It was about 30 degrees with a 5 mph wind, partly cloudy. Pretty decent weather, but not as dark as I was hoping. I set up my first stand in a small opening surrounded by large cottonwood/elms. I put my e-caller about 10 yds from me on the ground and starting playing coon-fighting calls. Scanned the ground and trees for about 15 minutes. I finally spotted a set of eyes up in the tree approx 80 yds away. I tried to move in closer for a better shot, but the eyes would disappear and reappear. I decided to take a shot at about 60 yds. Put the crosshairs right between the eyes and squeezed the trigger. The eyes disappeared. I went over to the bottom of the tree to pick up my trophy, and . . . nothing! I couldn't believe it! I knew I had that thing dead in my sights. Meanwhile, by call was still blaring away back in the field. I walked over there disgusted to retrieve my call, and decided to shine that way one more time. There he was again! Same spot! I tried to get a bead on him again, but he would keep ducking back into his den. After about 15 minutes of this, my battery was going dead so I went back to the truck to get another one. Once I got my new battery I headed back into the field, walking down a 2-track. I thought I would try playing the e-caller in my coat pocket while I was walking and scan the trees as I went. After about 15 minutes of this I caught another set of eyes. This time about 40-50 yards thru the trees. I braced my rifle against a tree, steadied the crosshairs right between his eyes, and squeezed off another round. The eyes disappeared immediately. I stood there and shined the tree to make sure I could find the right tree when I got back there, and I'll be damned if those eyes didn't reappear. Trying to get a better shot - between him ducking back into the tree and the branches in the way - I couldn't get another shot before that battery went dead. I decided to call it a night. As I was walking back to the truck, I kept thinking that I couldn't believe I missed both shots. I put the gun in front of the headlights to check out the scope, and realized my compensator had been accidentally cranked way up. I don't know how this happened other than just sliding the gun in and out of the case. Anyways - I had a great time, and will definitely do it again once I re-sight my gun!
