Mustang
11-26-2009, 11:47 AM
This week I found myself in SE Az at my inlaws and decided to call the area. I've always wanted to hunt this area but things just never worked out. After a few PM's back and forth, me and guy from another forum decide to give it a try. We met up yesterday morning and set out for a half days hunt.
Gear: I took my CZ 527 American in 204 topped with VX-III 3.5-10x40 shooting HSM ammo 33 gr Calhoon hollow points, FoxPro Fury, Mossy Oak Brush outfit. Daryl was using his CZ 527 Varmint 17 Rem VX-II 3-9x40. We both had a hand call on hand. The Fury was set out at 40-60 yards in front of us on each stand. We made 5 stands:
Coyote #1 (second stand):
Time of Day: 0800
Temp: 50 Deg
Time on set: > 5 min
Distance of shot: 40 yards
Location: overlooking a small draw
I started off with a snow shoe in distress from the Fury. At about the 3 min mark I see a coyote crest the small ridge. At about 40 yards I shot her. (my first Az coyote)
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_20341.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_20353.jpg
Coyote #2 & 3 (fourth stand):
Time of Day: 1000
Temp: 65 Deg
Time on set: 10 min
Distance of shot: 60 yards / 30 yards
Location: overlooking a couple of small brushy draws
I started off with a snow shoe in distress from the Fury and alternated between that and lightning Jack. At about the 4 min mark I see a coyote trotting in from about 200 yards. At about 60 yards I shot him. Roughly 2 minutes later another coyote came from the same area but circled around to my left and I shot him at about 30 yards. We also called in third coyote on that stand that I never saw and Daryl couldn't get a shot off. I skinned this one out. The pelt on these things out here are amazing!!
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_20392.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_20372.jpg
Our last stand was quite interesting.
Time of Day: 1230
Temp: 70 Deg
Time on set: 60 min
Location: overlooking a couple of small brushy draws
10 minutes into the stand 2 Javelina run up the Fury and get as close as 12 yards from me grunting and hair standing up. Daryl gave them a few grunts in return and that seemed to spark their interest. After a minute or so they meander off. Right after they leave I notice a curious looking "yucca stump" at about 600 yards a few ridges away. For some reason I keep staring at it and I finally see it's head move. After some observation through my scope I realize it's a big bobcat sitting there staring in our direction. I quickly switch to some wookpecker calls. At about the 40 minute mark he trots about 30 yards closer and again sits down. He just didn't seem that interested/hungry. At 45 minutes he went down into a draw and isn't seen again. Me and Daryl wait until the hour mark then decide to call it a day. It was good to see the cat and it was a nice sized one at that.
It was a good day: 5 stands, 4 coyotes, 3 coyotes down, one bobcat and two javelina.
I'm gonna hunt again this weekend with another guy. I'll post the results.
BTW, I don't care what anyone says, it's not 10 times easier to kill a coyote in the west, you have to work for these dogs!!!
Dave
Gear: I took my CZ 527 American in 204 topped with VX-III 3.5-10x40 shooting HSM ammo 33 gr Calhoon hollow points, FoxPro Fury, Mossy Oak Brush outfit. Daryl was using his CZ 527 Varmint 17 Rem VX-II 3-9x40. We both had a hand call on hand. The Fury was set out at 40-60 yards in front of us on each stand. We made 5 stands:
Coyote #1 (second stand):
Time of Day: 0800
Temp: 50 Deg
Time on set: > 5 min
Distance of shot: 40 yards
Location: overlooking a small draw
I started off with a snow shoe in distress from the Fury. At about the 3 min mark I see a coyote crest the small ridge. At about 40 yards I shot her. (my first Az coyote)
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_20341.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_20353.jpg
Coyote #2 & 3 (fourth stand):
Time of Day: 1000
Temp: 65 Deg
Time on set: 10 min
Distance of shot: 60 yards / 30 yards
Location: overlooking a couple of small brushy draws
I started off with a snow shoe in distress from the Fury and alternated between that and lightning Jack. At about the 4 min mark I see a coyote trotting in from about 200 yards. At about 60 yards I shot him. Roughly 2 minutes later another coyote came from the same area but circled around to my left and I shot him at about 30 yards. We also called in third coyote on that stand that I never saw and Daryl couldn't get a shot off. I skinned this one out. The pelt on these things out here are amazing!!
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_20392.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_20372.jpg
Our last stand was quite interesting.
Time of Day: 1230
Temp: 70 Deg
Time on set: 60 min
Location: overlooking a couple of small brushy draws
10 minutes into the stand 2 Javelina run up the Fury and get as close as 12 yards from me grunting and hair standing up. Daryl gave them a few grunts in return and that seemed to spark their interest. After a minute or so they meander off. Right after they leave I notice a curious looking "yucca stump" at about 600 yards a few ridges away. For some reason I keep staring at it and I finally see it's head move. After some observation through my scope I realize it's a big bobcat sitting there staring in our direction. I quickly switch to some wookpecker calls. At about the 40 minute mark he trots about 30 yards closer and again sits down. He just didn't seem that interested/hungry. At 45 minutes he went down into a draw and isn't seen again. Me and Daryl wait until the hour mark then decide to call it a day. It was good to see the cat and it was a nice sized one at that.
It was a good day: 5 stands, 4 coyotes, 3 coyotes down, one bobcat and two javelina.
I'm gonna hunt again this weekend with another guy. I'll post the results.
BTW, I don't care what anyone says, it's not 10 times easier to kill a coyote in the west, you have to work for these dogs!!!
Dave