It was scary out there....

[growalot]

I do not know what has these coyotes going ...perhaps the moon or the deer coming in close to the dogs for protection but they again woke me in the middle of the night.Barking and howling and whining...they then got the boys growling and barking. They are either packed up or there were a lot of pups born this spring. they were right out behind the house...I wonder if I'll bother even hunting out there this fall.

I realized this morning I have not been seeing any rabbits or squirrel this year...You would know for I regular mentioned them last year.

[Lawdwaz]

Two different times I had coyotes DAMN close while sleeping. 

 

Many years ago in Colorado while elk hunting we had found a great camp site and set up shop.....wall tent and cook tent all perfect.  A couple nights the coyotes were easily within a couple hundred yards of camp and they would start howling.  Man it was tough to sleep those nights!

 

Another time just about 5 or so years ago my uncle had a cabin full of guys so my buddy Dave & I set up our cots in the barn.  Around 2am a pack of coyotes (all I know it was more than two!) started yippin' and yappin' right behind the barn.  I promise you they weren't 50-60 yards away.

 

I promise you, it was scary as all get out!  The S&W .45 1911 was cocked and locked EVEN with the barn doors closed. 

 

While reviewing this for posting I remembered another time.  I was bow hunting and had a coyote howling in the distance.  Strangely he was getting closer.........all of a sudden here comes a yearling (3 or 4pt IIRC) sneaking by me.  I doubled lunged him and saw him stumble off and tip over.  Seconds later here comes the yote' on the same trail the buck just came in on.  I had quickly knocked another arrow when I heard the footsteps getting closer.  Before I could even THINK about drawing the bow, I was busted. That dog was gone so fast I couldn't believe it.  He ran over by my truck and howled for what seemed like a couple minutes but in reality was probably only 20-30 seconds before going silent.

 

I climbed down and took a longer route to the truck, headed back to camp and grabbed a 870, enough ammo to fill the unplugged magazine tube  and a decent flashlight.  

 

The gutting process and dragging went without a hitch, getting BACK to the truck proved to be a little more complicated though.  I won't bore you with the story (that I'm sure I've told here before) or embarrass myself further with the details of how in the heck I could get turned around being only a couple hundred yards from the truck.  It was pitch black though and every noise I heard was a coyote stalking me and looking for a happy meal X 2.   

 

Like growie said, it is pretty wild when they are howling that close!