Sidewinder

You're absolutely right about not knowing until we carry permit holders are put into a situation. I can honestly say that if you've been trained properly (meaning always try to defuse the situation...walk away if it's "safely" possible), and are prepared to use deadly force to protect your life if absolutely necessary, you'll do the right thing when it happens. I know, because I faced that situation earlier this evening! I did not shoot anyone... but thought I was going to have to. Luckily, a friend and the police happened on the scene at almost the same time! Here's one thing I learned from this encounter. I learned a lot more, but feel this one is very important. Two police officers took him in the opposite direction, and two stayed to talk to me and my friend. The first thing they asked for was identification. When I handed them my drivers license, I made sure my HCP ID card was on top of my drivers license. When his flashlight hit that card, he immediately turned his attention to me and asked these questions: Are you a carry permit holder? I said yes sir I am. He asked, are you carrying? I said yes sir I am. He then asked, where is the gun on you? I said in my right front pocket. He asked is it loaded? I said yes sir it is. He asked me to turn around and reached into my pocket and removed it. Which I did exactly as he had asked. As he removed it, he said you can have it back when we get this straightened out. He was the police officer that was questioning the threatening guy. After it was over, he gave me my weapon back, with the magazine out of the gun, the round ejected from the chamber with the slide locked back, and the round handed to me. I did not reload the weapon at that time, but instead just put it in my pocket and the mag in my other pocket. He surprised me when he said, "thank you for not killing that guy"! I told him I had followed the protocol I was taught in the hand gun carry permit class. My friend verified the threats the other guy was making on me, one of which was to put a bullet through my head! I didn't know if he was armed or not, but he had one hand in his front pocket. Turns out, the police said he was not armed. The police got everything settled down, and even walked me to my vehicle... at my request. I'm still pretty shook up, as I think anyone would be. But throughout it all, tried to remain calm, and trying to calm the situation, but with my weapon in my right hand, inside my right front pocket, and possibly seconds from having to shoot! Thank God, I didn't have to! And, I hope none of you ever have to either... but, you had better be prepared to take whatever action is necessary to save your life. Understatement up above, I'm still a lot shook up! Thank God it all worked out, or this would have been a Christmas I'd never forget the rest of my life... still will be for many years to come, I imagine! This post is in no way to brag, boast, or anything of that nature. I did the post in hopes if any of you are ever faced with the same situation, that there may be something in here that can help you. Thank God for the freedom we enjoy as licensed hand gun carry permit holders in This state.

Nothing wrong with that "wimp" thing! I'm no spring chicken, and feel the same way. Congratulations on the .204, and I hope it serves you well. For me, I've changed my mind once more! I think I'll stick with it this time. I've decided to go with the .223 in a butt ugly Savage, with accutrigger. I think it'll do the job for me, here in middle Tennssee, and the ammo is a whole lot cheaper... as is the gun! now if I can just find one!

Anybody been doing any "yote" hunting in the Middle Tennessee area lately? If so, how about some reports...and some pics too? Thanks

I just bought a FoxPro "Spitfire" at Dick's in Murfreesboro for $200. I havent had a chance to use it in the field yet. But, I took it out to my T-hangar at the Murfreesboro airport, which has some wooded areas on the east side. I've heard coyotes at early evening out there for years. I fired up the "coyote locator" sound and some of the others, including the pup coyote in distress. I either fired up the whole pack, or someone on the other side of the woods had the same "coyote locator" call going! They fired up once, and then went quiet... not another sound from them, even though I tried some of the "here's food" type sounds. The unit is sturdily built, and seems to have enough volume. Now, i need to convert my weasel ball, and figure out how to control it through the "Aux" button of my FoxPro Spitfire remote. If anyone knows how to do this, please post for those of us that are "electronically challenged"! Thanks

A few years ago a friend and I were just hanging out at my T-hangar at the Murfreesboro airport. A summer storm blew through, so I closed the doors and we continued visiting while the storm raged outside. After the storm had subsided, and things had quieted down, I opened the door to find a whole pack of domestic dogs laying on a knoll about 15 yards from my hangar door! I noticed there were two that looked different, and almost immediately they started to slip away from the pack that was obviously after a female in heat. Then they started to trot away toward the woods on the other side of the runway. It was then that we realized they were not dogs, but were coyotes! Apparently, they had wanted to get in on the "love fest" provided by the bitch in heat! They were close enough that I could have hit them with a slingshot. The rest of the dogs just stayed put, but the two coyotes kept edging away, and stopping frequently to look back at us. They did not break away in a fast run, but rather reluctantly slipped away. Right then and there, I realized they would breed with domestic dogs. Don't know if it goes the other way around or not. Even though I've heard tales of female coyotes, in heat, bringing domestic dogs back out to the pack for them to have lunch on! Sure wish I'd had my camera that day to photograph the two. We were probably within 25-30 feet of them when I first slid the hangar door open!

I'm thinking of buying a .223 for yote hunting in the Middle Tennessee area. Anyone else using this caliber in this area? if so, what has been your experience with it? Does it have the range and knock down power to stop ole wiley coyote in this area? What gun, grain bullet, and calling method are you using? I have a .243, which will do the job, but want to go to a cheaper round, and figured the .223 just might be the perfect round for the area. What do all you Middle Tennessee yote hunters think? Does the .223 leave them DRT? Facts are better... opinions are good too. Why do they call it common sense, When it's so uncommon? TN Sen. Fred Thompson

I think the coyotes or unrestrained house cats have gotten almost all of the quail here in Rutherford County. I have not heard a Bobwhite call, or a gathering call from a single quail in a couple of years now! Anyone else around Murfreesboro that has seen or heard any quail lately? I'd love to hunt some, but I don't think we have any left.

I had a Savage 110 in 7mm mag., and now have a Savage 10 in .243 and love it. Check out my WTB ad in the classifieds under WTB SAvage. I have two Savage Model 24s, and love them...and no sir, they're not for sale! A person can always change out the stock to a prettier one, but that Savage "accuracy" can't be put onto another make so easily. I'm sold on the Savage. Why do they call it common sense, when it's so uncommon? TN Sen. Fred Thompson

As stated in an earlier post, I said I had bought a FoxPro "Spitfire". Elsewhere, there was instructions on how to convert the Weasel Ball into sort of a JIB. My question is this: does anyone know of this Weasel Ball modification that has been modified to be plugged into the Foxpro "AUX" output jack? It may not be possible. I'm not sure if it can be done, but if it can, Please direct me to the instructions. Thanks Why do they call it common sense, when it's so uncommon. TN Sen Fred Thompson

I have done a lot of research and study for my next "yote" gun, and have decided on a Savage in .223, with a synthetic stock and accu-trigger. If any of you have one for sale please reply to my ad on GOC. Thanks.

Why not just use the .243 that you already have? A couple companies load .243 in 55 grain bullets; these will often outperform a .22-250 w/ 50 grain bullets. It's not bad w/ 70 grain bullets, either. I will use one of my .243s, and think it will do an excellent job... once I find a lighter grain bullet than the 100 grain at WM. I have done a lot of research and have decided I want a Savage in .223, with synthetic stock and accu-trigger. One of my .243s is exactly that rifle. Now, I want a mate to it in .223. If anyone has one for sale, I'm looking for one. Thanks for all the input and opinions you guys have put forth. I appreciate the advice of those that own and shoot the rifles I've been considering. I've got an ad for a .223 on GOC, so someone give me a reply. Thanks again.

Thanks for the advice and the link tip. My unit has volume only up to a number 5, that being 1-5. Is 5 loud enough to get the ones out there a ways, especially if there's some wind? Haven't tried it in the woods yet, just wondering. Also, what about a .223 for yote hunting here in Middle Tennessee? Some have said it's more practical than the .22-250. I like the cheapness of the ammo, and if I can find one of those butt ugly, synthetic stock, Savages in the .223 caliber, I just might go with it. I prefer a hunting style rifle to the military style ARs. Thanks.

I've been giving that some consideration too. Got an email that said a .223 would get any coyote here in middle Tennessee. I like the cheaper ammo part of it too. Do you know if Savage makes a butt ugly .223 in a black synthetic stock with accutrigger? That may be the gun I'm actually looking for. Thanks.

After a lot of research, and on the advice of others, some from this forum, I have decided that a .22-250 just might serve me better than the .17 Rem I have been pursuing. Now, I'm back to the drawing board as I don't know didley about the .22-250. I'm trying to stay within a reasonable budget, at least a price I'm willing to pay, and have recently bought a Savage model 10 with accutrigger in .243 caliber within that price range. As was the case with the .17 rem, I'm buying it to hunt coyotes with here in Middle Tennessee. Could some of you that have experience with this caliber in hunting yotes tell me what your experience has been using the .22-250, good or bad please? Also, I'm guessing the most reasonably priced would be the Savage. Priced them at Walley World tonight and new ones ran from $475 to $550. So, a used one should fall within my budget... if it's a good round for the job at hand. Do those of you that use the .22-250 use it for other hunting, and if so what? Thanks for the input and advice, it's much appreciated. Why do they call it common sense, when it's so uncommon? TN Sen. Fred Thompson

Just treated myself to an early Christmas present tonight from Dick's, a FoxPro "Spitfire" electronic caller. Just got it a couple of hours ago, so I'm trying to learn as much as I can about it. The box says it has 24 sounds already on it, but that I can buy more sounds from FoxPro. No idea what they cost, but always like "free"! Do you know if I can put these MP3 sounds on my FoxPro card? If not, does anyone out there know where I can get free sounds off the net to put on there? Also, I'd be thrilled if someone that has actual coyote experience with this unit, would post your results. Is it a good piece of equipment to call yotes in, or did I just blow a couple hundred dollars on a pig in a poke! Thanks.

Thanks, you're a generous person, but I have done a lot of research and thinking on this .17 Rem thing, and have come to the conclusion that a .22-250 just might do what I want in the coyote hunting area. I've found some other coyote forums, mostly for the folks in the "cold country" states, and they seem to bear out what has been said on here about the coyote pelts not being worth skinning. So, with that in mind, the mission seems to be primarily population control, so who cares if the exit wound is the size of Texas! Cost is a big consideration, both in cost of the rifle, and cost of the ammo. The .22-250 seems to be more versatile, and easier on the pocketbook. So, I've pretty much given up on the .17 rem, and am looking for a good deal on a .22-250 in a Savage. But, thanks again for your generous offer. You're the kind of person that makes this site, and the forums the best! Merry Christmas to you and yours. Why do they call it common sense, when it's so uncommon? TN Sen. Fred Thompson

A "connected" friend told me he ran a poll that showed he "WOULD" be beat by a qualified republican, so he's trying to get out acting like it's his choice. I just hope Obama doesn't appoint him as some freeking Czar position, where he's only accountable to Obama! Maybe we had better hold up on that car wash a little while longer to see how this is going to shake out. I hope it's good... but in politics, like playing with snakes, we could end up getting bitten! Just my 2 cents worth. Why do they call it common sense, when it's so uncommon? TN Sen. Fred Thompson

Has anyone seen any reports of deer harvested from the Priest Lake WMAs?

Don't know how many of you are familiar with this site, but it covers almost everything on coyote hunting. Warning!!! It's addictive. Fox and Coyote Hunting Why do they call it common sense, when it's so uncommon? TN Sen. Fred Thompson

Thanks for the kind advice. You apparently know the browsing pattern for the "smoke blowing"! That's where I've been... you nailed it. I'm totally unfamiliar with the .204 Ruger, but somewhat familiar with the .223. I'm guessing there are quite a few choices in gun selection in the .223. I see that ammo at Walley World pretty reasonable. I guess I just got "smoked over" by the sound of those long flat shots that turns coyotes insides to jello! Thanks again.

Thanks, I'll take you up on that offer. I'm looking, but they seem to be rather scarce. Just got a tip on one today, but some think I'm talking about the 17HMR or 17 HM2. How far are you from Murfreesboro? Thanks for the offer.

Congratulations! Nice buck and nice gun. I like that town of Dyersburg. Do they still serve Sunday dinner out at the airport restaurant? Been there, done that, it's worth the flight over there for the good Southern fixings! Yum! Yum!

Would this .222 be on a Savage Model 24 combination over/under by chance? I believe savage makes one.

Reading this thread is a stroll down memory lane. Like some of the others, it's been a few years since I've done any real quail hunting. I went on a sponsored hunt a few years back and it was nothing like quail hunting in my teens, back in the 50s. The birds on this sponsored hunt had been placed in spots and seemed pretty tame. Back in the "good ole days", like some have said here, they would scare you when they thundered off the ground! They have relatively small wings that are moving fast. If the whole covey flushes at once, they'll rattle you... even if you know they're there. You can almost forget seeing them on the ground in the brush, as their feathers blend in very well. You'll practically step on them before they flush... in an expolsion of birds, going in every direction. A good bird dog is needed. Like others said, hunt with 7 1/2 or #8 bird shot, and if possible an improved cylinder (open bore) or hand loaded shells that have been loaded for quail hunting. They are the tastiest bird I've ever eaten. Never ate pheasant, so I can't compare there, but they are delicious. Have fun, and take lots of shells!

Whoa! Is this the going rate for .17 rem ammo? I'm interested in buying a .17 Rem rifle, but I'm not crazy about paying that kind of money for ammo. Might have to just stick with my .243.