Man what a night

[slagmaker]

Man! Last night was interesting to say the least...

I did learn something . I may have a light force but the battery dies on those things to if ya dont charge them.

Heres how last nights hunt went.

Me and my cousin head out to a little farm I have permission to hunt. Weather, low 40's, wind dead calm. over cast skyes.

Started calling after setting up. First thing to come in were cattle. Kind of stood around and watched us. They got real close and we were afraid we were gona have to give up and leave cause there was no way you would have a clear shot with 30 head of cattle walking around you. Finally my cousin moved and his jacket made a nosie and the cattle took off. We sat for a littel bit scanning and sofftly calling on a rabbit in disttress and bang there they were 2 littel red glowing eyes kind of blinking on and off not comming any closer but not leaving either. My cousin sets up for the shot and yep thats what it was a yote about 150 yards away. Perfect distance for his savage 22-250. I keep the light on him and next thing I hear is a soft cuss from my cousin. Trying to zoom in a little he turns the focusing ring instead of the power ring and now everthing is so out of focus and he cant see the yote anymore. I tell him to take the light so I can take up my 250. As we were moving around a little to trade off the light I see the second set of eyes about 20 yards to the right of the first set.  Now the heart rate is really pumping. But sense I didnt charge the light force guess what is starting to happen now. Yep loosing power fast. So I grab up my 250 and as I am bringing the cross hairs to bear on the first yote we saw. I exhale through my mouth and BANG... I fog up my optics. So hear I am trying to fan my optics to get them clear got the light force turned off trying to get it to give me one good last blast of light for a good shot and the yotes slipped off. With the direction the were going I do belive they were headed around to circle us but with me being the everforgetfull one that I am we have no reliable way to see them. We decided to break stand and quietly slip away as well. Making plans to go back to the same area in a week or 2 and try again.

All in all it was a good hunt. Called in a double even if I didnt get to burn powder at them. Hey I am learning and having fun at the same time. Not only that I know I am using the calls right and getting my stands set up better and better with each trip I make.

But I have learned two very important things!!

Next time I double check the charge on the lights before we go. Dont breath on your optics when its cold outside.

[Greenside]

slagmaker

What type or brand scope was your friend using?

[slagmaker]

You know what....... I think my cousin was using a Bushnell   I really ain't sure. BUT I do know I don't like the way the focusing ring is set up. It has an adjustable parallax on the front of the scope, adjustable form infinity to 50 yards I think. I need to get him out and help him get some range time in. He is used to shooting off a bench or bags and has never really tried to shoot from off positions ie. shooting off sticks or a bi pod, leaning against a tree and such. He really needs some time to get accustomed to his equipment so he can make adjustments without having to look for what hes trying to do.

I just ordered a wall charger for my light force so I will never have the problem with a low battery again. As long as I remember to put it on charge as soon as I get back from a hunt .

[nailbender]

 Live and learn huh Slag'??  Sometimes murphys law prevails!  Wish we could use lights here, sounds like fun.

[slagmaker]

Well I tell you what, the instant I saw those eyes glowing back at me my heart rate went up to about 80gazzillion beats a minute. Yeah night hunting is a rush.

[Jrbhunter]

Radio Shack will sell you another 12v 7.2ah battery for about $22.  I rotate in and out between two batteries but still have issues from time to time... especially when stuck on long stands with slow working coyotes.

Last night was great for us too... shot about 18 minutes of coyote footage during 11 hours of hunting.  (Yes thats a good thing when calling at night here).   One particular setup was awesome, producing a hard charging coyote at 300 yards that didn't stop until 40 yards away.  Then he turned- ran- and took a 55 grainer to the skull running full speed around 175 yards out.  Damn good video... he flipped and flopped for 30 yards before coming to a tail wringing stop.  Another was quite the opposite, a young dog sitting for 3-5 minutes in different spots before standing in front of the caller @ 80 yards.  We had a couple others that were standard procedure, but good body language and behavior caught on tape before the shot.

   My cameraman is off tonight but we're hoping to follow up tomorrow night with more great stuff since this moon/weather has broken for the better.  I hope we can resolve some recent "accuracy issues"... if so we could kill half a dozen on nights like this.  I'm heading out now to do some solo stands on problematic packs- grunt work, low success but better than sitting around!

[slagmaker]

Well I went and got me a battery form the rat shack. One of those jumper batteries. it has somewhere in the neighborhood of 600 CCA so it should last me a good long time in the field. Now I can use both a hand held light and my scope light. Gona make up a BPS type thingy so I can tone down the power on my other light.

Wish I had the ability to shoot night videos. Last night would have been excellent for that.

[FinsnFur]

Sounds like my kinda luck. 
Quietly slipping outta there, was the best thing you done 

[slagmaker]

I have called yotes in several times from that location. But for one reason or another I have never been able to get a shot off, usually my fault. Cant wait to go back and try it again. The next time I will have my cousin a lot more prepaired and I will have fully charged batteries.

Yeah whenever I leave my stand I try to be just a quiet as when I come in. Don't want them associating the sounds with danger. Only thing I want one there mind is a free meal or territory disputes.

[CCP]

 
Sounds like one of my hunts. Seems like if it can go wrong it will at least you got to see some coyotes.

Hope things go more smoothly next time keep at it...

I exhale through my mouth and BANG... I fog up my optics.

Funny you mention that, same thing happened today to Paint.

[slagmaker]

Yeah. speaking of fogging optics. What do you all suggest to help cut that down or eliminate it?

[Smith]

Sounds like some of my adventures as well . As far as the fog on optics, there are a few products out that work o.k. I wear glasses so I have tried a few, cant think of the stuff I use off hand , its a green spray and you spay it on and wipe off, repeat 3 or 4 times a day, works good...I will try to get back to on what its called....

[fuzz624]

      Weather you guys got anything or not,it sounds like you had a blast.Kinda makes me want to go out and buy a lightforce.

[FinsnFur]

I've told you guys all along your full of hot air, nobody listens to me   

[slagmaker]

To continue this story...

I just got off the phone with my cousin David. He was so impressed with the lightforce he is ordering one first thing in the morning and paying the extra for next day so he will have it for Christmas. That weekend is when we plan to go out again. He has already set up for me and him to meet at a friends place so he can brush up on his marksmanship and get more familear with his equipment.

That night was the first night he had actually been with me when I called a yote. HE has got the bug :shck:

He is making up flyers to put up in a vets office. Something like "Has your pet been attacked by Coyotes? If so give me a call"

Hes got it bad!!

[FinsnFur]

That's the way to do it. 
More flyers...more flyers

[slagmaker]

Yeah he has two vets in his area that tend to sheep, horses and stuff like that. He figured let them have his info. If they know of someone or if someone asks, that has a yote or coy dog problem he would be willing to help out.