etoyoc | coyote

After 4 long days of looking for mule deer I finally had eyes on one. Well, a photograph of one taken on a game camera.

The week was just after a full moon and the bright nights meant the animals were up eating in the cool hours. Away from any hunters or predators.

So before the sunrise on the last day of the hunt I gathered my things and walked to the water hole by the light of the moon. I positioned myself inside of a piñon tree so that I had a clear shot of about 50 yards. I then remained quiet. Listening closely for movement. The birds started about an hour before the sun broke. Then came the coyote calls.

There I sat, waiting, while the coyotes talked back and forth. Making their plans for the day.

The deer never showed up. After sitting about 4 hours I heard a gun shot. A hunter leaving his camp spotted the deer along the road. It headed toward the water hole I was sitting at.

Press play below to listen to Season 1, Episode 3 of my podcast. This episode features an early morning at a water hole in the Cibola National Forest interspersed with some music that makes for a short meditative journey. For the best experience (including full length versions of the songs), open in Spotify.