Closest encounter with calling tonight

I had a couple hours to kill before picking my daughters up from practice, so what better than to hit the fields.

We have about 25mph winds and its snowing sideways. I’ve been waiting for a good stiff S.E wind for hitting a new farm I have permission for. About 200 acres with 1 rolling hill running north and south. Its wooded to the west with a very active coyote den. This stiff wind enabled me to walk the back side of the hill up past the the wooded are to set up overlooking a heavily brushed intersecting fence line.

Things looked great as I settled into a tree top. Had the wind quartering across my shoulder going well above their denning area. The fox pro was set up about 50 yards down the hill in an area that was partially broken from the wind. Snow was going horizontal in front of me, and the cell phone was turned off.
Perfect setting…until a coyote that didn’t read the manual came by. After running a distressed cotton tail sequence through for the third time, I saw something move directly to my side. Turned my head and there was a good sized male coyote walking through the brush at about 6 feet from me. Dang thing walked in up wind from me and continued to trot with the wind – even after it was spooked.

Worse part was I turned to look for my shooter to tell them to shoot. Guess I need to learn how to hunt solo again.. About 2 seconds later it dawned on me, and all I could do was laugh at myself. Hopefully I’ll get another encounter with him soon.

6 feet??? I’m guessing that was the closest encounter you’ve ever had and yet no shot was fired. Thanks for sharing Randy!

Brad, that was the closest I’ve had a coyote come to me while calling. I’ve had them directly under my tree stand deer hunting, in logs, under a building foundation,… The tree top I was sitting in as a backdrop in this fence row had my entire back side as a blind stop. He never saw me until he was a full stride past me. Plus as we all know, coyotes NEVER go with the wind so I seldom set up for my back, unless I have two shooters out. Normally I like dumb yotes. But not when they don’t go into the wind. Of the last 50, maybe 75 yotes I’ve called, I think only about 6 or 7 of them came in with the wind. Otherwise, its always into the wind.

Ha, this reminds me of an encounter I had several years ago hunting with one of my buddies. We too sat with the wind in our favor and began to call, it wasnt 5 mins later and I caught movement just off my shoulder and sure enough, I had a big female 3ft from where I sat. The coyote turned its head and I shot her from the hip. Very cool