On any given day, you might struggle to understand what is going on inside the mind of a coworker, a friend, or even your spouse. Even so, you do your best to read the tea leaves and plot a way forward for the day without fully knowing his or her mood. Of course, with humans we can also talk to the person in question to ascertain clues that can help us choreograph the day’s proceedings. We do not, however, have that luxury with coyotes. With the song dogs we need to draw up a game plan and determine the conversation we’re going to have without ever having met the creature. Successful choreography of a coyote hunt comes from experience, instinct, improvisation, and a healthy dose of imagination on our part.
READY FOR BED
The coyote sign on the river bottom was thicker than fleas on, well, a coyote. Tracks and droppings littered the cottonwood-lined banks, but every time I called the riparian alleyway, the result was the same: no response. As I considered my options one morning, a howl high in the adjoining hills lit a lightbulb in my noggin. The coyotes ruled the river bottom during the darkness, but they retreated to higher terrain before daylight. Eroded gullies, thick brush, see-forever vantage points, and more enticed the coyote clans to high-rise living. Additionally, human activity in the surrounding hills was significantly less than in the river bottom, with a county road nearby and lots of agricultural bustle after sunrise.
My next visit to the property started with a backdoor entrance. Instead of arriving to hunt the river, I used a back trail and hiked to a dryland hayfield high in the hills. A stack of round bales would be my morning Alamo. After climbing into them and finding a comfortable prone position that gave me a “lookout tower” sort of view, I simply waited for shooting light.
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More Inside This Issue:
‘Bama Coast Bash
From the beach to way offshore, Gulf Shores, Alabama, is home of some of the best and most diverse fishing on the Gulf Coast.
Chesapeake Winter
Despite the cold, Maryland's portion of the famous bay still has plenty to offer the avid sportsman.
Bull Session
Musings on the pros and cons of popular elk loads of both yesteryear and today.
