As it started to warm up and the wind shifted almost 180 degrees,I got a chance to cover the rest of the bottom and determine exactly where all the property line was.From the South fence,I could glass down the river and see more moose tracks but naturally,on the wrong side of the fence.
That's OK as they can be anywhere tomorrow and soon she will be done with him and he will travel up or down river,looking for another trist and that will put him on other ranches where I have secured permission.
I actually ended up walking the length of that piece of river bottom twice,trying to work out every pice of it to make sure I hadn't missed any tracks.
When I reached the South end the second time,it was starting to warm up,and satisfied I had covered it all,I broke out of the tree line and started to find the most direct path back to the truck.
I caught movement on the dry hill across the river.There stood a coyote,about a hundred yards away.I was in the open and he had to recognize what I was and that I carried something in my hand.I expected him to start barking and raising Cain,and light out of there but instead,he walked up the hill and sat down watching me.
Very uncharacteristic for a Montana coyote.These dogs get shot at frequently and they know the program.It was almost as if he understood I had a bow,not a rifle.I sat down too,and we both tried to figure the other one out.
I finally remembered the camera in my pack,broke it out and rested it across my knees and took a few pictures.He is to the upper left of the cedar bush.