Simple things

sleddogg · December 20, 2006, 05:53:12 PM

This is a pretty technical website. Here is a story about a hunt with no regard to moon phase, weather fronts, scouting, or locating. No E caller or howling.'Bout the only thing in this hunt that is of much concern to anyone is maybe wind direction. Still thought I'd drag it over from another sight to share.

Oldschool coyotemen like me might dig it

Just a very simple story 'bout a kid and his Dad. Keep in mind the kid did all the callin' himself, so I'm proud of him.

This is James.......... Sleddogg Jr

Little background on James............He is the youngest of my four children, age 10. Now my other kids have a deep appreciation for the outdoors being born and raised in the country, but James is the only one of the kids that expressed a desire to go hunting. James watched with interest when I skin coyotes and cats, never finding it "gross".

Year after year, he asked "Am I old enough to hunt yet Dad?"

I always thought a kid should start out with the basics, so since he was 5 we have spent a good amount of time walking the forest, and talking about the wildlife that lives here. James started sharpening his eye about age 7 with the classic Daisy Red Rider BB gun. Last year he graduated to a Ruger 10/22 LR. He has sent about 10 bricks of ammo downrange. Over the summer he has become quite a deadeye with my Ruger 10/22 mag and learned to shoot well off sticks in field positions.

We talked about shot placement, and he examined the dogs I shot this year with great interest. He practically grew up with a "Tweety" in his hands, and can give most good handcallers a run for their money.

James knows that he could not hunt until his Mom and myself agreed he was old enough. He got the "green light" from my ex wife Friday after a perfect progress report at school.

I live in a remote area of Western Massachusettes, and we have a small but very huntable population of coyotes, fox, and bobcats. You can walk out my backdoor and pretty much start callin' to critters imediately. So the plan was to put in as many good stands as we could, and hope to get a little luck. I haven't called the area yet this year, but the deer hunters just got done beating these woods, so I said a little prayer to the coyote gods, and off we went.

James did all the calling himself, and we would call a stand about 15 minutes, then hike a half mile or so until we found another open spot with good shooting downwind. I lost count of the stands we put in, but we packed lunch and were just having a great time just being out there together! After eating we crossed a gasline into an area I've had some call-ins over the years. It was about 2 o'clock, and I figure we had time for at least 3 or four more stands before we had to start back. We set up in a somewhat open valley with a favorable cross wind. James did his thing on the Tweety, and we could hear leaves rustling in under 30 seconds. James pointed to the sound, and I whispered "get ready". Sure enough about 75 yards out I caught glimpse of a coyote. He was stopped looking for the sound he had just heard. I gave a soft lipsqueek, and the coyote started to wrap downwind, and to get there he had to cross some pretty open forest. I was watching the coyote, and he paused. The Ruger 22 Mag cracked, and the coyote kicked in the afterburners, and was gone in an instant.

James eyes were wider than I've ever seen them, but he was very calm. "Think I got him Dad" So we went down to check it out, and I estimate the coyote was 40 yards from us. Walking to where the coyote was standing, we found this sad sign.

James was not upset with his shot, and reasoned "he was a little excited". We followed the coyote up anyway looking for blood or anything else, as this sapling was only a few feet in front of the dog as far as I could tell. Always pays to be sure.

We put in a couple more fruitless stand, and packed it in. It was time to drop him at his Moms. We talked about skateboards, dirt bikes, and of course huntin' all the way down the mountain.

We arrived at his Moms, and before he shut the door he said, "We'll try for him again next week Dad", and gave me his trademark wink. "Love you, bye".

I've been callin' for a bit over 30 years, and have had some good hunts, and lots of fun............

But this was my best hunt ever.

THO Game Calls · December 20, 2006, 06:10:50 PM

Great story of a great hunt. You're doing him right. You should be darn pround of him and you,

Al
THO Game Calls
www.thogamecalls.com

canine · December 20, 2006, 06:44:54 PM

Excellent read Sleddog!! You gotta hunting partner for life now.. That is cool he's doin his own calling, Poor coyotes are in trouble for years to come

JD

CCP · December 20, 2006, 07:38:11 PM

Good story sleddogg sounds like you got a partner far life!!! Give him an atta boy from me

FinsnFur · December 20, 2006, 07:49:01 PM

Blooper pic!!

...nothing's sacred.

Just Kidding

Nice read Sleddog.
Were not too technical round here.....not too technical to enjoy a good write up like that anyway.

You guys done good.
Anyone can have a kid, it takes a man to be a Dad. Kudos to you my friend, and tell James congrats on formulating the perfect recipe for pride.

Hawks Feather · December 20, 2006, 09:07:23 PM

That is a great story. Looks like you have a hunter partner.

Jerry

nailbender · December 20, 2006, 09:21:04 PM

Sounds like a wonderful day.

Hope you enjoy many more with your son. They grow up so fast.

KySongDog · December 20, 2006, 10:41:55 PM

A great story. Enjoy him all you can now. They do grow up so very fast.

Semp

keekee · December 21, 2006, 12:01:03 AM

Great story! Great read! Congrads on a day well spent!

Kids mean everything to this sport!

Thanks for sharing!

Brent

Jeb · December 21, 2006, 12:37:32 AM

Man what a story........thats what its all about there folks ! Thanks for sharing this with us all

Jeb

paint · December 21, 2006, 01:43:13 AM

very good story

vvarmitr · December 21, 2006, 10:58:52 AM

It was going along so great then the pix of the Criner Tree (Criner Tree :roflmao:) I felt my heart sink.

Man they could make a movie from that story! Maybe you guys & Rich could get together & call it James & His Sleddog Go Hunting

You are surely blessed there Brian!

fuzz624 · December 21, 2006, 11:51:08 AM

Thanks for shareing Sleddog.That was a great story.That is what this sport is all about.Sounds like the boy handled himself pretty well.Sounds like you have done a great job raising that one.Tell him congrats on his first call in.