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I let the dogs out to do their business tonight. I always keep an eye on them so they don't get into mischief. I carry an insanely bright flashlight that can illuminate the entire property, and I carry my spare 6-iron in case I need to separate the dogs or break up the ice in the water buckets.
As soon as I stepped out the door, the flashlight beam lit up a pair of eyes just outside the fence. The dogs raced towards the fence barking madly, and something outside the fence started running. I followed it with my flashlight and was able to make out that it was a coyote! I could see more eyes in the woods. In theory, the coyotes shouldn't be able to get through the fence, but I didn't want to take any chances. A 6-iron wasn't going to cut it, so I left the dogs to guard the fenceline while I ran back inside to get the Judge, my .45LC/.410 revolver. I loaded it up with shotshells, which I figured would be more effective against a swiftly moving target.
I ran back outside and over to where the dogs were pacing in front of the fence. I could hear a coyote nearby, but I couldn't see it and I wasn't about to fire blindly into the woods, so all I could do was stand there listening to the dogs and coyotes trade insults. Eventually the coyotes stopped replying and I heard a lot of distressed mooing coming from the neighbor's cows.
The sheep are apparently unfazed by the whole thing. I hope the wild rabbits are OK, since they tend to live outside the fence.
As soon as I stepped out the door, the flashlight beam lit up a pair of eyes just outside the fence. The dogs raced towards the fence barking madly, and something outside the fence started running. I followed it with my flashlight and was able to make out that it was a coyote! I could see more eyes in the woods. In theory, the coyotes shouldn't be able to get through the fence, but I didn't want to take any chances. A 6-iron wasn't going to cut it, so I left the dogs to guard the fenceline while I ran back inside to get the Judge, my .45LC/.410 revolver. I loaded it up with shotshells, which I figured would be more effective against a swiftly moving target.
I ran back outside and over to where the dogs were pacing in front of the fence. I could hear a coyote nearby, but I couldn't see it and I wasn't about to fire blindly into the woods, so all I could do was stand there listening to the dogs and coyotes trade insults. Eventually the coyotes stopped replying and I heard a lot of distressed mooing coming from the neighbor's cows.
The sheep are apparently unfazed by the whole thing. I hope the wild rabbits are OK, since they tend to live outside the fence.