Bedded on the down-wind/ tactics

[leper]

When a Red or coyote is NOT traveling/hunting. You will find them on the down-wind. Whether talking about the coyotes or Red Fox, samo...samo. It has become apparent to me. After stalking many of both over the yrs, on loud snow cover. They BOTH, hear BEST up & down wind. Not quite as well across the wind. But still quite capable. Best, not "assume" they can't hear you crosswind.

So after I spot a bedded canine among the hills from long range. I'll drive further sometimes driving down an adjacent roadway to gain different angled views. As I'm doing this, I'm pin-pointing the canine's coordinance...ie; "Triangulating" its' position.

I use various visual objects[land markers] & count hills, useing North/South/East & West to finalize the exact coordinance.
Takes abit of time. But it pays. Also by looking into an area from differing angles. Has also shown me another canine, that was origionally hid from my view.

Latter part of January, I typically expect to see pr's, rather than singles. Been my experience anyway.

Whether I try to call one I've seen. Or call a timber patch.... In a perfect World. I prefer to come in crosswind or angled "up" & across the wind to that canine or cover. As coming in angled up-wind. The canines that are on the down-wind, can't possibly see me. I also leave an open area to my down-wind.

Red Fox, bedded on the down-wind.


Red


Coyote...You'll note. This coyote is on the down wind side of the hill. It is ALSO on the down-wind side of the drifted fenceline. Completely out of the wind. A very quite area. I call these areas "dead air spaces" Very good unobstructed hearing for that coyote.
Wind is blowing hard from the upper left corner-to the lower right in these pics. Coyote is over 700yrds out, near the 1/2 mile fenceline. Coyote was also eyeing me, before I even laid eyes on him.

[leper]

Once I have the bedded canine triangulated. I already know how loud the groundcover is. As I tested it prior. Whether frozen ground/soil or snow cover, [unless the snow is deep fluff snow].

The ground cover will always have some noise to it. I've tried differing tactics on over coming this loudness. I watch where I plant each step & step lightly initially before planting my foot & prior to the next step. I take this part of the stalk seriously & do it methodically.

I've also crawled a long ways. Crawling on my fists & useing my lower legs, from the knees on down. I turn my feet inwards & use my lower legs-outer ankles, like snowshoes. Doing so, disperses my weight more evenly & greatly reduces my noise dramatically. It also reduces the chance of breakthrough on deep crusty snow. As my weight is spread out more evenly. I use my fists & straightened arms to elevate my torso for a better view. Once I'm near the crest of my hill for the shot.

I also have used only the front ball of my feet as I step, each step. Rather than normal walking ...ie; [heel to toe]. Doing so, cuts down my noise by 1/2. As I'm not useing both my heel & ball to walk. Only the ball or front portion of my feet are carrying my weight. Abit fatiquing, but again it cuts the amount of my noise in 1/2.

All of these tactics are time consuming. But I figure if I'm doing a stalk, why waste it, take my sweet time & get closer for a better shot.