5.67" of spread from 200 to 300 yards. When sighted 1" high at 100 the spread from 200 to 300 is 4.57", when sighted 2" high at 100 the spread from 200 to 300 is 3.73". So you can see the "curve" does flatten a bit raising the high point of the curve. It's all geometry and numbers.
And in the end personal preference. For me aiming a freckle low for 100 - 200 yard shots is no big deal, and then know from 225-300, the range at which I really suck at range estimation, I aim dead on. For me it's one less thing I have to think about before I pull the trigger. I don't have to try to estimate range, remember how much to aim high, etc.
quote:
Sorry, but it looks to me like all you are doing is compromising accuracy.
I don't see it that way. If I were only shooting at 100 yards I would agree, but I'm shooting a much wider range of yardages, many of which are unknown to me until I pace them off to get an idea of the shot length. For me, I can shoot more accurately at longer ranges sighted high at 100 yards an inch or two because I don't have to compensate for the drop as much, meaning I don't have to think. If I have to think, well, alot more coyotes will live to see another day.
later,
scruffy
[ February 15, 2006, 07:23 AM: Message edited by: scruffy ]
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Git R Done
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scruffy
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posted February 15, 2006 07:49 AM
2dogs, if I make it out this weekend it'll likely be alone. I say "if" because the daughter is sick, the wife is sick again, and they're predicting an ice storm for my neck of the woods.
Let's see, a quarter to a half inch of ice, then have temps drop to teens for highs and lows below zero. Oh yea, and windy.... The power could (will?) go out, the roads not passible, the power could be out a long time. Fortunatly when I built the house I put a wood burner in the basement and a generator hook up for my honda in the garage (running the exhaust outside). Being way off the road and such I figure at some point I'm going to get snowed in, no power, for a day or six at some point in my life. If it's now, I have a deer and a little of a pig left in the chest freezer, cast iron pot and skillet for the wood burner top, and I'm picking up some vegis tonight. Haven't had stu slow cooked on the wood burner in a cast iron pot in awhile, bacon in the skillet ain't a bad way to start the day either (that reminds me, add eggs to the shopping list).
later,
scruffy
[ February 15, 2006, 07:50 AM: Message edited by: scruffy ]
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Git R Done
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2dogs
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posted February 15, 2006 08:50 AM
10-4 Scruff. Snow-good, ice-bad. This Sat, is my last day after coyotes. Gonna spend the rest of my time looking for Rusty , taking pics, ect.
BTW, I commend you for your "short" reply, to Tim. I didn't need to shave after reading it, LOL! But I do have a 5:00 shadow .
Man, you guys sure are sick alot, down your way. What is it...the water Take care .
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