Sleeping Coyote

[OneMoreDeer]

While deer hunting a couple of weeks ago, the wind forced me down out of my ladder stand about 7:45 one morning. I got tired of trying to hang on the the tree and my rifle. I got down and decided to still hunt the side of a grassy ridge using the wind as cover for sound and movement. I was heading into a bedding area at the end of the ridge, moving 10yds and glassing when I spotted a coyote laying all curled up on an old oilwell site sunning himself. I took him at 150yds in his sleep.
At the shot, he didn't even flinch. I thought he must already have been dead. I walked down to him and he was still laying just as he was when I first spotted him, still curled up in a ball. The bullet had passed through the spine, broke a hind leg and exited. This was a first for me. Anyone else had this happen?

[Byron South]

Thanks for the story OMD. Pretty sneaky, sneaking up on a coyote. Can't say that I ever snuck up on a coyote. You got better eyes than I do. I sometimes don't see them when there awake and coming, much less, still and sleeping.

Good Hunting

Byron ;D

[Okie Newton]

Good story, I think that is what they mean by dying in your sleep.

[GonHuntin]

I was deer hunting with him at the time.....and I heard him shoot.....thought he had killed a deer......

It was a difficult shot too and it was about the prettiest coyote I've ever seen......unfortunately, we didn't have a camera with us

[Bobcat]

Congrats OMD!

Now you and GH need to do some calling together!

Good Hunting,

Bob

[BozoWise]

Ahh no camera.... isn't it always that way. I've never been able to find a sleeping yote but I have walked up on sleeping deer a time or two.

[ICMCumin]

I walked one up when I was deer hunting last season walking fom one stand to another - he spooked at about 25 yards. Don't know who was more surprised - him or me.

Same kind of conditions too - sunny and windy.

What was interesting is that he didn't run in a straight line away from me - he looked like an NFL halfback dodging and weaving away from me.... Must have been shot at before.

And yes, I missed him on two shots.......

[Krustyklimber]

I have never found one sleeping, but I did find this one



He was sneaking up on the same deer I was sneaking up on, when I spotted him.
I saw him first, and when my shutter clicked he lept straight up about 5 feet.

Krusty

[OneMoreDeer]

Krusty: Great pic and great eyes. You just never know who else is hunting with you. It always pays to be aware of your surroundings. ;D ;D ;D

[Bobcat]

Great pic, Krusty!

Thanks,

Bob

[Krustyklimber]

Thanks guys, I really did get lucky on that one.

I took that photo in Yosemite National Park, I was there on a climbing vacation.
We had seen this same buck and his babes (it was late Oct.) a few times that week. We had literally been forced off the trail by them two times already.

As we were driving past one of the meadows we saw them about 50 yds from the western edge, the light was perfect to have the massive granite wall behind lit with the colors of sunset, so I had my buddy pull into the trees about 25 yds and jumped out.

I never did get a photo of that buck.



Even after I scared him he still made a rush at the deer, and they chased him off into the trees. You can tell by his body language he's not in OMG! gear, just trottin' along with a purpose.

Both these photos are full frame, I didn't crop them down when I scanned them, the standing shot is a little far back (my brother says the brush would have blown up my .222 bullet) but the second running shot would have covered me good enough. (I don't have an autowinder on my 35 MM camera)
I hope my shooting is that good with my rifle when the chance comes.
They're easy in the National Parks.

Krusty