- Friday, February 29, 2008 -- Varmint Calling
 Our first call was about 8:30pm. It was very dry with almost no wind. At the first stop we called up a coyote but it never got into the open until it was almost downwind of us. It crossed an open area but never stopped. We saw it a few more times through the brush but never got a shot at it. At the second call we got one coyote to come up and we shot it. The next two stands got us one coyote at each. I missed the first one and we didn't get a shot at the next one. That was the last one we called up. We heard coyotes howling at each stop we made.
- Sunday, February 26, 2006 -- Varmint Calling
 We started about 8:45pm with a light damp breeze from the Southeast and a temp of about 48°F. The first two calls we made we didn't get anything. At the third stand, about 9:30pm, Ty called up three coyotes. We saw one and it moved to get downwind to wind us. It wouldn't come very close. We out of the back of the pickup and walked back down the road we were on to get closer to it and get out scent out of it's path. As we moved down the road it moved from the field edge into the field. It met up with two others and they started coming toward us. One of them came over a rise in the field and stopped. Since it was moving downwind of us again I went ahead and shot (and missed). We made a couple of more calls and at one of them we stopped, called for about 10 seconds and then shined the light. There was a coyote about 20 yards from us. When I started getting the rifle up and ready to shoot it ran off about 50 yards or so behind a bush and was looking at us. I hurried the shot before it could decide to run off and I missed that one too. The last call we made we called up a coyote that came from right to left in front of us out about 100 yards or so. It hung up behind some bushes and then came running in. It dropped down behind a rise in the pasture and when we saw it again it was 15 yards or so to the left and running away. We figured it scented us.
- Friday, December 30, 2005 -- Varmint Calling
- We started about 8:00pm with a light dry breeze from the South and a temp of about 48°F. The first two calls we made we didn't get anything. At the third stand, about 9:00pm, Ty called up two foxes. They tried to move downwind to sniff us out, but a coyote showed up before they made it and appeared to scare the foxes away. I shot the coyote. At the next call Ty called up a coyote and I shot it. We called at a tank next and got two sets of eyes that never came out of the brush at about 100 yards. We drove around to the other side of them and tried again. We saw one set of eyes but it never came in. The wind started getting harder and we tried another 3 or 4 calls and couldn't get anything else to come up.
- Saturday, Sept 3, 2003 -- Dove Hunting
 I got out to Ty's at about 5:30pm. It was still hot and there was a little breeze. We hunted at the small tank and there were already some people there an we set up about 50 or 60 feet from the water to the south of the tank. The doves started out a little sporadic but then got thicker. There never was a lot of activity that evening. We stopped about 15 or 20 minutes before dark. I shot about a box of shells and got 13 doves. I was using an I.C. choke. It was a good hunt.
- Thursday, June 30, 2005 -- Rabbit Hunting
 We started about 7:30pm. The wind was blowing very lightly. We shot 20 or so rabbits and more frogs than that. We finished at about 11:00pm.
- Friday, January 14, 2005 -- Varmint Calling
 We've been going hunting more than this, but I've been forgetting to put them in here. We got started about 8:15pm. The wind was light but gusty from the East. Towards the end some moisture moved in. The moon was less than a quarter and went down about 10:30 or so. Our first call didn't bring anything in. At the second call we saw a coyote by shining the light before Ty started calling. We never got it to come close enough for a shot. The third and fourth stands didn't produce anything. At the fifth we called up 3 coyotes that hung up about 100 yards or more out in some brush. The fifth stand didn't produce anything. At the sixth stand we got a bobcat to come up to about 50 yards or so and we got it. The seventh and eigth calls didn't bring anything in. We quit about 11:00pm
- Friday, January 23, 2004 -- Varmint Calling
 I got out to Ty's house about 8:45pm and we left his house about 9:00. The wind was variable 10-20 mph, the temperature was about 55°F when we left, it was very cloudy and the air was damp. With no moon, it was also very dark. Before we finished it was starting to get hazy from humidity. I shot first tonight. At the first stand Ty called up a coyote but it never came in and appeared to wind us and left. At the second call Ty called in two at the same time. They came in fast and didn't stop. I tried to get a shot at about 15 yards or so, but missed. That coyote ran off about 100 yards and stopped. Ty called and it came back, but stayed 50 to 75 yards away behind brush and grass. It went downwind and scented us and left. It was Ty's turn to shoot. At the next 3 stops I was calling and we didn't see anything although we heard a few coyotes howling and yipping. At the sixth stand we were parked in a dirt road on the side of a hill with the pickup pointed downhill. On about the 3rd sweep of the spotlight, there were some eyes just 15 yards in front of us off the side of the road in a low spot. It was a bobcat. It was startled by the light or our movement and walked behind some small mesquite trees about 20 yards off the road. I called and we could see it's eyes in the light, but it didn't come back out. Ty finally had a shot at it through the branches and shot it. It was my turn to shoot at the next stop and Ty called in another bobcat. It was walking behind some trees, but it finally came out and sat, looking right at us and I got it. When we went to make sure it was dead, we couldn't find it at first and a quail flew up in front of me and scared me half to death. At the next stand it was my turn to call again and we got in a bobcat and shot it. It was about 1:30am and both of us were going to work the next day. We decided to go to one more place before quitting. Ty called and after the 3rd or 4th sweep of the light we saw 3 coyotes coming in fast. Ty used a squeek to stop them and I shot at one. They ran off but it looked like the one I shot went down and didn't come back up. One of the other 2 stopped about 100 yards or so away and I shot it. It growled, yipped, whirled a few times and went down. We never saw it get back up.
- Monday, Sept 1, 2003 -- Dove Hunting
 We got to the tank about 7:15 am. It was damp and windy. The doves were flying in sporadically and in small numbers. I was shooting an I.C. choke, which was fine, since the ones that came in weren't too warry and flew pretty close. I shot two doves in 9 shots. Some of the shots were pretty long. We quit at about 10:00am. I went home, worked in the yard and hurt my back that afternoon so I didn't go back out that evening. That evening it was sunny, not much wind and temps were in the high 70's. Ty called to say that the doves were flying everywhere and almost everyone limited out really fast.
- Sunday, August 31, 2003 -- Varmint Calling
- We got started about 9:00pm. The wind was light, the temperature was about 65° and there had been 2 to 4 inches of rain or more in the last two days. At the first stand we called in three coyotes and shot one. It was my turn to call after that and we tried 5 more stands and didn't get another response until the last one. Ty shot that coyote and we decided to call it a night since we were going to go dove hunting the next morning. The wind was starting to blow harder towards the end of the hunt, which was about 10:45pm.
- Saturday, April 19, 2003 -- Turkey Hunting
 We got to the location and set up our decoys at about 6:30am. Just a few minutes after we sat down (in front of a mesquite shrub) we heard the turkeys start talking and gobbling back and forth to each other. As soon as we heard that, we began calling, clucking and gobbling, to them. We would call and then they would answer, then they would sound off and we would answer. They eventually flew down and a hen passed by our decoys and was pecking and scratching about 20' from the decoys and about 40' or so from us for about 5 minutes before the rest of the turkeys came up. A group of 4 jakes came in first and held back, waiting for the big gobbler to go first. It came in strutting and gobbling to the hens and the jake in our spread. We got it using high-brass #4's (4 shots). The first shot was standing still, but the next three were on the run, both the turkey and us. By the time we finished, it was about 7:15.
- Friday, January 24, 2003 -- Varmint Calling
- We started at about 8:30pm and went until about 1:15am. The temperature was about 31 when we started and dropped to 29 before we finished. The wind was very light and variable. At our first call we called in and missed a coyote. The next two sites didn't produce anything. At the fourth location we called in and shot a bobcat. At the fifth site a badger came out of its den and we got it. We got into the pickup to leave and when the lights came on a coyote was in the road about 100 yards in front of us. We killed the lights, got out of the pickup and started calling again. We called in and missed the coyote. At the sixth calling location we called in and got a bobcat. The evening started out kind of dry, but it became very humid and started feeling colder. The next two locations didn't produce anything. We called it quits after that.
- Friday, January 3, 2003 -- Varmint Calling
- I haven't put in any varmint hunts in a while, because I forgot to. I've been 2 or 3 times since the last one. Tonight we started at about 8:15pm. At the first site we called in one coyote, but it stopped too far out to get a shot. At the second site we called up two coyotes and didn't get a shot at either. The third call was like the first. We called up one, but it didn't come in close enough. We didn't call up anything at the fourth place. At the fifth site we called in and shot a bobcat. It was my turn to call after that. We made two or three more stands after that and didn't see anything. The wind was almost calm when we started, but it started blowing a little and getting stronger during the third or fourth stand until the end of the hunt.
- Saturday, Sept 14, 2002 -- Dove Hunting
- We went to hunt at a field over some grain at dawn. There were a lot of other hunters there and several doves. I wasn't able to get more than two or three close shots, so I started taking longer and longer shots. I still had the I.C. choke in my shotgun. This is where my season average gets more into an even kilter. I shot 6 doves in 23 shots. Not too bad, but much worse than the last trip.
- Monday, Sept 2, 2002 -- Dove Hunting
- I didn't get to go opening day since it was Sunday. It was a little windy, but not bad. There were a lot of doves. I shot my best ever. I always seem to shoot better my first day into the season than I do later. I shot 13 doves in 17 shots and found 12 of them. They were flying pretty close and I used an I.C. choke.
- Friday, December 7, 2001 -- Varmint Calling
- We started about 8:00pm. There was almost no wind. We didn't see anything at the first set up. At the second, we called in three coyotes at the same time, and got one of them. At the third stop we called in 2 coyotes and a bobcat at the same time, and shot the bobcat. At the fourth call, we didn't see anything. The wind started blowing from the North during the fourth call, and kept getting stronger. At the fifth stand, we called in and shot one monster racoon. The sixth and seventh locations didn't give up anything. We decided to call it quits and get some coffee. We stopped about 11:30.
- Friday, October 5, 2001 -- Varmint Calling
- We started about 4:30pm. We tried using a stuffed rabbit with a string around it's neck for motion as a decoy. The string was about 50' long and we could pull on it to make the rabbit move. The first calling location didn't bring anything up. The second was looking across a draw. A coyote came up on the far side of the draw and was looking right at us. We moved the rabbit a little bit and the coyote saw it and ran down the other side of the draw and came up on our side. It trotted past the rabbit, and after it came close to it, it started running, but not real fast. It slowed down when we smooched at it and we got it. At the third stand there was a little more brush and we sat the rabbit out in a more open spot. We called a few minutes and had another coyote come up from our left, out where the rabbit was. It trotted past the rabbit and stopped about 15 or 20 feet past it. We got it too. Nothing came up at the fourth place. At the fifth call a coyote showed up about 200 yards out and hung up. It was looking at us and probably saw the rabbit, but it wouldn't come in. We shot at it, but didn't get it. This was about 7:30. We stopped for supper and went back out about 9:00. We called until 10:30pm and didn't see anything.
- Monday, Sept 3, 2001 -- Dove Hunting
- It was warm again today. It was also pretty windy although it started to calm down some after we had been there for a little while. There were already some people at the small tank, so we set up 30 or 40 yards from the water. There weren't nearly as many doves tonight as there were on opening day. I only shot 9 times, but had 4 birds. It was a good average (for me) but not many down.
- Saturday, Sept 1, 2001 -- Dove Hunting
- It was cool the past few days, but turned a little warm today. There wasn't a lot of wind, but there was a little breeze. Got out there about 5:30pm and went to the little tank. It was a little slow until about 6:30 or so. We limited out and had the doves cleaned by 7:30. There were a lot of doves.
- Friday, July 20, 2001 -- Rabbit Hunting
- We started about 9:30pm. The wind was blowing very lightly. We shot 3 skunks, 40 or 50 or more rabbits, and more frogs than that. We finished at about 2:00am.
- Friday, April 27, 2001 -- Varmint Calling, Rabbit Hunting
- We started about 10:00pm. The wind was blowing very lightly. We heard some coyotes, but never were able to get close enough to any to try to call them in. We started hunting rabbits and saw a lot of them tonight. We saw a badger while driving around. It ran off the road, but we were able to call it to us. We also saw a porcupine. We finished at about 1:00am.
- Friday, March 23, 2001 -- Varmint Calling
- I got out there about 8:00pm. The wind was starting to blow some and there were thunderstorms coming up from the North. We drove and called at 5 or 6 different stands with no luck. At about 11:00 we tried one last place and it barely started sprinkling when we got a coyote to come in. It came in pretty fast to within about 20 or 30 yards. It never stopped moving. It winded us or saw us and ran. By the time we finished this call the rain was coming down pretty good so we went back and waited the rain out. At about 12:00am we went back out and called up another coyote which did the same thing as the first one. It came in pretty fast. We went to another location and got some eyes, but it didn't come in. We quit after that call. It was about 1:00am.
- Tuesday, November 28, 2000 -- Varmint Calling
- What a night! We called up or saw 10 or 11 coyotes and bobcats. We started at about 7:45pm. There was a light north to northeast breeze. The moon was a thin crescent that went down a little after we started. As soon as we got to where we were hunting we saw 3 coyotes on the side of the road about 40 or 50 yards in front of us. The ran off to the right and we stopped, waited a bit, and then got out and started calling. We saw 3 or 4 sets of eyes back in some brush 70 or 80 yards from the road, but couldn't get them to come out. We drove about 1/2 mile and stopped again and called in one coyote and shot it. We drove about another 1/2 mile and saw another coyote in the road. We stopped 50 or 60 yards before we got to where it left the road and tried to call it back. We never saw it again. We left and set up a little bit from that spot, and called up one coyote and shot it. We moved to another location, called up 1 coyote and missed it (at about 25 yards or less!). We moved to another spot and called another coyote in and got it. At the next calling location nothing came up. The next place we went to we called in 1 bobcat and shot (flipped) it. The next place we went we called in and shot one coyote. At this point we may have made a tactical error and I offered to give up shooting and do the calling so Ty could get some shots in. We made two more calls and didn't get anything in. Since it was a work night, we decided to call it a night and go home. That was at about 11:30pm.
- Friday, Mar 24, 2000 -- Varmint Hunting
- There was almost no wind. Started about 8:30. There was a four inch rain on Wednesday night. Nothing at the first 5 calls. Called in two coyotes at one spot. Nothing at the next stand. Called in one at the next. No more after that. We quit at about 11:30.
- Friday, Jan 29, 2000 -- Varmint Hunting
- Very light wind from the South. Started hunting about 8:30pm. Before we got all my stuff loaded we heard a big group of coyotes about 100 yards or so from the house. We drove around to that side and called for a two or three minutes and called up a single. It didn't stay long enough for a good shot and I missed. On the third stand we called up a coyote that stayed far out. Couldn't make out the body in the scope. There was a group of coyotes that started howling close to us while we were watching this one, and that might have spooked them. The wind started getting up after that, and we didn't get any more to respond or even howl. We quit about 12:00.
- Friday, Nov 26, 1999 -- Varmint Hunting
- Very strong wind. Started about 8:00am. Made several stands, but didn't call anything up. Last place was at a tank, and when we were finished, we walked back to the pickup, and saw a coyote across the tank from us. It was upwind from us, so probably didn't hear the calling.
- Friday, Sept 17, 1999 -- Dove Hunting
- Very stiff wind, mostly from the South. More birds than last time, but not as much as the first time. I used 24 shells for 9 birds. That's the least I've used in a long time. I waited until later in the day to get serious, and didn't shoot at far away birds. I got my first double, so that was good. My daughter, Andrea and niece Jennifer went with me. Andrea and I made some more stew on Saturday.
- Saturday, Sept 11, 1999 -- Dove Hunting
- A little breezy. Maybe 10 to 15 MPH. Not nearly as many doves as last time, and I was the only one there. It seemed that they kept coming in on the other side of the tank from where I was. Still got 8 doves. I shot 47 shells, almost the same as last time. I started shooting long range, because of the lack of birds close enough. Finally quit, and waited until closer to dark, and started having better luck. It was still fun. My daughter and I made some dove stew on Sunday with them.
- Friday, Sept 3, 1999 -- Dove Hunting
- Almost no breeze. Didn't get to go out on opening day or the 2nd, but made up for it today. I limited out for the first time ever. There were a lot of doves, so I got to shoot a lot. Used 48 shells, so at about 3 per bird, it was pretty good shooting, for me anyway. There were a couple of other people at the tank, so we were able to keep them flying around, and didn't let them slip in unnoticed. Can't wait to go again!
- Saturday, July 24, 1999 -- Varmint Calling
- Breeze light. No wind the day before. The moon set about 3:45am. Began about 4:30am. Made one call, and shot a bobcat at about 15 to 20 feet. The next call, we called in a USV (Unidentified Sneaking Varmint). We were up in the back of a pickup, and it came in to about 20 feet. It was probably a coyote, because it spooked and ran off. We didn't see it, although we could hear it running off in some tall feed in a field next to us. We saw it's eyes in the spotlight just before it disappeared for good. We made a few more calls, but saw or heard nothing else.
- Sunday, April 18, 1999 -- Turkey Hunting / Varmint Calling
- Breeze light and variable during the day. Light cloud cover. Wind picked up about 10:00pm, mostly from the South. Sliver of a moon. Started turkey hunting about 7:30pm. Made several stands, trying to find where they were roosting. Found some in two places, but couldn't get in position. Will try these later. Went coyote calling about 9:00pm. Lots of howling about 8:30 or so, but heard and saw nothing this night. Made 6 or 7 stands. Quit about 11:15. Used a rabbit (dead) for cover/attraction scent.
- Saturday, April 2, 1999 -- Turkey Hunting
- Started right at sunup and only heard one gobble. Wind was blowing like a hurricane, so wasn't sure if the turkey was even hearing us or not. It had rained a little bit the night before, and a strong front was blowing through. The wind was probably blowing 25 - 30 MPH or higher with very strong gusts.
- Friday, March 19, 1999 -- Varmint Calling
- Breeze mostly south, very light. Started calling about 4:00pm. Made 4 or 5 stands and didn't call anything. Stopped about dark. Went back out about 9:00pm. Sliver of a moon. Made about 5 or 6 stands and quit about 11:30. Called in one coyote at each of the first two stands. Called in cows at the third. Nothing else until the last one, where we called up a raccoon. We've noticed that after the moon goes down, if it has been a good night, the action stops.
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