tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12388516122814236582024-03-13T07:21:19.184-07:00The Adventures of Rizzorizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-40769535814726585962015-02-27T11:41:00.004-07:002015-02-27T11:41:44.444-07:00Coyote Clinic graduates are still dropping fur!<br />
Aaron is my kind of hunter - the guy that understands that you won't kill anything from the couch. He gets out there and puts some more critters in the dirt, job well done!<br />
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******<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b>Made
it out again. Took the family camping knowing they won't crawl out of the
sleeping bags at 0500 leaving me an opportunity to hike away from camp and make
a racket with my calls. At sunrise up on the rim I learned another lesson
about knowing the terrain features of my field of fire. Within 2 minutes
of starting to call a coyote came over a depression just 15 feet in front of me
at a full run I didn't realize when I set up in the dark there was an avenue of
approach I couldn't see and certainly not one that close. I was primarily
concerned with vegetation I could blend in with. That was moving too
close to get the shotgun up let alone get a shot off. As soon as he
came up over the rise and saw me he changed his path about 30 degrees and ran
within 10 feet of me never breaking stride. The following morning
found me in Tonto Basin (large enough region, not concerned with OpSec)
and setting up three stands. At sunrise the first fox popped out 20 feet
in front of me and when I quit blowing the open reed call, popped back into
concealment. Again I switched to the closed reed bite call and raised the
shotgun and got him when he came back out. The second stand just got me
swooped at by a humming bird that wouldn't leave me alone. The third
stand of the morning brought the second fox in. I saw him between bushes
up the canyon moving in fast. He ran across a creek bank at 15 feet away
looking through me as I called. I stopped calling and raised as he
paused, when I hit him he rolled into the creek. He's set in the picture
that's not mange. </b></span><br />
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AAR<br />
Last time I wasted a couple of hides with an AR, this time my weapon of choice
was a $200 used shotgun that I rattle canned to blend and prevented the
ballistic damage. Lessons re-enforced from class is I need to start doing
this with someone else. Predators come in fast and I am not looking
forward to seeing what one may do if its too surprised when it comes in and
finds me and not a wounded rabbit. I'm still using mouth calls so when
they come in they are coming at me, even though the decoy is 5-15' in front of
me. When you are blowing a call you will not hear anything
approaching. Also learned to find your fur buyer ahead of time,
before you skin them in a manner the buyer doesn't want. Looks like I'm
getting these tanned for myself.<br />
<br />
Thanks Glen for a great program.</b></span><br />
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<b>Happy Hunting!</b><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQSDykiBmH8/SrfHTg3ZvUI/AAAAAAAAACk/u6V1PVMrZl8/s1600/Coyote_field_johnch1966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQSDykiBmH8/SrfHTg3ZvUI/AAAAAAAAACk/u6V1PVMrZl8/s1600/Coyote_field_johnch1966.jpg" height="161" width="200" /></a>rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-28960409283126477812014-12-24T09:49:00.003-07:002014-12-24T09:49:31.737-07:00Another Coyote Clinic drops fur: 4 foxes in, 2 down<h4>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Congratulations to Aaron for getting out there and putting his new knowledge to work! Here's his story:</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Finally
put it all together up between (A) and (B) and used a sceery open reed
call to do some hunting. At 4 min first fox came in and got
got. 2 min later next one came and got him, 2 min later 2 more came
in at my 5 o'clock but wouldn't commit. I couldn't draw a bead on them through
the trees and brush and if I quit calling they started to wander so I switched
to the sceery closed reed call and was able to two hand my
rifle. One actually came in and sniffed at the second one I had
dropped. I hit him and he rolled off an 18" ledge and bolted. I
tracked the blood trail for about a 1/4 mi but lost him. Lessons
learned everything you taught us was dead on: camo up, sit in front of a
tree/bush/ something to blend with, sit as ready to shoot as
possible. Next time I'll be shooting something smaller, the 5.56
wasted the hides. I saved the skulls and tails though and practiced
skinning the paws and faces for next time. I want to go with you
sometime, I just haven't had much time yet. <br />
<br />
Thanks for everything!</span></h4>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cJQfp5-Yox0/VJruhI7ldBI/AAAAAAAAAjI/a6q9I0knl_8/s1600/HallFoxes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cJQfp5-Yox0/VJruhI7ldBI/AAAAAAAAAjI/a6q9I0knl_8/s1600/HallFoxes.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<b>Happy Hunting!</b></h4>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQSDykiBmH8/SrfHTg3ZvUI/AAAAAAAAACk/u6V1PVMrZl8/s1600/Coyote_field_johnch1966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQSDykiBmH8/SrfHTg3ZvUI/AAAAAAAAACk/u6V1PVMrZl8/s1600/Coyote_field_johnch1966.jpg" height="161" width="200" /></a>rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-58754572181030598832014-12-16T10:54:00.001-07:002014-12-16T10:54:36.656-07:00Coyote Clinic Graduate dumps his first coyote!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Predator hunting season is in full swing and graduates of the Coyote Clinic are doing their part to put fur in the dirt! This graduate dumped his first coyote last week - here's his story:</div>
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<b>Coyote clinic success!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>My son and I went out last evening and we did 3 stands. At
the first stand, after 10 min of calling on the Foxpro we did not see anything,
so we hiked around for about 15 min and set up another stand.</b></div>
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<b>After only a few minutes a coyote came in and my son took 2
shots at it but they both missed. To his credit he was using our Mossberg 20
gauge pump, not the best hunting shotgun but we used what we had.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>We packed up and hiked another 20 min or so and set up
another stand. Again, after only a few minutes a coyote came in towards me.
This one did not get away.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>First time out coyote hunting, first coyote to come to my
stand, first coyote kill. I used the 20 gauge shotgun I have hand since I
was a kid.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>We had a blast!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Thanks Glen for all the great info at your clinic! </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GNVRbzRnW3U/VJBxGf4pmHI/AAAAAAAAAi4/qYVpUNivpz0/s1600/Jeff_Coyote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GNVRbzRnW3U/VJBxGf4pmHI/AAAAAAAAAi4/qYVpUNivpz0/s1600/Jeff_Coyote.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Congratulations, Jeff! Even better that you got to share the experience with your son.</span></h4>
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<b>Happy Hunting!</b></h4>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQSDykiBmH8/SrfHTg3ZvUI/AAAAAAAAACk/u6V1PVMrZl8/s1600/Coyote_field_johnch1966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQSDykiBmH8/SrfHTg3ZvUI/AAAAAAAAACk/u6V1PVMrZl8/s1600/Coyote_field_johnch1966.jpg" height="161" width="200" /></a>rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-83239237706461787822014-12-06T22:16:00.000-07:002014-12-06T22:16:42.872-07:005 Gray Foxes in 5 Minutes - VIDEO<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Back in September I had a helluva stand - you can read about it here: <a href="http://rizzoisready.blogspot.com/2014/09/5-gray-fox-in-5-minutes.html.">http://rizzoisready.blogspot.com/2014/09/5-gray-fox-in-5-minutes.html.</a></span></h4>
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I finally got enough of a break from my busy life to get the video edited and uploaded, so here it is!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/s2O8dbNE8uQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b>Happy Hunting!</b></h4>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQSDykiBmH8/SrfHTg3ZvUI/AAAAAAAAACk/u6V1PVMrZl8/s1600/Coyote_field_johnch1966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQSDykiBmH8/SrfHTg3ZvUI/AAAAAAAAACk/u6V1PVMrZl8/s1600/Coyote_field_johnch1966.jpg" height="161" width="200" /></a>rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-42969080260187230102014-11-14T12:58:00.000-07:002014-12-06T21:47:19.452-07:00Coyote Attack on Pet Dog in Backyard<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 16.5px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">This is some interesting footage - now you see why people in coyote country (that's just about everywhere, by the way) are often told to watch out for their pets, even in their own backyard. This dog appears to be on a chain, which may have saved its life, though I am no fan of dogs on chains.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">A homeowner's surveillance camera recorded this footage on November 6, 2014 in Burlington, Ontario.</span></div>
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<em style="background-color: #eeeeee; box-sizing: border-box;">"I didn’t have time to think," Jenn Reid told CHCH in Canada. "I ran out the door and I just ran for my dog to try to make it stop. My kids followed me out the door and they were screaming and crying. The dog, as soon as the coyote let go of her, ran back toward my kids and the dog was crying and yelping and covered in blood."</em></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Reid's dog required emergency surgery to survive multiple two-inch deep puncture wounds.</span></div>
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<b>Happy Hunting!</b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQSDykiBmH8/SrfHTg3ZvUI/AAAAAAAAACk/u6V1PVMrZl8/s1600/Coyote_field_johnch1966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQSDykiBmH8/SrfHTg3ZvUI/AAAAAAAAACk/u6V1PVMrZl8/s1600/Coyote_field_johnch1966.jpg" height="161" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div>
rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-74789090533471195812014-10-21T15:27:00.000-07:002014-10-21T15:27:10.216-07:00Afternoon Hunt with a Coyote Clinic student<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Yesterday I headed out for an afternoon hunt with one of the most recent Coyote Clinic graduates, Mike. Canyon hunting was our goal, to see if we could get a fox or a bobcat on stand. Our first stand had us both sitting high on the rocks overlooking a dry wash, and about 10 minutes into the stand a gray fox showed up. But he was acting a little odd - he would run to the edge of the rocks and look down at the caller and decoy, then he would run back up through the brush higher in the rocks and perch up on a large piece of granite, surveying the entire area. I was enjoying watching him run and bounce back and forth, which went on for about 5 minutes, all within shotgun distance. Finally on his third trip to the edge of the rocks, when he stopped to look down into the wash at the caller, he was less than 20 yards away and I dropped him with the 12 gauge. Mike had been able to see most of what was happening but wasn't sure if he could make a shot, as he mostly saw the fox either on the move or just his head as he'd peer over the edge. This type of behavior is not typical for foxes, as in my experience they either commit or they don't, and typically make that decision pretty quickly. The next fox that we had on stand would prove this point well.</div>
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<a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j137/rizzo1318/Fox1_10202014_zps0773b9dd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j137/rizzo1318/Fox1_10202014_zps0773b9dd.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Fox #1</span></div>
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Two more stands took us deeper into the canyon, but to no avail, so we headed back to the truck. At the very next stand Mike got a chance to see what true commitment looks like, or what I like to refer to as "coming in on a string". After jumping a rowdy group of javelina on our hike in, we setup in a small wash, with big hills all around us. Around the 5 minute mark, I heard Mike's rifle fire . . . . once . . . . twice . . . . three times. I didn't have much time to ponder whether that meant he missed or was shooting a triple, as a fox came busting through the brush to my left, about 25 yards away, headed straight for the caller at 100mph! I hit him with the shotgun, and after a few more minutes of calling but no more response, I signaled to Mike that we were done. What I found out then was what happened in the area that I couldn't see: the fox had come in with total commitment, as fast as he could run, and when he got close to the call Mike fired. The first shot didn't phase him and he continued in, so Mike fired again. That one changed his mind and as he headed away Mike took his third shot. It was a good lesson about zero distance and holdovers - with the type of predator hunting that I do here in AZ, most of my shots are well under 50 yards - in fact, a lot of them are under 50 feet! This makes a 100 yard zero and certain optics difficult to work with. But before Mike could beat himself up too much about it, the fox rounded the bush he had jumped behind and came back for more! That's when I saw him and helped him take a dirt nap. Another lesson learned about how just because there are shots fired, or even animals down, doesn't mean that the calling should stop.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Fox #2</span></div>
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Our last stand was a 'sundown stand', meaning that we just stayed there until the shooting light faded - unfortunately, no more critters showed up. All in all it was an enjoyable hunt with a great guy who is now hooked on predator hunting. We uncovered some new terrain, saw some beautiful AZ desert vistas, and put some fur in the dirt!</div>
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<b>Happy Hunting!</b></div>
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rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-29737545026340684052014-10-08T12:49:00.003-07:002014-10-08T12:49:52.091-07:00First Fox! Coyote Clinic student gets some fur in the dirt!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It hasn't even been a week after Coyote Clinic ended, and already a student has dropped their first fox. Here's the story in his words:</div>
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<i>No
luck on my first stand so I moved around a thick and rocky ridge. Remembering
the lesson about stand selection and E caller placement, I set up and started
calling. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The Fox
shot in like he was on crack in about 45 seconds. I then realized my view was
partially blocked by a bush and grass (amateur!) but he popped out on the other
side and I got him in the grass. 10 yard shot, super fast.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Awesome job on stand selection and calling, and good shooting, Devin!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-goLf90EIMjo/VDWQ9-rGzLI/AAAAAAAAAh4/0bN4mWUpkbc/s1600/FirstPredatorFox_Devin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-goLf90EIMjo/VDWQ9-rGzLI/AAAAAAAAAh4/0bN4mWUpkbc/s1600/FirstPredatorFox_Devin.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Happy Hunting!</b></div>
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<br />rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-57939009104645820722014-10-07T11:55:00.002-07:002014-10-07T11:57:19.440-07:00Another Successful Coyote Clinic!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Another Coyote Clinic is done and in the bag, with more hunters ready to get out there and put some fur in the dirt!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lots of different camo patterns to consider! AR500 coyote target provided by <a href="http://www.mrtargetonline.com/" target="_blank">Mr. Target.</a></span></div>
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For the field day this time around, we had several foxes to skin, and after a quick demonstration, these hunters jumped right in to get the job done!</div>
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Jason, one of the hunters at the Coyote Clinic, couldn't wait to get out there and do some calling, and shared this with me the very next day on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IndependenceTraining" target="_blank">Independence Training Facebook page</a>:</div>
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<i>I just wanted to give a quick shout out to Glen and thank both he and Independence Training for putting on Coyote Clinic this past weekend. I couldn't wait to get home and try using the principles taught in class right away. In fact, I didn't wait! On Monday evening (the day after training ended) I went out to the desert near where I live and used 6 of the principles I learned in class to call in a coyote in under 2 minutes. No joke! If you want quality training I definitely recommend you check these guys out. I couldn't be happier.</i></div>
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Excellent job, Jason! Next time, I expect you to drop the hammer and send me some pictures!</div>
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<b>Happy Hunting!</b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQSDykiBmH8/SrfHTg3ZvUI/AAAAAAAAACk/u6V1PVMrZl8/s1600/Coyote_field_johnch1966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQSDykiBmH8/SrfHTg3ZvUI/AAAAAAAAACk/u6V1PVMrZl8/s1600/Coyote_field_johnch1966.jpg" height="161" width="200" /></a></div>
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rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-32148034310763970612014-09-26T12:56:00.004-07:002014-09-26T12:56:58.177-07:005 Gray Fox in 5 MinutesIt's been awhile since I posted any predator pics, so here's a fun story from earlier this week.<br />
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I hiked back about a mile from the end of a dirt road in the middle of nowhere and into a canyon that looked like a good spot for some critters to be living in. It was a nice clear day, mid-80's, 1-3mph wind, around 1pm. I took my rifle instead of the shotgun because I was anticipating some longer shots, but when I got back there it was pretty thick. I setup my FoxPro and Quiver Critter decoy about 30m away in some tall grass where animals would be forced to expose themselves if they wanted to get closer, and started with some bird distress sounds.<br />
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About 3 mins in, fox #1 shows up and heads straight for the decoy - I shoot him about 3 feet from the decoy (red is fox, yellow is decoy and caller):<br />
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Less than a minute later, fox #2 shows up from the same location and runs to the decoy and attacks it - I shoot it off of the decoy (no bullet hole in the Quiver Critter - hooray!). Another minute and fox #3 creeps up behind me - I catch him from the corner of my eye and try to swing on him but he sees my head move and heads for the brush at 100mph. I got him in the scope but not lined up:<br />
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I switch to fox distress to try and bring back fox #3 (it's worked well in the past). Another minute and fox #4 (or #3?) suddenly pops up in front of the decoy - shot to the neck and he's down. Fast forward another minute, and here comes fox #5:<br />
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I got it all on GoPro (first time I've used it for hunting) so that video will get edited at some point. 5 foxes showed in 5 minutes, and 4 went down with 5 shots (shot fox #2 twice - turned out to not be needed but I didn't want him running off). I didn't have to move much for the shots - they were all killed within a 10ft radius, as evidence by my ejection pattern:<br />
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All in all, it was a helluva stand, and a great opportunity to test out my new SJK Carbine 2500 pack, which I had been hiking with that morning. It carries the carbine easily, as well as all of my other gear, which was nice considering that I had to carry 4 foxes a mile back to the truck, which was out of the canyon, through several washes, and brush busting through some nasty stuff.<br />
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The foxes with one of my favorite decoys, and survivor of a straight-up fox attack, the Quiver Critter from Lucky Duck.</div>
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Taking a break about halfway back to the truck - I only had one pelt packer, so all four foxes' feet are jammed in the carrier loops.<br />
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<b>Happy Hunting!</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-73870595456675104332014-08-27T12:32:00.003-07:002014-08-27T12:32:32.358-07:00Western Whitetail article: Silence is Golden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.net.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/08/Western-Whitetail-logo-400x85.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.net.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/08/Western-Whitetail-logo-400x85.png" height="85" width="400" /></a></div>
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The new issue of Western Whitetail is out (Early Season 2014), and my "Make The Shot" column in this issue takes a look at why using silencers/suppressors for hunting is a huge benefit to everyone, including those who don't like suppressors or don't own any (yet). You can read the article in full by <a href="http://independencetraining.com/blog_files/journal/earlyseason_2014_stilson.pdf" target="_blank">clicking here</a> or on the image of the first page below.<br />
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<a href="http://independencetraining.com/blog_files/journal/earlyseason_2014_stilson.pdf" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MzlcDZYn6ZI/U_4saqE-zoI/AAAAAAAAAis/gtrYl3_8CiQ/s1600/Silence.jpg" height="320" width="235" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span>Want more info about Western Whitetail magazine? <a href="http://www.westernwhitetail.com/" target="_blank">Visit their website.</a><br />
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Standard subscription rate is $12.99, but if you're interested in a FREE subscription to Western Whitetail, Independence Training can help you with that! Contact us to find out how to get it - <a href="http://www.independencetraining.com/contact-us/" target="_blank">Contact Info Here</a>.<br />
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<b>Happy (Silent) Hunting!</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-83017058904007968542014-08-10T19:21:00.001-07:002014-08-10T19:21:14.096-07:00An Oldie But A Goodie: Coyote takes Cat from backyard in Scottsdale, AZ in broad daylight<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's 4 years old, but interesting nonetheless. Just another
reason that coyotes need to be thinned out as much as possible, though it seems to be a fight we'll never win.</span></div>
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Video imbed wouldn't work for this one, so you'll have to click the link. The comments below the video are priceless: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXYOvqt48VE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXYOvqt48VE</a></div>
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rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-40567497198225935602014-07-30T12:37:00.002-07:002014-07-30T12:37:42.521-07:00Red Fox and Natural CamoI have been on a quest for a red fox for awhile now. I live in AZ, where red fox are only in a small portion of the state, and even there they are very uncommon and difficult to hunt. I travel to CO every year to see family, but it's always in the summer time, when red fox pelts would not be good for keeping. Only once have I been there during the winter, and in two days of calling all we called in were stinking coyotes! Last week I was in CO and spotted this red fox out in a field - too much of a summer coat to want to do anything about it, but in observing him (almost drove right past) I was interested in how well the natural camo of the fox helped to blend him in with his surroundings.<br />
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So often when I'm out hunting I wear neutral colors with some basic (usually mil surp) camo. Often I hear hunters talk about how important it is that you have the latest and greatest camo, but based on my experience (which is rather extensive) and plenty of opportunities to see critters like this red fox blending in very well with no Multicam, I guess I'd have to disagree.<br />
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<a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j137/rizzo1318/Camo/RedFoxNaturalCamo_zps55c88bd9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j137/rizzo1318/Camo/RedFoxNaturalCamo_zps55c88bd9.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Happy Hunting!</div>
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<br />rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-33202178830871945492014-07-24T13:35:00.003-07:002014-07-24T13:36:04.246-07:00Western Whitetail article: Basic Gear for Precision Shooting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.net.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/08/Western-Whitetail-logo-400x85.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.net.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/08/Western-Whitetail-logo-400x85.png" height="85" width="400" /></a></div>
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The new issue of Western Whitetail is out (Spring 2014), and my "Make The Shot" column in this issue takes a look at how to set yourself and your rifle up for success before and during the hunt. You can read the article in full by <a href="http://independencetraining.com/blog_files/journal/preseason_2014_stilson.pdf" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.<br />
<span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span>Want more info about Western Whitetail magazine? <a href="http://www.westernwhitetail.com/" target="_blank">Visit their website.</a><br />
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Standard subscription rate is $12.99, but if you're interested in a FREE subscription to Western Whitetail, go here and enter the code <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><b>GETWWFREE:</b> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.magzter.com/coupon/redeem">http://www.magzter.com/coupon/redeem</a></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
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Happy Hunting!<br />
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<br />rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-44029601018558532632014-06-06T18:34:00.002-07:002014-06-06T18:41:36.043-07:00Coyote Clinic 2014 - Sept 27/28<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://independencetraining.com/rizzoisready/clinic/Coyote_clinic_logo_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://independencetraining.com/rizzoisready/clinic/Coyote_clinic_logo_2014.jpg" height="297" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: tahoma, arial;"><b>Coyote Clinic is back for 2014!</b> September 27 and 28 in Prescott Valley, AZ, and this session will be better than ever! <b>Click on the image below for a larger version so that you can get all of the details. You can also view a PDF version of the details by <a href="http://independencetraining.com/rizzoisready/clinic/CoyoteClinic_2014.pdf" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: tahoma, arial;">*Youth discounts and Active military discounts are available.*</span><br />
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<a href="http://independencetraining.com/rizzoisready/clinic/IMAGE_CoyoteClinic_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://independencetraining.com/rizzoisready/clinic/IMAGE_CoyoteClinic_2014.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
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Don't wait until it's too late to enroll - Register Today by sending a message here: <a href="http://www.independencetraining.com/contact-us/]http://www.independencetraining.com/contact-us/">http://www.independencetraining.com/contact-us/]http://www.independencetraining.com/contact-us/</a></div>
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Coyote Clinic graduates have more success in the field! Check out just a few of their success stories and pictures: </div>
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Triple Fox - <a href="http://rizzoisready.blogspot.com/2013/01/first-fox-turns-into-triple-fox.html">http://rizzoisready.blogspot.com/2013/01/first-fox-turns-into-triple-fox.html</a></div>
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First Coyote - <a href="http://rizzoisready.blogspot.com/2013/12/another-coyote-clinic-student-bags.html">http://rizzoisready.blogspot.com/2013/12/another-coyote-clinic-student-bags.html</a></div>
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First Coyote - <a href="http://rizzoisready.blogspot.com/2013/11/coyote-clinic-graduate-drops-first.html">http://rizzoisready.blogspot.com/2013/11/coyote-clinic-graduate-drops-first.html</a></div>
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First Coyote - <a href="http://rizzoisready.blogspot.com/2013/10/coyote-clinic-graduate-dumps-his-first.html">http://rizzoisready.blogspot.com/2013/10/coyote-clinic-graduate-dumps-his-first.html</a></div>
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You can read a little about our last Coyote Clinic, back in Sept 2013: <a href="http://rizzoisready.blogspot.com/2013/10/coyote-clinic-2013-another-successful.html">http://rizzoisready.blogspot.com/2013/10/coyote-clinic-2013-another-successful.html</a></div>
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And the year before that in May 2012: <a href="http://rizzoisready.blogspot.com/2012/06/coyote-clinic-2012-round-2-success.html">http://rizzoisready.blogspot.com/2012/06/coyote-clinic-2012-round-2-success.html</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: tahoma, arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-52245337482564483832014-05-20T09:32:00.000-07:002014-05-20T09:32:17.055-07:00Coyote Gets Dumped at 1860 Yards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I just realized it's been a while since I posted on this blog (I've been busy with training), but here's something I wanted to share. While it may not be my style of hunting, since I like to get as close as possible, this type of shooting is impressive.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6q2ZMTZxHxo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Happy Hunting!</div>
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<br />rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-27168100961923880692014-02-26T12:05:00.000-07:002014-02-26T12:05:26.774-07:00Trapped Coyote Is Eaten By Mountain LionOne of my trapping friends shared these photos with me from last week. In an area where he has had good success trapping coyotes on private land to keep them out of livestock, he came upon this scene:<br />
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<a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j137/rizzo1318/ColbyTrapping/0216140851a_zps35ce1d0e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j137/rizzo1318/ColbyTrapping/0216140851a_zps35ce1d0e.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Looks like the coyote literally ripped off its own leg . . . . maybe. Because as he approaches the body, my friend sees this:<br />
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The coyote has been eaten, and judging by the tracks, it was a mountain lion! So did the coyote ripped its leg off, and THEN get eaten by the lion? Or was this just the scene of one helluva violent struggle?<br />
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A return to the site the following day shows that the lion came back to finish the job, and now the hunt is on for the lion . . . .<br />
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<a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j137/rizzo1318/ColbyTrapping/0217140818_zps901ceb0b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j137/rizzo1318/ColbyTrapping/0217140818_zps901ceb0b.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-69250292090826796242014-01-19T16:15:00.000-07:002014-01-19T16:16:12.977-07:00SHOT Show 2014: The #1 best new predator hunting gadgetI go to SHOT Show for the advancement of my primary business, <a href="http://www.independencetraining.com/" target="_blank">Independence Training</a>. But while I'm there, there's no reason not to check out all of the cool new predator hunting products! While the theme seems to be bigger speakers and louder calls for the e-caller market, the mouth call market pretty much stayed the same, and there are some really cool new predator hunting rifles from several different manufacturers, primarily in the AR variety. <a href="http://www.luckyduck.com/" target="_blank">Lucky Duck</a>, formerly Edge by Expedite, has some interesting new decoys that I'm looking forward to testing out, and MOJO is expanding their line of turkey decoys, which I'll be using this spring for my son's turkey hunt . . . . and maybe play with for predator hunting, too.<br />
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All that said, the coolest new predator hunting product that I saw, being a FoxPro user, was their new FOXGRIP. It's an AR style grip, made by CAA (not my favorite company), and it has a button that can be programmed to do any one function on your caller. This is a great idea because it puts it right under my thumb (sorry southpaws) and makes muting a caller or switching sounds, the two things I need to do most quickly, easy as pressing a button with my thumb and thus eliminating excess movement. <br />
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If you're interested in purchasing one, <a href="http://lmgtfy.com/?q=foxpro+foxgrip" target="_blank">look for them online</a> - looks like the going price right now will be $90.00.<br />
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Happy Hunting!<br />
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<br />rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-4374713953848467332013-12-30T19:09:00.000-07:002013-12-30T19:09:07.583-07:00Another Coyote Clinic Student Bags Their First Coyote!Some of my favorite emails to receive include a message with a picture of a dead predator and a smiling hunter. Daniel, a graduate of the most recent Coyote Clinic, had this to say about his photo:<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So the other day I headed out hunting with my sister-in-law
and we got this nice male at our second stand. It was her first time that
she came out with me and we got a yote. I cut back on most of the
mistakes that I learned I was making from your class and this is the result. I found that [one of the worst mistakes] I was making was sky lining
myself either by how I walked over a hill that I was going to call or even
sitting on top of the hill while calling. </span></i><br />
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Good job, Daniel!<br />
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Are you interested in attending a Coyote Clinic? <a href="http://www.independencetraining.com/contact-us/" target="_blank">Shoot me over an email</a> and let me know!<br />
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Happy Hunting, and Happy New Year!<br />
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<br />rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-64209286710662413852013-12-21T14:22:00.001-07:002013-12-21T14:27:48.504-07:00Western Whitetail article: Basic Gear for Precision ShootingThe new issue of Western Whitetail has been released (Winter 2013), and on Page 46 you'll find my column called "Make The Shot." In this issue I get into the basic gear that you'll need to get into precision shooting. You can read the article in full by clicking here: <span style="color: #0000ee;"><u>http://www.westernwhitetail-digital.com/westernwhitetail/winter_2013/?pg=46</u></span><br />
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You can also find an advertisement for my company, Independence Training, on page 19.<br />
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And right now, until Dec 31, 2013, Western Whitetail is giving away FREE subscriptions to their magazine. A subscription consists of 4 issues - Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter - plus access to back issues. Get yours now before the New Year comes and you have to pay for it! <a href="http://www.westernwhitetail.com/product/western-whitetail-magazine-digital-edition/">http://www.westernwhitetail.com/product/western-whitetail-magazine-digital-edition/</a><br />
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Happy Hunting . . . . and Merry Christmas!<br />
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<br />rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-23476406668409352482013-12-20T12:53:00.001-07:002013-12-21T14:22:29.871-07:00Edge by Expedite becomes Lucky Duck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For those of you who have been following me for a while, you'll know that I am a huge fan of the <a href="http://www.luckyduck.com/Quiver-Critter-with-Metal-Stake_p_29.html" target="_blank">Quiver Critter decoy</a>, formally made by Edge by Expedite, which admittedly is an odd name. Students in my Coyote Clinic have seen me where the Edge 'Predator' shirt, which is a really cool shirt design, and have seen me demo the Quiver Critter in the field. Now Edge by Expedite has changed their name, their image, and their packaging and become <a href="http://www.luckyduck.com/" target="_blank">Lucky Duck</a>, which I think is a much better name and goes back to their roots as a waterfowl decoy and call company. But they're still sticking with their <a href="http://www.luckyduck.com/predator.html" target="_blank">predator hunting line of products</a>, and they've even expanded it to include some really useful and cost-effective tools.</div>
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I recently received a care package from Lucky Duck that included their new catalog, as well as Quiver Critters in both the old and new packaging. On the old packaging, yours truly is shown in one photo with a coyote and another photo is of the first bobcat that I shot while using the Quiver Critter (click on the photo below to see a larger version). The new packaging doesn't have any photos on it, but now that I have the new Quiver Critter with the metal stake, I'll have to get some new pictures over to my friends at Lucky Duck so that we can change that. ;-)</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EalGFNPvuEA/UrSeQ_CJw4I/AAAAAAAAAgI/ux-YxBVfDsI/s1600/Edge_LuckyDuck_carepackage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EalGFNPvuEA/UrSeQ_CJw4I/AAAAAAAAAgI/ux-YxBVfDsI/s320/Edge_LuckyDuck_carepackage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Happy Hunting . . . . and Merry Christmas!</div>
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rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-16115413421995411062013-12-04T07:30:00.000-07:002013-12-04T07:30:00.883-07:00Poke It First: Lessons from a deer hunterThe video below is, in all seriousness, why I always poke things that I think are dead with a stick or gun barrel several times before I reach down to touch them, and even then I am cautious. I once reached down and grabbed a 'dead coyote' by the back legs, and when I started to pick him up, he 'came to' and just about gave me a heart attack. He was hit solid but wasn't totally dead - I let go, he ran about 10 feet and dropped dead.<br />
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On another occasion, one of my hunting partners had called in and shot a gray fox right on the edge of a canyon. At the end of the stand, my partner retrieved the gray fox and then held it up to show it to me just as it 'got the breath of life.' He yelled, jumped back (fox still in hand), realized that he was still holding the fox and then, in his words, "instinctively threw it over the cliff." We did not go down to retrieve that fox.<br />
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Watch the video below, and then have nightmares about those creepy eyes.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/q0uvh1yCCbA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br />rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-69704037798289063912013-11-29T16:00:00.000-07:002013-11-29T16:00:01.702-07:00Coyote Chases Cougar<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I have seen coyotes chase foxes, and bobcats chase coyotes, but I have never seen a coyote chase a cougar! What a sight this must have been. My guess is that the coyote had a serious territorial issue with that mountain lion, and was willing to die to defend it.</div>
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Click on the image or link below to view the video.</div>
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<a href="http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c77_1384292819" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j137/rizzo1318/Ads/cc_zps91f1a177.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c77_1384292819" target="_blank">http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c77_1384292819</a></div>
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rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-872857639765981192013-11-25T17:18:00.001-07:002013-11-25T17:18:21.081-07:00Western Whitetail article: ReticlesMy new article for Western Whitetail has been released for a while, I just forgot to post the link here. It is called "Reticles" and is all about - you guessed it - scope reticles. How to use mil-dots and standard duplex reticles for range and size estimation, and how to choose the correct reticle for your situation. You can read the article in full by clicking here: <a href="http://www.westernwhitetail-digital.com/westernwhitetail/summer_2013#pg54">http://www.westernwhitetail-digital.com/westernwhitetail/fall_2013#pg56</a><br />
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You can also find an advertisement for my company, Independence Training, on page 27.<br />
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Happy Hunting!rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-23598865347605720842013-11-14T16:30:00.000-07:002013-11-14T16:30:37.644-07:00Coyote Clinic Graduate Drops First CoyoteOne of the Coyote Clinic Graduates shot me over a text message last week with this message and this picture:<br />
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<i>"Finally got a coyote. 85 yards. Straight through the chest. Only problem is I'm supposed to be deer hunting."</i><br />
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<a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j137/rizzo1318/Coyote%20Clinic/Coyote_Brice2_zps2b5dfed7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j137/rizzo1318/Coyote%20Clinic/Coyote_Brice2_zps2b5dfed7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I shot him back a message asking for more details, and got this this response and another picture of the closeup shot in the chest - nice shot!</div>
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<i>"Called him in. Was sitting for deer and a herd of cattle shows up. Decided to blow on the call a little."</i></div>
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Fantastic! He must have remembered what we teach in Coyote Clinic: where there are cattle, there are coyotes.</div>
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Excellent job, Brice!</div>
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Happy Hunting!</div>
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<br />rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238851612281423658.post-82089730449535287792013-11-05T11:36:00.004-07:002013-11-05T11:36:44.743-07:00Coyotes Attack Man on Mower - are they getting bolder?Here's an interesting story where 4 coyotes attacked a man, seemingly unprovoked, while he was on his riding lawn mower: <a href="http://fox8.com/2013/11/01/residents-warned-of-pack-of-coyotes/">http://fox8.com/2013/11/01/residents-warned-of-pack-of-coyotes/</a>.<br />
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Coyote attacks on humans, especially those that are unrelated to rabies or starvation, are becoming more common, and the number of involved coyotes is also increasing. Whereas you used to hear about a single, or maybe a pair, of coyotes attacking a small child in a backyard or a playground, now there are attacks such as the one in Ohio (linked above) where 4 coyotes attacked a grown man on a lawnmower in broad daylight.<br />
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<a href="http://media.smithsonianmag.com/images/City-Slinkers-phenom-631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://media.smithsonianmag.com/images/City-Slinkers-phenom-631.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A coyote trots across an urban road while a child plays in her yard in the background.</span></div>
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In areas where coyotes are rapidly spreading, such as the midwest and the eastern states, there is little being done to stop them. Hunting is more difficult and less productive in the thicker forested areas and underbrush of states east of the Mississippi River, and in some cases the coyotes have been breeding with eastern wolves, making them larger and more aggressive. Combine all of that with a small prey population and more dense human populations and you have a potential problem.</div>
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<a href="http://blog.cleveland.com/nationworld_impact/2009/03/large_urban-coyotes-Nov-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://blog.cleveland.com/nationworld_impact/2009/03/large_urban-coyotes-Nov-08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Coyotes in a subdivision in Littleton, Colorado.</span></div>
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Even here in the western states coyote overpopulation is a problem. Damages to antelope and deer populations are easily seen and we certainly have our share of attacks, though with our large open spaces and greater prey populations, the attacks are rarely food motivated. My point to all of this is that the need for predator population control must go well beyond hunting, which accounts for a VERY small percentage of the overall control effort, and people have to get serious about self-protection as well as management of animal populations. We're stewards of this planet, after all, and we're human beings with opposable thumbs, for crying out loud - so we'd better start acting like it. You can cry for the animals if you'd like, but they won't stop eating you just because you care about them.</div>
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Happy Hunting!</div>
rizzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552547147824690289noreply@blogger.com0