Got to the stand around 4:00pm and it really wasnt looking good
As deer started filtering out to the fields shortly thereafter.
I usually look at this as a bad sign cause the deer usually seem to know
Where the yotes arent.
Might have been the cold air (23degree) that let the sound carry farther
Because after around 20min of calling, the deer, which were spread out over 200yds
Or so started to become disturbed by an unseen perpetrator.
What was happening was that the yote was traveling upwind of the deer and
Right on the edge of the field. They didnt like this one bit and two of three groups
Ran towards me but would quarter off into the woods.
I had never seen a ripple effect like this before but knew something was was up. The
Last group of deer crossed just 75 yds in front of me while quartering in. They must
Have decided the yote was too close because they stopped, milled, then ran all the way back out to the field & beyond.
I got on the call again ( a Lohman three in one this time) and pleaded & agonized for about 35sec but it was still a full min before I saw a gray shape streaking in.
We (the yote & I) are almost at right angles when it disappeared into a small
Cul-de-sac but I am ready when it circles to its right and comes around the bend.
A paltry 65yds separate us and I am tracking its med jog through the scope when
I flip the safety, squeeze the trigger and turn its lights out instantly.
I operate the bolt on the M77 without conscience thought. The rifle barrel is still moving via momentum and I am now looking just above the scope.
It is at this point when I see the second yote which was hanging a little behind the
First but this dog is in high gear now. With my form & momentum already working for me, I simply catch it in the glass and snap its picture and its rolling.
The (rush) was incredible. Was everybit as good as deer hunting if not more.
Lost one piece of brass though between cycling the bolt x2 :x
My RugerM77 is chambered for the .22-250 and I have been reloading for this caliber for 20yrs now. My bullet of choice is the Hornady #2267 which is a 55gr fmjbt. I am pushing these around 3,760fps and the performance was very typical as seen by myself dozens & dozens of times.
The two yotes above had .22 holes on either side of them, but yet death was instantaneous. Shocks the heck out of the central nervous system. Both yotes had large areas of bruised, bloodshot meat showing after the skinning.
Most of my shots are taken at 150yds or closer. Am going again this afternoon.
