Trip to the Sweetwater Mtns with Tide my Black Lab


Tide at 2 years old (Sired by Bart).

Tuesday I headed off for a few days in the Sweetwater Mtns near the border between California and Nevada. I took Tide on this trip, instead of Bart, to get him used to coyote hunting and fetching trout. By noon we arrived at a small creek near Red Lake and caught 4 brooks and one rainbow. Tide kept trying to get ahead of me and that would have spooked the fish so I put him on the short leash tied to my belt. Tide didn’t want to fetch the fish even when I lifted them out on the bank and would jump back when they flopped in the grass. Bart will fetch them out of the water when I bring them up to the surface. Tide needs more training.

We continued on up to the Sweetwaters and I stopped in the Star Camp Site (beautiful campsite in the white bark pines), but the biting flies and mosquitoes were very bad. While fighting the flies, I got out the 17 HMR and shot 3 starlings for Tide to fetch. The place where the birds were was a bog and tide turned into a mud dog fetching the birds. He was a little slow on the first one, and dropped it a couple of times on the way end, but finally delivered it to hand. No fancy finish at heel by that time. The 17 HMR really messes up a starling sized bird.

Moved to a big sandy flat to make my Stop-n-Drop camp to get away from the bugs. When we got there (about 9000’ and not a tree for a mile), I had Tide do about 10 long bumper fetches to tire him out a bit. Just about sunset we went coyote calling over the horizon about 400 yards away from camp. I sat Tide beside me on the doubled up short leash and got out the Long Valley Call. I gave out a series of hurt jackrabbit. After about the third series Bart started barking and a coyote had stopped on my left at about 75 yards. Tide was tugging at the leash and the coyote was just standing there. By the time I could get the rifle into position, the coyote had started running around to get down wind. Tide was whining and barking trying to get free. Tide sure was excited. Well, the coyote stopped at about 150 yards and I missed. No excuses, I just plain missed! A brown jet was flying down the hill through the sagebrush and there was no way could have hit it running that fast with Tide pulling on me. It was exciting for both Tide and me.

We went back to camp in the sand and I popped the tab on a cold can of beer and was just taking it easy. The sleeping bag and bed was all out and I was just relaxing. Well, Tide saw 4 wild horses at about 400 yards and took off like a bullet toward them barking and growling. He left a dust contrail and I could hardly see him through the dust cloud. I whistled at him and was able to call him back after he had covered about half the distance to the wild horses. He came back slowly and the horses just stopped, but did not run off. When Tide got back, I put him on my belt leash. Then the stallion started toward us and the 3 other horsed followed a bit behind. We just sat there and at about 100 yards, the stallion started zigzagging and whining and coming toward us. I don’t know about horses, but that sucker was threatening us and trying to run us out of his territory. I reached down and got my Ruger 101 357 Mag that I keep at bedside and took it out of the holster and the stallion is still getting closer. Tide is barking and growling at him and I was thinking “one in the air and then 4 in the hair†if he comes all the way in. The stallion finally stopped at about 50 yards and just stood there. We looked at each other for about a minute and finally he turned around and calmly walked away. We watched the 4 wild horses walk to the far hillside at about 1000 yards and finally it got too dark to see them.

Well, I open the second calming can of beer and here comes an owl and it swoops down at Tide. Tide didn’t know what to do. The owl would fly around and then come back and swoop down at Tide. This went of for about 5 minutes. Tide would run around and the owl would come back for another swoop. Finally the owl lit on a sagebrush and Tide was after him like a shot. Up went the owl and he made a few more swoops and left. That was enough excitement for Tide in one day.

Wednesday, up early and made 3 stands, but no coyotes. Tide was doing well until it started getting hot. I took him over to the little creek and he jumped right in and cooled down. Then we went back to the Star Camp. I shot him a couple more starlings with the 17 HMR. On the second one he didn’t want to fetch it. It was about 80 yards out in the bog and he would pick it up and then drop it. I finally got him to bring it in and it turned out that all it was a single wing. The bird must have been messed up pretty bad from the 17 HMR. We went up the road a little ways and I saw a Beldings ground squirrel. We sat for a few and finally the ground squirrel climbed up on a dead branch on the ground. The 17 HMR barked and I sent Tide out with hand signals. With a rifle, Tide can't tell where I am shooting. He is used to birds falling out of the air and the 17 HMR is new to him. Anyhow, I directed him to the ground squirrel and he fetched it. He didn’t like if very much because it was really a mess.

We decided to go high and went up to a tall mountain with many radio antennas on top. The elevation must be about 11000’. At that elevation, my portable packet radio station using my truck’s 2m ham radio could reach my Network Node TRACY and my mountain cabin. I sent Mary Ann a packet message. I was quite proud that my TRACY node could be hit from there, about 200 miles. We dropped down about 500’ to a flat area and got the Stop-n-Drop camp setup. We did a couple of coyote stands around sunset, but no takers.

Thursday morning, I was awakened by a coyote barking at me. The coyote was about 60 yards out and giving the warning barks. Tide was in the truck and I was afraid he was going to run off after it. But I called him to me and he came to heel. The coyote kept barking while I was putting on my pants and shoes. I leashed up Tide and got my rifle and shooting sticks out of behind the truck seat. The coyote stopped barking while I was jacking a round into the chamber. I just turned around and Tide sat beside me. I put the rifle on the Bi-Fur-Pod. There was the coyote silhouetted on the horizon at the red dot. It was about 100 yards. I would never take a shot like that in a populated area, but I took this one. I aimed right behind the shoulder. Bang! The coyote went down and out of sight.

Here is the shot: Coyote standing here.

Before anyone gets excited and wants to lecture me on taking such a shot when one is not sure of the backstop, here is a picture of what is on the other side of the coyote: Down Range for 50 miles.

At the shot, the coyote had dropped. I took Tide over to see the coyote, but no coyote. There were two large lung blood spots on the rocks: Lung Blood two large spots.

Tide was sniffing and he started down the back side of the hill. We went quite a ways, but couldn’t find the coyote. They can go a long ways with a lung shot. Gave up and went back to the truck for breakfast and packing up camp. I had to dry the sleeping bag from all the dew during the night. Here is the beautiful campsite: Drying dew off the sleeping bag. Not too much shade here.

After breakfast, we were going to find that coyote. With that much blood, it couldn’t have gone very far. We went over the hill where the coyote had gone. I found one blood spot down about 10’ and we went a little farther. Then I got smart. I told Tide: “Dead Birdâ€. That is what I say when a pheasant is down. Tide got serious then and started sniffing around in earnest. We went down about 50 yards and Tide was on the trail. I saw the coyote and it was face down between two rocks. Tide didn’t see it and walked all around it. Then he saw it! He did something I have never seen him do. He grabbed the coyote by the back of the neck and shook it viciously. I didn’t know that was in him. He must have had a run in with a coyote on Bethel Island where we have a pack of them. Tide does not like coyotes!!

We made a couple more stands, but it got very hot and we finally headed home. I stopped at two places to fetch Tide in the water so he could stay cool. Tide being comfortable is more important than keeping the old rug kit in my truck dry.

It was an interesting trip and exciting for Tide. There will not be any trouble talking him into another trip to the Sweetwaters. Here is Tide: Tide 7-7-5

Sorry it was so long winded, but it was a fun trip.

I am trying the TinyPic.com site for the pictures.

Love the story
Nice looking lab.

I wish I could spend time in open areas like that , where you don't see houses in every way you look.

Johnch

Thanks for sharing -- beautiful country!

Johnch, Well, CA The land of the Fruits and Nuts still has some open places. That area is very hot now in the middle of the day, but nice in the mornings and evenings.


Here is another picture of Tide taken a few weeks ago.


Here is a profile picture of Tide.

As always great story and great pics of your lab!
I have a one year old lab myself that will go to his fyrst hunting trip in august when goose season starts here. I just cant wait to see him in real action, no more decois for him!
We have been training real hard this summer and i hope it will pay off in the waterfowl and on the rock ptarmigan in the winther!

Btw great webpage you have there Al!

Regards Ben
Iceland

I really enjoyed your story. It is always nice to get outside with good guns and good company.

Varmint Al: Thanks for the wonderful story and the sensational pictures!
What caliber did you use on the Coyote if I might inquire?
Labs make the best friends! If my Chocolate Lab Henry could spot my hits for me through my spotting scope I would probably never need be accompanied by a human on Varmint Safaris again!
Yes that is some wonderful scenery you have there in your splendid photos!
Many happy returns of that Hunt.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VarmintGuy,


I was using my old Sako in 243 Win caliber. I was shooting the Nosler 95 gr Ballistic Tips. They are not hide freindly, but I was not hide hunting but helping out the mule deer herd.