Originally Posted By: DiRTY DOGI was not being humorous. Many "new" coyote hunters aim where I drew that red target, then wonder why the coyote spun in circles, yipped, then got up and ran away. It's called a poor shot.
Head shots are pretty tough unless conditions are just perfect, which they usually are not. Train for it just in case, sure, but don't plan on using it very often (ever).
I prefer neck shots or right in the arm pit for INSTANT kills.
Good illustration
Hitting and killing are not the same and as the new hunter is learning, coyotes are tough.
I have used that thermals and lasers as well as NV, and despite how hard you try it's not the same, they are good, but you are still getting 2-3 MOA and it really just doesn't take that much to graze or flat miss. Not to mention the old Coyote Fever.. Add all that together and it can add up to no coyote laying where you think it should be. Try tracking them down and find the dead ones.. You will then know where you actually hit them. Bleeding wounds don't lie.
Good luck.. And if nothing else, be happy, you are at least seeing coyotes. There are a lot of people that hunt really hard all year to see what you have already seen just standing there.
