Larry McMillin
With a bootheel
bobcat.
Now that's one thing
we don't have much
of in North
Missouri. 
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When I first began bow hunting for deer,
some 30 years ago, I thought I had discovered the ultimate challenge,
now with the equipment so advanced, seeing a bow hunter is nothing unusual.
The sport has flourished. For me, bow hunting has taken a
back seat to varmint hunting.
There is something about hunting the "hunter"
that fascinates me to no end. I have been left sitting, feeling like a
complete idiot many, many times by the coyotes. Each encounter drives
me harder to perfect my techniques, to become better.
I usually let the terrain dictate the
type of weapon I use. Ours is a
countryside that is mainly flat. After
the crops are harvested, I go on
early morning drives, spotting them,
sometimes a mile away. I usually pick the shots that are 400yds or closer,
however, my longest kill was 500. I plan to take that record on out
to 800. I shoot a Remington .243 for this type of shooting, and when
I am calling in an area that has open terrain. Coyotes will charge in
hard, then stop at the 200 yd range to make that dreaded downwind circle.
As far as caliber goes there is nothing wrong with the .22 mag for coyote.
I have an album full of coyotes that were taken with the .22 mag. Both
of these rifles are in the truck when I go out for a hunt. With
coyotes, you just never know. Good Luck and Good Hunting.
by: Larry McMillin
more larry mac photos
and stories
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I couldn't have asked for
any better conditions for calling up this one. I had a slight wind
in my face with a rather large drainage ditch just behind me. I
set up on the side of the levee and placed the speaker 100 feet away,
out in the field. This type of set up prevents them from circling
in downwind. He came charging in on a side that was obstructed by
brush. Before I could get the rifle raised, he had already figured
out that it wasn't a rabbit and did an “about face” and hit overdrive.
My first shot was through the brush and rolled him, but he was back up
and putting some space between us by the time I could reload. My second
shot, at 250 yards put him down permanently. The call was a high-pitched
cottontail rabbit by Johnny Stewart. This one is rather large and
has a beautiful fur and will definitely be added to my collection of mounts.
Larry McMillin
This kitty on the right gave me a run
for the money. The proper choice of weapons, and shot placement is important
in all hunting. I had to fall back on the 12 ga and #4 buckshot to finish
the job. |
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Hunt the Hunters
By: Allen "horntagger" Morris
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You may be a turkey hunter, quail hunter, deer hunter, rabbit hunter
or waterfowl hunter and even though only a few seasons may be still going.
This is not the time of year to sit in the house waiting for spring. While
you wait the hunters are hunting your game you work so hard to scout or
managed through out last year and this up and coming year.
You got it coyotes. Coyotes have came into every part of Missouri, from
the rural farm to crossing the road in front of your house in the city.
Though you may not see them often, coyotes and abundant since bounties
have been taken off. But when coyotes prey on livestock or your neighbor’s
house cat or even your favorite hunting dog. Coyotes can become a nuisance
that can cost you money, and even a threat to your
kids in some areas of the country. |
An adult coyote is smaller than a German shepherd dog with erect ears,
pointed muzzle and bushy tail. Coyotes are usually tan, gray, or reddish
brown with lighter underparts. They have long legs and are fast runners.
Coyotes are 35 to 45 inches in length and weigh between 20 and 35 pounds.
Coyotes communicate with a variety of barks, yips and howls, and sometimes
an entire pack will chime in.
Since February is the breeding season for coyotes and whelp four to
nine pups in an excavated den in late April or early May. I thought, I
might show you a few reasons to hunt coyotes before spring hits.
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WHY – HUNT THE HUNTERS
New study just done a few months ago found some interesting facts about
what the diet of coyote consist of. This survey of dead coyotes found
the following contents.
NUMBER OF COYOTES CONTENTS
20,000
Rabbits
16,000
Sheep or Goat
5,000
Cattle
4,000
Mice
4,000
Poultry
3,800
Quail or
Grouse
2,800
Squirrel
2,700
Deer
1,200
Insects
Few additional items found have on the coyotes dinner list where fish,
frogs, and ground hogs.
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While hunting in the fall I have witnessed several pairs of coyote working
around and in the direction of some turkeys going to roost. Most times
in Mother Nature animals do not attempt hunting another animal unless it
has been successful before. With 4,000 listed for poultry that could be
wild turkey or your favorite rooster.
Although coyotes in most areas feed on a wide variety of items as noted
in the list above, if you noticed the deer was also included. Furthermore,
in areas such as Texas, coyotes apparently kill many fawns during summer.
Studies employing removal of coyotes or radio-telemetry of whitetail fawns
have indicated that coyotes caused up to 80 percent of fawn mortality and
that fawn/doe ratios ran up to 40 percent higher in areas where coyotes,
and in some cases coyotes and bobcats, were removed.
If you are a rabbit hunter, I believe the numbers speak for themselves.
I wish you good luck on your next rabbit hunt.
CALLS AND WEAPONS
You have many different calls to choose from electronic calls to mouth
calls. If your are just getting started I will list a few for you.
Since rabbits seem to be number one on the list. Buying calls or tapes
that imitate a dying rabbit is a must for every new coyote hunter.
Also howling should be in the pocket of all coyote hunters. Coyotes
will sometimes come in to a howl when they didn't come to the squalls of
the dying rabbit calls. This may make a coyote come screaming in, ready
to fight after issuing a "challenge howl." Howler calls also works great
to stop a spooked coyote. Make a couple of yips or whines and they will
stop and look back. Giving the shooter one more chance for making his shot.
Electronic calls you can find distress tapes for rabbit at any good
sporting goods store. If you want to go all out you can buy a commercial
model or you can by a small tape player and use it.
Any caliber of high-powered rifle is good for hunting coyotes if you
are just getting started. But a few other caliber’s’ are used just for
coyote hunting in which some are just lightening fast when it comes to
shooting .243, .22-250, .25-06, or .22 magnum. You will have to decide
on what you want to take to the field.
For close range I have even heard of hunting them with 12ga shotguns.
One last method I have been a part of and can say it is one of the wildest
hunts I have ever been on is coyote hunting with hounds in Southern Missouri,
it gives a whole new meaning off to the races. This method of hunting is
as popular as fox hunting once was.
Recording dogs chasing coyotes can also be used in a tape player to
flush coyotes out of ditch areas and into open fields. Just be ready!
BEFORE SPRING
So before spring gets here, and the new baby rabbits, quail, turkey
or deer hit the ground running and the new coyote population has been added.
Consider on helping them out a little and hopefully they will have a better
chance and you will have a better season next fall.
Don’t forget to tan the hides or have a nice size coyote mounted for
your trophy room. A good coyote hunt may be the hunt of a lifetime and
a new season to break up that winter lull.
Hope to see you in the woods. Horntagger.
Pat Wheeler
Fin Fur & Feather
http://server38.hypermart.net/finfurfeather/main.htm |
Pat Wheeler guides coyote hunts in
Southern Iowa and North Missouri.
Predator hunting is becoming more and
more popular all across the country, there is something about matching
wits with another predator that is especially exciting.
Using calls, dogs. shotgun, rifle, pistol,
or bow, hunting predators lets us bring out the arsenal. |
Texas Deer Hunt
The deer are a lot smaller in Texas!
These photos are from an old friend who I hunted with in my younger
(much younger days) He is now a Missouri defector living in Texas.
Here is his explanation of this deer hunt.
I must say the property we were on would not allow any deer smaller
than a 10-pointer to be taken. We did however see a lot of deer,
just none we could take. I just got tired of watching all these coyotes
teasing me running across the Senderos, so I started taking them out.
Besides the coyotes, Javelina's, quail and other wildlife, the South Texas
brush country packs a lot of entertainment.
If you guys are ever down this way I know Dad and I could keep you
entertained with some sort of Hunting, Shooting or Fishing event!
Thanks again for the web page spot.
John Nixon
