went out to call some dogs this evening.....everything was working for me, I showed up just at the right time I wanted to, my cammo was working w/ the terrain, the wind was in my favor...I havent called one in since thanksgiving w/e, so I've been pretty frustrated all through this winter. The coyotes around here are extremely turned on. I figured today would be a good day because we had a break in the constant storms. I wasnt calling 5 mins and decided to throw out a howl...from over the next hill came what sounded like an eruption of coyote chatter, from god knows how many. Before they stopped I started to see one up on the next ridge over. I was in a bad spot w/ the rifle beside me, so as soon as he turned, I got into a prone shooting position. He apeared a short ways down the same ridge again off to my left, I turned, estimated range, and dialed in, sight picture, saw my hit. Bingo!
I stayed put to try to call some of the others.....no dice, I walked over to the coyote I had shot......nothing, nada, zip. I missed
I started thinking about why. well I zeroed at a 18x and forgot to dial up from 6x. the rifle was also freshly cleaned. damn...ok well I set up again right by where the one i shot at was and called again to the next ridge...saw them again on that ridge. Turns out I had come across what appeared to be a litter of weanlings. Fired 5 rnds at the gagle of pups... walked up there...nothing..
after I thought about it, i realized I was using a totally different ammo than what i had zeroed w/, plus I had grabbed what i thought was my warm weather dope for that ammo, but it didnt look right for some reason.... lessons learned, many variables were forgotten completely and i paid for it. Finally called in a whole gagle of dogs and screwed the pooch...damn................ok now take it easy on me!
I stayed put to try to call some of the others.....no dice, I walked over to the coyote I had shot......nothing, nada, zip. I missed
I started thinking about why. well I zeroed at a 18x and forgot to dial up from 6x. the rifle was also freshly cleaned. damn...ok well I set up again right by where the one i shot at was and called again to the next ridge...saw them again on that ridge. Turns out I had come across what appeared to be a litter of weanlings. Fired 5 rnds at the gagle of pups... walked up there...nothing..
after I thought about it, i realized I was using a totally different ammo than what i had zeroed w/, plus I had grabbed what i thought was my warm weather dope for that ammo, but it didnt look right for some reason.... lessons learned, many variables were forgotten completely and i paid for it. Finally called in a whole gagle of dogs and screwed the pooch...damn................ok now take it easy on me!
