I came out here to get away from the city life. I wanted to be near nature and I liked seeing all the wildlife. It is very rural. The sellers of the home left chickens behind. I didn't know a dang thing about raising chickens and told the realtor to get them out of here. No response, so I was stuck with them. I studied about it and found out they're pretty easy to raise. Also, they eat all the bugs in the yard. No pesticides needed. So we got more of them and raised them up from chicks. They follow us around, eat out of our hands and the eggs they produce are the best I ever had. Chickens are a lot smarter than they get credit for. I see them cooperatively hunt insects. They know to stay away from rattlesnakes. The first time I saw a coyote running off with a chicken in its jaws a certain sort of deep anger moved through me. I could see the chicken still looking at me. I felt like an utter failure. I started using a shotgun and that worked once. After that they came in more stealthy. Daylight attacks and often several coyotes at once. When I got out of the Army I promised myself, no more camo ever. But then there I was, with camo on, laying in the weeds waiting. Some days I've waited for hours. I have experimented with a coyote call from Foxpro. The rifle I have is a 26" barrel, 223 Remington 700 PSS. Pretty accurate but only for about 300 to 500.
I once sat in the weeds leaned against a small tree with camo netting over me. I had local grass tied in with it and built a gillie suit sort of, for my head. I waited for hours. I switched the call to rabbit distress and waited for a while. I saw something move out the corner of my eye. 10 feet to my left was a coyote watching my decoy move. I went for my pistol quiet as I could. I got the pistol leveled onto the coyote but with a very very awkward hold across my body and when I moved the safety off, it looked to its right and saw me. I fired. It went down and then got up and ran like a greyhound.
Coyotes never made that mistake again. They now stay out further. I see their tracks in the snow visiting the coop at night but they aint' got into it yet. They will never stop. I've tried security lights, barbed wire, motion sensors. Diplomacy has failed. I still love nature and all the wildlife. Just not coyotes and rats. Rats have been an issue too. But that is a short range, night time hunting issue.
I like the info I've gotten here but the words about barrel wear and ammo availability are big factors for me. I think the Creedmore might be more economical for me. When I have a rifle, I fire quite a bit. Its all about trigger time.
My neck has an injury and I can't shoot prone anymore. So I have to somehow do it seated. I've sat out there sometimes so long, I've seen a rattlesnake crawl right by me. I've had a hawk come down and land next to me until it finally noticed me and was outta there.
Shooting from a seated position is an issue. I'm more visible that way but mostly its my hold. Its not nearly as steady as prone shooting. From prone I was rock solid. This is a permanent injury and won't go away.
So it is me that must adjust. I just haven't found a way to have a good solid hold when not shooting prone.
Thanks again to all that has helped me with this advice. I sure appreciate it.
