Wild Dog with a Wild Bone

Wild Dog with a Wild Bone, originally uploaded by Jen Joynt.

Last year, I noticed that the Fall seemed to be a good time to see coyotes. In my hikes, I had much better luck with coyotes than with bobcats. This Fall, I have also had pretty good luck with coyotes.

This day started off lucky, with a view of a pair of Great Horned Owls sitting on the same branch, not exactly beside each other but close. Often, a pair will start perching together close to the mating season. They were deep in a stand of trees. I decided to forego crashing into the underbrush for the uncertain shot and more certain likelihood of scaring off the owls.

So I went in search of other critters, with the thought of returning to the owls closer to sunset. I never did return, as I spotted two coyotes up on a ridge. My first sighting was of the coyotes running down the hillside.



I was able to follow their progress along the ridge, me from the human trail watching the coyotes on the animal trail.



I saw the coyote from the top photo with something in its mouth. It was fairly far away, and I just starting shooting. At first, I thought it might be a squirrel. And then I thought it was a stick. A stick, how strange! Only when I got home and took a closer look did I realize it was part of an antler! Even stranger!





I lost sight of the coyotes and continued along the trail, where I noticed a buck intently staring into the distance.  I watched for a little while, but I did not see what the buck was watching. But on my return, I saw what was or might have been going on. The buck seemed to be keeping a close eye on a coyote (perhaps wanting to keep his lovely antlers for himself).



As the sun set, the coyote trotted off in deep grass, taking one last look at me before disappearing into the wilderness.