Zhe Wiz

Yeah, like politicians making that distinction means anything. And they're not the same, they're better, which is why I want to use one. :-) Zhe Wiz

Yeah I'm annoyed that xbows won't be allowed for the entirety of archery season as they should be, BUT if it goes thru, foot is in the door and Belo will be pissed, so it won't be all bad. :-) Zhe Wiz

I'm extremely satisfied with the battery life. The main sensor gets hit multiple times almost every night by foxes, skunks, coons, possums, etc. During the day crows, eagles and vultures hit it. Deer even wander cautiously by on occasion setting it off. I've turned off the beeper and watched the light beep on and off for an hour at a time. I'm amazed it goes as long as it does. The batteries are a bit of a pain to replace (4 screws), but they last quite a while. Good luck with the setup. Keep us posted on how it goes! Zhe Wiz

I use Lithiums and they go about 10-11 months on the most frequently triggered sensor, over a year on the others.

Technically this one doesn't belong in the motion alarm section, as it never went anywhere near the bait pile or triggered the beeper...but still. :-) Well it's 9AM, broad daylight and I'm working from home as always. Dog wants to go out, but I'm in the middle of composing an email and didn't get up right away to let him out. About a minute later he starts going NUTS, barking like crazy. I spring up (OK, now THAT's important enough for me to stop the email!) and run to the window expecting to see deer, they've been all over the last week or so. Nope, COYOTE!! And it's only about 75 yards from my house! I started for the gun but realized I didn't have my vest on, and therefore, no ammo! Ran back to grab two 22-250 bullets and rushed back for my hearing protection and gun then out the door while loading up. Dog going crazy the whole time, coyote just watching them. By the time I get out and set up, coyote is on the move - away from the house. I waited for it to turn broadside and slow down a bit, aimed behind the shoulder and fired! I can see through the scope just before recoil that I hit her, she jumped, stumbled and ran into the brush. I reloaded for a second shot but didn't see her at first. Finally I see her walking up near the top of the field about 200 yards away. Then she slowed down, spun, fell and didn't get up. I didn't have to fire a second shot. She ran/walked about 120 yards or more I'd say from where I shot to where she fell. I'm using VERY FAST (4500 fps) 35 grain bullets out of the 22-250. Coyotes consistently run further with that load than they do when hit with the 100 grain 6mm bullets. :-) But they still die. So I went up and inspected things. I could not find a DROP of blood anywhere, and the ground is still COMPLETELY snow covered. I went where I hit her, where she ran, went to the other end where she fell. No blood on the snow, no blood on the coyote. No exit wound and apparently no entrance wound! :-) Glad I didn't have to track that, I would have thought I missed!! No evidence of a hit anywhere except her reaction and the dead coyote in the picture below. :-) Anyway, #9 this year (my goal was 10!) an adult FEMALE coyote again. Here's the entrance side, not that you can tell!

And #8 died last night a little after 9pm. A female this time. Shot her twice with the 6mm, not much left to take a picture of. :-)

Woo hoo! Motion sensor strikes again! After a few weeks of only foxes, this adult male tripped the sensor just before 1am. Nice bright, moonlit night so I used the slightly more pelt friendly 22-250 to do the honors. He ran a little farther than with the 6mm, but 100 yards later dead is dead. :-) #7 on the year, 23rd since I started 2 years ago. Zhe Wiz

Well a day after I shot the most beautiful coyote I've ever shot (#21) I shot the nastiest looking coyote you'll ever see. I put this one out of his misery I think. Close you're eyes if you have a weak stomach. :-) This is number 22 overall, #6 this year. A young male. I just left this one on the bait pile, no fur here! Zhe Wiz

Seems the cold weather was keeping them away, almost NO activity from foxes or ANYTHING during our deep freeze. I guess they like pre-heated (live) food rather than sub zero frozen food? Anyway, I was away on business last week, returned Friday night and turned the motion sensor on immediately. First night, fox hit it, Saturday night? Fox. Sunday night? Fox. Monday night? Fox! Monday night I turned the sensor off at 2AM so I could finally get some sleep! That damn fox (and a rat tail looking thing too!) is PERSISTENT. He comes over and over and over on most nights when he/she decides to come. Geez. So yesterday I added a fresh black "chicken" to the bait pile. Fox came early and often again, dragged the bird away a few yards, something finally pulled it apart, not sure what or when exactly. Again I turned off the UPSTAIRS (important!) sensor only so we could sleep, leaving the downstairs one "on" but at it's lowest volume level. I don't even hear it at that level, but my wife still does. Well at around 4:10AM, she heard the d/s beeper and poked me. :-) I decided to go have a look since I wasn't fully asleep anyway. Gun was already out in the garage ready to go from the many fox visits, so grabbed my ear protection and went out to have a look. PRETTY sure that's too big for a fox! Watched him for a few seconds, turned on the camera (another fail, I hate that damn thing...more later) and waited as he switched from broadside to straight on, then broadside again. Not much light last night, so tricky to see well enough for perfect shot placement even with night scope, but aimed for shoulder area and fired. With the exception of a twitch or two, he did not move. DRT. I'm using 100 grain soft points, they are WAY over powered for coyotes. The coyotes are dead, but too much fur damage. Gonna have to work up a different load. These were deer loads my brother had left over when he sold me the gun. Anyway, it turned out to be a neck shot which is why he didn't go anywhere. So here he is...a VERY PRETTY adult male. Good sized though I have not weighed him. Video issues. I have inserted a plastic tab between one of the batteries and the metal it contacts with to keep the batteries lasting longer on the video recorder. All I have to do is pull it out to activate the batteries, then turn on the camera and hit record. Well, I pulled that tab out, turned on the camera and started recording. All lights looked normal. After I took the shot and went to press "stop" I noticed the lights were flashing VERY quickly, which indicates low battery. Stupid thing wouldn't STOP no matter how many times I pushed the stop button. Finally had to push the power button. It turned off, but did NOT save the video which I've noticed before. You HAVE to push Stop to save the video. This damn thing is way too picky, but I guess that's what I get for being "cheap." :-) I think because the gun and batteries were left in the garage over night and it was cold out there, the batteries lost power. Guess I need to switch to lithiums in the cold weather, or leave the gun inside. Oh well, he's still dead. :-) Zhe Wiz

Most LEOs I know are on our side. If he does ask that question, chances are he just wants to know what kind of cool gun you might have. :-) I'll be getting the hunting plate on my next car - sure beats that nasty gold and blue alternative!!! And I'm STILL not voting for Cuomo... Zhe Wiz

You seriously need to learn about bullet selection. Stop using those .243 55 grain varmint bullets on bear!! :-) Zhe Wiz

But, but, but they ARE archery equipment. :-)

I DESPISE the unSAFE act even though it has not affected me directly (yet) either. Why? IT'S FRIGGIN' POINTLESS!!!!!! It does not make anyone anywhere safer AT ALL. The bad guys won't follow ANY of the new rules, the good guys will...mostly. You've accomplished what exactly? That's what MEAT and the other proponents of the unSAFE act never seem to address. Tell me MEAT, what's the difference between my .223 "wanna be assault rifle" and your semi-auto .308 hunting rifle? Answer: one looks scary to you, the other is actually more dangerous. The weak but scary 223 is now illegal, the powerful but harmless LOOKING 308 is legal. I'm safer how? My kids are safer how? Help me out here! You think a bad guy is going to follow these rules and only buy small magazines? Try to buy his ammo and assault rifles in NY? Register them? You liberals like rules for the sake of rules. Ridiculous. You do nothing but make more unenforceable laws that do nothing but infringe on my ability to choose. Choice and "free market" are going away because of you. How wonderful. What a happy safe, selection free world we will one day live in. I graduated from the "OTHER" college located in Ithaca. Fortunately I haven't let that blind me so that I can no longer think for myself. Zhe Wiz

I think one problem is that most private land is already hunted, and those hunters either don't want MORE hunters hunting during DMFA, or they don't want ANYBODY hunting during DMFA. Think about it, how would you like to let people hunt the private land you hunt now knowing they're trying to kill all of your does? I know one guy that owns a hundred or so acres in the DMFA zone. Not only does he not allow "foreigners" to hunt during DMFA, he HIMSELF doesn't hunt during DMFA. He only kills bucks, doesn't want to "ruin" his Buck producers by killing them. That's his belief and he ain't changing.

I've been hunting Cornell and DMFA land for YEARS. Around golf courses, houses, walking paths, etc. never once had a single person say anything negative to me or about me. Unlike the stereotype, most people in the area understand the need to hunt. I've even had a few people spot me in my tree, wave, apologize for ruining my hunt, turn around and leave. Zhe Wiz

Just weighed him: 42.2 lbs. makes him the heaviest of the 20 I've shot.

Well the beeper strikes again! Interesting night! It all started around 9:30. The 170 yard beeper went off, but only once. I grabbed my vest and gun, rushed out and looked around. I saw nothing at first, but then caught some movement through the Digisight night scope. 200 yards, near the woods, looked like a bigger than average coyote. Unfortunately I couldn't get a shot as he slipped into the woods. I kept watching for the next 10-15 minutes as he ate at the small upper bait pile I had placed just inside the woods. I was hoping that pile would "comfort" them with a little bit of cover and they'd eventually come down to the closer, open pile. Sometimes that works, but it seems they often go back up there and don't stay long at the pile out in the open. Anyway, as I'm watching his occasional eye shine thru the trees, I eventually realize there's not one but TWO coyotes up there enjoying the deer carcass. I continue to watch, and although I never had 3 sets of eyes shining at the same time, I'm PRETTY sure there were at least 3 coyotes up there. I eventually gave up, getting cold as none of them were even thinking about coming out of the woods. Decided to let them enjoy there meal and headed up to bed. I have a friend who recently bought a B-Mag...in the only caliber it is currently available - .17 WSM. He came over on Sunday night and said I could keep it until I'm successful killing something with it. I did bring that gun out too while I was watching the coyotes, but it was clear that the scope wasn't clear enough to see that far in the dark, even with the near full moon that was out. He does have a spotlight mounted on the scope, but I didn't want to risk using it, as my experience around here is that as soon as the light goes on, the coyotes go home. They bolt, they don't stick around. I clearly will need some good moonlight AND snow on the ground before I'll be able to shoot one with that gun. I'm hoping I can get one with it, I REALLY want to see what it can do, and if it's a little more pelt friendly than the 6mm. Stay tuned, hopefully one will come to the REAL close bait pile (100 yards according to my range finder) in the next week or so. Anyway, back to the story. I was hoping to get another alarm soon after returning to bed, but I got nothing. Around 2:05am, I got a single beep from one of the sensors. That sensor is mounted really high up on a fence post near the Western edge of my property and usually only gets deer as they come and go. I need to drop it down, but haven't gotten around to it. I dreamily thought "deer" and started to doze off when about 2 minutes later the DOUBLE beep triggered signaling something at the 170 yard pile. I jumped up, grabbed the vest and looked with the binoculars to see what it was. Was treated to the silhouette of a definite coyote. Ran to garage WITH THE B-Mag, and TRIED to get a shot at him, but there simply wasn't enough light, even at 140 yards. So I quickly switched to the 6mm. I thought I may have waited too long as he started heading East, away from the pile and into the brush. Fortunately, he came back! With him broadside at 160ish yards, I put the red dot on his chest and squeezed. After the recoil and smoke cleared, I could clearly see the "bite the thing that bit me" move, he spun and headed West while spinning. Again, only a very brief view of him, then...nothing. I couldn't see if he kept going, fell, nothing. Couldn't even get any eye shine. So I took my time, put on some warm stuff and boots, grabbed the 22 pistol and headed up with a head mounted flashlight. I was treated to a VERY healthy blood trail headed WNW, I stood there and followed the blood with my headlight...eyes shine at 30 yards!! Didn't seem to be blinking, but I put my ear muffs on and pulled the 22 just in case. Walked over to find him completely dead, no second shot required. From the exit wound it looks like a near perfect shot, perhaps a little further back than I'd hoped, but obviously deadly. So, he's a rather HEAVY adult male. I think he needs to be weighed, as he may exceed the biggest (40 lb. female) I've shot to date. He's heavy. Very thick body, husky, healthy male as you can kinda see in the pic. When I grabbed him to drag I realized he's definitely heavier than the average coyote, looks like another good pelt too. Anyone curious about pelt prices. I got $14 for the coyote pelts with holes, $26 for a TRAPPED pelt (no hole, not mine, friend of mine) and $36 for the head shot fox pelt. Not bad. Even though i split the money with my friend, it still pays for ammo. I only wish I had started selling them sooner! Here he is, #20 overall, #4 this year. Still loving the motion sensor/bait pile combo. No it isn't hunting, but sure is an effective kill method. Picture taken from the EXIT wound side. Using 6mm, 100 grain soft point bullets. Hand loaded for approx. 3,000 fps. Zhe Wiz

My nephew has a 204, excellent round. He's used it on MANY MANY woodchucks, and I think one small coyote. I'm curious to see what kind of exit wounds you get with it. I'm trying to find something that punches smaller holes than the 6mm does. I haven't eliminated the 204. 204 in an AR would be awesome for coyotes if there's a bullet out there that doesn't blow a huge exit wound. Zhe Wiz

Excellent! I love a dead coyote...or two. :-)

Well, it's not a coyote, but... Head shot at 170 yards with the 22-250. Fox fur is apparently more valuable anyway. Zhe Wiz

FWIW I emailed Moultrie to find out if Amazon is an authorized reseller and received a very clear response: "Yes Amazon is an authorized dealer. If you have any other questions or would like to place an order please call our Technical Support team and we will be happy to help you. (800) 653-3334." Just in case anyone cares. :-) Zhe Wiz

I'm talking about this page: http://www.moultriefeeders.com/faq/definitionofterms#authorizeddealer Which is a link it clicked on this page: http://www.moultriefeeders.com/faq/proofofpurchase

$145 shipped seems to be ballpark best price. Hard to tell who's authorized and who isn't since, when I checked yesterday at least, that page on the Moultrie web site generates an error. Anyway, I rarely worry about such things at this price level, with known manufacturers. Good to know Moultrie is picky though. Zhe Wiz

Amazon.com. $145 shipped 2nd day, it'll arrive Tuesday. Zhe Wiz

I *just* ordered one about an hour ago! I have the 880 and it seems to do a nice job. I like that it records sound along with video. The 880 is on one of my coyote bait piles, the 990i is going on another one. The coyotes aren't too keen on the bright red glow of the 880's flash. Once winter ends, I'll move the camera to the woods for deer tracking. Hope it's a good one! Does seem to get good reviews. Zhe Wiz