This is topic Back door coyote in forum Predator forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
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Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on May 19, 2026, 07:38 AM:
I don’t remember why, exactly that I was driving alone at night, along Walker Lake. There is a nice drive along the Walker river, I never fished it but I should have. Too busy trying to thin down the coyote population. It was in my Dodge so must have been 20 years ago, maybe. Come to think of it, I always wanted to fish Walker Lake too. Hardly ever see boats on that lake. It’s about twenty miles long, and the far side looks “birdy” in a coyote sense.
I’m driving along 95, cliff on the left and a drop off to the lake on the other when I catch a glimpse of a coyote sneaking around the bumper that was on the lake side. So, I pulled over at a convenient parking next to a bridge grabbed my 6mm which is usually most handy and snuck under the bridge where there was a long wash terminating into the lake below. There was several hundred yards to the shore and it was rocky, with decent boulders here and there.
I could ascertain that there were lots of places for a coyote to hide so I sat and waited, I had been there for what seemed like almost ten minutes, thinking, well, he couldn’t have made it all the way to the shore, he’s gotta be out there, maybe hiding? Maybe he heard me walking or something? I had just about decided to give it up and climb back up to the turnout and get on my way.
So just before I did, I turned around and looked behind me, in the direction of the cliff and there he was, not even twenty yards or so behind me, just standing there, and probably wondering what the hell I was doing? Then I saw that he had another path, and the reason for the bridge and completely out of sight. Okay, I’ll get him next time!
But, he must have just stood there patiently watching what I was doing, sitting there and watching the lake, curious and apparently not threatened at all, even though he wasn’t more than maybe 30-40 feet away. It’s funny how a coyote can watch humans when the don’t think they can be observed.
Okay, that’s all I got. But, if you get the chance, going north out of Hawthorne, it’s a nice drive up to Fallon/
LB 🐝
[ May 19, 2026, 07:58 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on May 19, 2026, 08:11 AM:
There was another time that I had stopped on a nice lookout along the Walker Lake. I had just bought a nice 11-47 Remington and it came with about 150 rounds of 12 gauge slugs.
So, there we were, with a view of the lake, looking north and I could see a whole passel of some kind of ducks the were rafting below out in a sort of a bay.
I got out that shotgun and the box of slugs, that I had no use for. I started using the shotgun like a mortar, butt on the ground at a 45 degree angle and launching those slugs into the flock of ducks. Just a guess, but there was at least a 100, maybe 150 or so? I was launching those slugs in a hugh arc and could observe the splash. A couple times, I might have come close as a couple feet of a duck, but they never got excited or anything. I can’t guess offhand, how much slugs, in dollars, that I wasted, but it was fun while it lasted. Might have been illegal, too? BFD!
LB 🐝
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on May 19, 2026, 09:32 AM:
Not to mention probably pretty hard on the shottie to have the butt of the stock on the ground. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
I gotta admit, though, while it sounds like fun, I would have loved to listen in on the conversation you would have had with Game & Fish if a Warden had pulled up. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
I'm sure that the statute of limitations has run out by now, but WOW !!!
Shooting from a parking area.
Using non-steel shot for ducks.
No duck stamp.
Out of season ???
Unplugged shottie. (Prove that it was)
Speeding while parked at a stop sign.
Y'all in a whole heap o' trouble, son.
Edit to add; Endangering low flying aircraft and possibly being 'the shooter on the grassy knoll'.
[ May 19, 2026, 09:38 AM: Message edited by: Kokopelli ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on May 19, 2026, 07:02 PM:
I have done a bunch of questionable stuff while pursuing coyotes, perhaps not legal, like using electronics when they were not approved and even hopping the border to retrieve a coyote shot transnationally, according to the wording of the imaginary warrant. And yes, I might have used an unplugged shotgun, once. I know a guy that accomplished his goal of killing 2 coyotes with one shot, when they were lined up just right.
LB 🐝
PS I used to think we were friends, Roop?
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on May 20, 2026, 07:04 AM:
Oh yeah, I can relate to a whole bunch of that stuff.
I once had a conversation with a warden about my unplugged shottie when hunting coyotes. He just assumed that all shotguns had to be plugged at all times. (They hate it when they're wrong )
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on May 20, 2026, 08:19 AM:
There is a spot along the Mojave river between Victorville and Barstow that is a fair spot for opening day doves. Right in the middle of the action, a supervisor with the CA Fish and Game drove up and decided to check the capacity of everyone’s shotgun with a homemade gadget made from what looked like a piece of garden hose. I forget how it worked but something it did meant that we were using a legal shotgun for migratory game birds. It was exactly like a turd in the punchbowl, everybody shuffled off and the asshole never even asked for hunting licenses, he just wanted to bust somebody for an unplugged shotgun. He didn’t catch anybody in violation, and the disappointment was obvious. He wasn’t just a worker Bee warden, he had fittings on his collar like a gold oak leaf which to me is a field grade Major. He kept limits from being achieved so I’m sure he was happy about that. That’s why I have been anti California Fish and Game for many years. They are definitely anti sportsman, in attitude. It’s been many years since I purchased a California hunting license, and I’ve lived here most of my life.
LB 🐝
Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on May 22, 2026, 01:41 PM:
2 hard core law breakers no wonder you don't like DNR
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on May 22, 2026, 04:01 PM:
Actually, I go out of my way to make sure that I'm in compliance with the Regs and consider 'most' Wardens to be valuable sources of information.
The Departments increasingly run by new-age Woke managers however, yeah, I got some issues.
Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on May 22, 2026, 04:21 PM:
they mostly office workers they don't know everything. Thats why I talk with my CO directly so we both clear on the question and the laws. After all he going to be one to give out the tickets. I can give you my CO number if you need it.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on May 22, 2026, 04:34 PM:
I hope you aren’t speaking about ME, TA? I haven’t even had a traffic ticket in 40years, and I beat that one 40 years ago. Never ever have been arrested. I don’t think it’s been just luck, I’m a law abiding citizen. I guess the worst complaint was the bitch next door that files a complaint about noise. She claimed Pinky’s chirping annoyed her. There we were, two animal control officers, the City attorney, a female to take notes. But the complainant did not show up for the hearing, so it was dismissed….and now even Pinky has an unblemished record.And guess what? He does not give a shit!
Law breaker, indeed! Edit: and HARD CORE? You are wrong!
LB 🐝
[ May 22, 2026, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on May 22, 2026, 05:15 PM:
Tim;
I'm pretty sure that number wouldn't do me much good down here in the desert.
Likewise...... never had a G&F citation. However I did once have an office wonk in Olympia tell me when I was contesting a warden's actions "Well, that's not in the Regs but you can be cited for it".
Never hunted that Gawd forsaken state again after that.
Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on May 22, 2026, 06:41 PM:
oh I've gotten few tickets but I had em coming, no complaint from me guy just doing his job even though gun case zipper was only down 4 inches and not enough to pull a gun out of case. Other ticket out west walking along a fence line. it was easier to walk on other side back to truck but the landowner just happens to hate hunters and the DNR didn't want to write me up but they had no choice with the landowner standing there. on another note, the CO gave me places I could hunt or remove coyotes for them so they could go do other things. I love those guys, putting me on many of ranches to hunt coyotes.
I had roughly half the Res. back in the day to hunt or call unmolested coyotes.
quote:
Tim;
I'm pretty sure that number wouldn't do me much good down here in the desert.
That number is for incase you get tired talking to Leonard and need to vent.
[ May 22, 2026, 06:42 PM: Message edited by: TA17Rem ]
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on May 23, 2026, 04:33 AM:
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
Can't imagine getting tired of talking to El Bee.
Maybe could even talk him into writing a book on the early days of calling and the finer points of night hunting.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on May 23, 2026, 04:17 PM:
You know, I had my extensive notes, filled up 1 1/2 legal pads, used to write while resting and gaining inspiration while in the field. Anyway, when I sold that truck, I forgot or overlooked my manuscript stashed behind a set of chains in a side compartment. It was all rough antidotes and extensive strolling down Memory Lane. Tim wouldn’t get anything out of it anyway, it was in The Kings english and punctuated. The last and final effort to leave a legacy, at least by my thinking at the present.
But yes, there were accounts of some never before tried tactics and methods. That’s the thing with today’s tenderfoot’s like Tim. Everything is handed to them, what to do and how to do it like how do you turn on the speaker, sit in front of the bush instead of behind the bush. (hear that Tim, quit sitting behind the bush!)
That and where to make a stand. Forget that numbnuts writer that keeps callin, or “referring” to a fucking stand as a SET! He does it every friggin’ time and it drives me nuts! For the last time, it’s called a STAND, not a set! Day or night, doesn’t matter, it’s still a coyote hunting stand! period!
That’s all I go right now, but it WILL BE ON THE TEST….Tim!
No, he’s sorta OK for a Minneesotan! He wouldn’t make the cut, Western conditions, Western rules, Western gear and no Lumberjack HiTop boots, and forget the sidearm! If you need a hand call, just one and put it in yer pocket, I don’t wanna see four calls on a store bought lanyard around yer neck and then snagging the rope in yer action after you miss the easy shot and hurry up chambering a second shot for a futile rushed shot at the tail of a 40MPH coyote. I know that you know what I mean!
So, enough of that. Imagine, calling me a lawbreaker! chump!
LB 🐝
Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on May 23, 2026, 06:12 PM:
Oh wow! your big meanie.
I got like 8 log books you can use for your book. ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
You forget Leonard no one called fox or coyotes in my area and I never met other callers till I attended your camp outs or hunted with Roade or Scott H. And when I did hunt with those two they never had to tell me where to sit or what sounds to play on a E-caller, I already knew all that. I learned on my own no one gets any credits. One thing I did learn from Scott was never take anything for granted and locate my coyotes.
From Roade I learned that you can call to coyotes many times before they decide if game is over and how to work a family group till they don't want to play. Thats what I learned from both otherwise I learned on my own.
I decided on what guns to use and what calibers no one had a influence on any of that as well, i walked my own path and still do.
I went to your campouts to B.S. with other guys while some went to learn what they could get out of them or show they was just as good as other guy. I never went to prove anything or teach.
I can adapt to most anywhere just takes time to adjust to a area which takes time and money if have to travel.
thats all for now so don't get me wound up. LOL
Posted by NVWalt (Member # 375) on May 24, 2026, 03:30 AM:
Leonard, That Walker river is full of German Browns and Rainbows. I have assisted a couple years doing shock surveys with the fish and game. Some really big Browns in there you wouldn't believe existed and it's hard to believe how many fish are really there in that river unless you saw and counted them. It is almost maddening KNOWING that right in front of me were LOTS of fish and you can't hook into one of them for Love nor Money.I also used to attend Star Parties there on the lake with the Vegas astronomers. Very dark skies and just right for my 12 inch scope to see faint fuzzies. The coyote hunting was always ok but I really had better places to hunt back then.
All great memories.
Posted by NVWalt (Member # 375) on May 24, 2026, 03:39 AM:
Back door ehhh. I was nosing around an old Indian camp area just above Lake Topaz right on the CalNev border when I heard a bunch of noise from a couple with kids walking up a trail I was on, so I disappeared in the brush to watch when I hear one yell out "There's a mountain lion". and sure enough I watched it get up from a tiny ledge above me and wonder off. I have no idea how long that cat watched me from that ledge but I'm sure he watched me nosing around and picking up crap or treasures til those people showed up making a racket and disturbed his nap.
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on May 24, 2026, 04:15 AM:
I once made a comment at a Trapping Convention that I've called in two Mountain Lions. A rough looking old geezer corrected me and said "You've called in two Mountain Lions that YOU KNOW OF".
Sobering thought !!!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on May 24, 2026, 12:12 PM:
Yeah, but. At night, you DO know how many lions you have called in. And another thing, their eyes really really shine, no mistaking. They don’t really come in like a bobcat, a lot more authority. Almost all my lions have been in Nevada. Saw one in the lower desert, actually it was on the 29 Palms Marine Corps reservation, and I was just off of it. I think 3 in Arizona, one in Utah and the rest in northern Nevada. Seen very fresh prints in Limerick canyon, a pair and probably missed then by 30 minutes, just getting daylight.
But, that’s not very many considering how much time I have spent in Nevada. My Dad got one not far from Rosebud canyon, actually it was called Cow Creek, I was on the light and he came in from more than a half mile out but I was never sure of what it was until he topped the last low hill in front of us. Other than topping that hill, he was just a set of eyes. Big surprise when I finally saw the body.At the shot, a heart shot, he leaped about at least 30 feet at a 45* angle and piled up. Talk about exciting!. We had been camped in the area scouting for a week. I was able to document a whole bunch of bobcat and came back about 3 months later and they were all on the same mountain as before. WE killed 5 in one night, based on a week’s worth of scouting, plus that lion. That’s one thing I learned about cats, unless they are mating, when they have a mountain, they stay put. If you miss them one month, chances are that you can go back one or two months later and he’s still there. Maybe a little more cautious, but with the right gear, you can still put his lights out at 300-400 yards, if he won’t come in. It’s interesting when playing around with sounds, and sure as hell, if you hit on the right one, they will come in, and in a hurry. Cats are weird, and easy with a little luck. And I’ve always been kinda lucky with cats.
LB 🐝
I once tracked a wounded cat for a mile in mountainous terrain. Turned out his “wound” was in the back paw. Desperate, I had to take asighting in shot to find out what the hell was wrong with my rifle. Turned out it was shooting about 10-12 inches to the right at 50 yards. The cat was watching me shoot at a friggin’ rock, at at that sighter, he jumped into a Palo Verde. So, I chambered another round and held 12 inches left of where he was crouched in the tree, He flopped straight down into the middle of that tree and it was like he was in the middle of a cage, surrounded by branches. Palo Verde have long sharp thorns! Believe me, I had a hell of a time getting him out of there! Then I discovered that he was shot in the back foot. Apparently he was stopping to lick his foot and that was why I was able to keep up with him over the top of three different hills. Cat’s a big babies, a coyote will out run you with a broken leg but a cat won’t go far before he will stop and treat his wound. Many times you will go after a cat and you are looking way out there 1 or 2 hundred yards, and he probably stopped and is hiding motionless, much closer than you expect.
Actually, that’s what happened. The cat let me walk on by and to a spot where he could have gone 3 different places, including straight up. So, giving up and deciding he finally got away, I turned around and had walked about 100 yards back the way I had come, and just lucky, I spotted him in the brush, standing still and letting me walk on past him. I think a lot of cats are missed by people assuming that cat scampered out of sight and over the next ridge. Sometimes, he’s right in front of you, while you are scanning way the hell out there! Also, remember, a cat will go up unless he is really bad hit. And, if the blood trail goes down, do not give up because he’s going to die. If he is able to climb, he will climb and your chances just went very low. If instead, he goes down, take your time because he’s hurt bad and he will let you bypass him if you are not careful.
LB 🐝
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