Fall is here and I'm getting all my calling gear tuned up and in order. Its been a long summer and the time is near to start calling. Got my camo washed, hand calls tuned, ammunition loaded, and batteries charged up in the Foxpro. The last thing is some range time to verify zero on my rifles. I have a new suppressor that should be released any time now too. Hopefully I'll be out calling coyotes within a week. I call both day and night. Around here there's lots of young and dumb coyotes this time of year. I usually try to get out and shoot a bunch before they get much pressure. Anyone else itching to get out and call?
My main rifles are AR15's chambered in 6.5 Grendel. They put a little more smack on em than a .223. I have a day rifle, a night rifle with a thermal scope, and a long range rifle all chambered in 6.5 Grendel. I also use AR's in .223/.556 and 300 Blackout. In certain areas i also carry a shotgun for some up close and personal calling. Almost any centerfire caliber will work but the Grendels really seem to shine for me.
I don't really hunt coyotes.... but back in the day before I got married I would hunt foxes .... 2 legged ones
The 6.5 Grendel would be a good round, for the long range.... Never went hunting coyotes before... do you still hunt for them and call them? What type of call...? buddy shot one, when we were deer hunting update state last year... mangey looking ....
I normally set up in some cover and sit still. I use a combination of hand calls and an electronic call using prey distress and/or pup distress this time of year. Later in the season I'll switch to coyote vocalizations almost exclusively. Here in Nebraska I usually see quite a bit of mangy coyotes every year. I've seen less and less mange the last couple of years though.
I also always have my Glock 23 in .40 with me but I haven't been able to take one with it yet. Maybe this year!
The foxes by me a very well fed and can grow to an enourmous size... makes them easy to hunt because they are slow moving and easily baited in with cheese cake
I need to but I've never gotten into it. I want to though. They really put a hurting on our whitetail population last year and every year I see more and more of them
Stevens model 200 chambered in 22-250 with a vortex 4-12x40 scope, resting on a bipod. Mossberg 535 loaded with 3" #4 buck in my lap. Fox pro spitfire playing dog sounds while I mouth call a variety of animal distress sounds. It's a great time. Especially if you have another person to hunt with. Watch cross wind on both sides. Generally they'll run downwind to get an idea of what's going on. That's usually when you'll get your shot.
I got out last night to make a few stands. Called in a double on the first stand and missed a long shot. It was at about 350 yards and I think I shot low. It's hard to judge distance with thermal optics. Second stand blank. Third stand had a hard charger that I almost couldn't get to stop. Barked her to a stop and put her right down with a 123 gr SST to the chest at about 85 yards. It started raining lightly on my final stand so I cut it short and headed for the truck. It was a good first night out of the season.
Nice dog, and very nice setup. I've been considering night optics. Just don't have the funds at the moment.
The thermal scope is definitely expensive but its a huge game changer. Ive killed plenty of coyotes using red lights. When I upgraded to a thermal scope and monocular my success at night has quadrupled. Nothing alive can hide from me in the dark now.
No bipod, I see. What are you using for a rest/stabilization? I'm sure that optic turns that rifle into a boat anchor.