There ís lots of varmints in these high altitude hills, including bobcats, coyotes, and mountain lion. The most visible and audible are coyotes, which thrive in both urban and rural areas. I had been seeing quite a few frequently out in our hayfields, so determined to oil up the old 22 Hornet varmint rifle for a for go at one. Then, we began seeing a big bobcat down in the hayfield. Now it was becoming a dual purpose hunt.

Coyote

I set up a camo blind along our irrigation ditch and the first morning eased into it quietly before light. As the eastern sky grayed up, I began to glass the huge field for any critter hunting mice. After 20 minutes I spied a coyote crossing the field heading for the creek bottom. Quickly I pulled out my mouse squeaker and hit it a couple times. At 350+ yds the coyote picked up the squeak , turned 90 degrees and headed directly toward me on the lope. At about 80 yds he stopped to listen again. Easing my Hornet up, I picked him up in the scope, let out a breath, and squeezed off a round. The impact rolled him hard, but he got up hightailing it for the creek, where he tumbled down into the bottom out of site. Waiting 20 minutes, I eased down to the creek bank and found my Yote piled up in the creek. Pretty quick hunt, so now I had to concentrate on the Bobcat.

Big Bob

Over the next few days I patterned the cat, noting times of day he came out of the creek bottom. Then, one afternoon a few days later, I slipped into a hide in our dry irrigation ditch and settled to wait for the sun to drop. About 5 PM I started glassing the edge of the field, and suddenly the cat just appeared out of the brush. For a half hour I watched him mouse out into the field, slowly working closer to my hide. At about 70 yds out, I hit my mouse squeaker once and he froze in an alert position. I was zeroed right on him and squeezed off my shot. He leapt four feet in a somersault, hit the ground running, and dove into the brush of the creek bottom. After a half hour wait I slipped to the creek bank looking for a trail. After 20 minutes I found some sign and eased into the thick brush, where I found my Bob piled up in the creek.

Fur Wrap

The cat was about 30+ pounds with a beautiful winter coat. Looks like Iíll have to get this critter mounted full size. Cat season comes to an end Feb 28, so Iíll have to concentrate on coyotes from then on.