Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: halfpipe88 on March 31, 2011, 12:22:42 PM
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On Saturday I went out with my cousin, called in a coyote that showed up about 125 yards away. It came trotting and stopped to look/check things out. I took the shot, missed, and it was gone. I was kicking myself all day wishing I would have waited.
How long do you wait to take the shot? As soon as they show up? Until they look nervous? Wait til you see the whites of their eyes? Let me hear your advice.
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As soon as you know you can hit em....let it rip.
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If it were me hunting coyotes, I would rather shoot and miss then not shoot at all. For big game I am different and only take shots I am 100% comfortable with but for a yote, if I thought I could make the shot I wouldn't wait.
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I like to get them really close. Less walking. Every situation is different, especially when you are trying to kill multiples. If they look like they spotted something or are close to bugging out, then shoot.
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as soon as you can get a shot, you might try breathing and not jerk the hell out of the trigger, i bet thats what happened, breathing controls your up and down and trigger squezze controls side to side, but to be honest those are easy critters to miss, they look bigger than the actually are thats for sure
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The answer is you learn what your limits are and take the appropriate shot. Even a coyote is a living animal and ethics will dictate your shot.
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:)The instant I get the "picture" my gun goes off, sort of a trained surprise. The picture? solid hold on center chest, or other kill shot, DO NOT WAIT!!
Carl
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After awhile you get a feel for how they are acting. If they stop and are in range take the shot. Most of the time if they are going to keep coming they will start moving again before you can shoot.
AWS
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IMO, it all depends on how comfortable you are with your own personal abilities. Be completely honest with yourself on your abilities as a shooter. If your current abilities limit you to inside of 100yds then there is your answer. If it's further, again, there is your answer. Don't think you're a bad shot if you limit yourself to lesser distance. It only means you need more practice shooting at further distances. Remember coyotes are some smart sons of beeches. They are realllllll quick learners so don't educate them. If your calling them in and miss, chances are you will play hell ever calling them in again. If one sees you shoot at them that yote will more than likely take off on a dead run at the next sight of a human. They're no different than we are. Hell, if I lived in the wild and a human shot at me, I can promise you the next time I saw a human, i'd be running for cover too. This is why I'm not big on low percentage shots just for the hell of it. I've hunted yotes with guys that will lob one out there just for the heck of it. I always tell em the same thing, hey if your bored and just want to shoot at stuff we can set up some targets. :)
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I set up for close contact,when the dog is running in I keep my cross hairs on his head,when he notices something he takes a second and pauses,then I send him to the other side
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If I got them at a stand still within 300yrds I am shooting :bfg:
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For me it all depends on body language . If i know i can get them closer i will hold the shot .
most coyotes i harvest are 70 yrds or closer .
You will learn in time to read them .
Just because a coyote coming in stops does not mean they are NOT going to come closer .
Most who are new to the game take shots at distant or moving coyotes when it is not necessary .
time on the stand or time spent with a seasoned caller is the ticket .
when a coyote is coming in , as long as they are ears up and coming forward even if they stop its all good , when the ears lay back , the tail tucks ,the hackles drop,or the coyote turns broadside its gonna bugger . Watch a few videos and pay attention to the body language , after you start looking at the subtle changes it becomes easy to see .
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think of them as your own dog or a nervous stray everybody is trying to catch. its the body language. you will see greed, fear, nervousness etc just like a pet thats in trouble. if he's coming, just let him come on in, the moment they see ya, their body and eyes will tell ya the jig is up. if ya missed out on tapping him the moment he hits the brakes and starts to leave nervouse or all out, no worries, he doesnt know what ya are just wait for a second chance. hold your fire, just watch him, let him get a little distance, assuming he's still in the open or heading into the open. give a whoof whoof, like another dog, or a good squeal, he'll usually eventually hit the brakes and at that very moment, you can pop him. you will only get a couple seconds.
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For me it all depends on body language . If i know i can get them closer i will hold the shot .
most coyotes i harvest are 70 yrds or closer ...
Is Jer trying to tell us he hasn't hit many yotes further than about 70 yd? :chuckle:
(Actually, I know better. He' very effective at not leaving educated coyotes behind.)
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I guess i kinda set myself up for that one Ivar,I do have a heck of a time seeing them much farther then that, Maybe thats the reason !!!!!! old age is a biatch LOL
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Yea....I ain't buying it, know Jerry's background a bit, it tells the story.
Great thread, and I agree, you learn their body language. As long as they are curious, they will keep coming. As long as you paid attention to the wind when you set up, and what behind you. If its an educated dog, it might start circling farther out.
Someone above said "they'd rather shoot than not...", thats a fine way to "learn 'em", and I don't want to do THAT.
Another question should be HOW TO STOP THEM WHEN DANGER CLOSE. I've had several inside 25 yards, and moving fast.
Hard to hit a target like that....a "woof" usually does it though.
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I agree with the idea you should #1 Know your abilities, what distance you can consistently hit inside at least a 6in circle (I keep my goals lowwww :chuckle: ) with confidence every time. #2 Be patient and try to get them as close as possible, like shotgun range (less than 25yds for me....) If they are not coming closer and hold up inside "your distance" fine - shoot em. If not - no harm no foul - he's still there for another day and nothing "bad" happened in his mind by coming into a call.
As for how to stop them inside 25yds and moving fast? 12 gauge with #4 buck - works like a charm! :chuckle:
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"As soon as you know you can hit em....let it rip."
Agree. When the shot is good, take it. Great off-season practice for deer hunting too... Any kind of live-animal shooting during the off-season months is terrific practice, be it coyotes, rock chucks, or even Oregon sage rats.
While out with a new hunter last fall, I saw him looking intently through his scope at a stone-still coyote about 200 yards away. He was watching the coyote, it was watching him. The new hunter isn't used to scopes, and isn't used to seeing coyotes or any other kind of game. He really didn't know if he was looking at a coyote or not until it moved, leaving the area. Then it was too late. I figured if he shot it or not, it was good for him to at least be looking through the scope at game, for the first time in his life.
Don't beat yourself up about it. It's just a coyote, there are more.
Regards, Guy
