predator xtreme. february 2014

RRA Predator Pursuit Tested

SEE ON PAGE 20!

2014 READERS CHOICEAWARD WINNERSINSIDE! PG. 72

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COYOTE-HUNTING SCHOOL

SOLO CALLING

COYDOGS: MYTH OR REAL?

SHOOTING MULTIPLES

RING THE RIGHT DINNER BELL

COYOTE-HUNTING SCHOOL

SOLO CALLING

COYDOGS: MYTH OR REAL?

SHOOTING MULTIPLES

OPTICS ROUNDUP!OPTICS ROUNDUP!

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2 WWW.PREDATORXTREME.COM FEBRUARY 2014

FEATURES COLUMNS6 Letter To The ReaderBy Mark Olis

12 Lead DogPredator Hunting News

22 Inside The DenCoydogs: More Myth Than Reality?By Patrick Durkin

30 Airgun AdvantageBlack Guns!By Jim Chapman

36 All About GunsRock River Arms 16-Inch Mid Predator PursuitBy Scott Mayer

40 Caller For HireSolo Song DoggerBy Tom Austin

DEPARTMENTS86 Hot TipsCalling In Multiples By Joe Bradshaw

88 Passport To AdventureNorthwest Colorado Public-Land Coyotes By David Hart

100 The Last WordPredator Hunting Is Changing. Are You?By Judd Cooney

44 Product Roundup Optics By Jace Bauserman

52 Calling All Coyotes By Geoff Nemnich

72 2014 Readers Choice Awards

62 Coyote SchoolBy P. Garrett Leeberg

Cover Photo: Tim Christie

Volume 15, Issue 1

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EDITORIALEDITORMark Olis

GROUP MANAGING EDITORHilary Dyer

DIGITAL CONTENT DIRECTORScott Brown

CREATIVE SENIOR ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION MANAGER

Tod Molina

GRAPHIC DESIGNERSBrandon WatkinsJustin Lancaster

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Lee Hetherington

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Brad Youngblood

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It all started forty five years ago when I called in my first coyote. This year is a celebra-tion of my tenth year with Will Primos and Primos Hunting. We teamed up together and began designing predator calls and producing The TRUTH Calling all Coyotes Series DVDs. This video continues our tradition of educating and entertaining through our tactics and antics. Id like to thank the Primos family and all the people that have helped us along the way for ten years of Speaking The Language.

3 HOURS, 50 KILLS Randy Anderson

www.callingcoyotes.comPhone Orders Call: (402)376-1120

Calling All Coyotes, Inc . PO Box 423 . Valentine, NE 69201

ORDER ONLINE TODAY!


LETTER TO THE READER

AS A YOUNGSTER, I WOULD SIT IN MY TREESTAND OR ALONG A DIRT ROAD

WELL AFTER DARK WAITING ON MY FATHER TO COME PICK ME UP FROM

THE EVENING DEER HUNT. My dad was wild about small-game hunt-ing, but once deer season started, he just enjoyed being at the hunt club making improvements on the old trailer we slept in and cook-ing all of our meals. I, however, enjoyed hunting deer, and since we belonged to a deer-hunting club where small-game hunting wasnt allowed until after deer season, he would wait back at camp until the other members drove in from their evening hunts. That way he didnt risk getting his two-wheel-drive Dodge pickup stuck when pulling off to the side of the narrow dirt roads to pass an outgoing member. Naturally, I was left to sit quietly in the woods all alone for close to an hour after dark.

It was during these quiet times that I would hear the yips and howls of coyotes emanating from the nearby thickets as they began their nightly prowls into the prey-rich bottomlands along the Tom-bigbee River in southwest Alabama. If they were close, I would sit with my rifle and flashlight at ready mostly as a defensive maneu-ver. A 12-year-olds imagination can definitely get the best of him in the dark woods all alone. It was during these times that I pondered how I might be able to hunt these wild and mysterious critters. No one I knew hunted them only shot them if they walked out dur-ing a deer hunt.

It would be some years later, during my freshman year at Auburn University, before I would find the answer I was looking for. One af-ternoon after class, a friend and I watched a predator-hunting video. The guys in the video made it look so fun and easy. Just blow on a call and here they come running! It got us so fired up that we hopped in my truck and drove over to the local sporting goods store, where I bought a wooden Circe rabbit-distress call. We grabbed our camo and deer-hunting rifles and drove 25 minutes south to a hunting lease I belonged to. I had a particular secluded pasture in mind. The woods behind it dropped off into a thick swamp, and I had heard coyotes after dark in the area plenty of times after deer hunting.

We managed to talk another buddy into coming with us, and the three of us walked up the hill to the pasture and sat down under a huge oak tree. We were perpendicular to the long pasture and the thick swamp was about 100 yards directly beyond that. I pulled that wooden call out and with my best attempt, blew a mournful chorus for about 30 seconds through the late November air. The sun was still 30 minutes from setting, and about five minutes into my set I blew on the call again. After tucking it back into my jacket, I looked up, and 80 yards straight out from our hide was a big red-furred coyote, sitting with its ears up looking for the ruckus! I whispered to my buddy, Theres one. He said, Where? I said, Im about to shoot. I put the crosshairs of my Nikon scope directly in the center of his chest and squeezed the trigger. The big male dropped, and so began my obsession with calling predators. While my batting average definitely dropped on subsequent hunts, my interest in predator hunting never did.

I studied journalism at Auburn with hopes of becoming an outdoor writer for a living. Thanks to veteran outdoor writer J. Wayne Fears, I was given that opportunity right out of college. However, I would have never dreamed of becoming the editor of Predator Xtreme magazine. Im grateful for the opportunity and excited about working with some of the best predator-hunting writers in the world. Im perhaps more excited about hearing from you, the guys who spend their free time in the field, the ones who work to hunt. So shoot me an email (or send a let-ter) and let me know what articles you would like to see. Also, send in your pics and short articles for our popular From The Readers section. Not only do these articles appear in the pages of PX, but they appear on www.predatorxtreme.com, too. While there, check out all the online-only content and hunting videos.

I look forward to serving you with the most entertaining and informa-tional predator-hunting articles avail-able. Our writers are some of the best at their trade. Heck, some of these guys make their living from predator hunting and are eager to share their expertise with you. So dont be shy. Lets hear from you. I cant promise to respond to every email, but I will definitely read them all and take your thoughts into consideration. So heres to many years of sharing predator-hunting stories and knowl-edge with one another. Oh, and good luck hunting!

God Bless,

[email protected]

NEW BEGINNINGS

MARK OLIS


LEAD DOG

FROM THE READERS

If you have a predator-hunting tip, a unique picture, or a cool hunting story to tell, we want it. Your story and photo might end up in the pages of Predator Xtreme magazine or online. All submissions must include a picture. Send letters to Mark Olis at P.O. Box 698, Birmingham, AL 35201 or send e-mails to [email protected].

A BOYS FIRST COYOTE HUNTIs Hank a huntin dog, dad? asked my 7-year-old son Zack as we motored through the dark to our first set of his first coy-ote hunt. Hank, our Rhodesian ridgeback, shot me a quizzical glance from the passenger seat, as if he wanted to know, too.

Well Zack, I think Hank is more of a cheerleader, I replied. I could feel them both staring at me in the dark of the cab, both with heads cocked slightly. Zack finally asked what both were thinking: Whats that mean?

Hank likes to go, but would rather wait in the car and be happy when we get something.

Oh, Zack stated flatly, obviously disappointed.

We putted down the highway turning towards the Columbia River of central Washington and the sage-covered foothills above. The dirt road held 2 inches of fresh snow and our SUV made crisp lines on the white strips of the two track. I nestled the Blazer into a brushy cubby below the railroad tracks that ran between the sage hills and the river breaks.

Soon the sound of invita-tion howls and then cottontail distress were breaking the quiet of the morning. The next round of crying critter woke Zack from his slumber, as the first coyote broke from the brush 50 yards upwind, then a second. My crosshairs settled on the latter as it darted forward, only to have a third materialize in its place. The crack of the .204 seemed to make number three melt into the tall cheatgrass. The deathly slow tail circles gave away his fate as numbers one and two disap-peared back into the sagebrush.

My now-wide-awake hunt-ing partner wiggled excitedly. I opened my Savages action and rested it carefully against the bank. Do you want to finish him off? I asked. He handed me his 10/22 as I inserted the magazine from my pocket. With the action closed, we carefully approached the expiring coyote, where Zack made a carefully placed heart shot, followed by elated grins, high fives and hugs.

One set of snowy foot-prints and some drag marks were all that marked the path back to the vehicle, as the smallest hunter walked only on the brisk winter air.

Hank met us with a cur-sory sniff of our quarry and lots of wiggly, wet, warm licks to the face of my happy son.

Zane Brock, Washington

MAINE YOTESUp here in Maine we have started hunting coyotes to try help the deer herd. A friend called and said the coyotes were coming up on his deck and howling every night nearby. He was worried about letting his small dog outside. So we set up bait in a backfield across the road (calling is hard here with the thick woods). I took this pair in the same day, one early morning, and the other at noon. This brings my total to eight coyotes Ive shot from this one place. Some were close to 50 pounds. Im glad I got into hunting coy-otes, its fun and helps the local deer herd, plus it makes the winter go by faster!

Jim Young, Monson, Maine

Zack proudly poses for a photo with a coyote that he helped his dad get. It was Zacks fi rst coyote hunt.

Jim Young of Maine uses a bait site to lure in wary coyotes. He got this pair in the same day one early in the morning and the other one at noon.


LEAD DOG

COMMENTS FROM...Check out www.predatorxtreme.com for the latest predator news

and join the conversation! Become a fan on Facebook, too, where were always talkin hunting, www.facebook.com/GrandViewOutdoors.PREDATOR NEWS

JOIN THE DISCUSSION!

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) San Jose councilmembers have approved a measure that allows residents to shoot wild pigs that have become a nuisance by rip-ping up lawns and golf course fairways.

The San Jose Mercury News reported the council voted 8-3 on Tuesday to permit the shooting that will remain in effect for three months.

Councilman Johnny Khamis said its not his inten-tion to commit a pig genocide, but hes concerned the pigs may attack residents.

Dozens of the 200-pound pigs have been spotted in south San Jose this fall. Some people have reported thousands of dollars in damage as the pigs try to dig up food under the grass.

Those who are thinking about shooting a pig have to obtain a depredation permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

CALIFORNIA CITY TO SHOOT PIGS

Yeah, but dont shoot them with a semi-automatic rifle, a rifle with a thumb hole stock, or a magazine holding more than 10 rounds. Also, remember to shoot them in a kind and gentle fashion using lead free bullets. Capn Jack

Yep, the sanctimonious tree huggers have a breaking point when it comes to wild animals, dont mess with their lawns or golf courses. Dywlf

COMMENTS FROM...

.COM

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) Arizona officials are analyzing the results of government-funded hunt that has killed 669 coyotes in northern Arizona to reduce the predators kills of pronghorn antelope fawns.

The state Department of Game and Fish paid $120,000 to have the hunting conducted between 2010 and 2012, the Arizona Daily Sun reported.

Most of the hunting was conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and most of it was done from aircraft.

The hunting has been conducted in an area between the Grand Canyon on the north and Wil-liams on the south and west of State Route 64.

The antelope population in the area where hunting was conducted grew several times larger in two years, while there was no change in a nearby area where hunting was not conducted.

Brian Wakeling, Game and Fish big game program supervisor, had hoped increased sales of pronghorn hunting permits might produce enough revenue to pay for sustained aerial shooting of coyotes.

However, the desire to preserve the pronghorn meant that the large population increase did not dramatically boost the number of hunting permits sold, Wakeling said.

COYOTE CULL HELPS ARIZONA ANTELOPE


LEAD DOGLEAD DOG

BEDFORD, Va. (AP) Hunters and trappers can win cash prizes for killing coyotes in Bedford County.

The countys coyote lottery began in late October and runs through mid-March.

The News & Advance reports that participants receive a lot-tery entry for each coyote killed. Theres no limit on entries.

The top prize is $2,000. Sec-ond prize is $1,000, followed by prizes of $500 and $200.

A drawing is set for March 15 at noon at Bedfords Central Vir-ginia Community College center.

County officials launched the lottery last year. Nearly 100 coy-otes were killed.

COYOTE LOTTERY WIN!The Pulsar N750 is en-gineered with the latest advancements in the electronics and optics fields, allowing for easy operation in daytime or complete darkness. Along with exceptional opti-cal characteristics, the riflescope features a quick and effective one-shot zeroing method, offering less time to zero in and little room for error. The N750 also features a high-power digital zoom capable of increasing the magnification from 4.5X to 6.75X. This feature aids during long-range shooting, offering a more precisely placed shot. Maximum detection range of the N750 is 600 meters, also perfect for long-range targets. For more information, visit www.pulsarnv.com. Visit www.grandviewoutdoors.com/contests to enter for your chance to win.

A PULSAR N750


LEAD DOG

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) State Sen. Ernie Chambers has warned he will oppose all Nebraska Game and Parks Commission requests of the Legislature in the upcoming 2014 session, as long as the agency allows mountain lions to be hunted.

Chambers, of Omaha, issued the warning on November 15 to Roger Kuhn, parks division ad-ministrator, the Lincoln Journal Star reported.

Kuhn was before the Legislatures Executive Board with two requests to accept donations of land and a playground structure. Any land dona-tion worth more than $10,000 and certain other donations offered between sessions must be ap-proved by the board and others, including the governor.

Chambers said he would vote against the requests, because he is upset that the Game and Parks Commission has approved a short, trial mountain lion hunting season for next year.

I was told that fears led to the creation of a hunting season for these, what I consider to be regal animals, Chamber said. And these fears were engendered by the possibility or likelihood of these animals eating the grandchildren of Nebraskans.

Last year, the Legislature passed a bill that would allow mountain lion hunting, after in-creased sightings of the animals around the state. At the time, officials estimated there were fewer than 60 mountains lions living in the wild in Nebraska.

The Executive Board delayed taking a vote on Kuhns requests, because three board members were absent from the meeting.

Chambers told the board that even if it ap-proved the donations, he would offer a motion during the next legislative session beginning in January to undo that approval.

NEBRASKA SENATOR

THREATENS GAME

AND PARKS OVER

MOUNTAIN LION HUNT


LEAD DOG

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NEW PRODUCT


INSIDE THE DEN Patrick Durkin

PRO STAFFPATRICK DURKIN:

Patrick Durkin is a lifelong

hunter and longtime

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has also edited several

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in making cutting-edge

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NEVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU THERES NO SUCH THING AS A COYDOG AND DISMISS IT AS A RURAL LEGEND OR MYTHICAL MUTT. DNA testing in recent years documents that wild coyotes have bred domestic dogs and pro-duced hybrids that also reproduced.

On the other hand, never let anyone tell you coydogs are taking over the neigh-borhood and pushing coyotes toward the Endangered Species List.

The truth, however, isnt centered between those extremes. When biologists and geneticists discuss coydogs and their abundance in the wild, they align closer to the first statement than the second. Yes, coyotes breed with domesticated dogs, but nature has ways to make such pairings dif-ficult and uncommon.

After speaking with zoologists and read-ing research into coyote-dog hybrids since the 1940s, I think its fair to say coydogs usually result from unique circumstances. For instance, as coyotes expanded their range into Southeastern states during the past century, their pioneers were mostly

young, solitary males seeking mates. (Researchers agree its highly unlikely a female coyote would mate with a domestic dog.) When female coyotes are in short supply, some male coy-otes might seek female domestic dogs in heat and do something unusual: breed them rather than kill them.

Even when that scenario un-folds, the hybrid progeny face uphill fights for survival. They dont make good pets for most people, and those that do arent likely to return to the wild. Even if the progeny reproduce, their coyote genes are soon swamped within the large popu-lation of domestic dogs.

NATURAL BARRIERSBut what about those unusual cases where the mother dog is feral and gives birth to her litter in the wild? When her offspring mature, theyll likely be out of sync with the wild coyotes breeding cycle. Coyotes typically breed from late Janu-ary to early March, while the coydogs breeding cycle starts two months earlier, primarily in December.

Assuming some male hybrids survive, theyll probably strug-gle to find a female coyote in heat when theyre feeling rutty. Even if they do breed with a female coyote, their dog genes will soon be swamped. After all, coyotes prefer to breed with other full-bred coyotes. Yes, some coydog genes get passed along every time they breed with coyotes, but within a cou-ple of generations their genes become unrecognizable without sophisticated DNA testing.

Meanwhile, a female hybrid will also be out of sync with the coyotes breeding season. But if she manages to get impregnated during her December estrus

Lets look at how common coydogs are and if they really are taking over the woods near you.

COYDOGS: MORE MYTH THAN REALITY?


INSIDE THE DEN

period, her pups could be vul-nerable when theyre born two months later. Not only will they be born in late winter, which can be tough some years es-pecially in Northern climates but their care will fall en-tirely on their mother if she was impregnated by a hybrid male. Unlike male coyotes, hybrid males just like domestic dogs have no parenting instincts.

These pups might make it in warmer winters and in Southern states, but their odds improve if another circumstance unfolds: If the female hybrid is lucky enough to be impregnated by a wild coyote that was rutting ear-lier than normal, she might get some help whelping her litter. This scenario is probably rare, and not something hybrids can count on. Therefore, the genes of hybrid offspring are once

again absorbed by the coyote population and largely vanish.

In other words, no mat-ter which scenario unfolds in the wild, coyotes are far more likely to swamp the coydogs gene pool than the other way around. That means coydogs are mostly individual, short-lived phenomena in natures grand scheme.

STUDYING THE COYDOGAt least thats what the best available science tells us. For example, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation notes that coyotes moved into the Empire State from the 1950s through the 1970s. But more than 40 years later, The occurrence of a coy-dog would be an extremely rare event in New York today, the report states.

Not far to the west, the Ohio Division of Wildlife analyzed 414 skulls from wild canids from 1982 to 1988 at its Crane Creek Wildlife Experiment Sta-tion. Only 10 of the skulls, or 2.5 percent, were determined to be from coydogs. The vast majority, 379 (91.5 percent), were from coyotes. The rest, 25 (6 percent), were feral dogs. The agencys report in The Ohio Journal of Science stat-ed: The incidence of coydog hybrids was high only in areas of expanding, widely dispersed coyote populations.

That doesnt mean coydogs arent fascinating creatures, however. People report them regularly, based mostly on dog-like traits they see in the animals tail, face or ears. And theyve been reporting them in North America since at least the


INSIDE THE DEN

1800s as Europeans settled the continent.

By the mid-1900s, research-ers were studying them, docu-menting their findings, and disproving assumptions as they compiled more information. A 1942 study of captive coyote-dog hybrids concluded they were most likely sterile and could not become established in wild populations. A 1943 study suggested hybrids might not be able to survive one year.

Subsequent studies in 1969 and 1971, however, found coy-dogs were fertile and could sur-vive to maturity. Even so, these two studies by Silver and Silver and Robert Mengel concluded the coyotes mating seasons and behaviors would make it impossible for coydogs to breed back (backcross) into the wild coyote population.

Arkansas researchers in 1972, however, contradicted that belief, and concluded it was possible for coydogs to backcross. In fact, researchers in Oklahoma (1976) and Ne-braska (1978) found evidence coydogs were indeed breeding back into wild coyote popula-tions. And even though a 1981 study of 167 coyote skulls in western South Dakota pro-duced no evidence of coydog hybrids, the researchers noted that the U.S. National Museum held several skulls thought to be hybrids from South Dakota. Therefore, they found it likely that some hybridization was occurring in the state.

Irrefutable proof, however, remained scarce. Research-ers J.R. Adams, J.A. Leonard and L.P. Waits from Idaho and California noted in 2003 that

domestic dogs have shared North America for 9,000 years with coyotes, gray wolves and red wolves. Despite all those years living amongst each other, no actual genetic mate-rial from dogs had showed up in any of these wild species despite tests on more than 700 individual animals through the mid-1990s.

ERA OF DNA TESTINGThat changed about 12 years ago when Adams, Leonard and Waits analyzed tissues from 24 coyotes in West Virginia, 61 in Virginia, 24 in North Carolina and three in Florida. The researchers DNA analy-sis found 12 of these animals had a gene closely related to domestic dogs. The area where they uncovered these matches corresponds to a region where


coyotes had been trucked in from Texas and released for sport hunting.

The report states: Dispersing juvenile males are much more abundant in this trade because they are easier to capture. Some coyotes were released into areas, which previously had no coyotes, and they escaped. (They) may have been the first coyotes in many areas, thus lacking female counterparts. In this situation, one male may have mated with a single female dog. The female hybrid off-spring may have been accepted by male coyotes because there were no other female coyotes available.

Since then, the coyote population has grown to the point where coyote genes swamped the coydogs genes. The researchers concluded: There has been no appreciable effect on the coyotes genetic, morphological or behavioral integrity.

CONCLUSIONSome coydogs, however, owe their existence to far more di-rect human intervention. Some breeders have held coyotes in captivity and bred them with beagles, terriers, German shep-herds and other domestic dogs. Not surprisingly, dog breed-ers report that the offspring of these forced pairings are not playful or outgoing, and require expert handling.

The take-home message from that seems clear: Humans should tread carefully when trying to defeat the barriers na-ture built around wild coyotes. When we breach those barriers, the progeny will probably be less predictable than what we expect from wild coyotes and domestic dogs.

INSIDE THE DEN


PRO STAFF JIM CHAPMAN: Jim Chapman has been hunting with traditional firearms for more than 30 years. Over the last 20 years, most of his hunting has focused on the use of airguns. He has taken all manner of small game, varmints, predators, and, more recently, big game with both production guns and custom big bores.

BLACK GUNS!Compact size and semi-auto capabilities make these airguns a varmint hunters dream.

ANYONE WHOS BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO FIREARM TRENDS OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO HAS NOTED THE INTENSE INTEREST IN GUNS WITH MILITARY OR TACTICAL DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS. These guns have been broadening their appeal, at first with target shooters, and more recently with hunters. Predator hunters were the first to jump on the band-wagon with respect to the hunt-ing community, but with the introduction of other calibers more suited to big-game hunt-ing, there is growing interest from deer hunters as well.

Airgunning trends often fol-low the same course as those seen in the powder-burning world, and while I have always been more of a traditionalist in my aesthetic preferences when it comes to shooting hardware, I must admit that these designs have a lot of appeal. While the term black gun has been

bullpup design; or incorporate a mixture of these design ele-ments and position the airtank in the stock or as a bottle or tube under the barrel. Examples of the former are the Airforce Con-dor, Talon and FX Verminator, and of the latter are the Evanix Max, the new FX Bobcat, and the growing lineup of bullpup designs. There are also guns like the Evanix GTL series, which are quasi bullpups that use semi-au-tomatic actions and offer many of the advantages of both design approaches.

Ive been doing a lot of shoot-ing with these guns, and a fair amount of hunting as well. Ill give you a quick run-through on several of these models and give you my read on them. My cri-teria is that the gun is accurate, powerful, fast to cycle and easy to carry; has flexibility to shoot from any field position; and has the caliber selection for the type of hunting I want to use it for.

AirForce was the first Ameri-can manufacturer to jump into the PCP market several years ago, with a design that is simple and elegant and from the very beginning had that tactical

applied to quite a broad range of guns, there are several shared attributes. These guns are usu-ally compact, have an adjustable stock (telescopic or folding), utilize synthetic materials, incor-porate a pistol grip, and have a number of options for mount-ing adjunct gear (lights, lasers, bipods). And whether youre hunting predators or varmints with firearms or airguns, these are useful features to have.

There is a challenge when designing this type of gun based on a pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) action aside from any-thing you might want to do for the stock and trigger assembly, you need to figure out how to incorporate the air storage to power it. There are a couple ap-proaches with variations on the theme: implement a design that uses a synthetic stock, incor-porates a pistol grip, and uses a carbine-length barrel; develop a

AIRGUN ADVANTAGE Jim Chapman

Three of the new Military Look semi-auto PCP air rifl es offered by Evanix: The GTL .357 (top), the GTL .22 (middle), and the MAX .25 (bottom).


AIRGUN ADVANTAGE

military look and feel to it. Their Talon, Talon-P and Condor all use the airtank as the butt-stock, use synthetic materials, and feature a pistol grip and a fully shrouded barrel. They have a carry handle with an 11mm dovetail incorporated to mount optics, and another Weaver-style mount under the barrel shroud onto which a light or bipod can be mounted. These guns come in .177, .22, and .25 with a wide range of factory and aftermarket options available. The AirForce guns are accurate and very pow-erful, they have adjustable power, and they can be broken down for transport. The only thing Im not crazy about is that they are single-shot and have a safety that automatically deploys when the gun is cocked. Lawyers like it, I dont, but it is easy enough to deactivate once you get the rifle home with you. There is a very active community of AirForce shooters that have their own forums, and there is a robust ac-cessories market with a number of vendors and talented airgun smiths that can help you make the gun exactly what you want.

Evanix is a Korean company that has made a strong push into the U.S. airgun market, and has differentiated themselves with innovative designs, rea-sonable pricing, and a strong value proposition. The Max was their first bullpup design, based on the proven semi/full-auto actions used in the companys Speed/Conquest product line. This gun uses a battery-powered electromechanical actuator to cycle the gun in semi or full auto, though a decision has been made not to offer the full-auto in our market, which in terms of a hunting gun is irrelevant. This gun is available in .177, .22, .25, and .357, using a rotary magazine housed in a protective

The new Evanix GTL 480 S .357 PCP air rifl e is a predator-hunting machine!


cassette to deliver pellets as fast as you can pull the trigger. This gun uses a lot of metal for the action and forestock, and it has a hardwood thumbhole stock, which is compact although fairly heavy. Having said this, its still easy to carry with a three-point AR-style sling, and though its on the heavy side, the compactness of the gun moves that weight towards the shooters center, making it very stable to shoot offhand.

Recently Ive been shooting the Evanix GTL 480 S rifles/carbines/bullpup (not sure what to call it) quite a bit, and have found the .22 and .357 versions to be exceedingly accurate. The reason I cant decide how to classify this gun is that the action has been moved rearward so it sits behind the trigger and uses a linking mechanism, but the action is not

moved all the way back to the heel of the buttstock. So its not really a bullpup, even though it kind of looks like one. It uses a full-length 20-inch barrel, and because the action has been shifted rearward, the gun has a reduced overall length, but its a rifle barrel and not a carbine. The important point is that the guns are quite compact and have a good ergonomic design; not always easy with a bullpup(ish) design. Both of these guns are very accurate and powerful, and with the 480cc airtank bracketed by the forestock assembly, they offer a high-shot count. The distal tank stabilizer has a Pica-tinny rail designed in for easy mounting of a light or bipod. The only negative for this gun, in my experience, is that due to the extensive use of metal in the stock, they are heavy. However,

similar to the Max, the compact dimensions of the gun offsets the weight, making it easy to carry and easy to bring into action.

There are several other guns in this class that have either been recently introduced to market or are on the horizon. One rifle Im very anxious to get my hands on is the new FX Bobcat, which is the Swedish manufacturers first bullpup design. The reason I am looking forward to this gun is that FX makes some of my favor-ite air rifles, from the takedown Verminator (which Ive written much about) to their mid-bore Boss .303, and every one that Ive shot is a tack hammer! There are also some interesting bullpup im-ports, such as the Russian-made Cricket and Edguns, that have had a very positive reception from American shooters since their introduction.

AIRGUN ADVANTAGE

So even though my aesthetic sensibilities remain unchanged when it comes to a finely figured traditional wooden stock, after shooting these newer styles I have to appreciate what they bring to the table. Easily maneu-verable and quick to bring into action, they are a great option for hunting in thick brush. Ive always felt that if something works in the field, it deserves to be used, and these guns work like a charm! This trend toward more tactical designs will con-tinue, and I anticipate most manufacturers will come to market with an offering in the not-too-distant future. If you are looking for a compact and fast-handling predator or varmint gun, I can recommend you take a look at what this class of guns has to offer.Jim lines up a shot with the AirForce Talon-P pistol/carbine. This gun is a compact

.25 powerhouse, making it ideal for varmints and close-range predators.


ALL ABOUT GUNS Scott Mayer

PRO STAFFSCOTT MAYER:

Mayer began his outdoor industry career in 1993 on the NRA Technical Staff where he became American Rifleman magazines first Shooting Editor. Mayer left NRA and entered the business end of publishing in 2003 as Advertising Ac-count Executive for SCIs SAFARI Magazine and Sa-fari Times paper. In 2006, Mayer was named Pub-lisher of Shooting Times magazine where he was also tasked with launch-ing and leading Personal Defense TV, the first tele-vision show of its kind.

THE POLITICAL CLIMATE OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS

KICKED OFF A SUSTAINED GUN-BUYING FRENZY PAR-

TICULARLY IN THE AR MARKET THAT IS COMPLETELY

UNPRECEDENTED, EVEN ECLIPSING THAT OF 1994. For years, shooters have literally snatched up any AR they could, even if it wasnt quite the right gun, for fear that one like it might not ever be available again.

Look, I get it. I did the same thing during Y2K and ended up with a wonderful garden-variety A2 that wasnt quite what I wanted, but would do in a pinch if all things electronic either croaked or went Skynet on us at midnight. But now its time to take a breath, assess what features you really need, and not compromise on your dedicated predator rig.

The one Ive been looking at lately is the Mid Predator Pursuit from Rock River Arms, and the more I use this AR, the more Im convinced that theres little, if any, compromise for predator hunt-ers. For one thing, it should be a given by now that the AR platform is ideal for predators. Theyre accu-rate, and they offer low recoil, potent chamberings, and quick follow-up shots for times such as when a pair of coyotes comes in and one meets 55 grains of awesome right away while the other runs off a hundred yards or so and stops to look back.

This gun is a mid-length, meaning the gas system is shorter than a rifles but longer than a carbines. The length of the gas system and position

of the gas port are critical because if the port is too close to the chamber, pressure is too high for too long and can damage the gun. If its too close to the muzzle, pressure drops off before the gun cycles and it might short stroke. With its 16-inch barrel, a carbine gas system mechanically could work on this gun, but I think its better that Rock River chose a mid-length because its easier on the gun and should be reliable with a wider variety of loads. Another benefit is that a mid-length has a longer forend, and that gives you more flexibility positioning the gun for a shot from shooting sticks especially on uneven ground or if you have to shoot from an uncon-ventional position.

NOT A WALK-AROUND GUN, BUTAt 7.2 pounds unloaded and with-out a scope, this isnt a gun you take for a walk hoping to jump-shoot a coyote, but its also much lighter than the varmint-type of ARs that are best set up on a portable bench over a prairie dog town. It has

ROCK RIVER ARMS 16-INCH MID PREDATOR PURSUIT


enough heft that you can hold it steady even if youre a little winded from blowing a long series of calls and is still light enough to easily carry from one calling location to another.

Its heavy match stainless barrel has both pros and cons. The pros include there not being a lot of length wagging around that a predator can see, and being shorter means it picks up targets faster. Theres also a good argument to be made that shorter barrels are inherently more accurate than longer ones because they whip less when shot.

The primary con to a short barrel is that you give up a little velocity over a longer one (for the .223 Rem. its about 30 fps per inch according to SAAMI standards). Some also might gripe that theres no muzzle brake on the Predator Pursuit, but Id ask them if theyve ever fired a 16-inch-barreled AR. Theyre loud, and with a brake theyre REALLY loud, and to me that just means having to put more distance be-tween calling locations.

ACCURACY GUARANTEEDRock River Arms offers a MOA guarantee on these guns, and while thats a really good guarantee, its also a safe one considering its accuracy-enhancing features plus Rock Rivers well-earned reputation for high quality at a good price. The match-grade barrels are air gauged to ensure bore uniformity, and theyre cryogenic treated. I was involved in an extensive cryo-treating test in 1999 and, while it will never make an inaccurate gun into an accurate one, I found as much as a 98-percent probability that it could increase accu-racy. Surrounding the barrel is Rock Rivers aluminum free-float tube, so theres nothing touching the barrel that could push it off from its zeroed position.

When it comes to the .223 chambering, my opinion (and I rate it nothing more) is that there are 55-grain bullets and then theres everything else. Since your opinion may differ, Rock River gives the Predator Pursuit a 1:8-inch twist that should stabilize a wide va-riety of bullets. Bullet length is primarily what deter-mines twist rate, and the longer the bullet, the faster a twist thats needed to stabilize it. Since most shooters view bullet length in terms of weight, the 1:8-inch twist lets you accurately shoot .223 bullets that are on the heavy side.

The chamber is the .223 Wylde. Thats a match chamber relieved in the body and with a short match throat that safely fires either .223 Rem. or 5.56mm NATO ammunition. Many folks shoot those two interchangeably, but there is a difference, and the Wylde chamber lets you hunt with varmint ammo and practice with less expensive military surplus with-out worrying about it.


ALL ABOUT GUNS

Another accuracy-influencing feature is the two-stage match trigger, and its a far cry from the two-stage triggers you find on surplus Mauser rifles. The -inch of take-up has a little more resis-tance than what one normally finds followed by a light, crisp break with no creep or overtravel. The heavier-than-usual take-up is going to take some range time to get used to, but once you put on a pair of gloves, youll see how it helps with trigger control. Gloves mask a lot of trigger finger sensi-tivity, so its possible to fire before youre ready with a light trig-ger pull and too light a take-up. Theres a winter trigger guard on this gun, so Rock River clearly has gloved shooters in mind.

Though its not an accuracy-enhancing feature, the Predator Pursuit has a forward assist, and its probably the one feature I

think this gun can do without. The purpose of the forward assist is to force the bolt closed on a troublesome round. When hunt-ing, I can see a case for it if you dont want to make a lot of noise and you ease the bolt down on a loaded round while controlling the charging handle and then use the forward assist to make sure everythings seated properly. Well-known personal defense instruc-tor Clint Smith taught me to seat things by pushing forward using the cutout in the side of the bolt instead, because smacking the for-ward assist can hopelessly stick a cartridge in the chamber. Whether you use the cutout or the assist is up to you.

ON THE RANGEFor accuracy testing, I topped the Predator Pursuit with a Burris 6.5-20X scope. That scope is better

suited for smaller targets such as prairie dogs, but I wanted to elimi-nate as much human error as pos-sible. Loads ranged from handloads with Speer 52-grain hollowpoints up to factory 75-grain Hornady TAP ammo. TAP isnt what Id use for predators, but I wanted to push the stabilizing capabilities of the 1:8-inch twist with as long a bullet as I had available.

Firing -MOA groups with conventional-weight bullets was easy to the point of being boring. The heavy TAP loads produced nice round holes, suggesting they were stable, but groups opened up to 0.88 inch still nothing to sneeze at.

CONCLUSIONIf you bought a too-heavy var-mint gun or a too-gizzy defensive gun thinking it might serve as a predator rifle, now might be the


time to put it in the used-gun rack and get a dedicated predator AR instead. There are a lot of really good ARs out there, so consider what features are important to you and how you hunt. If Rock Rivers 16-inch Mid Predator Pur-suit fits what youre looking for, and if my experience is typical, then I dont think youd go wrong with this one. More information is available at www.rockriverarms.com.

SPEC SHEETMANUFACTURER:

Rock River Arms www.rockriverarms.com

(866) 980-7625

MODEL: 16 MID PREDATOR PURSUIT

CALIBER: .223 REM./5.56MM NATO

ACTION: Gas-operated semi-automatic rifle

MAGAZINE CAPACITY: One 20-round magazine included

BARREL: 16-inch, heavy match stainless, air-gauged and cryo-treated, 1:8 twist

TRIGGER: 2-stage match

SIGHTS: None. Picatinny rail on upper and gas block

STOCK: Fixed A2 with storage compartment

OVERALL LENGTH: 3414 inches

WEIGHT: 7.2 pounds

OTHER FEATURES: .223 Wylde chamber, Hogue rubber grip, aluminum free-float tube fore end, winter trigger guard, 34-MOA accuracy guarantee

MSRP: $1,190 (rifle only)


SOLO SONG DOGGERdoe, putting him on a perfect line toward my hide. I found the Benelli M4 resting across my lap and set the safety switch to red. The old male coyote was at a lope by the time he entered the zone of no return the kill zone. I slowly raised the stock to my cheek and found him in the EOTech sight. One shot was all it took, and the prime coyote was motionless only 7 yards from my boots. I had just lowered my gun and made it safe when I saw the doe running at me. She passed by me at arms reach and proceeded to stomp the already dead coyote even deeper into the snow with her front hooves. She looked at me again. Oh no, you dont, I yelled at her, stand-ing up while unmasking my face. She startled and retreated out of sight. Awkwardly, I looked around to see who else had watched the scene unfold, but no one was there. I was hunting solo that day and doubted that anyone would ever believe me.

A good friend of mine once said, solo hunting is an experi-ence that only God and your-self get to witness. Its only

I SHRUGGED MY TALL SLENDER BODY INTO THE WANING SHADE OF A BARE COTTONWOOD AND BEGAN TO BREATHE LIFE INTO AN OPEN-REED CALL. Long drawn-out fawn cries exited the stabilized burl wood with enough vibra-tos to make any choir teacher proud. I continued to call for several minutes, giving as much realism to the fawn distress as I could muster.

My left eye teared up as a cold stiff breeze swirled the freshly fallen snow at my feet. Come on, send something my way, I thought to myself, ask-ing God for a little help. I pon-dered if God actually did that sort of thing as my mind began to wander for a few minutes. Unexpectedly, a mature mule deer doe snort-wheezed just a few yards behind me. Surprised, I screamed like a schoolgirl in my head and possibly out loud

as well. I turned to see the doe looking at me intently, pawing at the frozen earth below. The call still hung from my lips. Ill show you, I thought to myself as I snickered, knowing what was about to happen. As loud as I could, I exhaled a gravelly old male-coyote howl, reaching deep within my diaphragm. I looked on, expecting to see the doe bound out of there as fast as her hooves would carry her not even a flinch. It was almost as if she expected me to howl, and it drew her closer still as she snorted and pawed, announcing her distaste.

Suddenly, a coyote challenged with his own weathered male voice less than a hundred yards to my left. The doe turned his way as if to ready herself to take us both on. The coyote flashed from the sanctity of cover and began to circle downwind of the

CALLER FOR HIRE Tom Austin

PRO STAFF TOM AUSTIN: Tom Austin began his predator hunting journey at age 7, when his father introduced him to the sport of calling. Over the years his fever intensified. Hes finally found a cure as a profes-sional guide, hunting predators 40 hours a week, using his experience to gain the edge over his quarry.

There are benefits to going it alone.


extraordinary to the participant because words never really can do it justice. Theres some-thing raw and real about going it alone. When I embark on a solo hunt, I take extra precau-tions that I normally wouldnt. Whether you hunt solo out of necessity or simply preference, enjoy your solo solace, safely.

SMART IS SAFE If you happen to be the kind of person that doesnt want a tag-along, at least be responsible about it. Always let someone know where youre planning to go and when you hope to re-turn, and make sure its in writ-ing. Write someone a note, text or email describing the location of your travels in the event that you dont return. People can forget names of places easily, so the written word is

important. You dont have to give them exact directions to your honeyhole, just a known location so the Search and Rescue team knows where to start. Have a mechanic check your vehicle for any potential

hazards or problems. Top off all fluid levels and check the tire pressure in the spare. A sturdy shovel and handyman jack have gotten me out of some pretty sticky situations. Make sure your cell phone is charged


CALLER FOR HIRE

with an extra battery or backup charging method if possible.

Another good idea is to use a credit card when you travel instead of cash. The authori-ties can access your last known whereabouts by your transac-tions, possibly saving your life in the event that you end up somewhere entirely different than you planned. Bring along extra food, fuel and water. Forty-eight hours worth is a good rule of thumb. Last but not least, whenever possible, stay put. If youre stranded or lost, you do more damage than good by moving around. Stay where you are and stay dry. Someone will find you. Taking a little time in advance will ensure not only safety, but also more time afield to net more success.If your hunting buddy cant make it, go alone. Fewer bodies on

stand mean less scent, less movement and less noise, too.


SOLITARY REFINEMENTSolo callers can definitely enjoy some benefits that party hunters dont. Fewer bodies on stand means less movement to risk being spotted too soon, less scent to be spread around and less noise to spook your quarry. But theres actually even more to it than that.

Too often while party hunting, everyone is trying to kill the same coyote. As a result, you shoot much earlier than you would if you had him all to yourself. Those long shots result in more misses, creating more errors. When solo hunting, you only have your own patience to compete against, so sit back and take your time waiting for the perfect shot opportunity.

Another problem I see with party hunting is stand quality is usually diminished. A stand that looks great for a solo caller might not be feasible for two or three. Therefore, we pass by great-look-ing solo stands to pigeonhole our hunting party into a not-so-great stand. We try to overcome some of the obstacles weve created by having too many bodies, but by doing so, were taking ourselves out of the action.

Solo hunters are generally more attentive on stand as well. No one likes to look over at their hunting partner at the 15-minute mark to see them making snowballs, playing Angry Birds or worse yet, sleeping. When youre alone, youre not just a member of the band, youre the entire show. You have to be at the top of your game or you go home empty-handed. A solo hunter cant be lazy or distracted like you might be if you were hunting with someone.

Working smarter instead of harder is another technique that solo hunters seem to do well. For the most part, solo callers have streamlined their calling equipment to the point that everything has a purpose and a place. From the way they carry their rifle to the way they cross a fence, its always done the same. Their equipment is always organized and they only take what theyre going to use. No less, no more. Youd never think it, but fluidity makes a big difference when it comes to putting fur down.

Possibly the greatest benefit that I see for solo hunting is what youll surely learn about your-self. Theres no one to shift the blame upon after a botched hunt. You learn rather quickly where your weaknesses are, be it calling, shooting, stand selection or even scouting. Feel free to be brutally honest with yourself. It will make you a better caller, one stand at a time.


New Optics

OPTICSLOOKING TO KEEP YOUR SKINNING KNIFE OUT OF ITS SHEATH THIS SEASON? Remember, if you cant see it, you cant kill it. Yes, perhaps the biggest piece of

the predator-calling puzzle is having great optics. And Im not just talking about a

quality scope that gathers every bit of light possible. Im talking about a quality set

of optics hanging from your neck and even a worthy spotting scope that is sure to

boost your predator reconnaissance. Savvy manufacturers know that toothy critters

are most active during lowlight hours, and they have once again gone above and

beyond to offer you, the predator-hunting fanatic, superior optics that will un-

doubtedly boost your success rate.

PRODUCT ROUNDUP

Alpen Optics New and exciting from Alpen Optics is its pair of ED HD Rainier Spotting Scopes. The 851 ED 20-60x80 is available with a straight eye-piece and the 853ED 20-60x80 with a 45-de-gree eyepiece. Both boast extra-low dispersion high-definition optics that deliver incredible optic clarity and color fidelity. The UBX fully multi-coated optics, BaK-4 prisms and SHR metallic coating give these the brightest and sharpest image possible, allowing you to spy stealthy predators from a distance. The large objective lenses gather every bit of light avail-able to provide you with maximum optic per-formance from the first twinkle of light to the last. MSRP $653-$826; www.alpenoptics.com.

Aurora Tactical Rule the day and conquer the night with Au-rora Tacticals 8010 Day/Night Weapon Sight. More time in the field means more dead predators, and thanks to the 8010 Day/Night Weapon, you never have to leave the field to change scopes. This innovative optic can be switched from a day scope to a night scope in the amount of time it takes to zip up your jacket. No tools. No shift in the point of impact. Just make the swap and youre ready to hunt. Aurora Tacticals special lens coating provides optimum light transmission in the light wave of 400 to 900 nanometers. Promising accuracy in the bright light of day or under the blanket of night is the triplex mil-dot ranging reticle. MSRP $4,995; www.auroratactical.com.


Jace Bauserman

OPTICSHeres a look at the newest crop

of optics.

Burris Always on the cutting edge of optic innova-tion, Burris offers predator hunters the C4 line of riflescopes. If you love customization options, youre going to love these scopes. The C4s Cartridge Calibrated Custom Clicker system allows you the ability to match eleva-tion adjustment to your favorite predator cartridge, making pinpoint accuracy easier than ever. In addition, you can also order a free custom knob that matches your favorite load. The new C4 scopes are available in four models the 3-9x40mm and 4.5-14x42mm in a choice of 1-inch and 30mm tubes. All are constructed from premium glass and offer Hi-Lume multi-coatings for optimal edge-to-edge clarity, sharpness and low-light performance. MSRP $299-$499; www.burrisoptics.com.

Bushnell An industry leader in the optic arena, Bushnells new Fusion 1 Mile laser rangefinder and binocular are remarkable in every way. The Fusion 1 Mile is available in 8x32 mm, 10x42mm and 12x50mm configurations, and each feature BAK-4 prisms with PC-3 corrective phase coating. Adding some icing to this already sweet cake is exclusive XTR prism coating technology, allowing the Fusion 1 Mile to provide jaw-dropping resolution and im-age clarity regardless of lighting conditions. And, of course, the Fusion 1 Mile is Bushnell tough. The patented RainGuard HD lens coating causes moisture to bead up, scattering less light, and the rubber-armored chassis is as durable as they come. MSPR $999.99-$1,299.99; www.bushnell.com.

CenterPoint Optics Focused on helping you make memories each time you chase fanged critters is CenterPoint Optics. Sporting a reinforced rub-ber armored body featuring sound absorption technology is CenterPoints 10x42mm Full-Sized Roof Prism Binoculars. Aside from being tough as nails and quiet as a church mouse, these stellar optics promise dawn-to-dusk clarity via their fully multi-coated lenses, which deliver exceptional sharpness and clarity. Not to mention that these optics were built to with-stand abuse from Mother Nature. Wet or dry, these binoculars feel great in the hand. The comfort strap conforms to the neck and the large, fast, easy-to-focus knob makes target acquisi-tion very quick. MSRP $60; centerpoint.crosman.com.


New Optics

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Hawke Optics Target shooters have long enjoyed Hawkes il-luminated mil-dot reticle, but hunters wanted something simpler something a bit more user-friendly. Hawke has delivered. Its 30/30 IR reticle ensures rapid target acquisition thanks to its open, uncluttered sight picture. It also features dual red/green illumination on the bulletproof, glass-etched reticle. This illumination allows predator hunt-ers to make killing shots no matter the light-ing. This new reticle is available in the 2-7x32, 3-9x40 and 4-12x40. MSRP $119.99-129.99; www.hawkeoptics.com.

Kelblys The Tactical March-F 3-24x42 FFP Scope with new MOA Turrets MIL Radian and Minute of Angle target ranging is easier and more accurate than ever. The scope has an 8X magnification ratio in the first focal plane, which is the highest magni-fication ratio in FFP to date. The March-F 3-24x42 comes in illuminated and non-illuminated models, and both standard- and low-illumination modules are available. With four levels of red reticle inten-sity that can be cycled through by simply pressing the pressure switch located within the focus dial on the left side, brightness and target acquisition are never a concern. MSRP $2,700; www.kelbly.com.

EOTech Holographic Hybrid Sights have proven themselves in games like Modern Warfare 3, but the big screen is not the only place these innovative sights are making noise. The HHS1 and HHS2 combine the speed of the EXPS holo-graphic weapon sight and the extended-range versatility of the G33 magnifier to give the predator hunter true two-eyes-open shooting. Ideal for long-range shots up to 500 meters, the HSS kits feature the G33s Quick Switch to Side magni-fier mount. Lighter and smaller than the legendary G23, this magnifier is guaranteed to significantly extend your effective range. The eye relief has been extended to 2.2 inches to provide a more comfortable cheek weld while shooting, too. MSRP $1,059-$1,125; www.eotech-inc.com.


Lucid L5 Lucid has a variable-magnification riflescope called the L5. Within the 30mm tube is a 6-24x50mm magni-fied imaging machine. Shockproof up to .338 Lapua, its equipped with a side parallax adjustment, 18 MOA click turrets that are lockable and zero resettable. The reticle is MOA graduated with multiple holdover and hold-off points for the discriminating rifleman. MSRP $499; www.mylucidgear.com.

Meopta Meoptas ZD Tactic 4-16x44 RD riflescope with illuminated mil-dot reticle will have you puffing fur up to 800 meters. The scope sports an adjust-able objective for setting zero parallax at distances from 3 meters to infinity, making the ZD 4-16x44 RD a true tack driver. Getting you on target are the ZD tactical target turrets, which feature .05 mil rad positive click-stop adjustments, and the elevation turret allows calibration of bullet drop to distances once thought unimaginable. Also impressive is the scopes seven levels of reticle illumination intensity. MSRP $1,259.99; www.meoptausa.com.

Nightforce At the very mention of Nightforce scopes, predators start quaking in their paws and for good reason. Nightforce scopes are remarkable in every way. The latest addition, the 2.5-10x42 NXS Compact Riflescope with Side Parallax Adjustment, has been proven in the hands of the U.S. military and offers a level of performance that far exceeds its size. Ultra-effective in lowlight thanks to its larger objective lens, this lightweight (19-20.5 ounces) and compact (11.9 inches in length), 2.5-10x42 scope is one of the only 10X riflescopes on the market that sports side parallax adjustment from 25 yards to infinity. The scope also incorporates Nightforce DigIllum digital reticle illumination technol-ogy. MSRP $1,800; www.nightforceoptics.com.


New Optics

Nikon The new Coyote Special is avail-able in 3-9x40 and 4-12x40 configurations in matte black, Mossy Oak Brush and Realtree Max-1. Boosting your sight picture and pro-viding up to 97 percent light transmission is the fully multi-coated optical system with multiple layers of anti-reflective compounds on every surface. The Coyote Special features a quick-focus eyepiece for quick target acquisition and rapid focus. And, of course, the scope is paired with Nikons BDC Predator Reticle that utilizes ballistic circles that dont obscure the target. MSRP $279.95-$299.95; www.nikonhunting.com.

Sightmark Known for its tactical, target shooting and hunting accessories, Sightmark has hit yet another home run with its new line of Soli-tude XD Binoculars. Available in 7x36XD, 8x42XD and 10x42XD, the Solitude XDs feature phase-corrected, fully broad band multi-coated optics to maximize overall effi-ciency and improve the range of the visible spectrum. Each XD bino features extra-low dispersion XD glass, BAK-4 roof prisms and an advanced magnesium bridge that en-sures amazing contrast and color fidelity. MSRP $419.99-479.99; www.sightmark.com.

Steiner Optics Offering predator enthusiasts top-quality European optics with superior coatings in a durable, American-made housing at a price that wont break the bank, the Predator Xtreme riflescope line demands atten-tion. Available in three models, the 2.5-10x42mm, 3-12x56mm and 4-16x50mm, Steiners riflescopes give hunters precision-ground lenses with Color Adjusted Transmission (CAT) technology. This CAT technology promises the highest levels of con-trast and light transmission, making approaching predators pop and stand out against the landscape. All Predator Xtreme riflescopes sport the Steiner Plex S1 Ballistic etched reticle. MSRP $799.99-$999.99; www.steiner-binoculars.com.


Vanguard USA Introduced at the 2012 Shot Show, Vanguards Spirit XF 10x42 binoculars have quickly become a favorite of many. At just 23.6 ounces, these handy binos are ultra-light and ultra-comfortable. In addition, the Spirit XF 10x42 boasts twist-out eyecups that can be positioned at multiple points to better ensure maximum eye relief. Constructed from textured rubber, these binoculars are rugged, durable and ready to meet the demands of any predator excursion. Totally waterproof and fogproof, the Spirit XFs fully multi-coated lenses and BAK-4 prisms promise amazing edge-to-edge clarity and brilliant color images. MSRP $249; www.vanguardworld.com.

Trijicon Wanting to make sniping predators at extended distances easier than ever is Trijicon and its TARS High-Perfor-mance Riflescope. The Trijicon TARS (Tactical Advanced Riflescope) is a seaworthy 3-15X variable magnification, 50mm-objective, illuminated-reticle optic designed to drop predators dead in their tracks. With premium optics and exact adjustments, the TARS is a breeze to sight in, and its fully multi-coated to better ensure maximum light transmission. With 3.3 inches of eye relief, you can peer through this scope for hours without getting a headache. As far as light transmission goes, the illuminated reticle features 10 levels of intensity, including two levels designed specifically for use with night-vision optics. MSRP $3,391.50; www.trijicon.com.


Weaver A household name in the optic industry, Weaver is ready to impress with its new EB-X Grand Slam Varmint Reticle. Minimizing frustrating holdover, the EB-X Grand Slam Var-mint Reticle is customized to work with most varmint cartridges at your riflescopes high-est magnification. Its easy to operate simply set your scopes zoom ring to its highest power position and sight in your rifle at 100 or 200 yards using the center of the crosshair. The reticle then graduates down and is equipped with 10 mph windage points to the right and to the left of the graduated reticle. www.weaver-mounts.com.

Zeiss A name with roots that run deep in optics lore, Zeiss gives varmint hunters a rimfire option in the Zeiss Conquest Rimfire 3-9x40 Riflescope. Providing exceptional target clarity and generous eye relief, the Rimfire Riflescope has

-MOA adjustments and features the Z-Plex 20 reticle in the second image plane for precise shot place-ments on small targets like fox. The Rimfire sports a compact, lightweight aluminum alloy 1-inch main tube with a scratch-resistant, hard anodized matte black finish. MSRP $555; www.zeiss.com/sports.

New Optics

Vortex Now predator enthusiasts can enjoy the benefits of two new additions to the manufac-turers popular HD line of binoculars the Razor HD 10x50 and 12x50 models. These binoculars sport extra-low dispersion glass that delivers incredible resolution and color fidelity. Also sure to be appreciated are Vortexs proprietary XR anti-reflective coatings, which guarantee optimal low-light performance. Each exterior lens features Armor Tek, an ultra-hard optical coating that protects the lenses from dirt, sand and other lens-dam-aging debris. Ergonomically pleasing, both the 10x50 and 12x50 models have a magne-sium chassis, which makes these new bino additions light and incredibly durable. MSRP $1,279-$1,499; www.vortexoptics.com.


Serving Your Optic Needs Now that your predator optic wish list is full, its time to act. Here to help is a selection of stellar optic dealers who are ready to answer your questions and help you find the right optics for your next predator adventure.

Adorama Camera (www.adorama.com; 800-223-2500) has great selection of optics at competitive prices.

D&B Supply (www.scopeusout.com; 704-824-7511) is owned by Bill and Diane Shehane. This shooting couple took their passion and turned it into a business. If youre looking for special shooting services and special shooting products not found in most catalogs, give Bill and Diane a ring.

Leapers (www.leapers.com; 734-542-1500) has been meeting the optic needs of predator hunters since 1922. With a goal to provide a total solution for every brand of product the company offers, Leapers pays extra close attention to industry trends and customer feedback to give you the best products possible.

Camera Land (www.cameralandny.com; 866-967-8427) is a full-service sports optics and camera dealer that is here not just to fill orders but also to answer your questions.

Honestly, youre without excuse. You have the information. You have the knowledge. You even know where to find these amazing optics. All thats left to do now is make a trip to the bank and make an optics purchase that will undoubtedly make you more lethal in the predator woods this season.


Calling All Coyotes

A NEBRASKA COYOTE KILLER SHARES HIS CALL RECIPES FOR YEAR-ROUND SUCCESS.

I SLOWLY LIFTED THE REMOTE AND LOOKED

AT THE TIMER5:11, 5:12, 5:13. THE FIRST

FIVE MINUTES OF THE STAND HAD BEEN

UNEVENTFUL TO SAY THE LEAST, MUCH

LIKE THE PREVIOUS FIVE STANDS WE HAD

ALREADY MADE THAT MORNING. Was I using the right sound? Was the sound carrying far enough? Were we sitting long enough? Were there even any coyotes within earshot to hear it? These were just a few of the questions that bounced through my mind while I sat there waiting patiently.

It was late February and we were calling some of the most coyote-rich and picturesque country this great nation has to offer the sandhills of Nebraska. Optimism was high earlier that morning as we drove through the darkness on a one-lane paved road into the middle of no-mans land, but after fi ve dry stands and an increasing wind, our dedication and enthusiasm were being tested.

COYOTESCALLING ALL



Geoff Nemnich

WindigoIm

ages/ M

ark Kayser

COYOTES


Calling All Coyotes

The sun was already high in the late-morning sky and I knew that the coyotes would be making the transition from their hunting grounds to their bedding areas. So we headed to a choppy range of yucca-covered sandhills paralleled by vast hay meadows on either side.

I glared back down at the remote6:47, 6:48, 6:49. After nearly seven minutes of a screaming jackrabbit without any takers, I decided that something completely different was in order. I scrolled through the sound list, highlighted coyote pup screams, and pressed play. Once I had the volume up to an adequate level, I briefly surveyed our setup one last time. The wind was ideal, blowing from left to right around 15 mph. Brett and his trusty .22-250 Rem. stayed with the camera and me. We tucked ourselves into a cluster of yucca

plants and had an unobstructed view of nearly 75 percent of the calling area. In order to get a handle on the remaining 25 percent, Joe positioned himself roughly 60 yards downwind of us on the backside of a small rise. The e-caller and decoy were strategically stuffed into the top of a yucca out in front of our position approximately 30 yards. The imaginary line from us to the caller was perpendicular to the wind direction. The setup was spot-on. All we needed now was a willing participant.

Sometime around the 10-minute mark, I heard the one word I had been waiting so patiently to hear all morning. Coyote, Brett whispered. With a slight turn of my head, I briefly caught a pale-gray blur descending off the hillside 300 yards out. Hes coming hard, Brett said hastily. Within a matter of seconds, the coyote

had closed the distance to less than 150 yards and slowed to a trot as he crested a small knoll in front of us. At that exact time, the Mojo Critter let loose with one of its erratic spins and the coyotes strides lengthened again. Im gonna try and stop him, Brett said, but it was too late. In what seemed like a couple blinks of the eye, the big male had closed the gap to less than 40 yards and was making a beeline for the e-caller and decoy. BOOM! The .22-250 Rem. barked, and in an awesome display of speed and energy, the 50-grain V-max completely incapacitated the coyote in mid-stride. The coyote came to an abrupt headfirst halt less than 3 yards from the CS-24! After our schoolgirl giggles had subsided and in between the head shakes of disbelief, I glanced down at the remote one last time11:24, 11:25, 11:26.


So what was the key to our success on this stand? Did we finally get within earshot of an unsuspecting coyote? Obviously! So why did this big male not come charging in to the screaming jackrabbit that was playing the first seven minutes of the stand? Maybe he was making a slow approach. Possibly he had gotten a little bit of an education earlier in the season. Perhaps it was the mild winter we were having. So why did the coyote-pup distress invoke such a rapid and aggressive response? Maybe it was due to the time of year. Possibly we triggered an instinctual response that the coyote had no control over. Perhaps it was due to the area we set up in. Regardless, these are all great questions and ones that Ill discuss throughout the remainder of the article.

Sound Categories And Behavioral TriggersEight years ago I was introduced to a priceless theory that different sounds might trigger different responses in coyotes. During a day of sharing stands

and taking turns dragging coyotes back to the truck, a good friend of mine and a coyote-killing veteran of more than 40 years shared his Triple F Theory. He said, Coyotes will come to the call for several reasons. To feed, to fight, or to . . . Well, Ill let you figure out what his third F was. He continued by adding, Its up to you to figure out what the coyotes are wanting that particular day and give them

the corresponding sound. As simple as it sounds, it was something that I hadnt put much thought into before that day. From that point on, I started categorizing the sounds on my call.

In todays market of high-tech e-callers and large, diverse sound libraries, its easy to get overwhelmed when picking and loading sounds onto your call. To simplify things, Ive classified all the sounds used

A prey sound will play on a coyotes hunger and curiosity. Thats one of the reasons why prey sounds call in more coyotes than other calls.


Calling All Coyotes

specifically for calling coyotes into three categories: prey distress, coyote and coyote-pup distress and coyote vocalizations. Give yourself the most diverse variety possible within each category, but dont overload your e-caller with too many sounds from one category. In an ideal situation with an e-caller holding 100 sounds, loading 34 prey-distress sounds, 33 coyote/coyote-pup distress sounds, and 33 coyote

vocalizations would be optimal. Now that the three sound

categories have been identified, its time to discuss the triggers. Although remembering the three Fs is probably easier, lets break things down a little further by identifying four triggers: hunger, curiosity, territorial and parental. Of the four, hunger and curiosity are responsible for calling in the most coyotes. Is it because these are the easiest triggers

During the breeding season, youll elicit more responses when playing against territorial and parental triggers, instead of hunger.

to invoke? Or is it because the average coyote hunter is primarily using sounds that trigger these two responses? I believe its a little of both. Triggering territorial and parental responses can be very effective as well, but understanding certain coyote characteristics and coyote behavior is the key to being able to trigger these responses on a consistent basis throughout the entire hunting season.

Coyote BehaviorBefore we can tie everything together into a practical game plan, lets discuss coyote behavior from early fall through early spring. During the month of September and the early part of October,


the coyote family group is still intact. The pups are still in the general vicinity of their spring denning site, but they are learning to hunt on their own. Food is plentiful, with insects and plants still available for consumption. Hunting pressure is minimal and coyote densities and numbers are the highest they will be all season.

In late October and into November, the family group breaks down and the pups head out on their own. During this timeframe, a good portion of the coyote population is composed of young, transient coyotes roaming the countryside looking for their own territory to establish. The food supply is minimized and easy meals such as grasshoppers are gone with the colder temperatures. The coyotes must now take to catching rodents, rabbits and birds. Hunting pressure has significantly increased and the coyote numbers and densities are dropping.

In December through the first half of January, most coyotes have now established a territory. Winter has hit with full force, and keeping food in its belly is priority number one for a coyote. Hunting pressure is extremely high, and the coyote numbers and densities are continuing to drop.

During the last half of January and February, the remaining coyote population turns its focus to repopulating. Mating is now the priority, and the females will come into heat sometime around the first of February. Food sources are dwindling, and the coyotes must continue to hunt on a daily basis. Hunting pressure remains high, and many of the remaining coyotes have had some sort of educational experience during the previous

four months. In March and April the

coyote pairs have established a den. Territory is now the focus. Defending remaining food sources from being eaten by other coyotes is important for the survival of the litters. The family group will spend the next six months in this location. Hunting pressure has dropped significantly, and as long as 30 percent of the coyote population survived the winter,

there will be just as many coyotes again next fall.

The Game PlanBy now, youve begun to see the relationship between the different sound categories, the triggers they invoke and how this relationship is affected by the changing of seasons. Prey distresses will generally trigger a hunger or curiosity response. Coyote and coyote-pup distresses will generally


Calling All Coyotes

trigger a parental or territorial response. Coyote vocalizations will generally trigger a territorial or curiosity response. Early in the season, concentrate on triggering a curiosity, hunger or parental response. Midway through the season, concentrate on triggering a hunger, territorial or parental response. During the late-season,

concentrate on triggering a territorial, parental or curiosity response. Lets discuss how to implement this correctly.

Example 1 Its early October and youre headed out to call your favorite piece of ground for the fi rst time this season. During the fi rst half of the stand, play a prey-distress

Keeping A Call LogKeeping a call log is a great way to recognize patterns and

help identify productive trends. After every successful stand

(successful meaning that you called in a coyote), take note

of a variety of factors. Time of year, time of day, sounds used

during the stand, how long you were on stand, how did

the coyote(s) react to the call (aggressive or cautious), and

weather conditions. If you killed the coyote(s), take note of

gender and estimated age (pup or adult). Compare these

notes throughout the season as well as from year to year.

Youll be able to recognize productive trends and implement

more effective strategies that will make you a more

successful coyote hunter.


sound. If theres a coyote within an earshot that is hungry or curious, youll get a response. If nothing responds halfway through your stand, switch categories to hopefully elicit a parental response. To do this, pick a sound from the coyote or coyote-pup distress category. Let it play for the remainder of the stand. If there was a coyote within earshot, chances are one of the three triggers you tried to invoke will produce a response.

Example 2 Its late January and youre headed out to call a piece of property that youve already hunted several times. By now many of the coyotes have received some sort of education and are more concerned about repopulating than eating. During the fi rst few minutes of the stand, use your favorite coyote vocalization sound. Next, switch sounds and pick something from the coyote and coyote-pup distress category. Let that play through the halfway point of your stand and then repeat with coyote vocalizations and more coyote and coyote-pup distress. This accomplishes two things. First, youve played sounds from two different categories, which have the ability to invoke three of the four triggers, which are relative to the corresponding coyote behavior that time of year. Second, youve played sounds that the average coyote hunter hasnt used up to this point in the season. Identify the triggers that you want to invoke and then ring the right dinner bell!

When calling coyotes, you are playing a sound or sounds

that will trigger a response. The four triggers are hunger,

curiosity, territorial and parental.

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Calling All Coyotes

Early-Season Enticer(Use mid-September through mid-November)

Total Stand Time: 15 minutesVole Squeaks minutes 0 - 4Lucky Bird minutes 4 - 9Coyote Pup Distress #3 minutes 9 - 13Remain quiet and observant minutes 13 - 15

Mid-Season Mesmerizer (Use mid-November through mid-January)

Total stand time: 15 minutesLightning Jack minutes 0 - 7Coyote Pup Screams minutes 7 - 13Remain quiet and observant minutes 13 - 15

Late-Season Love Song(Use mid-January through mid-March)

Total stand time: 20 minutesCoyote Locator minutes 0 - 3Coyote Death Cry minutes 3 - 8Coyote Pair minutes 8 - 11Coyote Pup Frenzy minutes 11 - 16Female Coyote Submissive minute 16 - 18Remain quiet and observant minute 18 - 20

Recipes for Success(call names below are from the FOXPRO library)


Coyote School



P. Garrett Leeberg

Schools in session and an eastern Oregon coyote pro is leading the lesson. Grab your pen and paper and get ready for an education in coyote hunting.

ATTENDING A COYOTE-HUNTING SCHOOL WASNT HIGH ON MY MUST-DO LIST UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT ONE OFFERED BY GARY MADISON WHO HAILS FROM BURNS, ORE. Dave Dalton, a friend from work who knows Gary, extolled his coyote-hunting virtues to the point that I had to become a student. I contacted Gary and learned that eastern Oregon has a small human population and a large coyote population, and ranches are measured in miles, not acres. I quickly booked a date for mid December.

Windigo Images/Mitch Kezar

SCHOOLCOYOTE


Coyote School

When I arrived at Garys, we went to the range and test-fi red my Howa .223 Rem. rifl e topped with a Leupold Vari-X 3-9 power scope. The fi rst shot was too high, so we made some adjustments and headed back to the house for an amazing meal

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prepared by Garys wife, Crystal.After dinner, we got into

the classroom portion of Garys coyote school. A video serves as a foundation for instruction. Gary would routinely stop the video when he wanted to expand on something or to answer one of

the many questions I had. We discussed the importance of good predator-related reading material, including books, various magazines and continuing education in general through means of seminars, lectures and Garys favorite putting boots to the ground.

Field TrainingSleep didnt come easy as I anticipated the mornings hunt. Well before daylight, we were up getting our gear loaded, including two ATVs with which we would cover our hunting area for the next two days. Crystal fi xed us a great breakfast and we headed south to a private ranch with a healthy population of coyotes.

Once at the ranch, it didnt take us long to don our camo, gear up our quads and head out on the prairie. Id never ridden an ATV before, so I was having a blast even before our fi rst

Coyote school is a great way to learn how to call and kill coyotes, while studying under a veteran coyote hunter who can help shorten the learning curve.


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setup. We went through mud and snow, over rocky ground and hills, much to my delight. The noise from the ATV does not affect the hunting, as the local yotes were used to hearing machines and vehicles on the active ranch. Voices are another matter. Gary was insistent that no talking occurred above a whisper

predator xtreme. february 2014

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