deep snow swamp coyote

In my area East winds dont come often so many coyote spots are scouted with no ability to hunt them until the right wind presents itself. So today my hopes were raised when i realized that the snow coming down was being blown from the south east! Instantly my mind went to a large slough that i have been driving by every day on my way to work. this area has never been of interest to me because of the thick nasty bush but earlier in the year i witnessed a roadkill deer turn to a blank spot on the snow in under 24 hours!. With knowledge that there was such a high concentration of coyotes in the area some closer inspection was warranted and i discovered a small open area in the middle of the swampy marsh that would take an east wind to setup properly. After work, snow camo was hurriedly donned and i rushed to get there in time with ample light to make a set. Beginning the hike through the bush to my setup my sanity began to come into question. here i was packing not one but 2 firearms over 500 yards through knee deep snow with the hopes that the opening i found on google earth was in fact a good spot to hunt. Finally having successfully arrived without throwing up or blowing out a lung i plopped down in the snow and began my set.

Starting off with some young female howls followed by deeper male howls i waited for coyotes to begin making themselves known as it was a sure thing that my calls were falling on canine ears. Amazed at the lack of response i decided it was worth changing tactics, taking up a high pitched cottontail call i blew a long series of the saddest most mournful dieing bunny i could muster. minutes passed by with nothing again until i scanned to my left to check the downwind and there was a coyote staring right at me. with only 80 yards between us she knew something was up and fast began a straight line to catch my wind. Knowing i needed to act fast i turned the rifle around and setup in the only opening through the willows that this coyote would show herself. sure enough she took the right line and at my barks she stopped right behind a willow bush! with no more time to get a better shot i picked a hole in the bush and sent a 50 gr Vmax on its way. All i saw after the shot was a large tuft of fur floating down and movement back in the bush. Worried that this coyote had just gotten away with only a haircut i slogged my way over to find that this in heat female must have had a male following her that had gotten away! the bullet had entered a little bit high on her shoulder and with a 50 vmax going almost 4000fps it made a mess which is why i saw the fur flying. Pictured is the 220 swift and the cottontail call that did her in.