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Author
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Topic: High desert canids
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CatTracker
Knows what it's all about
Member # 3526
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posted January 10, 2010 06:20 PM
I started out my first stand earlier than usual and well before sunrise. Before getting out of the truck, I could hear a group of coyotes very close giving me the middle finger. Not to be denied, I decided to see what might happen since it was still dark when I drove that last 1/4 mile with my lights off. Maybe they only heard me but didn't see me park (at least that's what I was telling myself). The whole while I was walking to my stand, they were giving me that bark. You know, that bark that says we know you’re there and you can’t fool us bark. Oh well, I figured; let’s see if anything materializes. I started my stand with my own serenade, a couple low aggressive howls, followed by some youth of the year yaps. Boy did that draw their ire. Guess they wanted to talk it over before coming to investigate. I proceeded to use my best Alpha male imitation and then it all went quite. It was still fairly dark when the old Alpha male made his mistake and decided to sneak in. It was thou he suddenly just appeared out of nowhere at 80 yards giving me the evil eye. I didn’t hesitate nor did the 60gr pill that sent him to coyote heaven. I quickly switched to some pup-in-distress. Five minutes later, the ol' boys mate came looking for him. Problem was, she snuck in almost behind me and saw me and my decoy 40 yards out front. I still had my call in my mouth. I don't think she knew what I was but perhaps she got a whiff. She kept switching back and forth, first looking at me, then the decoy (good old fashioned stare down). At this point, she was only 20 yards away and I would have had to swing my gun 100 degrees to get a shot. I knew if I had so much as a muscle twitch she was gone. It was one of those times you feel like you're not in control of the situation...she dictated my next move. She had enough and decided it was time to leave. In a split second, she turned and made haste the same way she came. I swung and fired just before she disappeared in the pinons… Would of had a double if I'd brought my shotgun. Oh well, would-a, could-a, should-a...
Four stands later...Went to a spot where I killed a nice big male last year. This time of year they've heard it all so I tried a combination of things. 10 minutes into it, a small herd of cattle were coming into view on my left but they suddenly stopped and kept looking to the east, around the bend from me, like something was there. Not the first time I've been tipped off by cattle or other animals... I digress... At around the 15 minute mark, this big ol' female came in from the down wind side to investigate the crow fight she was hearing. Wonder if she realized the sound she was hearing didn't jive with what she was seeing. I could tell she was ready to bolt just before I put the hammer down...
Right after I put her to down, that group of cattle came right up to the dead coyote as if to take a closer look at the fallen enemy... Interesting!
[ January 11, 2010, 08:30 AM: Message edited by: CatTracker ]
Posts: 38 | From: NM | Registered: Nov 2009
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4949shooter
SECOND PLACE HIGGINS (MAGNUM P.I.) LOOK A LIKE CONTEST
Member # 3530
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posted January 10, 2010 06:35 PM
Good story.
Posts: 2274 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Dec 2009
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Locohead
World Famous Smoke Dancer
Member # 15
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posted January 10, 2010 09:04 PM
Great story and beautiful country!
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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I love my critters and chick!!!! :)
Posts: 2219 | From: CO | Registered: Jan 2003
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4949shooter
SECOND PLACE HIGGINS (MAGNUM P.I.) LOOK A LIKE CONTEST
Member # 3530
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posted January 11, 2010 02:40 AM
Speaking of beautiful country, does anyone know if New Mexico taxes pensions?
Posts: 2274 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Dec 2009
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Lungbuster
Knows what it's all about
Member # 630
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posted January 19, 2010 04:02 PM
Nice post. Good job.
Posts: 225 | From: Idaho | Registered: Mar 2005
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ursus21
2nd place, John Denver lookalike Contest
Member # 3556
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posted January 20, 2010 07:31 AM
Cool write up. Is that a brass catcher on the far side of your rifle? If so, does it interfere at all with your hunting? I have considered putting one on mine, but keep wondering if it will just get in the way?
Posts: 780 | From: Montana | Registered: Jan 2010
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CatTracker
Knows what it's all about
Member # 3526
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posted January 20, 2010 08:59 AM
quote:
Is that a brass catcher on the far side of your rifle? If so, does it interfere at all with your hunting?
Yes it is and no it doesn't interfere. My only complaint is that it shifts around a little so I need to reposition it now and then but it beats chasing brass around.
Posts: 38 | From: NM | Registered: Nov 2009
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted January 20, 2010 09:29 AM
Welcome to The New Huntmasters, ursus21. Glad to have you on board.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31462 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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ursus21
2nd place, John Denver lookalike Contest
Member # 3556
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posted January 20, 2010 01:55 PM
Leonard thank you for the welcome.
CatTracker, thanks for the reply. I gave up trying to chase the brass down while hunting, but anymore it's worth it. I'm thinking that brass catcher would be just the ticket. Heck, they are cheap so I guess it's not like I'd be out much $ to find out.
Posts: 780 | From: Montana | Registered: Jan 2010
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Lonny
PANTS ON THE GROUND
Member # 19
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posted January 20, 2010 04:35 PM
Nice to see you around Troy (ursus21).
I don't know if the rest of guys know ursus21, but he has some hungry bugs and can turn your fresh critter skull into something that you will be proud to put on the mantle or show the mother-in-law. He is also an artist and even does coyotes..
Posts: 1209 | From: Lewiston, Idaho USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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moses man
Knows what it's all about
Member # 76
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posted January 21, 2010 08:01 PM
Ursus, just cut down your ejector spring , there is a thread about it on ar15.com i did mine and now they just fly right between my legs , on a cold morning it aint a bad thing LOL.
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Why dont they ever just come straight in ??
Posts: 26 | From: wash state | Registered: Feb 2003
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