Story by Blake Lanoue

I finally had a day off from other "stuff" and good weather at the same time, so I was off bright and early to do some predator hunting. The snow was falling when I left, but I was still determined to get some sets in. I mis-judged how long it was going to take me to get to my desired hunting area, so when the sun started coming up, I simply stopped where I was to give it a shot. This area was completely new to me. I hadn't hunted anything whatsoever in this area, but it looked good so I figured what the heck!! The country was very flat and very thick.

Stand One:

I set up in some of the thickest crap I have ever called. The caller was 20 yards in front of me in about a 10 foot open circle. It was pretty much the only area that I could see, so I was hoping they were going to make it there. I was sitting on a stool to gain a slight visual advantage with my shotgun on the monopod and my rifle on the ground next to me. Well, I must have set up right on top of them!! Literally less than 10 seconds after turning the caller on I heard them coming and they were coming fast!!! I looked right and a flash!! Then another flash, and still another!! I picked out the first one and laid the hammer on him. Then all hell broke loose!! Coyotes were running all over, but it was so thick that I just couldn't get any other shots.

4 coyotes called and only 1 killed



Second Two:

This time the terrain was a little more open, but I chose to still use the shotgun. I basically buried myself into a creosote bush and started the caller. After about 5 minutes, I catch some movement out of the corner of my eye. I peered through the bush to see a big male standing there staring at the call. I was stuck. I had no way to move without him seeing me. He started towards the caller again when I felt the worst thing. Wind on the back of my neck!! He was almost in the shooting lane when he smelled me. I jumped up and let him have it with the scattergun. He did a complete barrel roll and then got up running!! I was shocked, but not surprised. I have seen these coyotes take some serious lead and keep on going.

1 coyote called in and one with a lot of little sore spots on him!! haha

Stand Three:

Again, I set the caller about 20 yards in front. I was trying to call a bobcat out of a really thick wash to my right. Well, about two minutes into it the set, I can see a coyote coming straight in. I put him in the crosshairs and waited for him to get clear. All the sudden I see a flash of a coyote cross right through the scope. I look up and couldn't believe my eyes. FOUR more coyotes were all around the caller!!! I shot the first one and then proceeded to have a nuclear meltdown behind the trigger!!! Two more coyotes gave me shots and flat out missed them both!! They were both moving, but so was the first one, so I have no excuses! I flat out got too excited and blew it!!

4 dogs called in, 1 killed and 2 others scared as hell!!



Stand Four:

The wind had started to pick up now and I figured I would need to get a little elevated on this stand. I placed the caller in the bottom of a spot where three washed connected. I was able to climb a small hill in order to get a good look at anything that might be coming in. About 5 minutes in, I see another big male on a beeline right towards the caller. He is coming in from my left down in the bottom. I could just see him every now and then, but he was coming fast. About 10 yards from the caller he stopped and started looking around. He knew something wasn't right, even though he was upwind of me and the caller. I knew it was now or never. He was standing behind a tall grassy patch and all I could see was his head. I knew my 22-250 wasn't going to be able to penetrate that grass, but I had no other shot. I tried to push that bullet through the grass, but it just didn't work!! I knew it wouldn't, but I tried anyway. Oh well.

1 dog called in and one more got away.


This was by far the best three hours of calling that I have ever had! I called in a grand total of 10 coyotes and killed two males. One more was hit and three more were clean misses!