Well I ended my furbearer season last night with a miss.
I hunted 2 spots last night. The first one I haven't hunted for a couple of years. A matter of fact not since May 17, 2008. Thats when I got my first coyote and was bit. Bit in the sense thats what got me hooked on Predator hunting. Any way, I set up near where I was 2 yrs ago along a thicket near some tracks 3-4 days old. I stayed there for about 40 Min's, nothing. Started walking back to the truck. I saw some newer tracks down in a little valley. So, I set up on the one and called for 20Min's, nothing.
I headed over to another farm where I have been hunting all season. I packed light at this spot as the snow was deeper and my knees were starting to hurt. I huffed it down to the pond and sat there for I guess 30-45Min's. Nothing. This is the spot I missed a coyote back in January. It was getting late and I didn't want to stay there any longer due to the property owner being in bed and not well. I cut thru the trees to the field to make a shorter walk to the truck. I stopped every 15-20 steps to check my back trail. The last turn I made I just caught eyes coming from the neighboring farm. I thought it was a deer at first. I kept the head light on the eyes. It was moving a little faster then a deer I thought and it was blinking its eyes to much as well. Mind you I didn't have my glasses, which would have helped. I set the caller on top of the snow at my feet and turned on the vole squeal. Yes it got the attention of the predator. I didn't think the thing was moving, but just standing there. I thought wrong. It was heading right at me and I didn't realize it until it stopped at about 100yds or so. I started to head towards me again. It turned to go down wind of my location and stopped. I put the red dot on the TC Encore 12ga, on its back, BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. I didn't see the eyes anymore. I looked for somethings flopping around in the snow. Nothing. I paced off the distance as I went to where it was standing. 80yrds. I didn't see any signs of blood or fur on the snow. I guess I just scared the living day lights out of it. It was a big coyte to. Oh well thats hunting.
