Coyote....would you have taken a shot?

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Yup, there are definitely better options. As a "target of opportunity", I would pop one with a 9mm carbine, assuming it were close enough (less than 50 yards or so). If I were out looking for them, or if I were out in an area where I am quite likely to see one, I would carry something with a bit more poop. I wouldn't even consider a .22 mag, unless I had a dead still, well rested head shot at 50 yards or less. Anything else would just be cruel.

I know the last sentence was directed at me Jeff, and know you enjoy being the resident gun and ballistics expert, but I think we're talking pretty close ranges here. The coyotes i see are usually 25-35 yards away. Both times my .22 mag was an easy head shot with a good scope and both dropped like rocks.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Craig T

I know the last sentence was directed at me Jeff, and know you enjoy being the resident gun and ballistics expert, but I think we're talking pretty close ranges here. The coyotes i see are usually 25-35 yards away. Both times my .22 mag was an easy head shot with a good scope and both dropped like rocks.

Oh no, not directed at you - I was just answering KC911.

We are saying the same thing, Craig - close range head shots.

Their brains are pretty small (likely even smaller than mine). You know that's what we are aiming for. That's the only reason I suggested a pretty steady rest.

I once hit a coyote at maybe 80 yards, on a steep uphill angle, right in the head with a 50 grain bullet at darn near 4,000 fps from my .220 Swift. It didn't kill him and he ran off. I finally killed him several hundred yards away. When I found him, his lower jaw on one side and his cheek bones on the other were shattered from my first shot. I actually felt pretty bad about that.

[Rtrorkt]

Coyotes in my neighborhood. Just let them be like any other living creature. Why the need to shoot something?

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Rtrorkt

Coyotes in my neighborhood. Just let them be like any other living creature. Why the need to shoot something?

When they jump a 6 foot stockade fence, kill your pets, and hop back over and into the woods to eat your dog, you might feel different. As Joe Bob. It happened to his dog.

[Superman]

You guys are funny.

I'd have taken the shot as long as there was a backdrop. Coyotes are neither endangered nor friendly. Target practice, as long as it's safe.

[varmint]

Originally Posted by vash

me too. send a few over his head, and you wont see that particular dog anymore. he will head to safer ground. (so people tell me)

Coyotes have a place in the world. And that place is just outside of rifle range from my back deck. No good can come from them sniffing around. I don’t hate them. They are just better off if they have a healthy fear of humans.

They are smart. A loud boom and a cloud of dirt kicked up in front of one gets its brain working.

[varmint]

Spent a lot of time motorcycle camping in the California desert. Coyotes know the difference between a human holding a sandwich and a human holding a gun.

[Superman]

Distances in the opening post are 20' at first, then 60'-70', then "a bit further." With a backdrop and no one around, out of the city....I'd have taken the shot. with my .45. Not my snub nose .38, granted. Certainly with any rifle. It's good Jeff, that you followed up on that injured one. You felt bad because you're not a coyote.

[Erakad]

Bigger problems than coyotes (they pass thru also). This guy came thru a couple weeks ago, backyard 50 yds from house (I know, year wrong on foto). Found turkey remains 30 yds away in aspen grove. I'm a bit more cautious when stepping out at night, but not packing...yet.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Erakad

Bigger problems than coyotes (they pass thru also). This guy came thru a couple weeks ago, backyard 50 yds from house (I know, year wrong on foto). Found turkey remains 30 yds away in aspen grove. I'm a bit more cautious when stepping out at night, but not packing...yet.

That's not a coyote.

All kidding aside, I would NOT welcome that critter into my neighborhood.

[Evans, Marv]

It's strange. We had coyotes (plus turkeys, bob cats, quail, deer, etc.) around here until a couple of years ago. We'd hear them many nights and a couple of times it seemed like they were just in front of the garage. However I haven't heard one in maybe a year. The only wildlilfe I see around here are deer almost on a weekly basis in the back yard or across the other side of the driveway. I only see a ground squirrel a couple of times a week now. There are a few rabbits I throw scraps to. Something has changed around here, and I'm afraid it's not in a positive way with all the wildlife disappearing.

[Tobra]

Overpopulation Marv, plain and simple, don't mean too many coyotes either.

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Backyard.






There's this thing called the food chain...

Beautiful looking animal.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Overpopulation Marv, plain and simple, don't mean too many coyotes either.

^^^^ I have ALL kinds of wildlife that use/visit "our" little parcel (counted at least 20 different deer on cams), I fished 50' in front of a tiny bambi for an hour a few years back...not far from where the 'yote was yesterday. None of these critters were on the property 50 years ago either...when it was REALLY rural....and now it isn't amymore.... yet it sorta is. I just had the wrong spoon on hand...that is all. I'll probably never get another chance tho'....they ARE Wiley...for sure. But if he hangs around much...I, or someone will. Same with where I'm typing from now....used to be in the middle of my rural boy scout camp...middle of nowhere. More wildlife behind my house now than ever was back then...surrounded by subdivisions....I only had two glimpses of the last 'yote at my back fence...(after migrating geese in a pond @ night)...

I just "try" to keep things in balance...and "live & let live"... but not coyotes and 2' snapping turtles....they die, because they absolutely suck...and that's my story

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Superman

You guys are funny.

I'd have taken the shot as long as there was a backdrop. Coyotes are neither endangered nor friendly. Target practice, as long as it's safe.

I do NOT target practice on critters...this shot was twice the range out of a tiny spoon meant for close encounters. Mebbe I could I have killed it cleanly....but if I couldn't be sure...pass.

But that's just me...I'm just an "old softie at heart"

[sammyg2]

Have you tried painting a fake tunnel on the side of a mountain?
that usually works.

[Rick Lee]

This one was in Death Valley.


No fear whatsoever of humans or cars. I see them running down the middle of the street in my HOA/tract housing neighborhood. But it'd be totally impossible and illegal to get a safe shot off at them.

[Craig T]

My neighborhood is turning over and young families are moving in. There have been several instances where parents have spotted coyotes looking through fences at children playing. They are taking down 25 lbs dogs almost weekly. How long before they take down a 4 year-old child? The DFG in this area has told us "By any means necessary".

I'm all for wildlife. I don't hate coyotes. But they need to learn that suburban neighborhood are not a place to set up camp and that our pets are there for easy prey.

This one was on the wall behind my pool, less than 50' from my house.

[Starless]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Have you tried painting a fake tunnel on the side of a mountain?
that usually works.

You're on a roll there Sammy.

[Steve Carlton]

Wile talks in some episodes. I don't think it's many, but it's fun.