American Lurchers

[UphillDoc 278]

maxhardcore-Thanks you for the compliment.

 

Here is the latest adventure with my lurchers.

 

Yesterday I load "Grace" and "Gus" to go coyote calling in the morning. Its a perfect morning and Im ready. On the way to the spot I want to try calling the dogs jump a jackrabbit and have a nice warm up. It was in tall sage so it was never in any real trouble, but it gets our blood up. I pick a big sage to sit against. The set up is perfect. I have the wind in my face and rising sun to my back. Im near the top of a hill looking into a broken sage basin. The dogs are milling about near by. When I start to call (using a handmade call from "Workman") the dogs come and lay down beside me. Im about 10 minutes into calling when I spot a coyote coming thru the sage below me. He is about 200 yards out and coming steady. At about 150 "Gus" spots him and stands up. The coyote freezes. Im not sure if I should shoot or wait. Then the coyote starts towards us again, and "Gus" starts to lope towards him head high looking. "Grace" gets up and follows but hasnt seen it yet. At about 100 yards she spots him and starts towards him at high speed. The coyote whirls and the race is on. They go straight away from me, then start angling to the right. This takes them behind a lower knob. "Grace" has closed to about 30 yards of him and "Gus" is bringing up the rear. They disappear behind the knob, and Im not sure if I should follow or wait and see if they circle. Im listening for a fight! Pretty soon I hear the coyote challenge barking and he sounds pissed...LOL I dont know if they have him stopped or if he out ran them and is following them back, scolding them. Im about to go find out when I spot the dogs coming back to me. Sure enough the coyote is following them screaming at them. The dogs get back to me and watch him coming in. He is all fuzzed up, and kicking dirt. When he gets about 120 yards away, "Grace" is wanting to run at him again. I whistle her to stay, and the coyote comes a bit closer. I can just see his head at the crest of the knob they ran around. Im trying to decide to shoot now or let them chase again. I decide to go ahead and shoot, as both dogs are looking at him. The whole scene has me shaking like a dog trying to shit a peach pit. I dont get that jacked up with a bear on the ground...LOL I try to slow down and focus but I F'ing MISS and he runs off. The dogs start to him when he breaks, but I call them back. Im sooo pissed at myself for not taking advantage of a perfect trainer. When I get home the Cowboy calls and asks if I want to coon hunt tonight and bear hunt in the morning. I say "nope, Im going to get a coyote in the morning!"

Morning cant come soon enough. I have replayed the whole thing in my head a million times and cant wait to even the score. I head to a different spot. The dogs come lay down when I start calling. About 5 minutes into it I notice some movement down to my right. Its a coyote about 300 yards out. Im already thinking what I will do in different scenarios. Just as Im about to get the coyote in my scope I notice a second coyote coming into the first! They keep coming in, side by side. The dogs have not seen them, and Im not hissing them. I want these in our lap! The coyotes hold up about yards out. I hiss and the dogs sit up looking. I squeak and they start in again. "Grace" spots them, but I hold her for just a second. The coyotes have a small rise between us and I figure they will be out of sight for a second or two when they get to it. As soon as their heads disappear I let "Grace" go, she is heading at them full speed with "Gus" in tow. They almost meet at the crest. The coyotes split, one goes straight away and one goes to my left. "Grace" has the one that went straight away in her sights. They go about 120 yards and "Grace" rolls the coyote. She has it by the neck and is shaking it like a rag. "Gus" is barking like mad and trying to grab a bit of fur when she stops shaking it. She has it pinned to the ground and "Gus" is tugging. I know it wont get up. I turn to look for the other and it has stopped about 200 yards out, and is watching the dogs. I get it lined up and drop it in its tracks! I shout to the dogs, and "Grace" comes away from the first and starts my way. She knows I shot and is looking all over for another. She winds the second coyote and goes over and gives it a shaking for good measure. "Gus" is still with the first. I get them all gathered up and head back to the truck. Im over the moon with the dogs and my luck. If it gets much better, I cant imagine it.

 

Take care.

[stormrider8 59]

Sounds like a good crack to me. Which is the harder to stop a coyote or bear? How the feck to you train a pup up on either of them, bet you get alot of jibbers?

[indiana 1]

Good reading Doc.

[UphillDoc 278]

stormrider8-If you take the "average" bear vs. "average" coyote, I think the coyote is harder to catch with dogs. A bear and a coyote bring different challenges to the table, but both will test your dogs. There are lots of dogs sorted thru to find the right kind for either game, and the only way I know to train a dog on its game, is to try it over and over and see which take to it.

 

Indiana-Thanks. You should post some coyote stories yourself.

 

Take care.

[indiana 1]

stormrider8-If you take the "average" bear vs. "average" coyote, I think the coyote is harder to catch with dogs. A bear and a coyote bring different challenges to the table, but both will test your dogs. There are lots of dogs sorted thru to find the right kind for either game, and the only way I know to train a dog on its game, is to try it over and over and see which take to it.

 

Indiana-Thanks. You should post some coyote stories yourself. Doc, I do have a couple good stories. Unfortunately, I don't have a way with words like you do. ( you write well ) I have taken almost no pics while hunting over the years, And I really regret that. I am going to try and do a better job on the camera end of things this winter. Marty

 

Take care.

[Dan Edwards 1,134]

Here is a pic of Grace with the two yotes.

[littletimmy 71]

Here is a pic of Grace with the two yotes.

 

 

she looks undamaged in that picutre how does she kill them? Does she often get bitten?

[UphillDoc 278]

littletimmy-She didnt have but a nick from this one, but she does occasionally get more marked up. She usually throats them, and that keeps her from taking much stick. The dogs that dont get the throat, or that dont commit to killing one, are the ones that really pay the price.

 

Take care.

[Dan Edwards 1,134]

Those who do not commit on a coyote get ate the feck up for sure. I have seen some bad bad damage done in a hurry and I am sure most coyote hunters have seen it too.

[rolly 0]

Good stuff there Doc. Who bred up Grace and the others? Would be nice to have something a little larger like Grace to watch Twig's back, my new one from RC. Great stories.

Edited September 2, 2008 by rolly

[UphillDoc 278]

Rolly-"Grace" was bred by "Badger" in OK. I think your new gyp "Twig" will be very similar to "Grace" when full grown. I do like watching the dogs work together as team better than one solo. I may be breeding "Grace" in the next month or so, and your welcome to one if it happens.

 

Take care.

[Pops 19]

what's the breeding going to be on that and what are you going to be asking for pups?

[UphillDoc 278]

Pops-The stud is still up in the air. I may go back to a stag or may take a chance on my young lurcher male "Gus" the pups will be 3/4 stag 1/4 bull or 1/2 stag 1/4 bull 1/4 Running Walker, depending on the stud. It will be a last minute decision Im sure...LOL Pups will be free to hunting homes.

 

Take care.

[Pops 19]

dang, I'm going to have to knock off my mom and buy the wife something nice w/ the insurance money.

[bluecollar 104]

Speaking of breeding Cleo the BMC whelped 2 nights ago, I am not sure how many she had but she was bred to Rocks Stitch so the pups should be KILLERS for sure.. If I go up there soon I will bring you one back w/ me..

 

Christian J.