COYOTE "NOT SO" UGLY
By: Dave Tuttle
Sometimes I'm a little late to the party. Most of the time I have a hard time latching on to new ideas or suggestions. I'm a creature of habit and don't handle change very well. That is most certainly true when it comes to hunting. I like to stick with what I know and that would be hunting waterfowl. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy pursuing the monster bucks in northern Minnesota as much as the next guy, it just doesn't get my juices flowing and my adrenaline pumping like waterfowl hunting does. Put me in a field with the geese or put me in a duck boat somewhere where the mallards are and leave me alone, that is what I know and that is what I'm good at, or at least l like to think that is what I'm good at. That's still up for debate according to those I hunt with.
My good friend and hunting buddy, Adam, is big on hunting the ringneck pheasant each fall. I despise it to be quite honest with you. Not only does it take valuable time away from hunting the ducks and geese, it also has the uncanny ability to make me feel like a complete idiot. As much as I admire and stand in awe of that rooster pheasant, I hate him with a passion simply because he is smarter than I am. He makes me look foolish out there. My success ratio is abysmal and embarrassing. It's great exercise but it doesn't do much for my self esteem. Don't even get me started on the ruffed grouse. My success ratio is far worse with those birds. Enough said.
As the years have passed I've become more aware of what I'm good at and not so good at. I decided long ago to stick with what I know, it helps me sleep better at night and does wonders for my blood pressure and anger management. I made a promise to myself that I would stick to waterfowl hunting only, simply for the sake of my own sanity. I was and still remain at home in the field or the marsh and my success ratio is a bit more impressive with the waterfowl. I'm not going to lie to you, I've broken that promise quite a few times chasing the pheasants and deer around occasionally, but for the most part I've been loyal to the waterfowl and have not strayed. As chance or fate would have it, about a month ago I saw the light and all hell broke loose.
When I told you I'm usually late to the party I was not kidding. Had you asked me to go predator hunting a year ago, even a few months ago for that matter, I would've laughed at you and ran in the opposite direction. Predator hunting? Seriously?? I had no time for such nonsense. Then I miraculously found the time for such nonsense and my life changed forever. Blame it on boredom or insanity, I will leave that for you to decide. Duck and goose season ended and I found myself on the couch being as unproductive as one human being can possibly be, then I got a phone call from a friend/co-worker. He asked me if I wanted to hunt coyotes in western Minnesota. Hmmm. Coyotes?? Boring. Probably not as boring as sitting on the couch watching reruns of Dukes of Hazzard though. Count me in.
Hunting coyotes or predators is a rush. It's exciting and can be dangerous at the same time. You have to be aware of your surroundings at all times. One wrong move could spell disaster. I found myself watching my backside constantly. We weren't laying in a field enticing them with a rabbitt distress call, we were tracking them on private land and walking right into the belly of the beast. High reeds, cattails, and thickets. That seemed to be where they felt safe and concealed. They could jump or run from anywhere in that kind of cover and that is exactly what they did. There were times I was completely surrounded by high reeds and couldn't tell what direction I was heading in or what type of terrain I was heading towards. That can be thrilling and a bit scary at the same time, especially when you and a coyote are in such close proximity and neither of you can manuever or move very fast through the thick cover. There comes a point when your chasing and in all-out pursuit that you realize one of you has to give, eventually. They will either outsmart you because they are more familiar with the landscape, or you will corner them in a spot they can't get out of or a clearing will present itself and you will have a clean shot. You never know and that is the beauty of it.
I have watched a coyote dig through a muskrat house to find the hole and sit there until the muskrat comes out of the water. The poor muskrat never knew what hit him. He never made it completely out of the water before he was a meal. It was amazing to watch. I have watched a coyote hot on the scent of a pheasant. He flushed her and jumped a good five feet in the air trying to grab her with his front paws. He missed but gave it a valiant effort. He didn't sit and pout about it. He immediately focused his attention on another scent and disappeared into a small wooded area. They are resilient animals and they are survivors. They do whatever it takes to survive and won't let much get in their way of stopping them. I have watched them cower and run for their lives, I have also watched them become fearless and stand their ground ready to fight to the death. I suppose that isn't so different from any other animal, there is just something about the coyote that is intriguing and fun to hunt.
That has been my Minnesota coyote hunting experience so far. I have missed a few and I've taken a few. Regardless of how the hunt ends, it's always exciting and leaves you wanting more each and every time. I don't think you will ever forget taking your first coyote, it's a special moment. I remember my first duck, it was a male wood duck and I was hooked for life. The same can now be said for predator hunting, coyotes in particular. It's in my blood and there is no turning back. The way I see it, there is a farmer somewhere thanking me for it. And who knows how many barnyard animals I'm saving by braving the cold and chasing the wily coyote??
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