My ladder stand faced north and he'd be passing behind me so I spent more time scanning the fields to the north for deer. I didn't see any deer but I did see a lone coyote traveling west along the creek about 300 yards away. Jerry and I were keeping in contact with a set of Motorola 2-way radios I had just bought with an ear bud in our ear to minimize movement and stay silent. I told him I saw the coyote but he couldn't see it from his location.
Some time later I heard Jerry say into my ear over the radio that "he" just came out of the bush into the field. I asked back, "the buck?" And he said,"no. the coyote." I grabbed my binos and turnes as far as I could to my left to have a peek. The coyote was headed north along the ditch at the other side of the field. He had come out of the bush pretty close to where "our" buck had gone in the night before. He continued along the ditch until he was even with Jerry's blind and then cut right across the field headed straight at Jerry. The coyote stopped about half way across the field and looked back over his shoulder paced around a bit inevery direction and the sat down for a minute or two. I had turned around to kneel on the seat of my ladder stand and hopefully watch my little brother put an arrow through this coyote.
When the coyote got back up he headed straight north again towards the ditch hedge roe I was in. Once he reached the hedgerow I lost sight of him due to the tall brush...but that was okay because Jerry was keeping me posted on this dogs position over the radio ear bud. Jerry said I think he's going thru the ditch into your firld. I quickly turned back around and grabbed my Vortex and gave it a quick check to be sure it was good to go which it was. Then I heard Jerry say." No. he's staying on this side and headed your way." I had no shot as he would approch from almost directly behind my ladder stand so I hung my bow back up and quickly scrambled down the ladder. Once on the ground I grabbed my bow off the hook and shouldered it. I stood close to the tree and looked across the ditch through the one opening in the tall brush that I would be able to see the coyote through. All the while Jerry was in my ear keeping me up to date on the dog's location. He had a front row seat to the action from his blind.
I hear Jerry say, "He just passed the last tree in the ditch and is coming quickly." Then I hear, "Almost to you." I have my bow up and ready and I'm looking over the scope to watch for him. A second or two later he pops into the opening and in a split second I have him in the crosshairs just as he spots me too. He turned quickly to wheel off to his right but it was too late I had him in the crosshairs and pulled the trigger sending an arrow into his chest. I hear Jerry say excitedly,"NICE SHOT...YOU NAILED HIM!!"
The arrow went in his side and upwards and broke his back. His left side was quickly turning red with blood as he tried to pull himself across the field with his front paws. He only made it about 35 yards and layed down. Jerry and I met in the field and headed towards the coyote. We stopped a short distance away and noticed he was still alive. I had already reloaded so I got a little closer and put a finishing shot in him. I hate coyotes but even so I did not want this creature to lay there and suffer.
Jerry and I were pretty darn excited and bantered on and on and relived the excitement a few times over before taking some pics and then dragging it up to the house to show our uncle. Jerry thought this was the coyote I had told him about earlier and was surprised to find out it was a different one.
We didn't get a deer this weekend but it still was a great hunt. I've seen more coyote sign than ever around the farm this year and was glad to put this one in the dirt. I'll be out to thin them more with my rifle once deer season ends.
The coyote and the Vortex that snuffed him.
A look back from the stand at the bush where he came from. The coyote is the small whit speck to the right of the ladder.
A view from the downed coyote back to the stand.
