So I headed out before daybreak and get all set up in my tree, kick back, get ready to relax and play some tunes - namely deer-antler concerto in A minor or something ...

Before I can even get sat down good though, I hear a noise off to my left, and glance over, and there's a coyote stalking *ME* without NOTHING else going on.

He was still about 40 yards out, so I winked at him, then sent him a 180 grain Thanksgiving breakfast - express mail. That's when I saw his buddy that was still hanging out behind the ridge choose discretion over valor and head out while 'yote #1 was still flouncing around on his side.

Well, since I'd been in my tree a grand total of 2 minutes *maybe* ... I figured I'd give things some time to settle down, and see what that electronic concerto brought home.

After waiting a few minutes, I turn it on, and LITERALLY within about 15 - 30 seconds, I hear another coyote start off with a couple barks/yelps.

(DISCLAIMER: I'd like to interject a disclaimer at this point .... as much as I like eating deer, I absolutely, lividly HATE coyotes.)

I grinned.

... And waited.

... and sure enough, here he comes, sniffing his way through the field and stalking in on me.

At about 150 yards out he peeks his head up through the high grass and brush, and I lob one out his way too.

This one was a real beauty, and as much a monster of a coyote as any I've seen around here.

So I brought him home with me to show the wife. He's in the freezer now for the taxidermist this weekend. My wife's upset that he's not a deer, but like I told her, if I get rid of enough of these she can have her deer, and turkey too.

Pics:

http://www.alaweb.com/~crowell/pics/coyote01.jpg

http://www.alaweb.com/~crowell/pics/coyote02.jpg

http://www.alaweb.com/~crowell/pics/coyote03.jpg


This is one where I'm introducing our Cairn Terrier to the Coyote.
http://www.alaweb.com/~crowell/pics/coyote04.jpg

Good job Ben!

And get this ...

I get back from my second trip into the woods this morning, and my wife shows me two different pregnancy tests she's taken this morning ...

both positive.

Heck, and we just got home from our first anniversary only a couple weeks ago too ...

I have a 5 year old son from a prior marriage, but if this pans out - looks like it will be my new wife and I's first child together.

Truly is Thanksgiving isn't?
Well done, all the way around.

Ben, you rate a standing ovation, great job! And yeah, I hate the friggin' things too.

Dan

Pres., TYHC

http://www.ThanksgivingAmongstThe.Yankees

Congratulations!

What details on the gun , 'ol son?
Congratulations!

That there rifle is one I had custom made a few years ago by a master gunsmith up in Stevensville, Montana named Steve Romans.

It's built on a Remington 700 action in .300 win mag that Steve polished and tuned up for me. The bolt cycles and feeds like wet glass.

Trigger is tuned down to 2.5 lbs. and extra-crisp.

Stock is something Steve was playing around with, and I told him I was cool with it, so we went with a thumbhole type wildcat stock. Steve made the stock to my measurements, drop, LoP, etc., so it fits like a glove.

Steve makes his own barrels too, and this one is a handmade custom-match 26" cryo'd stainless plus muzzle break, so 27.5" of overall steel. It's not quite a bull-barrel, but it's about maybe a 3/4 bull I'd say. You can sort of get a feel for how thick the barrel is from that coyote02.jpg picture above when you realize that's a .30" hole in the end.

I know some folks don't like muzzle breaks, and I respect that -- I don't have a break on my .416 either, but for this .300 it seems to fit in well and I like it a lot ... I've still got a headache from shooting it twice this morning without any earplugs on though.

Besides, I've already done enough damage to my ears practicing with 1911s for IDPA tourneys that really a few more shots aren't gonna hurt me either way.

This here rifle, with a good rest, will put 3 .300 mag rounds downfield that you can cover all 3 holes (at once) with a nickel at 200 yards.

I won't go into dollars, but I will say that I was doing Y2k programming work back in 1999 when I had the gun made, and I had a lot of "disposable income" that I wanted to treat myself nicely with.

That .300 in the pictures has lived up to every expectation I've ever wanted for one. The overall package - I'm not sure what it weighs, (I've never put it on the scales, or really cared to - but with that THICK 27.5" barrel, it's a heavy beast to lug around, I can assure you), but even with the biggest, meanest .300 mag rounds I've ever found to feed it, recoil is akin to a Ruger Mini 14 .223 roughly. And all the metrics aside, THAT is the single thing that everyone else that's ever shot it has noticed.

Congratulations are in order for both the yotes and the coming bundle of joy .

I see your dog is a Natural born killer LOL

Hope everything goes smoothly

Johnch

Conratulations on the soon to arrive hunting partner, brother!

Ahhh, not firing blanks anywhere's!

Good luck...2 is 4 times harder that 1.

Hehe, thanks all. I only see my son now about every other weekend and one night during the week every so often as I can, so in a lot of ways, this is going to be like having 1 at home, but I have no clue how things will be with Sean in the mix as well on occasion.

My wife and I have been talking a lot about having one of "our" own, both because we'd like a child together, and because she sees how rough it can be on me not to be able to share a lot of things with my son now, like his first lost-tooth, or Christmas eves, etc.

I got divorced when my son was 3, and it just tore me apart where my son was involved on a lot of levels.

Sean keeps asking me now when I'm gonna take him deer-hunting, and I told him next year when he's 6, but I may take him down in the woods with me this year a little later in the season.

He helped me sight in that Beretta CX4 Storm the other night. (He got to hunt for my brass, and he really enjoyed that I think.) Then I set up a target for that .300 at about 250 yds. and let him watch me plink it a couple times. He wants a BB gun, but I told him not until his 6th birthday if I think he's responsible enough.

He has some play guns now, and he doesn't really handle them well enough in my opinion. I won't even let him point one of those rubber-dart guns at another person.

Man-two pregnancy tests, must be twins.

(I'm actually hoping so...)

I wouldn't mind having 2 kids in the house full-time, and get all the diapers and bottle worries taken care of in one fell-swoop ...

But my wife isn't as enthusiastic about the prospect.

quote:

But my wife isn't as enthusiastic about the prospect.

Mine wasn't either when I made the same suggestion. Her OB was similarly unamused...something about multiplying the potential complications. So now we have 2, 28 months apart.

Good luck!

And back on track ...

I took that coyote down to the taxidermist this morning. He said I should get it back sometime around March/April.

Maybe I can find a bobcat before then. I want a bobcat (or at least a bobcat skin on my wall), but thusfar I haven't seen any wander by.

I'm a tad concerned what to do if I find one, because I generally just have my .300 with me when I'm deer hunting.

My rifle selection is: .416 Rigby, .300 Win Mag, and .40 SW (Beretta Storm), and .44 mag pistol ... so if I'm down for deer and a bobcat wanders by, I'm almost hesitant about shooting one.

I'm just not sure about using that .40 SW for deer - especially at 70+ yards sometimes? Which do you guys think would mess one up the least, but still provide coverage for anything I may run into?

Carry a few light loaded FMJ cartridges for the 300 in your shirt pocket. You might have enough warning if bob strolls by...something like a Barnes X/TSX wouldn't have too big of an exit hole either.

I would consider myself undergunned with a 40S&W at more than point blank range.

The 44 has the same problem as the 300, but would be less destructive I think...especially with softpoints (no HP!)

quote:

Reply

Lots of bobcats are mounted nicely reclining or some such, to cover the 300 mag exit hole.

Ben, if you tag it in the belly down low it won't do too much damage. I used to know some fox hunters that hit them there with a 243 or 270 and they had no problem selling the furs. derf

APB,

When I had that rifle made, Steve didn't have a website, but I found out he has one now.

Here's his site for anyone interested:

http://www.nwarms-idaho.com