Coyote hunting - what distance is your typical shot?

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dave3006

Active member
I hunt the deserts of Southern California for coyotes. The terrain is rolling hills with greasewood at least waist high. The last 4 coyotes that have come in for my calls have "appeared" at distances of 3-20 yards. We both see each other and the coyote bolts. All my shots are on the run. Not exactly Randy Anderson Midwest video type hunts.

What is a typical shot and terrain for you on your coyote hunts?
 
Open prairie.
Most of the shots are where you can see the coyote coming in from a ways out and set up to take the shot where you are comfortable.
They are real easily spooked and every shot so far this year has been 200+ yards. They seem to hang up out there and not want to come in closer.
 
I hunt the high sage/juniper desert mostly and probably 95% of my shots and sightings have been between 5 and 100 yds.

Dave3006 - Consider taking a shotgun to the stand if you are not already.
 
I hunt the Northeastern California desert and mountains, but bein new at this coyote hunting I try to find an area were I can stop em once they break 100 yards. I figure the closer I try to let em get, the better chance for me to make a mistake and educate a coyote. so typically, around 80-100 yards. Maybe later this year when the pups are born I might try to get one in as close as I can get it to come, but thats cause I won't have my rifle, I'm thinkin of bringin the video camera instead.

t/c223encore.
 
Clear cuts pastures and reclaimed mining areas mostly. Average shot is 50 yards though rarely a 200 + yard shot is required.
 
I hunt central West Texas, By night shots are generaly 75 yrds or less if you are patient. Day calling you can take some 300 yrd shots if you want.
 
poconos... hilly, lots of dairy farms but your not gonna call a coyote into a pasture here. they stay in the brush. lots of swamps too. they like the thick stuff. most shots under 100yards around the old coal mines and old railroad beds. 50 yards in the brush and hilly timber.
 
went from michigan where its shotgunning in thick cover to kansas a few years ago to get one a long ways off and dropped one 5 steps away with a .243.
 
I called in a bunch of different states and terrain this season. No matter if it was rolling prarie, thick woods, high desert, sage flats, etc... 95% of all shots have been under 100 yards. Most have been 30 yards or less.

Tony
 
What always facinates me about this topic is that the results are always about the same on the distance the animals come in to yet the number of topics on this site seem to be 10 to 1 in favor of how to get the long dog. I would think from a gambling prospective that playing the odds that the dog will be close would pay off better in the end.

Some generic questions being asked on PM.com that I'd personally like to see less of.

1) What caliber should I buy just in case I need to reach out and touch them?
2) What's the best factory load if I want to have sub-MOA groups out to 400 yds just in case?
3) How much is too much scope, 20x, 24x, hubble?

Some generic questions I would like to see more of.

1) What do I do if my leg and or butt fall to sleep and I have to shift my body?
2) What is the best technique for turning when you can hear the coyote panting 5 feet behind you?
3) Carrying a shotgun or not, will the weight be too much to prevent me from packing a beer in for the walk out?
 
I guess I just don't get it. If 95% of the shots are within 100 yards - why does everyone have a scoped bolt action rifle?

It seems to me that a fast handling carbine with or without a red dot scope would be a far better choice for this game.

It doesn't make sense to me.
 
Yep...that's why my next "calling" weapon will be an Oly AR-15 with a 2x red dot on it. Up close and personal it will be easy to get on target and with the 2x, the 100 yard shot should be a breeze too.
 
Quote:


1) What do I do if my leg and or butt fall to sleep and I have to shift my body?
2) What is the best technique for turning when you can hear the coyote panting 5 feet behind you?
3) Carrying a shotgun or not, will the weight be too much to prevent me from packing a beer in for the walk out?

There we go! LOL Finally, some subjects we can sink our teeth into!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Scoped rifle worked just fine for the 23 yd. shot. Open sites would not have worked for me at over 500. I'll stick with the scope.
 
I think I too will stick to the variable scopes on my rifles. Yes, a red dot would work for things under 100 yards but why limit yourself when a variable scope will do it all? (I.O.N. Doyle, valid questions indeed. Would there be ice involved too? Cold is important you know)
 


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