It’s been 20 years since I killed a coyote. They were pretty few in Alaska and the ones we did have were hunted pretty hard. And with Etta’s health I never felt like I could do any extended fur hunting trips. Especially the last several years.

We came over to Eastern Washington to visit mom after two really rough weeks with Etta’s back. She’s on the mend. And I needed some decompression time. I spent the day calling one of the ranches I used to trap when we still lived here. They were happy to have me chase some dogs.

My second stand this morning seemed just like the first. No action. After 20 minutes I opted to move on. I hadn’t taken five steps and spotted this one standing about 200 yards to my left. My first shot spines him. As I got closer he picked his head up and the second shot at 50 yards was heart/lung and finished the job.

It was also first blood for my 6mmx222. I used a 60 grain Sierra HP over 25 grains of H335 and a Remington 7 1/2. Both exit wounds were right at an inch.

[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]

Chronographs, bore scopes and pattern boards have broke a lot of hearts.