8.   Recently I took an ATV run to the Goulds scouting for locations to hunt Coyote along the way, and found an ideal location way back in one of the last fields in the Burnt Hills. There was a high rocky berm which afforded decent camouflage and a 230 degree view of the surrounding fields and bogs. Centred in front of us about 85 yards away was another berm  which made an ideal placement for my electric caller. Placing it here would divert the predator's attention away from me. Beyond this second berm was another 200+ yards of open field ending at the tree line, bordered part way by a large marsh. To our left was a small section of field bordered by forest, to our right was another large field about 250 yards wide and  800 yards long disappearing over a small hill.

7.   Tuesday Evening brought ideal weather conditions to go into our new hunting location for a look. There was very little wind, mild temperatures, and clear sunny skies which would allow a full, safe hunt to 1/2 hour past sunset. Maffer and I drove to the end of the dirt road, walked the remaining distance to our knoll, and were set up at about 6:30 that evening. We made a single coyote locater call with my FoxPro Spitfire caller, then switched to a distressed rabbit call running for about 10 minutes at a time with a 2 minute silent interval.

6.   About a half hour later I spied a possible target directly in front of us, but on the far side of the field past the caller. This object appeared on the tree line about 300 yards away. Of course we had both forgotten our binoculars and I was hunting with my Benelli shot gun which doesn't have a scope. We watched the target for 3-4 minutes, which appeared to be only a stump or rock...until it moved! We were very excited as this was the first time either of us had seen a Coyote in person, and were amazed at how it was responding to the caller. As the clever canine trotted the perimeter of the field we were amazed again at how it camouflaged so well with its surroundings, disappearing and reappearing as it walked.

5.   It eventually crossed the field advancing towards our caller but spotted movement from us (mostly due to our excitement) when it was at about 175-200 yards away. The Coyote stopped, turned and retreated back across the field and into the woods. I didn't want to take a chance shooting with a 12 gauge shot gun at that distance, although a .223 rifle would have made an easy kill. In any case, we were super stoked at successfully luring out and making visual contact with one of these very cunning prey.

4.   After letting the area settle down, we switched from a distressed rabbit call, to a Female Coyote Long Howl. Roughly 25 minutes later we spied a coyote (very likely the same one) crossing the marsh beyond the field in front of us, advancing towards the caller once again! We lost sight of it in the woods, expecting to see it pop out on the field at any minute.

3.   Five minutes later I spied the Bugger trotting down the centre of the field directly to our left advancing toward the caller. It had made a complete circle of our hunting area, and this time our prey was less than 60 yards away. After indicating to Maffer my intension to shoot, I pulled the trigger on my Benelli SuperNova and made a successful shot knocking the bugger arse over kettle. He still got up, ran away from us across the field, through the woods and out onto the bog, a total distance of about 400 yards. We found the expired Coyote just 50 feet out on the marsh.

2.   Maffer and I were super stoked with our successful hunt. Our crew has been hunting Coyotes occasionally with previous success consisting of only hearing them respond to our caller in the distance.

1.   This evening, not only did we see one, but we successfully made our first harvest! I guess its time for the rest of the crew to step up their game in controlling the Coyote population on the Avalon!

Cheers, MIKE

Copyright © 2011 Michael Smith