On New Years Day I was sitting around the house when the urge to go out calling coyotes just got to be too strong to ignore. I gathered my gear up and headed down the highway to a place near home. As I started the walk down the logging road the wind was blowing in my face and the sun was casting long shadows of the trees across the ground. With temps in the low 40’s and no snow, the conditions were not the best, but I figured I would just make the best of what was thrown at me. I made the walk about 3/4 of a mile through the swamp and woods to a spot where I wanted to start calling. I sat in the shadow of a nice leaning tree that was perfect to lay back on and have the rifle resting on my knee. Once I had everything in order the mouse squeeker broke the silence of the woods. After a few minutes with no response, I played a little bunny blues with a little more volume. As I sat and slowly scanned the area I noticed some movement off to my right. I didn’t move until the movement became clearer. A chocolate lab followed by a man and his son came into view. That was not what I had planned for my first outing of the year. That pretty much ended my afternoon since they continued on in the direction I had planned on going for later stands. Once I got packed up, the shotguns blasts started and that sealed the deal for me. I was able to blow the dust off a couple calls and get the rifle out for a little bit. But, that is the chance you take when hunting public land on holidays and weekends.
January 2, 2007 at 2:57 pm
#208709
when he finally saw me, but to be honest, I did not see him come into view,…. I actually heard him first. I was planted under a very large shrub type of bush and he snuck in directly from my backside – from the area I parked my truck. I think he heard the caller, didn’t see any other orange hunters, so he came to see what the heck was screaming at him 
. Anyhow, no coyotes or fox that AM hunt. Rain washed my snow cover away by 10 AM, so I was in for the day. After that I finished the weekend pheasant hunting myself. Got a lot of birds though, so the weekend was not a wash.