The coyotes have been bad this fall and the twins hens have paid the price to many times. Given the lay of the land outside my front door I can shoot almost indiscriminatly...kinda...sorta...

The other day we saw a big male 'yote in at the end of the drive and the yell went out for Thomas to get his rifle....Savage .17 HRM....he did and as the dog walked out onto the road he shot it right in the middle...thru the diaphram...he went down biting and howling for a second and then up and across the hay field toward the timber....the girls yelling "shoot him again" and he did...no reaction until the 3rd when he went down again and flopped around before heading up over the hill...clearly very sick....

Two things...the .17 is clearly not enought medicine for coyotes....and....

Thomas said, "Dad I think I need to tell you something"......

Mailbox jumped right in front of the running coyote...

Byron