Coyote Gets Dumped at 1860 Yards

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.

Happy Hunting!

Trapped Coyote Is Eaten By Mountain Lion

One 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:

Looks like the coyote literally ripped off its own leg . . . . maybe. Because as he approaches the body, my friend sees this:

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?

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 . . . .

Happy Hunting!

SHOT Show 2014: The #1 best new predator hunting gadget

I go to SHOT Show for the advancement of my primary business, Independence Training. 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. Lucky Duck, 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.

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.

If you're interested in purchasing one, look for them online - looks like the going price right now will be $90.00.


Happy Hunting!

Another 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:

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.  

Good job, Daniel!

Are you interested in attending a Coyote Clinic? Shoot me over an email and let me know!

Happy Hunting, and Happy New Year!

Western Whitetail article: Basic Gear for Precision Shooting

The 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: http://www.westernwhitetail-digital.com/westernwhitetail/winter_2013/?pg=46

You can also find an advertisement for my company, Independence Training, on page 19.

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! http://www.westernwhitetail.com/product/western-whitetail-magazine-digital-edition/


Happy Hunting . . . . and Merry Christmas!

Edge by Expedite becomes Lucky Duck

For those of you who have been following me for a while, you'll know that I am a huge fan of the Quiver Critter decoy, 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 Lucky Duck, 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 predator hunting line of products, and they've even expanded it to include some really useful and cost-effective tools.

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. ;-)

Happy Hunting . . . . and Merry Christmas!

Poke It First: Lessons from a deer hunter

The 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.

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.

Watch the video below, and then have nightmares about those creepy eyes.

Happy Hunting!

Coyote Chases Cougar

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.

Click on the image or link below to view the video.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c77_1384292819

Happy Hunting!

Western Whitetail article: Reticles

My 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: http://www.westernwhitetail-digital.com/westernwhitetail/fall_2013#pg56

You can also find an advertisement for my company, Independence Training, on page 27.

Happy Hunting!

Coyote Clinic Graduate Drops First Coyote

One of the Coyote Clinic Graduates shot me over a text message last week with this message and this picture:

"Finally got a coyote. 85 yards. Straight through the chest. Only problem is I'm supposed to be deer hunting."

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!

"Called him in. Was sitting for deer and a herd of cattle shows up. Decided to blow on the call a little."

Fantastic! He must have remembered what we teach in Coyote Clinic: where there are cattle, there are coyotes.

Excellent job, Brice!

Happy Hunting!