Texas Night Hunt / What an experience

[chuckw2]

Guys,
I just got back from my first guided night hunt in Texas. It was something that I will never forget.

We were hunting bobcats, coyote and pigs,pigs only if we ran across them), which we did.

The hunt took place just south of Wichita Falls, TX.

In preparation for this hunt I bought every DVD that I could find on shooting bobcats and coyotes. Big waste of money, but still I am glad I have something to show my "Bunny hugger" neighbors when they come over to visit.

From the tapes, I thought most shots would be under 25 yards. There was only one dog that I shot that was under 25 yards.

Most of the shots were from 75 yards to 150 yards. The longest shot I made was the last night, it was a little over 300 paces.

In the very first set of the first night, my guide, called in three coyotes. You do not know how exciting it was. Damn it was so much fun.

That first night we called in either a bobcat or coyote on every set but two. I was shooting a .204 with 39 gn SBK's, after having to look for every animal after the shot Clay was very polite in telling me that he wanted me to try his 22-250 for a while.

Being a little hard headed, I thanked him but told him I wanted to shoot my .204,I killed two pigs with it that first night)

We either lost some animals or I missed several with the .204. The conditions were very windy.

The second night we went out we had 50 mph winds. We hunted until 10:00pm, then I wanted to call it quits. We had not called up anything.

Clay felt really bad about this, and offered to take me day hunting around the ranch as he was feeding his cattle. Above and beyond what was expected.

On third night, on the first set, three dogs came in and I missed. It was still windy, but not as bad as the previous day.

I asked Clay if I could try his 22-250 and he said fine. That gun dropped everything shot dead in its tracks, what a difference.

This was the most exciting hunt that I have ever been on.

The guide did a great job. I just wish it had not taken me three nights to get my act together.

What a great trip!

 

[harvey13118]

Chuck you're bad! I'm sittin here getting all excited with your story heart rate up... I'm ready to go...

I'm headed out in the am with my brother and group he uses dogs to chase the coyotes. Its excitin listenin to the dogs Baying and us trying to get in front of them for a shot.

Thanks for the great story.

 

[chuckw2]

Harvey,

On the second night, when the wind was blowing so hard, Clay called a friend of his that hunts them with greyhounds. This guy is in college and had a test to study for so that nixed that deal...


It sounded like a lot of fun.

 

[cockcroft]

Now you know why we live here.
Mike C

 

[jb77]

Chuck, I am glad you enjoyed our great Texas hospitality. You discovered the windiest place in Texas. I was stationed at Shepard AFB, Wichita Falls) back in the 80's. We had some great hunting in that area. Doves by the thousands all the predators and jackrabbits you could have wanted.

There is a joke that is told in those parts as to why it is always so windy, it is somewhat disparaging to our fine neighbors in Oklahoma so I won't repeat it here, at least not until Texas/OU weekend.

 

[chuckw2]

jb77,
The winds were 50 to 55 mph the second night. You could not stand up in the high rack to work the spotlight without holding on to the side of the rack.

It was very cold to boot.

We drank some Texas Snow Cones then went home...


The wind was always blowing 15 to 30mph...

 

[jb77]

Chuck, in your opinion why do you think your guides 22-250 was better than your 204 at putting the critters down. I have been reading a lot on the superior bc's of the heavier 20 cal bullets and with velocities that are in the same ballpark, I wouldn't have thought there would be that much difference.

I have a couple of 22-250's both Rem 700's one a full custom job and one a factory VLS that I bought just recently and shot for the first time yesterday. I think it hates any bullet heavier than 50 grs. it has a long throat too, so bullets are really jumping to the rifling.

I smell a rebarreling to 6mmBR cooking LOL.

 

[MrMister]

Hey Chuck, I've been wanting to do that Texas trip for some time now. I have a buddy that goes every year and he averages 3 bobcat's per night and doesn't bother to count the dogs anymore. I forget which guide he uses but his name is Randy and he's semi-famous in the Texas night game.

Don't let that guide you used turn you off of the 204, I have two of them and they will drop coyote's hard in thier tracks out to 400 yards. All I use are factory 40gr Hornady V-Max's and it scramples them up inside and is still very fur friendly.

Keep in mind with bobcats: they almost always run after getting shot. Some'll go 30-50 yards and not know they're dead yet!

Let's see some pictures.

Steve

 

[chuckw2]

MrMister and jb77,

I knew you guys were going to jump me on the criticism of the .204..In retrospect, I know in my heart, it was more of a problem with the Indian than the arrow..

That first night I had eight walkers. I was shooting 39gnSBK at about 3600 fps. It was really messing with my head. The gun was a CZ 527,see I am already talking like the gun is dead) with a new Weaver 1.5 X 4.5 on top of it.

Perhaps part of the problem was my shot placement and I got buck fever big time the first couple or 3 dogs that came in. I was expecting the shots at night to be much closer, 50 to 75 yards. The average shoot was around 100 yards with some out to 300 yards. The first night I was way taking much too long to setup to make the perfect shot.

On the second day we did not get a single animal to come to the call as I said due to 55+ mph steady winds and we packed it in early.

On the third night I needed something to change my luck, get those walkers and misses out of my head) and that was going to be shooting Clay's 22-250. If I had changed hats or something else minor, I would have probably had the same results.

The third and final night every animal with the exception of one went bang/flop with the 22-250... The same results I am sure would have been achieved with my .204, but I need to change something to change my luck. By the third night I was not waiting for the prefect shot, as soon as I got on them I pulled the trigger with good results.

I do not have a 22-250, you know how your mind plays these silly little games to justify another gun purchase. I want a new gun either a CZ or a Savage.

Posting pictures has always been something that has been a little over my computer skills. Steve all of your pictures come out great. I was thinking about the picture you posted a couple of years ago with the dead squirrels and the little toy soldiers and started laughing all over again.

This night hunting thing has really gotten in my blood...


There is one little thing that I do not like about my new CZ rifle. The safety operates backwards from an American rifle. Instead of pushing it forward to take the gun off safety, you pull it back toward you to remove the safety. This sounds like it is no bid deal but it was a very big deal to me. I was constantly thinking about the position on the safety and constantly checking the position of the safety. Almost on every shot I would push the safety forward like you would on a 700 in stead of pulling it back. This wasted valuable time..


I am going to practice for my next hunt a little differently. 100% of my shooting is done with a front rest and rear bag or prone. You have got to be able to shoot with the gun on your shoulder and the forearm resting on the side of the high rack with your body twisted all around.

My practice is going to be after dark with a spotlight. For targets I am going to use two of those little thumbtacks with reflective tape on their heads that deer hunters use to find their way to and from their stands in the dark..

I have to go to work now, it is the best job in the world and I do not want to be late!!!!!!

Are you guys just not just a little curious about what a Texas snow cone is ?

 

[BigMo]

Randy is I suspect Randy Watson from the Midland Odessa area.

Smaller caliber rifles are very very tuff to use on a night hunt. Small scub brush is all it takes and in the dark you shoot through it more than you know.
The 22-250 and 223 seem to be a minimum for this type hunting.
Hard to find an animal that you only see to start with because his eyes are looking at you. Now after the shot with a "fur friendly" caliber they may run 2 seconds and only go 40 yards but the caliber is so fur friendly there is no blood at all. At 100 to 200 yards from you that animal is now lost......still dead but most definately lost.
Saturdays Criiters

 

[MrMister]

Chuck,

I have a CZ 527 American as my call gun too. I love it, very accurate and light. If you unload yours keep me in mind, Mini Mister will be needing a call gun soon.

I'll bite,not literally) what's a Texas Snow Cone?

BigMo,

Nice picture!

I've owned the 22-250 and a 223. I hate the 223, can't give you a good reason but I just do.

My 22-250 was great until I discovered the 204. I've come close to literally blowing a dogs front shoulder off with that 22-250 in 55gr V-Max. It's not nearly as friendly on the fur as the 204.

But hey-I drive a Ford, you might drive a Chevy. Both work and both are good!

Happy hunting,

Steve

 

[chuckw2]

BigMoe and MrMister



Heck of a great picture BigMoe...What caliber we you using? Tell us about your hunt last weekend!!!!!



Steve, I love the CZ it looks like a rifle should look and it is light. I think that it might be a problem with the bullet and or the shooter the first night...I was really pumped up.

I used to bird hunt with a retired Delta capt. that was born and raised in Abilene still had the old family farm just west of there.
At the end of the hunt each day, he and his son would fix "Texas Snow Cones" That is tequila and crushed ice.

I haven't had a drink now in 27 years...Just FYI

 

[BigMo]

My story pulled from another site:
A lesson relearned about mouth calling in cedars. About 20+ years ago I had been calling with a friend, 220 Swift ) one morning when our
D=cell powered Johnny Stewart casette caller would go no more. The next stand I used my mouth calls, only about 10 minutes into it when a nice bobcat walked under the cedar with Terry. To his surprize you can shoot a bobcat with out aiming if they are close enough. Thats the orignal lesson ......
This weekend I was set up on a tapering cedar row that led out into a hay field. I had backed into a cedar a bit and was the closest to the creek with my partner about 10 more yards to my right further from the creek up the row. We were expecting coyotes to come up out of the creek and down the edge of it torward the cedar row and end up some place out infront of us with easy shots. After 15 minutes of Jack Rabbit in my J.S. 512 I used my remote to turn it off and switched over to my Stone Coyote Cripple Cottontail and began to work it in my usual fashion. I was stitting on my stool and still facing the hay field without ever considering what was about to happen. After about 5 minutes or so I just had this feeling ......I needed to turn my head....something was staring at me. I usually dont turn my head much as it tends to get me busted. I looked to my left and a "close encounter" of the Bobcat kind. The female had done exactly what you should expect a bobcat to do. She used the cover and came straight to the sound......in my mouth! She was a whopping 3 yards to my side. I almost jumped out of my skin!
She immediatly turned to leave and was out of veiw in a fraction of a second. I did not know if I could see her back under the cedars with all the brush or not but I got off my stool and laid flat, Flat is a relative term to a fatman ) on my belly looking for her under the trees. All of a sudden I could see the cat through a small opening. I aimed through the brush and squeezed the trigger. I did not expect her to hang around long after all the noise and movement I had made getting on the ground. My partner was laughing his head off as we came out from under the cedars. I was right..... and after going around the tree about 20 yards away lay a nice 19 lbs female bobcat shot right in the white of her chest.
I would have to say this is a lesson I will not forget so easy again.....when mouth calling under a cedar tree WATCH OUT you may not be the only one under there.
We managed to shoot 5 bobcats and 4 coyotes this weekend. Here is a photo of the animals I shot. She is the one on the bottom of the group photo shown above.

My rifle is a Remington 700 22-250 and I also am no 223 fan. Shots can be long and I would rather hunt than track. Just my .02 your milage may vary.

 

[MrMister]

Chuck-I don't see me eating any Texas Snow Cones any time soon. I'm a Coors Light guy!

I agree on the CZ, what a fantastic calling gun, and for a pencil barrel it's very accurate!

BigMo,

Great story! I'm wiping tears because it reminds my of what happened to my buddy on a Nevada hunt.

He was calling in the sage next to a rock pile and had a bob get to within 2 yards in front of him while singing the dead bunny blues.

All he saw was spots and feet coming at him when the cat bounced. I didn't see it but I heard it. He was screaming like a little girl,which I would have been as well) kicking and fighting off the cat which virtually ended up in his lap!

By the time I got to him it was over and he was covered in Nevada sage dust head to toe. He never had a chance for a shot and he was shaking.

We had a good laugh but he got tired of me asking if he needed to go check his pants!

I use closed reed calls as well-love them. Looks like you have been on Predator Masters custom call forum!

Steve

 

[jb77]

Chuck I wasn't picking on your selection of cartridge just wanted your insights. I believe the 20's would be great on p-dogs and such but I will stay with the 22-250 for the bigger critters.


Great story by the way and I have heard others complain about the backwards safety on the CZ's.

 

[BigMo]

Hi Steve

Yes I am a regular at Predator Masters. My long time friend is 220 Swift and he and Rudy of Stone Coyote calls have gotten to be good friends. I met Rudy through him and have since found myself using his calls quite often.
They are not the only calls that I use but they are nice pieces and they do call critters. Usually I only carry 2 of them on another laynard with my old Weems. They just seem to pretty to mark up on a zipper or something.
I think Byron South said it best "when you go fishing you take more than one lure don't you."
I called my first coyote in 1976 and I have become more and more of a fanatic about calling predators ever since. My main focus is Bobcats, I just love them.