Did you get the 35mm or the 60mm?
Phylodog - we're waiting on you!
The night started out BAD. We pull up to the first spot, get out, and we scan the field. There was still corn up, so we decide to go to the next spot about five minutes away. We get out, and my scope is dead. Of course, living up to my name, I didn't bring batteries! So, we head back into town, grab batteries, and head back out.
Third spot isn't any better for us. We drive down the lane between the fields, set up, and start calling. A few minutes later, we notice a vehicle coming up the lane behind us. We go to see who it is, it's a county sheriff. Apparently, the land owner's wife got nervous and called the police. We head back out to the owner's house, and he says, "oh yeah, I forgot. Go kill them all". Yeah, we wanted to, but the car with the huge search light kind of ruined that idea. On the the next spot.
We get out and set up. The property was two half harvested fields with a row of trees in the middle. We start with interrogation howls and receive replies from three directions. I scan the first field, see nothing, walk over to the other field, nothing. I walk back to the first field and see a coyote moving left to right across the field. She's about 200-250 yards away, so I continue scanning and see two more following her. They all end up moving towards us, hugging the edge of the uncut field. My hunting partner is behind me, whispering, "take the shot!" and I'm replying, "not yet, I want them closer". Finally, the first one gets close enough (about 60 yards) and I squeeze off a shot. I'll tell you, hunting with suppressors is amazing. I heard the bullet hit - it sounded like someone smacked something with a bat. The coyote dropped right there with a shot in the chest. No exit wound.
As soon as I shoot, the other two take off. My partner is whispering, "did you get it?" And I'm whispering, "ki-yi. HIT THE KI-YI!" He hits it, and the other two turn around and start coming back. The closer one stops about 90 yards back, and the third hangs out at about 140 yards. I knew the second one was a little farther out, so I hold about 1/2 inch above the head and squeeze a shot. DRT. I drilled it right in the face and left about a fist sized exit wound right out the back of her head.
The third one takes off, angling away from right to left. I have to learn leading with my thermal - I got close because it changed direction fast. I tried leading it more, and it did a 180 again. Tried a third shot, it changed direction but it was out past 200 yards, so I left it.
The coyotes were young and small, but any dead coyote is good.
Pics...
Massive exit wound...
Did you get the 35mm or the 60mm?
Phylodog - we're waiting on you!
That's inside City limits. You trying to get me in trouble?
That's inside City limits. You trying to get me in trouble?