Coyote down... but it wasn't pretty. (Graphic)

[GW11]

This afternoon my buddy and I headed to one of the farms I have permission on to pull my blind that I had set up for late season deer. I figured that I might as well try a coyote set while we were there. It was a perfect day for it, about 0 degrees and really light NW winds.

Here's a picture of the setup. The coyote is actually laying in the field if you zoom right in on the tree line, but it gets really blurry.



I was set up on a fence line, tucked into a little cedar tree. The view above looks Northwest. My buddy was just on the other side of the fence to watch for anything sneaking around downwind.

About 4:20 pm I started on the dying rabbit mouth call. About 15 to 20 seconds of longer wails, followed by a pause, and another 15 to 20 seconds of shorter faster and more frantic wails. I just tucked the call into my pocket when I saw movement coming out of the bush straight towards me. I could tell that it was a coyote and just the movement of me making adjustments to get my head behind the scope was noticeable to her. As soon as the scope was on her I could see that she had stopped in her tracks and was looking at me. The scope was on 4x, I would have liked it higher but I always leave it set low and move it up if I can. It was then or never. After the shot she started doing the spin thing, but not knowing how well she was hit or if she was at all, I shot (and missed) twice while she was spinning. After the 4th, she went down.

I gave it a few minutes, then we decided we would go get her. When I got up from my hiding spot I noticed her head was up again and she was looking up at us. The cedar rail fence wouldn't give me a steady enough rest so I got back on the shooting sticks and shot again. When I looked up from the scope she had gotten up and run off into the bush! Unbelievable!

This is what we found when we got down there (glove is for scale). I can't believe she was still going.




We started into the bush on the track and found a few blood pools where she had laid down. Eventually I just stopped and listened and could hear her not far ahead. I caught up to her and shot her again from about 20 yards.

Here's the end result. Can't say I'm too proud of the shooting, but I guess they can't all be textbook finishes.



The first shot when she was head-on caught her in the hip/hind leg. The one that put her down when she was spinning hit her at an angle near the right eye. I think I missed on the one where she jumped up. The 20 yard shot in the bush got her in the opposite side and made a real mess. When I paced off the distance going back to where I sat, the original shooting was from 175 yards.

The landowner was really happy. She has a hobby farm, a few horses, ponies, dogs and children. She appreciates us hunting the coyotes there, even more so when we get them.

I was shooting my 243 with Hornady 58 grain v-max. They sure do some damage.

Looking forward to getting out more often this winter!

PS, sorry about the sideways pics. It seems to only like "landscape" photos.

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[rick_iles]

This afternoon my buddy and I headed to one of the farms I have permission on to pull my blind that I had set up for late season deer. I figured that I might as well try a coyote set while we were there. It was a perfect day for it, about 0 degrees and really light NW winds.

Here's a picture of the setup. The coyote is actually laying in the field if you zoom right in on the tree line, but it gets really blurry.



I was set up on a fence line, tucked into a little cedar tree. The view above looks Northwest. My buddy was just on the other side of the fence to watch for anything sneaking around downwind.

About 4:20 pm I started on the dying rabbit mouth call. About 15 to 20 seconds of longer wails, followed by a pause, and another 15 to 20 seconds of shorter faster and more frantic wails. I just tucked the call into my pocket when I saw movement coming out of the bush straight towards me. I could tell that it was a coyote and just the movement of me making adjustments to get my head behind the scope was noticeable to her. As soon as the scope was on her I could see that she had stopped in her tracks and was looking at me. The scope was on 4x, I would have liked it higher but I always leave it set low and move it up if I can. It was then or never. After the shot she started doing the spin thing, but not knowing how well she was hit or if she was at all, I shot (and missed) twice while she was spinning. After the 4th, she went down.

I gave it a few minutes, then we decided we would go get her. When I got up from my hiding spot I noticed her head was up again and she was looking up at us. The cedar rail fence wouldn't give me a steady enough rest so I got back on the shooting sticks and shot again. When I looked up from the scope she had gotten up and run off into the bush! Unbelievable!

This is what we found when we got down there (glove is for scale). I can't believe she was still going.




We started into the bush on the track and found a few blood pools where she had laid down. Eventually I just stopped and listened and could hear her not far ahead. I caught up to her and shot her again from about 20 yards.

Here's the end result. Can't say I'm too proud of the shooting, but I guess they can't all be textbook finishes.



The first shot when she was head-on caught her in the hip/hind leg. The one that put her down when she was spinning hit her at an angle near the right eye. I think I missed on the one where she jumped up. The 20 yard shot in the bush got her in the opposite side and made a real mess. When I paced off the distance going back to where I sat, the original shooting was from 175 yards.

The landowner was really happy. She has a hobby farm, a few horses, ponies, dogs and children. She appreciates us hunting the coyotes there, even more so when we get them.

I was shooting my 243 with Hornady 58 grain v-max. They sure do some damage.

Looking forward to getting out more often this winter!

PS, sorry about the sideways pics. It seems to only like "landscape" photos.

Sent from my SM-A520W using Tapatalk

They are one tough critter. They amaze me how they can keep going after being hit...

[oaknut]

Congrats and well done!

That dog looks quite healthy and well fed.

I can imagine that 58 grains touching on 4000fps would open a bit of a wound channel for sure.

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[trimmer21]

Congrats and well done!

That dog looks quite healthy and well fed.

I can imagine that 58 grains touching on 4000fps would open a bit of a wound channel for sure.

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I use Federal .243Win 70gr ballistic tips and Hornady .270Win 120gr SST's for long range across pastures and Winchester 12ga 3" magnum #4 for close -in swamp and heavy brush. The farms I hunt just want them gone. I've found these do the best job.

[tom gobble]

Nice yote congrats

[fratri]

Good going...... ya, sometimes it just doesn't work out as we plan. Glad you found her and finished the job
Congrats

[Saskfly]

Good job on the follow up. To many would have left it after seeing that much blood in the snow.


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[Species8472]

Nice work getting it done.

[punkrockerpj]

the fact that you followed up to make sure you finished the job shows your respect for the animal. Even if it is a problem creature, it's doing God made it to do. It's all a balance of the cycle and I'd hate to see my backyard completely void of these predators... can you say rats galore? yuck!

I've lost barn cats to them and they will go after my goats if I don't take proper precautions, but it doesn't mean they don't still deserve the respect you should show all animals that you are lucky to interact with. kudos on the success and hope you are able to clear out a few more for the landowner...

[huntnmachine]

Awesome hunt and pictures.....thanks for sharing