CigarStone
For once, knowledge is making me poor!
I was notified this morning that my coyote is ready to pick up. To put it mildly, I am anxious. Read the story if you want a good laugh.
Last fall, I shot a coyote in Pa. while I was deer hunting, it began a wild ride of emotions ..... to say the least!
We were driving on a back road and spotted a coyote in the woods, I slowly got out of the truck and my nephew drove away. I was just about to pull the trigger when I hear a car coming so I stepped off the road and waited for the car to pass out of site. I was surprised the coyote was still standing there but it was staring at me so I couldn't move enough to get any sort of shooting rest. So I flung one free-hand ..... and missed.
The coyote ran 30 -40 yards and stopped to look at me again, so I flung another one ..... and missed. I used to be really good shooting free-hand with a rifle, but those days are long over! So now the coyote hauls ass out across a gentle hillside. I run down the road hoping to get another glimpse, but no such luck. For some reason I walked into the woods and got up on a fallen tree trunk and was scanning the hillside. Sure enough, the coyote jumps up on a log 100 yards away and stands broadside to me, looking back at where I had previously been. The little fucker was taunting me!
So now I am standing on a log with no way to even spread my feet and get a solid stance .... but WTF! I flung another one. To my surprise the coyote flies backwards through the air in slow motion. I let out a whoop like I had just won the lottery! To set the stage, I couldn't shoot an elk free-hand form 100 yards while standing on a log, let alone a coyote!
So I drag it out and my nephew and grandson marvel at the awesome color of it, it was bright orange and gold, and beautiful! The hole in it's neck is the exit wound.
I immediately knew I wanted to have it mounted because there were several sentimental factors involved. I shot it with my dads 300 Savage, it was my first coyote, and it was the best free-hand shot I have made since I qualified with the M-16 nearly 50 years ago!
So I call the nearest butcher shop where we take deer, when we don't process them ourselves, and asked if he knew anyone who could mount it for me. He says "yeah I got a guy who does all my work for me". I ask him for the name of the place and he says "Lifelike Taxidermy", so I look them up and their web site shows beautiful work! I get on the phone and ask what his price is and he says $400 and I was blown away because I was expecting $1100- $1200. So I ask if that includes the log the coyote is standing on in a certain picture, because that is how the this coyote was standing when I shot it, he assures me it does.
So we take the coyote to the butcher and he says he is taking some stuff to the taxidermist right now ...... I'm lucky I caught him before he left. So, we head back to camp to celebrate! I immediately start sending texts, with the above picture, to everyone I know, telling them the story about "the kill", and how I am getting this gorgeous mount for $400. A few hours, and a few dozen beers later, I look at the price sheet for the taxidermist and I go to their website to show my nephew and grandson their awesome work! One problem ...... it was a different web site, and the work pictured on this web site is horrifically bad! All of a sudden, my mood changes as we become mortified at how bad this guys work is ..... and he now has my coyote! I soon realized there are many taxidermist called "Lifelike Taxidermy" and I had originally been on a website for a place in Texas ..... but
This now starts uncontrollable laughter by my nephew and grandson, who start sending text messages to everyone I had previously texted. I immediately started getting text messages with images like the ones below, and "only $400" ..... I was literally sick at my stomach!
I am picking it up next Wednesday on my way over for the Labor day weekend and I will update this thread with a picture.
Last fall, I shot a coyote in Pa. while I was deer hunting, it began a wild ride of emotions ..... to say the least!
We were driving on a back road and spotted a coyote in the woods, I slowly got out of the truck and my nephew drove away. I was just about to pull the trigger when I hear a car coming so I stepped off the road and waited for the car to pass out of site. I was surprised the coyote was still standing there but it was staring at me so I couldn't move enough to get any sort of shooting rest. So I flung one free-hand ..... and missed.
The coyote ran 30 -40 yards and stopped to look at me again, so I flung another one ..... and missed. I used to be really good shooting free-hand with a rifle, but those days are long over! So now the coyote hauls ass out across a gentle hillside. I run down the road hoping to get another glimpse, but no such luck. For some reason I walked into the woods and got up on a fallen tree trunk and was scanning the hillside. Sure enough, the coyote jumps up on a log 100 yards away and stands broadside to me, looking back at where I had previously been. The little fucker was taunting me!
So now I am standing on a log with no way to even spread my feet and get a solid stance .... but WTF! I flung another one. To my surprise the coyote flies backwards through the air in slow motion. I let out a whoop like I had just won the lottery! To set the stage, I couldn't shoot an elk free-hand form 100 yards while standing on a log, let alone a coyote!
So I drag it out and my nephew and grandson marvel at the awesome color of it, it was bright orange and gold, and beautiful! The hole in it's neck is the exit wound.
I immediately knew I wanted to have it mounted because there were several sentimental factors involved. I shot it with my dads 300 Savage, it was my first coyote, and it was the best free-hand shot I have made since I qualified with the M-16 nearly 50 years ago!
So I call the nearest butcher shop where we take deer, when we don't process them ourselves, and asked if he knew anyone who could mount it for me. He says "yeah I got a guy who does all my work for me". I ask him for the name of the place and he says "Lifelike Taxidermy", so I look them up and their web site shows beautiful work! I get on the phone and ask what his price is and he says $400 and I was blown away because I was expecting $1100- $1200. So I ask if that includes the log the coyote is standing on in a certain picture, because that is how the this coyote was standing when I shot it, he assures me it does.
So we take the coyote to the butcher and he says he is taking some stuff to the taxidermist right now ...... I'm lucky I caught him before he left. So, we head back to camp to celebrate! I immediately start sending texts, with the above picture, to everyone I know, telling them the story about "the kill", and how I am getting this gorgeous mount for $400. A few hours, and a few dozen beers later, I look at the price sheet for the taxidermist and I go to their website to show my nephew and grandson their awesome work! One problem ...... it was a different web site, and the work pictured on this web site is horrifically bad! All of a sudden, my mood changes as we become mortified at how bad this guys work is ..... and he now has my coyote! I soon realized there are many taxidermist called "Lifelike Taxidermy" and I had originally been on a website for a place in Texas ..... but
called the local guy. So I was looking at $1500 mount on the web site, but speaking to the local guy!This now starts uncontrollable laughter by my nephew and grandson, who start sending text messages to everyone I had previously texted. I immediately started getting text messages with images like the ones below, and "only $400" ..... I was literally sick at my stomach!
I am picking it up next Wednesday on my way over for the Labor day weekend and I will update this thread with a picture.
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