Desert Hunter

I was using Plan S (a stool) in low brush when I shot this double. The pair came in together and were shot within a few feet of the caller and the decoy located in the brush just on my left. Bang-swing-bang. Decoys work better in more open ground, but aren't necessary in heavy brush. In this case, the decoy helped draw them in and probably was responsible for the second kill.

Some coyote body language.

A coyote that stops and looks left and right, may be getting ready to bolt. A coyote that stops and keeps looking in one direction, is often looking for its hunting partner. You should be looking there too.

Like almost everyone else it seems, I started hunting coyotes with a hand call and a rifle. More recently, I set out looking to add to my rifleman's and spot-lighter's repertoire and found what I think is a great way to add to any hunter's bag of tricks and bag of game. Hunting with a shotgun in heavy cover adds to your territory too. Spots you used to drive right by become honey holes.

Not just puppies.

Don't make the mistake of thinking this kind of action just calls puppies. I get more than my share of smart, educated, old coyotes.

Here are a few coyotes that are well along in years judging by tooth wear. It gets hard to accurately estimate the ages of coyotes over 7 or 8 years old by tooth wear. Biologists can more accurately age predators by sectioning a pre-molar and counting the annual rings of cementum, similar to counting the rings of a tree.

Conclusions

The close range shotgun ambush is extremely well suited to hunting solo, near town, without camo or any other special gear, and in broad daylight. Little gear is needed and with no special precautions - just a hand call, shotgun, and a few shells.

The results from an all but perfect day - 13 coyotes and 1 bobcat on a single Saturday in February, a notoriously tough month.