Posted By: Gregg Richter
INDEPENDENCE DAY VARMINT - 07/04/2017 9:55 PM
I had just flipped the light switch on in the barn and...oh my there it was again...I cocked my head and rearranged my cowboy hat to hear better.
Sure enough...one more time...the faint yipping of a young coyote in the distance, presumably looking to cause trouble. I inadvertently shivered; even though we are in to the month of July, here at 8300 feet in the Rockies it was still getting down to the mid-thirties at night.
I had gotten up way too early because of my inability to sleep due to the many little aches and pains my body suffers from too much hard work in the construction field and too many joint surgeries.
My heart beat skyrocketed as my adrenalin kicked in and my discomforts for the most part disappeared.
I was agoin' coyote huntin'!
My loyal cohort and constant companion Kloe, a 3 1/2 year old Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever/English Springer Spaniel mix, immediately sensed my excitement as she, too, had heard the yapping coyote. I had done my best ever since we got her at six weeks old to teach her that "coyotes are bad," as I do NOT want her to chase them. I had personally witnessed a female coyote coming to my neighbor's property line and acting overly friendly, enticing his dog to follow her. Twice the dog followed the 'yote about 200 yards into the draw, and twice he wisely retreated back to his property without going any further. There was no third time as I put that varmint to rest with my 22-250.
Back to the present. I hurriedly got to my truck and put my hands on my Savage A-17 rifle, the newer semi-auto designed to fire a hopped-up version of the .17 HMR. That and a hand call and my binoculars, and I was headed to the fence line separating my property from the ranch where I had permission to hunt coyotes. My faithful pup Kloe was at my heels, and though I really did NOT want her to accompany me, I knew there was no way that I could put her in the house and leave her...she absolutely knew what was up and would probably jump through a window, glass or no glass, to follow me.
Needless to say, she was bred from three hunting breeds and is a hunter. She would rather hunt than eat or sleep...she is truly amazing.
The eastern sky was getting paler as the sun strived to rise above the mountain ridges. We had gone about 500 yards in the direction I had heard the song dog when in my eagerness and haste I topped over a crest overlooking a little valley with a tiny creek flowing through it. Like a novice I had exposed myself to the peering eyes below instead of approaching stealthily on my hands and knees and two of those sharp eyes were staring me down like a...well...like a coyote!
I groaned to myself as he took off into a run for safer places. But luckily, the direction he chose was the one I wanted to head for next and maybe catch him crossing another draw. I circled over to my left, which was basically west, giving me the advantage of the rising sun at my back.
It worked, as within a few minutes I spotted the coyote coming through the trees at an angle approaching us. I dropped down to my knees and brought the Savage to my shoulder, but alas! Kloe spotted him also and took off after the now fleeing coyote. I quickly stood up, calling her off, and thankfully she responded and came trotting back.
The scene I then witnessed caused me to drop my jaw open! The coyote was FOLLOWING her back to me!
Recovering from my shock, I again dropped to my knees and brought up the A-17, and just as Kloe got to me I hustled her behind me and found Mr. Yapper in the crosshairs. He had stopped at about 55 yards and was facing me straight on; NOT the shot I would have preferred but I was not looking this third chance in the mouth; I centered his chest right where his neck joined and pressed off. He instantly started whirling around in a tight circle like he was chasing his tail, and then after a few turns he collapsed.
Kloe again charged him and I yelled but it was OK; the critter was stone cold dead. Well, not really cold yet, but you get the picture!
I whooped and gave Kloe a massive hug. What a GREAT way to start out the Fourth of July!
