I got a text yesterday morning from the farmer saying the coyote has been digging around the compose where a stillborn calf was buried. I have shot one at the same spot back in July of this year, that was my Coyote#7.
So I decided to stop by last night around 8:45pm to setup and got ready from my shooting spot from the 2nd floor window of the barn next to the compose area. The target area was 17-20 yards, downward. I mounted my Impact MK2 on the tripod and took a test shot at a spot on the concrete barrier. POI was about 1/4" high and I reminded myself to aim a bit lower. I have no idea if the coyote was going to show up or not.
I had to sit and wait for 4 hours 4 feet from the window ledge, occasionally stood up and did some stretching. Luckily it wasn't too cold last night and I was dressed warm. I didn't get a chance to retrieve the trailcam footages which I had placed about 15 feet from the target area. I was using it as a indicator with the red IR lights to alert me when it detects motion. Strangely it never came on when the coyote showed up just like the last coyote shoot. Trail cam was working as it captured me when I was at the spot after.
So sitting in the dark, I was trying to keep myself alert and had my eyes glued down towards the field below. Periodically scan the field and at the trail cam with my binoculars. The night wasn't too dark and I was able to see fairly well even with my old aging eyes.
The coyote came at 12:20am and I spotted it in the field about 35-40 yards away. I quickly got off my seat and got behind my gun without making any sudden movement or noise. I pressed the on button on my Pard007S which was on a standby mode and immediately turned on my side mounted external 850nm IR light.
I scanned the ground and found the coyote in my scope view. My heart began to race and adrenaline was flying high. I told myself to breathe and remain calm. I got this.
The coyote was walking around looking for scraps in the grass field. It found something to chew and ate whatever it was. I followed my cross hair on its head. Looking back at the recorded footage, I had two moments where I could have squeezed off a shot but I didn't. Mainly because I wasn't sure how far the coyote was at the time and I didn't want to make an error. So I waited and continued to watch it thru my scope. It made a lot of movement as they often do, and it finally came closer to the concrete embankment.
The compose area was enclosed with two concrete blocks stacked in a U shape. The height was probably 5' high. The side of the barrier obscured my view as the coyote was behind it scavenging for the dead calf. I only saw the top part of its head and upper back as it moved in and out of view. At one point I lost track of it, thinking that it was gone. I began to panic a little bit and told myself to take the shot when it pops up in view next.
Well, it did and I got my cross hair right on the back of its head. I squeezed off the shot and the H&N 25gr Gen2 slug blasting thru my 600mm Slug Liner A barrel at 967 fps at its indented target. Everything seems to be in slow motion. I could still hear my heartbeat and the anticipation of the slug penetrating thru the back of the coyote's skull with unstoppable force. The slug hit where I had aimed but the coyote had moved its head to the right and downward. I saw the coyote dropped down and I thought "Yes, I got it."
I unmounted my gun off the tripod and began to walk thru the barn, down the stairs and towards the target area. I was filled with excitement and satisfaction that I got lucky and tagged my coyote#8. A hunt that was not planned, at least not this visit, and I got lucky to encounter this coyote on this night.
It took me probably 2-3 minutes to reach the spot. I had my flash light eagerly scanning the area and at the spot. WTF? Where was the body. I turned around and started searching the area with my flash light. I couldn't see it. Where could it be? I clearly saw the coyote dropped down after the shot. Oh my god, did I missed?
I looked around for a bit more and went back to the compose area hoping to see some blood trace, but found none. Yup, I was shocked and disappointed for failing to tag this coyote. What went wrong? I gathered my gear and removed the trail cam and headed home. The whole drive home was puzzling and filled with mixed emotions.
I loaded up the SD card into my computer and reviewed the footages multiple times both in real time and slow motion. I saw exactly what I recalled seeing thru the night vision scope. The coyote was hit, but how did it run away. I went to bed around 2pm, tossing and turning. I didn't get a good sleep.
This morning I reviewed the footages again and my conclusion is that the coyote had turned to the right and down as the slug hit the upper part of its head. It looked like I just got the skin. I hope it survives without too much pain. I didn't want to have a badly injured coyote running around.
I will be heading back to the farm and set up my trail cam again to see if I might get lucky to capture more activity in the next little while.
I know I will probably get a lot of criticism for missing this shot and potential injuring this coyote. But it happened and I apologize for missing my shot.
I was so close to tagging my coyote#8. Darn it.
