One of my funnier ones was when a friend and I were calling coyotes south of Magdalena, New Mexico. We hadn't had any luck in the first two sets, but we found a great perch for the third spot. We were high on a deep canyon wall. Shots across the canyon would be about 150 yards.

We were backed-in under a 3'sandstone overhang; just a big enough "cave" to sit upright, crosslegged in, and our rifle barrels not exposed. We were turned away from each other, him looking up-canyon, and me watching down-canyon.

He had called a number of times and we were straining to catch any movement. No action. My mind was wandering, when with no warning, he touched off a round. The noise scared the shit out of me and the shot concussion collapsed the sandstone overhang on top of us at the same instant.

We were gagging and coughing, and digging our way out. I was so mad I wanted to kill him, but we were laughing so hard we couldn't stand up.

We practically had to get naked to get all the dirt off of us.

He had seen movement and slowly raised his rifle without me noticing. It was a coyote moving away, back up the canyon, so he decided to take the shot quickly.

My nerves have never been the same.

Kensco - Good one! I can just see it. I suspect your hearing has never been the same either!

My gunsmith and I went out early one morning on a coyote/crow hunt which rapidly turned into a serious crow hunt as there were PLENTY of them and the coyotes didn't want to play with us.

After a bit we stopped to glass some countryside and one of us looked up at a power pole beside our truck. My gunsmith said, "I wonder if there's anything in there."

I said, "Let's see!" I pointed my rifle straight up at the center of the nest and pulled the trigger.

The answer was the nest contained 2 almost ready to fly young crows. My bullet blew them into a chunky soup which the south wind drifted over and down on top of my FORMER gunsmith. Took us several minutes to pick all the body parts off him. I thought it was funny as hell. He didn't.

This isn't a hunting experience per se, but interesting, none the less.

My dad and I and some friends were going antelope hunting in Wyoming and while in town before going out to set up camp, I purchased a nice hand carved varmint call.

We went out to the ranch and set up camp, and my dad says "let me see that call you bought". He blew on it a little and said, "Yeah that works pretty good".

We went inside the travel trailer we had set up and started to have lunch. A little while later I went out to get something out of the truck and sitting there not 3 feet from the trailer and looking at the door was a fox. He was sure trying to figure out where that rabbit got off to.

Another one that IS a hunting story that also happened in Wyoming. We were in the National Grasslands shooting prairie dogs and one evening I went out in the sage brush and tried to call in some coyotes. No coyotes showed up, but a big great horned owl just about took my hat off and hung around looking for that hurt rabbit. (Scared the hell out of me when that thing came zooming in, not a sound.)

R F

Sounds like if you hadn't closed the door that fox would have been inside having lunch with you.

RF - I know what you mean here. I've called several fox up close enough to shake hands with them. Shot some and got to where I just do it for the fun.

I had a hawk dive at me one day when I was calling for fox. Hard to say who was most surprised and frightened by the experience.
My brother called a badger up dang near on top of himself one day. Said it came in growling and expecting a fight.

Many years ago the head of maintenance at NM Highlands University was telling me of his one and ONLY varmint calling experience. He and a coworker went south of Las Vegas (the real one in NM)to call for coyotes and bobcats. They set up on the side of a canyon behind a big rock.

After a few minutes of calling Charlie lost several years of his life when a redtail hawk approached from behind and took the hat off of his head. Always make sure things aren't slightly exposed when calling something in to eat a meal.

LouisB

They say a pic is worth a 1000 words & I aint good with words=CJ
http://24.124.38.72/uploads/Clip40.mpg nice shot& on video
http://24.124.38.72/uploads/Clip6.mpg Blue tips
http://24.124.38.72/uploads/Clip18.mpg pd
http://24.124.38.72/uploads/Mov18.mpg pd & badger
http://24.124.38.72/uploads/Clip71.mpg got sum summersalt
http://24.124.38.72/uploads/Clip66.mpg you got the back one.you got the front
http://24.124.38.72/uploads/Clip35.mpg 123pd
http://24.124.38.72/uploads/Clip146.mpg lord have mercy pds
http://24.124.38.72/uploads/Clip150.mpg oh ya pds
http://24.124.38.72/uploads/Clip20.mpg fly left pd
http://24.124.38.72/uploads/Clip21.mpg fire
http://24.124.38.72/uploads/Clip2.mpg Gallon jug
http://24.124.38.72/uploads/Clip12.mpg spottertracer

[ 07-27-2002, 10:18: Message edited by: MachV ]

I was calling in Ohio on public land late one October when I was buzzed by a Redtail Hawk. He was looking for an easy meal. Since I hadn't seen a fox or 'yote to that point of time I knew my technique was good and it was only a matter of finding what I was after. Learning to call in a hard hunted area is tough, but since the Redtail came in I know I am doing it right!

Greg

[ 07-26-2002, 16:05: Message edited by: amosgreg ]