Yeah its a stupid song. One of my backyard sensors went off around 2:45. I was going to get up at 3, but Mr. Raccoon had already cruised through the area and was gone. I'd already laid out my Gamo Whisper, my cold weather stuff etc to try and ambush one or a possum. I've seen them on the camera at around 3:30 every night. I even had one of those cool cushions you sit one that warms up your tush.

We just got a new puppy a couple of weeks back. I let him out to go to the bathroom (instead of on my floor!).

Young Tobey retrieved this English Sparrow I shot...he wouldn't let it go though.

About that time, I heard two shots! Well at least I think they were shots. They weren't very loud perhaps a subsonic .22 LR or loud air rifle. It was probably a powder gun since they shot twice really fast. If it was a rifle, I'm guessing someone else is ambushing coons at night too. That may also be the reason why my raccoon hunting has went way down from last year. Last year by this time I'd already killed a dozen and I dont' know how many possums. If there is someone else shooting them AND the coyotes are getting them, that pretty much explains my lack of night critters.


One of the "backyard" coyotes from earlier in the year

Those two things were irrelevant though. I stayed outside for awhile with the air rifle just in case. Off to my left (north) I hear a coyote howl! It was easily within a hundred yards. VERY loud! That direction is a drainage area for our neighborhood. Then up the other direction towards the horse farm, I hear one answer! It was much fainter, but it was for certain a coyote.

That was when the all the neighbor's dogs went nuts. I tried to listen for somemore but couldn't hear over the racket. Just before I went inside the dogs settled down. Sure enough I hear a pack howl off to the east. They were making all sorts of a ruckus, and then the dogs started going off again.

I'm guessing they won't frequent my backyard for awhile since I shot one of their buddies awhile back and probably hit the other one. I did hear them all around me though. Tomorrow I may go down to my neighbor's and try calling the corner of his lot. I'll just bring the .22 as it doesn't make that much noise.