I have been swamped with other stuff the past couple of weeks. The weather has been kind of wet too. Fortunately I got out to scout a really nice new area on Tuesday March 31. The landowner and her neighbors have been hearing the coyotes howling at night quite a bit recently. I got permission to hunt about 500 acres of private property. We found some sign, tracks and scat and located several good spots to set up for some stands. Hope to get back out there soon! I forgot my camera??
My brother in law hooked me up with two guys that are knid of new to coyote hunting. We went up to my lease this past Thursday (4/2/09). Did 3 stands . . .
The first stand was in this small meadow. I covered the down wind here . . .
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/Frog6man/hunts4209/100_2508.jpg)
and set up the other guy facing out the meadow here . . .
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/Frog6man/hunts4209/100_2510.jpg)
The Scorpion was out in front of him about 75 yards. I had to send the Scorpion back to Foxpro due to a problem with the lcd screen on the remote not long ago. The service was extremely quick and efficient from Foxpro by the way. This was the first time out with it since getting it back and the channel was set wrong. Oh, woe is me, I had to use mouth calls. Wind was from right to left in the second picture. I felt like we had a good setup. Did some howling and distress sounds. No response.
We moved to another location here . . .
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/Frog6man/hunts4209/100_2511.jpg)
Looking up a haul road with the wind from the right. The Scorpion and the feather decoy are up the road about 75 yards. Started with some howls on the wvhillbilly howler, then went to fawn distress on the e-caller. We saw some deer when we came into the area, we definitely have baby fawns dropped already, thus the fawn distress. There were coyote tracks in the road, but no success again.
Moved to this location . . .
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/Frog6man/hunts4209/100_2514.jpg)
The shooter could see down this haul road . . .
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/Frog6man/hunts4209/100_2515.jpg)
Lots of tracks and sign in this area. Still same result.
Then another hunting buddy called me and wanted to go out today (Saturday 4/4/09). Hey, I seldom turn down an oportunity to hunt with my buddies, gets me out of the recliner, don't you know!! Turned out to be beautiful day. About 32 degrees early this morning, but it was sunny and the wind was mild. We did four stands. This is getting kind of long so here are the photos . . .
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/Frog6man/hunts4209/100_2521.jpg)
My buddy after stand #1.
Our final stand was here . . .
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/Frog6man/hunts4209/100_2531.jpg)
Our mutual friend owns this farm. Here is the sign on his gate . . .
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/Frog6man/hunts4209/100_2537.jpg)
And here are the critters themselves . . .
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/Frog6man/hunts4209/100_2536.jpg)
Pretty cool! No worry, they seem to be quite friendly every time I have been out there!
So, seven stands in a couple of days. Called in lots of buzzards, crows, and hawks, but no coyotes?? It's just great getting out and that is reward enough for me. Maybe I'll get some in the next time?
Jim
Looks like some nice hunting ground Jim
I bet ya had a grand Ole time
Hang in there. It will happen!
Cool Jim. You Jason & I hit that same spot in pic #5 I think. :confused:
Wow, Glen!
Good memory. Same spot, same result???
Jim
Not allowed to hunt the woods here right now...... :confused:
Jim, looks like some good coyote country ya' got there. :highclap:
QuoteCalled in lots of buzzards, crows, and hawks, but no coyotes??
Sometimes nothing works no matter how hard we try. :madd: :argh:
Dang and ya even took the time to bring us back all those pictures :yoyo:
Lotta green stuff growing down there. I know your itching to bloody some of it up :eyebrownod:
Ooooh Al,
Thanks for the reminder, I forgot about that!
Yeah, Jim, I'll have to start mowing grass here pretty soon. :sad2:
Jim
Looks like you had fun Frogman! Bad day of hunting is still better ain't it! :yoyo:
Yotehntr,
Today was a beautiful day to be out. Won't be too many more as nice as today. It will soon get warmer and sweaty, the gnats, mosquitoes, ticks, and other bugs will become a nuisance, and the spring foliage will soon make it more difficult to see. I really enjoyed being out! I wish all you guys could have been with me, that's why I took lots of pictures!!
Jim
:biggrin: I thought so Jim.
:confused:
QuoteNot allowed to hunt the woods here right now......
Could you Please elaborate on this?? :shrug:
Thanks.
Only allowed to hunt the fields right now........in turkey season you can hunt the woods till 1PM then after turkey season fields only again till some other game animal comes open....like squirrel.
Stupid LAW but the law none the less....We asked the DNR once to define an open field and he simply said "NO trees" :nofgr:
Could it be because of the nesting season for turkeys, other birds & the fawns being dropped??
Woodchuck is still in, does that count???
Jim
Jim-- This is merely speculation on my part but I would venture a guess that since groundhogs are in year round then there really is no "season" as far as the game laws are concerned. Seasons have defined beginning & ending dates. Groundhogs never go out. Of course this is merely speculation on my part & I don't know how it's worded in your DNR booklet.
As you know Jim, We have both heard it from the DNR's mouth a groundhog is considered a non game species.
I do not like the laws anymore than anyone else and I feel we should be allowed to hunt coyotes in the woods....I wish they would change the laws to suit my opinion as I am not alone in feeling this way.
I also wish turkey season was all day and open right now but you wont see me hunting turkey until it is open. :wink:
We should be careful what we post as an example to our youth whom we sometimes forget are watching.
The regs. do have GRAY areas and I dont like how it is put together. But if you ask.........you can not hunt the woods right now.
I wish I knew how to get this changed...... :rolleye:
None the less We have all heard "ignorance of the law is no excuse" So ask your DNR buddies how do we change this one
And go to the meetings and fight for some clarity.....I have but it seems they wont budge... :shrug:
I picked these out of several pages in the regs. and pasted them.......
:confused: They can be confusing to say the least... :confused:
Something needs to be changed here......I just would not want someone to think its OK and get in trouble over it....
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh123/alscalls/Coyoteregs.jpg)
Thats some of the craziest stuff I heard. Cant coyote hunt in the woods. What the heck are they trying to protect here?
:shrug: We have been trying to figure that out for years...... :shrug:
I know this is a futile discussion. And I intend to follow the rules and regulations.
Jim
Kinda/sorta a pointless law around this spot.
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh145/pitw75/Forum%20Pics/forumpics001.jpg)
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh145/pitw75/Forum%20Pics/forumpics002.jpg)
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh145/pitw75/Forum%20Pics/forumpics003.jpg)
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh145/pitw75/Forum%20Pics/forumpics004.jpg)
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh145/pitw75/Forum%20Pics/forumpics005.jpg)
Barry, I thought you lived in Canada :confused:
Those pics kinda look like Jupiter :laf:
Quote from: FinsnFur on April 05, 2009, 08:11:09 PM
Those pics kinda look like Jupiter :laf:
When were you there :shck:
Woodchucks can only be hunted in open fields right now also. Near as I can tell, after much inquiry, this law goes back to when there was only small game to hunt, ie. squirrels, rabbits, coon, etc.. WV has always been paranoid about poaching, hence the reason for the open field law, no crossbow law, as well as a few others. I too asked a DNR officer what constitued a field. 100 acres, 10 acres, 1 acre, a log landing, pasture with a smattering of trees, no trees? He said it was pretty much the descretion of the officer. :rolleye: He said, as far as he was concerned, he was to uphold the law but would minister a little common sense. If he caught you in the woods with a shotgun or rifle, ya better have some critter calls on you and be wearing camo, otherwise ya git a ticket. Personally, I ain't takin' no chances as he just may forget our conversation or have been setting me up.
Now, on my own property, I tote an AR everytime I have the fourwheeler out and half the time I am walking.
Sorry fellas. Since I'm from Ohio I found this odd & was just wondering. I didn't mean to start anything negative on your thread Jim. :wink:
No problem Glen. It's a good thing that Al is keeping me straight on this stuff. I guess lots of states have some regulations that are frustrating to hunters.
I still had a great time and look forward to getting out again some this week! Maybe you and Bill and I could hook up for a few stands near Beverly?? Some really nice looking coyote hunting areas there!!
Jim
Turkey season starts in two weeks & my free time right now is scouting them. :yoyo: