SEC T I ON T H R EE
You’d think I’d know better by now.
chances in one day at Wisconsin coyotes don’t happen
often. I wanted to make the most of it.
In hindsight, I should have stayed put, but I worried
about jumbles of ice around me that might obstruct
my view. I’d have a clearer view if I moved forward to
the next 10-foot high seam of ice and hopefully, have a
better shot.
My second guessing f inally won out. I got up and
began moving ahead when I stepped into a crevasse
covered with snow. I fell face f irst into it leading with
my rif le. As I rolled around trying to get my footing,
I realized I wasn’t all that was buried in the snow. My
gun barrel was in past the trigger guard too. And at a
time like this that’s not a good thing.
Hunter Safety 101 warns of barrel obstructions. A
quick glance showed me I had a dandy and now the
coyote was only 400 yards out. Behind cover, I quickly
unloaded my rif le and tapped on the barrel trying to
dislodge the snow. That didn’t work. Next I frantically
tried blowing the snow out of the barrel while peaking
at the coyote now only a hundred yards away, oblivious
of my descent into a full-blown panic mode. That
didn’t work either. All I could do was watch him come
so close I could see his beady eyes and the long guard
hairs running across his back blowing in the wind. I
guess he didn’t like strong language because his retreat
was a fast one.
Later that afternoon, with a clean barrel and after
getting reasonably settled down, I headed for another
isolated block of shoreline. I’d just worked down
the hillside through the waist deep snowdrifts to
the windblown ice and started glassing when I saw
the dark spot west of me. Although a long ways
off, I knew it was another coyote and I watched him
disappear behind a pinnacle of ice. Marking the spot
I moved closer, knowing shooting light was limited,
but thinking he was ready for the evening hunt. Two
This late in the day, the lake breeze had dropped and
was blowing lightly in my face, presenting a perfect
calling opportunity. If he was within hearing – and I
was conf ident he was – he wouldn’t wind me, although
from past experience I knew he’d try to circle around
and come toward me from downwind. When he made
this maneuver, and before he hit my scent stream,
would be my best chance for a shot.
Within seconds of my f irst call, I saw him pop out from
behind a mound of ice, much closer than where I’d seen
him earlier. A big coyote is only about three feet high,
so it’s easy for them to move unseen around the chaotic
ridges of ice. Still, I was surprised to see him only 300
yards out.
Clouds veiled a sun setting over the Minnesota skyline
miles across the lake as he moved closer, although
unlike the morning’s naïve animal, he seemed hesitant.
Maybe it was because of the wolf sign I’d seen close
by. Wolves and coyotes don’t get along any better than
coyotes and fox do. Years ago, not far from where I
stood now, I watched two coyotes chase a fox out of
sight down the lake’s shoreline. Or maybe it was just
because coyotes are cautious by nature. I’m not saying
a coyote makes a late season, call shy, 4 year old public
land gobbler look like the village idiot, but I’ve hunted
both and know which one is the biggest challenge.
Whatever the reason, this coyote was playing hard
to get. Light was fading fast and he was still a solid
200 yards out, looking at me head on. In hindsight I
should have waited another couple minutes to see if he
offered me a broadside shot, but I didn’t. Settling the
crosshairs under his chin, I touched the trigger. It was
a clean miss. As a farewell salute, I took another poke
at him as he ran away, knowing it was probably futile.
HORI ZONS | 35