Curiosity got to them so they all got up, cows, new born calves and the bull and they strolled over to me, some as close as 15’ or less. I thought maybe they would get bored and move on, but no, they had to start grazing all around me. I waited for a while and at the risk of ruining my stand, stood up and shooed them off. This only lasted for a few minutes and here they all came back and stood there with that “What ya doin’†look on their faces.
Eyes and Ear tags.
Between swatting mosquitoes and shooing the cows off two more times, I decided I would stand up and take a few pictures of the cows and the fog rolling across the bottom and then head home. I didn’t think it would be wise to start howling like a coyote when I was surrounded with cows that had new born calves.
Sunrise behind me.
My "cover scent".
I had just put the camera back in my back pack when I saw two coyotes coming beyond the gap in the trees to my right that are down by the ditch in the middle of the picture.
When they went behind a tree, I sat down quickly and got ready. They had stopped and were looking at the cows for a few seconds and then crossed a small ditch and started up the hill toward us. I had a cow about 20’ from me and I was now watching the coyotes under the cows chin. The cow hadn’t seen the coyote and lay down. Now I could see the coyote as it was circling around the hill to the left and was going to give me a shot when it got past the cow. Wouldn’t you know it, her calf got up and started walking to the cow and I couldn’t shoot? The second coyote was circling around to the right of us but was back away. The calf finally got out of the way and I was able to take a clear shot on the coyote at 39 yards. It went stiff and fell over. The 39 gr. Sierra B.K. passed clear through with an exit hole less than a dime.
The cows all jumped up and ran at the shot and I quickly jacked another shell in my CZ 527 American and looked for the other coyote. It ran back down and crossed the ditch and stopped to look around but I couldn’t shoot because of some taller grass between us. It looked confused and appeared to be looking around for the other coyote. It stood for about 10-15 seconds and walked forward about 8-10 yards and gave me a 108’ yard broad side shot. The bullet on this one didn’t exit.
They were both males.
I guess the story wouldn't be complete without the "hero" shot.
What a way to start the season? That's the first time I've ever had cows for a decoy!
