Does a low-percentage shot (that misses of course) further educate a 'yote?

[ivarhusa]

I have had the fortune to have as many "low percentage shots" presented to me as ones I ought to make.  By "low percentage" I mean, for me, a shot at an uncertain distance, likely 400 yards or more distant.  (I plan to get a range finder to eliminate that "distance uncertainty".)

If I am 'busted' by a yote, and see that he is retreating, does it hurt my future chances any more by throwing hot lead at him?  There is always the chance I could connect, but right now I am no better than " 0 for 4".

I aspire to get better at shooting at distance, and have begun participating in distance shooting competitions at our local range.  In my first outing, I scored 275-4X at 300 and 600 yards.  It was pretty cool, hitting a 6" diameter X ring three times at 600yds. That was without dialing in the scope for range "hunter style", holding a good four feet high to adjust for the drop.

So, after 5 sighter shots with a downrange spotter, I have about a 1 in 5 chance of hitting a coyote (6" circle) at 600 yards. Yeah, that's not too great, is it. 

So, oh wise ones, would I be better off "pelt wise" by foregoing shots where my chances of a hit are less than, say, one in five?

Ivar

PS This comes to mind because I sent a distant shot off yesterday, at a stand where I had been busted before.  I want to get these guys, and will keep returning to this general area (likely picking a new point to call from).

PPS
I have gotten the advice that a Leica 900 might be a good choice for getting a distance measurement from nondescript (dark) backgrounds out to 600 yards and more.  Any other models successful at that challenging task?

[docsven]

Sounds like your odds would improve by knowing your range and adjusting scope or sights appropriately.  I think if you are guessing by holding 4 feet over, shouldn't take the shot at anything other than paper.  I don't think it is ethical to shoot to graze or wound.  Shoot to kill, and if you are only accurate one in 5 times, don't take those long shots till you are much better.  If you are saying 1 in 5 chance of being inside of six inches, how close are the other 4?

[ivarhusa]

Please don't take my reporting 600yd accuracy as endorsement for taking shots at such a range.  I did note, with some humor, that to get those three X's it took five sighters (shots taken that don't get added into my score).

In real life, one does not get those five sighter shots, and these are shots taken at a known range.  (Yes, I will get a range finder.  I had one, but it didn't reach beyond about 250 yds so I sold it.)

In the interest of "more complete reporting", at 300 yds I had 13 out of 15 shots within a 13" circle and 7 of these were within a 7" circle.  I think I have a pretty good chance of hitting out to 300 yards.

At 600 yards 10 out of 15 shots were within an 18" circle (9 ring).  That size target is more elk than coyote. (But please, I would not take a 600 yd shot at an elk. Not with my .204 Ruger anyway.  )

Doing a little more speculative math (just for fun): an 18" circle has an area of  254 square inches. I'll guess the vital area on a coyote might be about 50.8 square inches (this is the speculative part, and this number makes the next math easy  ). So, whatever my chances are for getting a bullet into an 18" circle are, it is one fifth that (254/50.8  ) to get the hit on a coyote-sized target.

Ivar

[jdb]

I really think it does and I try and refrain from takeing low percentage shots especially in area's I hunt often. this is one reason I dont care for semi-auto's for coyote hunting. It seems more guys are willing to fling lead when hunting with these.

[tlbradford]

In my opininion, anytime a coyote associates danger with a human activity they are educated.  That is why you can drive by a coyote without it bothering them too much, but slow down to park and they put on the afterburners.  They have been educated. 

Here are my loosely based rules when dealing with called in coyotes in regards to taking a shot.

1) Always try to get them as close as possible without alerting them to your position.
2) Stop them for a shot in an open area, or before they can pick up your scent.
3) If I get busted or miss a shot, get back on the call and see if they look willing to stop for a standing shot.
4) If yes and they do stop, how comfortable am I at that range, am I sure of the yardage, what is the wind doing.  Make a judgement call based on your range practice.
5) If no they will not likely stop, are they running across smooth unbroken terrain, will I get multiple attempts in case of a miss, when will I be calling this area again.  Did I really spook them with a missed shot, or did they just catch a whiff of me.
6) Are there other coyotes approaching from a different direction? Is it early in my stand?

Every situation is different, but for 90% of the time I won't shoot at a running coyote over 300 yards, I will shoot at a standing coyote under 500 yards if I have alerted him with a shot, I will try to call them back if they are tentative to leave the county, and I will know my drops on my cartridge out to 600 yards.

[furbearer365]

Hey ivarhusa, do yourself and the coyotes you hunt a favor and practice to become a little more accurate.  To hit with a 13 inch circle at 300 is way to broad for a 204 and especially for coyotes.  I don't know what your shooting setup is but at 300 with a 204 you should be able to shoot a 3 to 5 inch group every time.  Why question or take the chance of educating or worse wounding them when all you need to do is sit down with a range finder and a couple of boxes of shells and get your gun hitting where you want it at 300.  A good hunter and marksman always knows his limit when shooting.

[Bofire]

 :)It all depends, some places everyone there is shoots at yotes from the truck, those places still call good, but truck hunting sucks. Places that some folks shot once in a while. or called yotes that get missed, I think they forget in a few weeks. Of course frequent from the same site is a dead give away, call the same area but from a different site. my opinion

Carl

[shoot-em-dead]

I'm certainly not a coyote expert but I do love to hunt them. I just wanted to mention that I bought myself a reload kit and have since been doing a lot of shooting and it is amazing how far a little practice can go. You should be able to tighten up your groups a lot more. Another thing that helps me keep steady is taking out the .22 long and shooting at 100 yds. so it's cheaper yet and it helps me to not flinch. good luck.

[JoshT]

If it's a shot you're not comfortable with on a big game animal... why take it at a coyote?

If you're not at least 95% sure that you'll hit within 3" of where you're aiming... you've got no business pulling the trigger... at any range... on a deer, an elk, a bear, or a coyote. That's just plain irresponsible man... no sense in hammering off rounds and praying for a hit... especially with a small caliber.

Coyotes deserve a ton more respect as a critter, and a game animal, than I've been seeing on this board a lot lately.

[rainshadow1]

I think the fewer shots the less skittish. Possibly the less likely to forget you over the summer.

I'd avoid the shot if I wasn't pretty sure I could kill 'em (not just hit 'em.)


I know Bushnell doesn't hold a candle to Leica, that's for sure! (I have the bushy!)

[ivarhusa]

I do intend to step up my practice, as soon as I can get a supply of small rifle primers (CCI 400 preferred). I have powder and pills in hand to build another 200 rounds.  I also liked the idea practicing at 100 yards with the .22LR.  Good thinking.

I found that the organized match for 300 and 600 yards (prone) to be a great place to test one's mettle (and metal, if you are thinking lead). I look forward to the next one.

Thanks for all the other thoughts shared, guys.

Ivar

[JoshT]

Match shooting is a great place to work on trigger control, breathing, reading wind and such. But, the best way to learn to shoot in the field... is to shoot in the field. Shooting rounds at rocks and such off your sticks and bipod... and misc. ranges will tune you up much faster than shooting in controled match type situations.

[woodswalker]

The Sako 22-250 is good (when I do my part) for 3.5 inches at 300 and 6" at 500...and I stop shooting at 500...'Yotes get hard to SEE then anyhow.  I know the drops in the scope, and I'm TOLERABLE in ranging...I'll TRY to register the site if possible....by ranging a few landmarks if I can, that helps with the fast distance estimates.

I think you need to work on accuracy and not be lobbing things in on critters...lobbing is OK on the range but not on a critter. 

[deaddog]

Hey ivarhusa, do yourself and the coyotes you hunt a favor and practice to become a little more accurate.  To hit with a 13 inch circle at 300 is way to broad for a 204 and especially for coyotes.  I don't know what your shooting setup is but at 300 with a 204 you should be able to shoot a 3 to 5 inch group every time.  Why question or take the chance of educating or worse wounding them when all you need to do is sit down with a range finder and a couple of boxes of shells and get your gun hitting where you want it at 300.  A good hunter and marksman always knows his limit when shooting.

+1, thats it in a nut shell.