Last night I called in two coyotes with a wicked crosswind using the distressed woodpecker. Walking in the 400 yards the wind was at my back. Figured for sure any critter would smell me for a mile at least. Than the hay fever kicked in and my head was clogging and building pressure like a balloon. I kept sneezing and than really worried I would scare all animals away. About 8PM is the time.
Set the caller upwind and I set up north of it with a a panoramic view of a very large field. Tree line at my back and one at the other end. Brought a 1M spot light with red transparent tape over it, and my Promos 100yard scope light. Waited 1/2 hr in silence before attempting a call. Started on the woodpecker for about 10 seconds, than would wait 5-10 minutes. Tried scanning the field with the spot but with the tape over the lens it actually created a circle of red around me instead of illuminating the field. I knew this wasn't going to work. I called with the bird and remained silent another time, and this time took half of the tape off the lens. Remember now wind was blow in pretty good...held the spot over my head and lit up the field...at my 1 o clock was a coyote about 10 yards away and looking up wind and away from me. I realized he heard the bird but couldn't find it. He didn't flinch when the spot came on, just kept slowly trotting away from me. He than turned and saw the light. I put the spot down and tried to find him with the gun light, than looked through scope. He was starting to circle to the downwind. I kept loosing him in the scope because the rifle light only reaches out about 40yards and the coyote by the time was in a 110yard radius circling. I was would make sounds with my mouth which stopped him every time, but I would turn on the spot quickly to find him, than use the scope. By the time I would get on him with the scope he would look away and move. All I could see with the rifle scope is eyes. Anyway he got away, but as I panned I saw another coyote about 150yards upwind, but took off when he saw the spot light.. Really burns me, I need a good light set up. Or at least a second person to hold the damn light. At least I finally saw a coyote!
Sorry for the long post.
