|
Author
|
Topic: Tango down!
|
Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
|
posted October 03, 2012 05:20 PM
In the spirit of all these great Navy SEAL books I've been reading, I've decided that this will be my new call phrase. Tango down! to denote a coyote (target) down. WTH, if Criner can scream FRIED CHICKEN!!! every time he drops one, I can scream something, too. LOL
Anyway, one of our first complaints this year involved two coyotes harassing a herd of about 40 first calf heifers living on a mile square pasture just outside the suburbs of Bum Fuck Egypt. The rancher caught me and told me he'd been seeing this pair - a big red dog and a smaller pale bitch - shadowing these young heifers as they were calving (September calving schedule) and grew concerned when he found a stillborn calf dead and partly consumed. The same morning he called me, he'd seen the bigger coyote observing the cattle from a hillside and couldn't account for the pale one until he ran it from a drainage where they were feeding with their calves.
We've made a couple trips up there and were always tripped up by wind or him driving through the middle of things doing a calf check. SO, Saturday night I called him and told him we'd be there at sunrise and to give us a half-hour to work before coming in. He was cool with that.
We set up on the south end of the section on either side of a locust tree that had grown up from a rock outcropping, where we had a commanding view of three different drainages that either joined just below us or passed to our left. The caller was about 40 feet below and thirty feet out front of where we sat.
with young mama cows to the right of me, I opted to begin with just lip squeaks and see how they would react. They were kinda jumpy and quickly rounded up the kids and bugged out to the north. So, I went on to a couple lone howls on the caller then into puppy distress.
About ten minutes in, a coyote barked from downwind of us to the southwest. The first barks were short - a pair of them. Moments later, the coyote challenge barked me. I let him commit with another challenge bark before switching the caller to aggressive male challenge to see how it would respond. It fired the coyote up and it began working its way in. At one point, it was as close as 250 yards in a drainage and I heard my gunner, Mark, move the safety on his AR. Then, the coyote's barks changed as it turned and began going back away.
Thinking I might have intimidated it, I switched to a young male challenge and that got the coyote to lock down and give me the red ass from about 400 yards. I told Mark I was going to scoot forward until I could get line of sight on the coyote with my 22-250 and see if I had a shot. He chose to bug out back the way we came and circle to the south to cut the coyote off if it tried to circle.
For most of fifteen minutes, I had that coyote going back and forth with my caller as I belly crawled and side scooted most of sixty yards to a point where, if I raised my head a little, I could see the coyote's white throat patch flash every time it raised its head to bark. It was far enough away that there was about three seconds between when it barked and when the sound got to me.
I finally could see the coyote through the grass on the hillside from where I lay prone and got my rifle up front and the pods down. I still had to shoot through some grass, but the coyote was looking toward me and then to its right and I was afraid to move any further forward. What I didn't know was that Mark had gone as far as he could before running out of cover and had been spotted. He was about 150 yards behind me and a hundred to my left and had the coyote in his scope. He would raise his head every few seconds and she would look at him and challenge bark. He knew that I was positioning and he kept her attention on him while I did.
Finally, after most of fifteen minutes of hearing her raise hell, I shouldered the Savage and guesstimated the range at 350 yards. She was standing looking straight at me, if not quartered a little to my left - a kill if you hit or totally miss kinda shot.
I took a deep breath and exhaled about half of it as I settled the crosshairs right above a spot between her eyes and she kicked her head back to bark again. She barked and I heard nothing until her chin was back down, just as I took the Accu up in my accutrigger and the gun fired.
There was a loud boom followed by a very satisfying WHACK as the coyote reared up on its hindlegs while it bit at its chest. Once down, I never saw it move again. Mark said that from his vantage point, he could hear the bullet hissing through the air like a rocket all the way across the valley until impact. I've heard that before and it's, well, so friggin' cool!
I was surprised to discover this mouthy coyote was female. About two years old. Fits the description of the offender, but only time will tell. We've rec'd several calls in the past three weeks about coyotes needing killed and this is number 11 taken in that time. An hour after this hunt, I rec'd a call from a guy near this same spot whose lost a couple calves, and last night, we were called on a 3-day old calf killed and eaten by two coyotes at a dairy operation near here. Kevin made it out there this morning and using what I'm teaching him, saw one, and called another and killed it near the dairy farm. That's 12 for us so far and we haven't even begun "hunting" yet.
--------------------
I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
Posts: 5440 | From: The gun-lovin', gun-friendly wild, wild west | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
TA17Rem
Hello, I'm the legendary Tim Anderson, Southern Minneesota Know it all
Member # 794
|
posted October 03, 2012 06:57 PM
Well done but hardly worth two topics on the same subject... ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
--------------------
What if I told you, the left wing and right wing both belong to same bird!
Posts: 5615 | From: S.D. | Registered: Jan 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted October 03, 2012 11:56 PM
maybe I can help?
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32363 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
the bearhunter
HM PROSTAFF & MIDWEST REGIONAL GURU VOTED MOST HANDSOME MINNESOTAN
Member # 3552
|
posted October 04, 2012 07:10 AM
good read.
t.a. WTF's up with that comment??.
Posts: 1049 | From: minnifornia | Registered: Jan 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
ursus21
2nd place, John Denver lookalike Contest
Member # 3556
|
posted October 04, 2012 09:44 AM
Good read, I enjoyed that. As for TA17Rem, did he post something? Ignoring him has become so second nature.
Posts: 780 | From: Montana | Registered: Jan 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted October 04, 2012 11:57 AM
Lance just made a double post, apparently hit the button before he was finished writing....a very common err. The first post only went a couple paragraphs, no photo and didn't even end with a complete sentence and a period. Very obviously, not what he intended, so he started over. I just deleted his first post so as not to further annoy Timmy.
Good hunting. El Bee
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32363 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
|
posted October 04, 2012 01:39 PM
I dunno, CDude;
`Tango Down` sounds too much like `Tandem Down` which would indicate a double. It may need work.
Definitely clearer, though than `Fried Chicken` which sounds like something one would say during a poker game with the guys after letting a loud, wet one rip, as in; Rippppp....Ahhhh, Granma's Beans. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif) Ripppppppp....Fried Chicken
--------------------
And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 8231 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
|
posted October 04, 2012 04:45 PM
I'm cool with it, Tim. I hafta give you the benefit of the doubt because it would take an awful lot of work to be a dick all the time. You're just linguistically efficient.
Great news. First snow of the year is supposed to creep into KS up around St Francis in the next day or two. First frost for us this weekend, a whole week or more earlier than the usual.
--------------------
I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
Posts: 5440 | From: The gun-lovin', gun-friendly wild, wild west | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
32below
Knows what it's all about
Member # 2075
|
posted October 04, 2012 05:44 PM
BFE? Didn't know ya was in the neighborhood, shoulda stopped by
Posts: 100 | From: SW Kansas | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted October 04, 2012 05:49 PM
Wouldn't it be a bit more authentic to say, Tango Delta if you want to get with the military jargon? Whatever, cool with me.
But, I watched Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid the other night. It always cracks me up; Strother Martin spits a wad and says, BINGO! I might say that?
Good hunting. Lima Bravo
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32363 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
|
posted October 04, 2012 07:19 PM
Hey Lynn! How ya doing?
Tango delta, huh? Doesn't have the ring of Tango down!
--------------------
I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
Posts: 5440 | From: The gun-lovin', gun-friendly wild, wild west | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
32below
Knows what it's all about
Member # 2075
|
posted October 06, 2012 05:30 AM
Mawwvelous! Got the gear out and polished up ready to go out this morning only to find it raining. But I am not about to complain about rain.
Posts: 100 | From: SW Kansas | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged
|
|
TA17Rem
Hello, I'm the legendary Tim Anderson, Southern Minneesota Know it all
Member # 794
|
posted October 06, 2012 08:15 AM
quote:
Wouldn't it be a bit more authentic to say, Tango Delta if you want to get with the military jargon? Whatever, cool with me.
Well if Lance is going to play army with the coyotes we might as well help him out with some of the lingo..
Broken Arrow; About to be over run by multiple coyotes.
Pisser leak; soiled your britches on a stand from the excitement or when a broken arrow took place..
100ft. Cordon; distance your shooter sits from you on stand or how far he walks up wind from you on way back to truck after a pisser leak..
Recall; Have to make another stand due to shooter missing the shot.
Bird in the wire: Coyote crossed fence line and is now on property you can shoot on...
CP; coyote pratrol
Delta charlie; dead coyote..
--------------------
What if I told you, the left wing and right wing both belong to same bird!
Posts: 5615 | From: S.D. | Registered: Jan 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted October 06, 2012 08:46 AM
You always exceed expectations, Tim.
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32363 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
TA17Rem
Hello, I'm the legendary Tim Anderson, Southern Minneesota Know it all
Member # 794
|
posted October 06, 2012 09:17 AM
Yep and its your fault..
--------------------
What if I told you, the left wing and right wing both belong to same bird!
Posts: 5615 | From: S.D. | Registered: Jan 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
|
posted October 06, 2012 05:23 PM
Actually, I'm playing Navy.
--------------------
I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
Posts: 5440 | From: The gun-lovin', gun-friendly wild, wild west | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
32below
Knows what it's all about
Member # 2075
|
posted October 06, 2012 07:10 PM
It was wet out there today so I was playing Navy as well, but the neighbors coyotes did want to play.
Posts: 100 | From: SW Kansas | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged
|
|
Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
|
posted October 06, 2012 07:19 PM
We're back out at sunrise tomorrow to the dairy farm I mentioned above. C what we can c. Supposed to be 30-degrees and calm.
--------------------
I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
Posts: 5440 | From: The gun-lovin', gun-friendly wild, wild west | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
32below
Knows what it's all about
Member # 2075
|
posted October 06, 2012 07:30 PM
Was gonna build fence tomorrow. Change of plans, barb wire can wait.
Posts: 100 | From: SW Kansas | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged
|
|
Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
|
posted October 07, 2012 10:48 AM
Tango delta!
Dairy farm was good, at least until the big red malke coming in busted us from a flank. He'll wait.
Went a coupla miles over to a guy who just brought in 200 head of new feeder calves and has ha coyotes rasing hell around them when they bawl all night for the past week. My gunner Mark saw two come out of downwind of our position and circle. All I saw were deer. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Next place was the gallery. Have finally figured out how to stalk this place to get into good hidey holes. Spotted one spotting us walking in. Let it walk. Sneaking in behind the berm we use for cover, jumped another one. Let it walk. Cleared the top and had two mousing at about a hundred and a half. Hurried into place and started calling. Had one come right in from another angle and Kevin and I double-tapped him. Went to coyote distress and a second one came in. I stopped him and shot through grass at about a hundred, rolling him. he went east, rioght through the gauntlet where I shot some more, Kevin took another shot and he ran across in front of Mark who then dumped him for good. LOL
Went a mile west along the same abandoned RR grade and set up on the sides of a steep embankment looking down in to the old railroad channel. Got two coming nin along the top ridge, about 2 minutes apart.
Target alpha through Target delta down. What is the phonetic term for "B"? I know Alpha, ? Chalrie, Delta, Echo, FoxTrot. My alphnumeric terms were Adam, Boy, Charls, David, Edward, Frank, George, Henry, Ida, John, King, Lincoln, Mary,Nora,etc.
--------------------
I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
Posts: 5440 | From: The gun-lovin', gun-friendly wild, wild west | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
CrossJ
SECOND PLACE: PAUL RYAN Look-a-like contest
Member # 884
|
posted October 07, 2012 06:52 PM
Bravo
--------------------
A friend will help you move. A good friend will help you move a body.
Posts: 1025 | From: on a water tower | Registered: Jul 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
