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Post by danwolf on Feb 16, 2006 13:15:04 GMT -5
Went fur calling last night w/the boys. I just got permission to use this farm/forest property. Beautiful night w/6 inches of what's left of 14" of snow, it reached 60 yesterday. But on the 1st call, 20 mins, nothing, then hike more, dogs on lead lock up, point, looking into thickets, i'm thinking deer, but 10 more yards I hear some wild noises over a steep hill, loud, like a 1/2 raccoon or cat like, 1/2 nearly bird like call. It's loud too, like a squaller but with a low growl/purr, it almost could be a bird, but at night, it's more shrieking. I called to it w/the coon cub call and that didn't bother it, it called again and again every couple of minutes and I could here it's call moving. I never got it closer, but when I came over the hill it must have winded me and no more calls. It's the 3rd time I heard it loudly near there, but that was summer. I mean 50 acres away loud. Any ideas? I'm in the Mid Atlantic region. Anyhow I figured coons were denning/hibernating w/snow?, and I don't care to take a fox, but a coyote would be a real barn burner-what I secretly wishing for, but nothing showed. But, I got home and realized I dropped my wallet out there  , so this am we hiked back, found it  , and then checked that hill w/the strange noise out for tracks. The hill and bottom swamp was full of deer tracks, and the dogs were working the area like crazy, but then I saw a fox track, and I believe a racoon track or maybe possum, and a very hairy long scat, but no holes...Maybe it was a coon, are they that loud? So we hiked further hoping maybe to jump something early, and as we crested a heavily forested hill and pine grove the dogs were 15 yds to my left looking down and then a deer broke right abour 15 yds over, and I just laughed to myself because I didn't think the dogs saw it, here am I w/better senses, when I noticed their digging. They actually made a real nice mark on a fox den w/fresh earth and fox and racoon tracks both? Maybe sharing in cold or just spending the evening. But, it was a mark never the less  . So I guess the raccoons aren't hibernating unless I saw oppossum tracks, they're hard to distinguish. But I saw lots of fox track, some looking real big?? Rumor has it a coyote was seen/killed? about ten miles south of this area, and I know there is a very healthy population 20-25 miles away...We'll see. I imagine I would need the perfect set and perfect wind to see one. Then getting it close enough for the dogs... |
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Post by hicntry on Feb 16, 2006 20:45:21 GMT -5
I don't know if you really want to find a coyote Dan. I have been told they are bad Jose's for one or two dogs. Well, my guess, after Ed's experience, is maybe the boys telling those tall tales don't have enough dog. But, if Apache and Lenape were to be lucky enough to catch one, brag all you want. ....as long as they win.;D |
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Post by danwolf on Feb 17, 2006 7:53:11 GMT -5
I'll be the 1st to admit I'll be anxious about these eastern coyotes. I'm a little further east than the main Appalachian strain, so I'm thinking these farm ones will be a bit smaller...But where I'm hunting this fall is wide open for the boys , I just got permission and there are hundreds of acres of replanted strip mines, but those coyotes I expect to be big, it's way in the mt's,and I'll bring a rifle there. Though I never kill predators, I just like the dogs to hunt them fair and square. If they are that big, the boys might need another hitter in the bull pen from you Don, too bad you can't breed Hunter to Titan... These eastern coyotes can and supposedly do kill a fair number of housedogs. But, the way I look at it, one of my dogs can dispatch, perhaps kill a fifty lb dog, from the tenacity I've seen, so 2 I'm hoping ok. The fact that I'm calling also will hopefully keep the chase close, so no interloping coyotes will join in. I never bring a gun, just a machete, but maybe I should p/up a 22 mag pistol just in case. The issue will be getting good enough or lucky enough to bring one close enough. I'm not quite sure they are on this property either, yet, because usually where the are plentiful fox, there aren't coyotes, and I saw six fox last January in a storm during their rut crossing my field. I'm only going to hunt it until beginning of March, because by then most predators are bred or breeding and I'll let them breed lots hopefully and wait until September to hopefully call lots of the dumber ones in... But raccoons are my real interest, there hell on grouse and wild turkey nests, any ground nesting bird, plus competition for the red and grey foxes, my personnal favorites, plus they are a tougher fight for the dogs than fox. But I have no desire to shoot an animal other than squirrel or porcupine out of a tree, that's why I'm calling to let the boys kill it. If I work out the kinks now w/my calling, we might have a good season. The dogs have been great, they are dead quiet as we call, and they sit right behind me on slip leads, intent as heck. What I really like is how they try to be silent when stalking our way into a site. I still wonder what that noise was...Do raccoons call? |
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Post by Wolfer on Feb 17, 2006 22:28:18 GMT -5
Dan...... Fox are hell on ground nesting birds and so are coyotes. As for raccoons they will come to a call. bird distress as well as coon kitten calls
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Post by hicntry on Feb 17, 2006 22:32:59 GMT -5
Where the heck have you been Kyle?
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Post by Wolfer on Feb 17, 2006 23:39:54 GMT -5
Well since the weather has been so nice the last couple weeks the company i work for has decided its time to make up for the 2 week layoff. so its been long weeks with long hours
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Post by danwolf on Feb 28, 2006 19:54:31 GMT -5
Wolfer, No racoons yet  , but the foxes are getting quite a scare. Last week Lenape missed one in broad daylight crossing a power line trail in front of him. I was 20yds behind w/Apache who seemed to be on a scent, and whamo out runs Charlie, as they call fox in Ireland/UK, and he just made it into the brush which is as thick as a jungle-10 year old overgrown clearcut, Lenape was one fox tail away from a grab, my wife saw it and believes Apache probably would have closed the deal. He has some serious speed out of the gate. Beautiful, huge fox, a real red stunner glistening in the afternoon sun. -it would have been the best photo of them both fully reaching and launching out before the brush. It was a beautiful sight. We did have 3 marks that day, one probably definately live, because when Apache starts digging that's a good sign. I called this weekend at night at a really good wide open spot where the boys had enough field to toast anything, but no game there. On the 3rd set, we were tucked around a corner in a power line trail, and after 20 mins under the stars, I was just about ready to leave and a fox rounded the corner at a trot, and boom the dogs bursts after it, it just made the jungle...I'm convinced it would have jumped on my lap had the dogs not been there-it was only 10 ft away. Unbelievable. It was wild, a good spot for a racoon set, but no room for the boys on a fox or coyote. |
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Post by danwolf on Mar 3, 2006 9:55:37 GMT -5
What a morning walk. Apach nearly smoked a fox that he flushed at 20 yds ahead on a power line, and he was lost in the jungle, then Leni who has been learning to keep his head up after the last miss, (you can't beat time afield), was off trailing on the opposite side of the line in the jungle, and i called to him to help trail w/apach, and he flushed the foxes mate out 20 yds ahead of him, but both popped right back in the jungle, whew. They did all anyone could ask in this thick briar choked overgrown clearcuts. I could have smoked both fox if i gun hunted though. 2 nice flushes But, I tell you that I know why they have a coat like they do, thank goodness. Because Lenape has a 1/4 gash 1/4 inch from his eye, whew. I know he did it slamming into that brush like a hellion after Charlie. The same thing happened to Apach except w/barbed wire that hooked him at full bore and w/out those thick wiry wool coats they both easily could have lost eyes in this thick eastern brush. |
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Post by Wolfer on Mar 3, 2006 11:49:47 GMT -5
Keep After them Dan one of these days they will connect.LOL as for callin we dont have a lot of coons here about so i dont target them . maybe give added time to a stand like we do with Cats something else ya might try since i dont know how ya work your dogs on a stand is cut them loose a couple minutes befor you break the stand if anything is close chances are it wont shy from the dogs as fast as a man suddenly appearing in front of them the minut second could be a couple extra feet of gain. then again if ya free roam them it wont do ya anygood ..
Bobwire is nasty stuff i have had to sew up more than a few running dogs because the coyote ducked under and they plowed thru. One of my lurchers (running walker x hotblood) was at the tail end of a chase when all the dogs made it thru a fence with loose wire . well she didnt make it she hit the loose strand at chest level and it was like watching a cartoon it catapaulted her ars over tea kettle about 10 feet . Funny as hell to see Pain in the butt to sew up . she was out of commisson 3 months from that wreck and from that point forward when she seen a fence she dang near came to a stop to get thru it.
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Post by Maverick on Mar 3, 2006 21:06:55 GMT -5
Kyle - Any reason to not train them to jump fences?
- Pete
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Post by Wolfer on Mar 3, 2006 21:25:38 GMT -5
Leads to kennel Problems. I havent seen a stag yet that couldnt clear a 6 foot fence if encouraged. Youll find Pete that theyll pretty much fallow the coyote if he jumps the fence they will also But i havent seen many coyotes Jump barbwire most duck thru it, like wise if the dogs are close to him theyll duck thru as well. Hope that makes sence
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, so this am we hiked back, found it 
, and then checked that hill w/the strange noise out for tracks. The hill and bottom swamp was full of deer tracks, and the dogs were working the area like crazy, but then I saw a fox track, and I believe a racoon track or maybe possum, and a very hairy long scat, but no holes...Maybe it was a coon, are they that loud?
.
, but the foxes are getting quite a scare. Last week Lenape missed one in broad daylight crossing a power line trail in front of him. I was 20yds behind w/Apache who seemed to be on a scent, and whamo out runs Charlie, as they call fox in Ireland/UK, and he just made it into the brush which is as thick as a jungle-10 year old overgrown clearcut, Lenape was one fox tail away from a grab, my wife saw it and believes Apache probably would have closed the deal. He has some serious speed out of the gate. Beautiful, huge fox, a real red stunner glistening in the afternoon sun. -it would have been the best photo of them both fully reaching and launching out before the brush. It was a beautiful sight. We did have 3 marks that day, one probably definately live, because when Apache starts digging that's a good sign.