Practice what you preach!

[coyotenightmare]

Went out last night for the last time to wrap up the season. I had a very succesful hunt! But the point of this post is to say that it can be hard to put into practice what you always tell people. For example, at my first set last night I was calling at a prime location for either fox or coyote. About 4 minutes into my calling, (combo of fox distress w/ fox pro and rabbit distress w/ mouth call) I spotted 2 sets of eyes charging down a ridge towards the edge of the field. I right away thought coyote and switched on my kill light and turned the scanning light off. To my disappointment, they hung up on a bank about 10 yards inside the woods at about 200 yards away. I had the cross hairs right on both sets of eyes but didn't pull the trigger. Why? Because we always say to positively identify our targets. What if they were bobcats? I was convinced they were coyotes and tried to lip squeak, etc to get them to commit and get in the open. My trigger finger ached to ease back the trigger with the crosshairs hovering between those beady eyes, but my common sense said NO. Don't shoot! Though I was 99% sure and still think that what came in was a pair of coyotes I still did the right thing. A mistake kill is simply not worth it and there was to much brush obscuring the body to positively identify these animals. All I can say is, I came up with a better place to set up at that same location to hopefully avoid more hang ups in the future.

[Jake]

You Did the Right Thing,  and to Top it off you got a better looking spot, all and all good Hunt,
  I had, a similar situation This morning, A Farmer wanted us to come over on his farm, that he was having allot of Coyote problems said that a pack of 15 running along his creek bed, so we got there before day break, go set up. and waited for it just starting day break and started to call got instant results, with reply, well  after doing some calling around 9AM they came in but, we was set up to far and where made, we got to see them to to many trees and brush, the farmer was right it was a large Pack, got to know where to set up, and saw the pack, nice Black one in the pack that was the one that made us...Lot of fun and learning. on new property .

[Team Howler]

Awesome you guys! I've been there done that with identifying targets. But it would always be my luck that it wouldn't be what i thought and i would have problems. I don't want to be responsible for giving hunters a bad name. Also do you guys find that after awhile some farmers call you when they have problems? Your name kind of gets out there. If you mistake targets, that wont happen.

[coyotenightmare]

In my area, the local people know that I hunt predators and that some are dumb enough to come in to my calls. This results in a lot of opened doors to properties to hunt. Including lots of farms. Someone will hear coyotes...or see one cross the road...or on their farm....often they will call me or tell me the next time they see me. When you start to kill stuff...it does a couple things. First, you get lets of offers "take me along some night." Second, It creates a desire within the local serious hunters to get into predator calling which creates more competition. (that is fine...I am not greedy) This results in more educated coyotes. Third, If someone hears a coyote on their property, they think all I need to do is come and call and it will be shot. (Coyotes cover a big territory and can be out of hearing in a hurry) Last year I was telling some of the locals what I was getting...now this year, some of 'my' farms to hunt have been over called and the population of predators have graduated with an excellent education. I am not a pro at calling...but I have taken to heart the advice from Byron South...."What you do before you call, determines 95% of your success." That is true! Also if you make a mistake kill, your reputation will suffer...I lost a place to call because some wise guy called there and shot the pet cat thinking its eyes must be a fox's eyes....that kind of thing rubs me the wrong way. I didn't do it....but this family will not let anyone call there again and its a fox's paradise. Sorry for the long reply Team Howler...