Post by GonHuntin on Feb 3, 2004 15:11:23 GMT -5
I headed up to a buddy's ranch just north of town......the lock on the gate was frozen and wouldn't open.....and I was already late.......I finally got the lock open by pouring some of my drinking water on it......drove in to find the roads were in horrible shape and made a note to myself to get out before they thawed! I made my first stand in a location that I had never called before......stayed 30 minutes and didn't see anything, so I moved on to the next spot I wanted to call.....same thing there.....nothing! The last stand of the morning found me back at my favorite set-up in the highline right of way.......the same one I killed a coyote in a couple of weeks back. Since the usual stuff wasn't working, I decided to try something different this time......I had brought my howler along, now, I'm new to using a howler, and I thought my howls sounded pretty bad.....but, nothing ventured nothing gained, so I started the set off with a couple of howls.....after the howls, I started a fight tape.....a few minutes later, I saw one come out of the timber and into the highline....30 seconds later, another one follows...... these yotes came out from the opposite side of the highline than usual, and I wasn't really set up for that possibility......the pair hung up about 170 yards out.....I had no rest to shoot that direction, so I had to shoot offhand.......I either missed or just fringed the lead dog on the first shot and they both hit high gear......I stayed focused on the first dog and managed to roll him at 200.....the second dog made cover before I could get back to it......as expected, the first dog was a male........no photos, I left the camera at home.......
By this time, it was 10:00 and the sun was shining, so I decided to walk the mile and a half back to the truck and get out while I still could.
On the way home, I passed a "dude" ranch that is about 3 miles from my house.......I had met the owner once at a gunshow, but I had never really seen the ranch......well, as I drove by the gate, the owner and his hired hand were out by the road, so I turned around and came back to see if I could talk to him.......they do "put and take" bird hunts on this ranch and I figured maybe I could get a foot in the door of a new calling area......I got out walked over and introduced myself.....as I started talking, the owners lab ran over and stuck his nose on my boot and woouldn't leave......I explained to the owner that I had been out hunting coyotes and that the dog was probably smelling the yote that I had shot that morning......he immediately said "you can come kill coyotes here anytime"!!! I told him not to say that if he didn't mean it......he said he meant it and told me get in my truck and follow him......we drove up to the lodge, hopped on his Gator and he took me for a tour of the ranch....showing me where I could hunt!!! Now, I'll tell you, the calling on this ranch will be very limited.....it's not exactly the best area I have seen for coyotes.....they are there, but most of it is open hay field and the rest is thick brush.... but it's only 5 minutes from my house and he considers it a favor for me shoot them!
I spent about an hour and a half visiting with him...... while we were talking, the subject of concealed carry came up and I mentioned briefly that I am a licensed instructor, and we moved on to a different subject..... when he brought me back to my truck and I was getting ready to leave, he asked where I taught classes.....I explained that I had taught at several businesses, the gun club and just about anywhere I can......he then asked if I would be interested in holding classes at his ranch!!
You never know what kind of a gold mine you will stumble across unless you ask...........
Some days are diamonds, some are stones.....this one was a diamond!
By this time, it was 10:00 and the sun was shining, so I decided to walk the mile and a half back to the truck and get out while I still could.
On the way home, I passed a "dude" ranch that is about 3 miles from my house.......I had met the owner once at a gunshow, but I had never really seen the ranch......well, as I drove by the gate, the owner and his hired hand were out by the road, so I turned around and came back to see if I could talk to him.......they do "put and take" bird hunts on this ranch and I figured maybe I could get a foot in the door of a new calling area......I got out walked over and introduced myself.....as I started talking, the owners lab ran over and stuck his nose on my boot and woouldn't leave......I explained to the owner that I had been out hunting coyotes and that the dog was probably smelling the yote that I had shot that morning......he immediately said "you can come kill coyotes here anytime"!!! I told him not to say that if he didn't mean it......he said he meant it and told me get in my truck and follow him......we drove up to the lodge, hopped on his Gator and he took me for a tour of the ranch....showing me where I could hunt!!! Now, I'll tell you, the calling on this ranch will be very limited.....it's not exactly the best area I have seen for coyotes.....they are there, but most of it is open hay field and the rest is thick brush.... but it's only 5 minutes from my house and he considers it a favor for me shoot them!
I spent about an hour and a half visiting with him...... while we were talking, the subject of concealed carry came up and I mentioned briefly that I am a licensed instructor, and we moved on to a different subject..... when he brought me back to my truck and I was getting ready to leave, he asked where I taught classes.....I explained that I had taught at several businesses, the gun club and just about anywhere I can......he then asked if I would be interested in holding classes at his ranch!!
You never know what kind of a gold mine you will stumble across unless you ask...........
Some days are diamonds, some are stones.....this one was a diamond!
