My first NIGHT TIME predator hunt

[HatsanPhantom]

First let me say that I am by no means a predator calling pro or expert. Very new to predator hunting but I am hooked.I've been obbssesing and preparing for what feels like years lol...Saturday night it all started.
I took two of my younger brothers along with me for extra eyes and company.One of them has been hunting with me since we were kids and the other was a first timer.I took my .25 marauder along because i have permission to take raccoons/foxes on this particular property..but the 20 gauge loaded with #4 shot was there as well. We arrived at around 11:30 p.m. and it was dead quiet except for the rabbits running around(sweet).We walked along the edge of the woods single file..just kinda listening. I found a nice spot for us to set up..but i honestly was really relaxed and not expecting much early in the hunt. We waited for things to settle down and after about 15 minutes of listening and letting my our eyes adjust i began calling..low fawn in distress sounds.Ten minutes into this session and all of a sudden my youngest brother whispers "shhh what's that?"..we hear footsteps..Mind you its pitch black as we had turned all the lights off so all we could do was hear the steps. By now my heart is racing so i began calling a much softer.Now the steps have increased in speed and seem to be coming straight at us..ooh man. My bigger younger brother is not a fan of the dark and he is itching to turn on the light..hold tight i said. Welll...he did not. He clicks the light on and there is a nice coyote about ten yds away..the light froze him..his eye shine was almost hypnotic. My brother was not ready for this..couldnt even raise the gun..i couldnt get a clear head shot and the coyote didnt even run..he just slinked back into the brush with little to no sound. I was nearly sick lol..it was exciting and dissapointing. It all seemed to happen so fast...smh. Come to find out my bro didnt even have a shells in the shotty..WHAAAAAAT?!?!?! he forgot to load it. Can't wait to try again. We waited awhile and listened to some yips and howls..they got cold so we went home around 2 a.m.




also we came upon a litter of very young foxes playing..thought they were kittens

BTW everything was legal and within VA game laws. I do my homework

[grizzlyadams]

addicting isn't it? calling predators is some of my favorite hunting! it doesn't start getting real hairy til you call a 400lb black bear into within ten yards of you! (been there, done that!) you will need an extra set of skivvies when that happens! LOL

[HatsanPhantom]

It was a real rush...I CANNOT WAIT to go again

[T1jetmech]

I have been predator hunting for years.  I love it.  Its a rush.  My best trophy is a bob that weighed 28lbs.  It was 3 lbs shy of the state record.

[HatsanPhantom]

A bob is on my shortlist...well this is North America so i guess its already a prety short list but  yea

I cant stop replaying it in my head

[T1jetmech]

Glad you have the bug.  We have a pretty good population of coyotes (song dogs), ferel cats and bobs here.  Winter doesn't get bad enough to kill them off and MS has a year long season on them.

[HatsanPhantom]

Yeah that year long season policiy is in full effect here. It's good to be able to hit the woods anytime of the year. I dont hunt deer and that's what alot of people in VA focus on and that's great for coyote hunters here. People look at me like i'm crazy when i say I hunt yotes
The predator pop is healthy and unpressured in alot of areas...yeah i have the bug bad. Havent had a rush like that on any hunt before.

[yak]

For me it's the call, not the kill.. I love calling predators(in my area it's red fox).
So in my book you had a successful hunt.
I enjoyed the story

[HatsanPhantom]

cool thank you for reading

[mpbby]

I also enjoyed the story.

What circumstances/factors do you think make the "right moment" to turn the light on?

[HatsanPhantom]

good question..i dont really know. That yote was just coming so hard and he was already well within gun range. I thought the light would spook him but he didnt seem to mind all that much. I guess my ignorance of the situation kind of helped

[stonykill]

  nice! Nothing like a good adrenaline rush to make you feel alive! Whack em and stack em 

[supertech77]

nice hunt, glad those foot steps didn't turn out to be a black bear, or panther, found out from a neighbor at my property in emporia VA, that there were those critters in our area, in fact both seen on my land,,scary thought . so i always carry when i go there, to stock my feeders,and check my cams.  good luck with your night hunts, hope you bag a yote,stay safe.oh and yeah, load the shotty''' lol