11/06/2003 Male Lancaster, SC 7mm Mag Remington 7:00am 5 yards
I found my climbing stand just where I left it last night; locked to the tree all safe and sound.  I got up into it at about 6:15, a little bit later than normal, but right about when I wanted to be there.  As I was sitting in the stand waiting for a deer to come by, I heard something walking quickly through the woods behind me.  Fox, I thought.  This is what I've been waiting for. 

As the footsteps approached, I got ready to shoot.  I've been after a fox for years, and was hoping that this would be my chance.  The animal emerged right behind me, and to my surprise it wasn't a fox after all.  As it passed under my stand, I snapped the safety off my rifle, let it get about ten yards out, then fired.  The coyote dropped in it's tracks, never even flinching.

    

This is the second time I've seen a coyote on our lease, though I have heard them often.  These animals are not native to South Carolina, and are a major problem for game birds such as turkeys and quail.  I won't hesitate to shoot every one of them that I see on our lease.  After shooting this one, I left him lay on the ground, choosing to remain in my stand in the hopes that a deer would come by later.  The coyote was the only thing I saw.