I had another one of those wildlife encounters this spring that made me stop and think about how lucky I have been. This time it was a coyote at Sally Jones Lake at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, and for a few minutes, it walked right in my direction.
Coyote at Sally Jones Lake, first look in the field
I parked in the Baker parking area at Sally Jones Lake early that morning. After I got out of my truck, I walked west about 100 yards and spotted three coyotes near the edge of a field.
One was lying down. The other two were moving in and out of the trees, but they stayed in one small area. The wind was blowing in their direction, which was not in my favor. I knew it would not take long for them to figure out something was off.
I was partly hidden behind weeds, and the only thing they could really see was my head and shoulders. I started taking photos while I still had the chance.
Coyote behavior at Sally Jones Lake
After a short time, the coyote that had been lying down got up and started moving toward me. That immediately had my full attention. It did not rush in, and it did not seem alarmed. It just walked forward, then stopped and studied the area.
For several minutes, it stood in one spot and looked around. A few times it glanced in my direction, but its body language looked more cautious than nervous. It knew something was not quite right, but it had not fully pinned me down yet.
That kind of pause is what made this encounter interesting. The coyote was clearly checking its surroundings and trying to sort out what it was seeing or smelling before making its next move.
Coyotes rely heavily on scent, hearing, and sight when they assess a situation. In open ground like this, even a small movement can give a photographer away. I am convinced the wind helped end this encounter, because once the coyote kept moving and angled away, it seemed clear that it had finally figured out I was nearby.
The coyote finally slips back into the weeds
After standing there for several minutes, the coyote walked a short distance away from me and disappeared into the tall weeds. As it moved, it kept glancing my way. That told me it had made up its mind and was done hanging around in the open.
Soon after that, the other two coyotes came out of the trees and followed it into the weeds. Later, I saw them again in a field in the distance.
This spring has given me an unusual run of wildlife walking toward me. First it was a wild hog at Sequoyah. Then it was a bobcat on the auto tour road. Now I can add this coyote to the list.
Photography Notes for this coyote encounter
This was one of those moments where there was not much time to think. The coyote was moving, the wind was working against me, and I knew the encounter could end at any second. I stayed put, used the weeds for partial cover, and shot hand-held so I could react fast.
The light was good enough to keep my shutter speed high, which helped as the coyote walked and paused in the field. At 800mm, I was still dealing with distance, so these frames show the animal in its habitat rather than filling the frame with a tight portrait. I think that works for this story because it shows just how open the setting was and how exposed the coyote looked while it tried to decide what I was.
Camera Settings
- Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark II
- Lens: Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
- Focal length: 800mm
- Aperture: f/10
- Shutter speed: 1/2000 second
- ISO: 1250
- Exposure compensation: 0
- Support: Hand-held
- Date and Time: March 25, 2026 at 9:00 A.M.
Closing thoughts on this coyote at Sally Jones Lake
I do not get tired of encounters like this. Watching a wild animal try to make sense of my presence, then choose its exit, is a big part of what keeps me coming back. This coyote never panicked, and that made the whole encounter even better to watch.
Seeing three coyotes together was already a good start to the morning. Having one walk toward me and pause long enough for photos made it even better.