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.
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/melvin54/P1010002-11.jpg)
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.
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/melvin54/P1010009-12.jpg)
My "cover scent".
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/melvin54/P1010014-10.jpg)
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.
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/melvin54/P1010018-4.jpg)
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.
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/melvin54/P1010021-4.jpg)
I guess the story wouldn't be complete without the "hero" shot.
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/melvin54/P1010020-2.jpg)
What a way to start the season? That's the first time I've ever had cows for a decoy!