How fast does a coyote run??
- Thread starter weever82
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Evil_Lurker
New member
When I was in high school I caught 2 of them in the road with deep snow on both sides and they were making 40 mph for about 3/8 mile before they got tired of the game and turned up the bank.
That was on flat pavement.
That was on flat pavement.
emeraldterriers1
New member
Originally Posted By: pk1I think the answer lies in the fact that a dog has better stamina than a coyote. Coyotes can only run in bursts of speed but can't maintain it.
i would disagree 100% a coyote can run like forrest gump.
seen them pushed by hounds for up to 30 plus miles(by GPS)the longer the race my money goes on the coyote.
i would disagree 100% a coyote can run like forrest gump.
Ridgeline17
New member
Naa thats where you take that Barrett cannon of yours and start firin on him. Just the concussion of a round passin near him is gonna spin him around , then you put the finishing shot on him.
canislatrans54
New member
Originally Posted By: emeraldterriers1Originally Posted By: pk1I think the answer lies in the fact that a dog has better stamina than a coyote. Coyotes can only run in bursts of speed but can't maintain it.
i would disagree 100% a coyote can run like forrest gump.
seen them pushed by hounds for up to 30 plus miles(by GPS)the longer the race my money goes on the coyote.
Yep, in my experience, I too would bet on the coyote's stamina.
A greyhound is a "sprinter", for the most part.
A coyote, on the other hand, is more like a "marathon runner".
Hey, E.T., could it be that those who don't share our opinion, just have never chased coyotes with greyhounds?
We all know that doing so is primarily a Midwestern/Great Plains undertaking.
That's one reason why so many predator hunters frown upon it.
i would disagree 100% a coyote can run like forrest gump.
Yep, in my experience, I too would bet on the coyote's stamina.
A greyhound is a "sprinter", for the most part.
A coyote, on the other hand, is more like a "marathon runner".
Hey, E.T., could it be that those who don't share our opinion, just have never chased coyotes with greyhounds?
We all know that doing so is primarily a Midwestern/Great Plains undertaking.
That's one reason why so many predator hunters frown upon it.
weever82
Member
Originally Posted By: skinneythey are fast...
I estimate the average dog hauling a$$ is going a mere 30mph, but that does me no good... so I convert to fps
30mph... being, mph*1.46=ft/s... 30mph = 43.8fps
now its simple to have this figured out with your own load data... for example, your shooting 95gr bullets @ 3250fps. you call in a dog, he sees you, takes off running @ 90 degrees from you, @ about 44fps @ 100M (328ft) 328X44=14432 14432/3250=4.4ft is what you would have to lead that running yote.
thats only @ 100M so imagine a dog going a full blown 30mph @ a quarter mile, you gonna be able to fit that lead in your optics FOV??? better be zoomed all the way out and have some fine X hairs if ya plan on making that shot
If you a correct on the math (and im no math whiz) I would have to point my rifle 4.4ft in front of the coyote running at full speed? No wonder I never tag the fast ones. I wasn't leading them enough... Good to know!
Weev-
I estimate the average dog hauling a$$ is going a mere 30mph, but that does me no good... so I convert to fps
30mph... being, mph*1.46=ft/s... 30mph = 43.8fps
now its simple to have this figured out with your own load data... for example, your shooting 95gr bullets @ 3250fps. you call in a dog, he sees you, takes off running @ 90 degrees from you, @ about 44fps @ 100M (328ft) 328X44=14432 14432/3250=4.4ft is what you would have to lead that running yote.
thats only @ 100M so imagine a dog going a full blown 30mph @ a quarter mile, you gonna be able to fit that lead in your optics FOV??? better be zoomed all the way out and have some fine X hairs if ya plan on making that shot
If you a correct on the math (and im no math whiz) I would have to point my rifle 4.4ft in front of the coyote running at full speed? No wonder I never tag the fast ones. I wasn't leading them enough... Good to know!
Weev-
Varminterror
New member
It's really easy to get caught up in numbers (myself included, I'm an engineer, it's VERY easy to get caught up in numbers...), but the practice of things can be very different than what happens in a stacked deck of cards.
For example:
My family has been running coyote hounds for at least 4 generations (that I'm aware of). Even in my own brief experience running hounds (20yrs and counting), sometimes a dog gets outran, most times he burns a coyote to the ground. Sometimes a faster coyote will get tired before the hound, sometimes a good hound will burn out before he gets a hold of an evasive (sometimes slower) coyote. More often than not, our hounds get the upper hand, and that's all I'm concerned with.
My family has also been breeding registered quarterhorses for 5 generations, and had several that we've put on the track, or sold to a track stable. I've yet to own a horse that I believe could just flat run down a deer in the wild on a regular basis. Sure, I've ran a few down with a horse, roped a few even (not recommended), but by and large, my money is on the wild deer in a foot-race, not the quarterhorse with a supposed 15mph advantage in top speed. More often than not, if you take out after a deer, they'll evade your horse with ease.
Then again, I'd also put my money on an F-150 over a Ferrari, stipulating that the race occurs across a cattle pasture, not on a track.
For example:
My family has been running coyote hounds for at least 4 generations (that I'm aware of). Even in my own brief experience running hounds (20yrs and counting), sometimes a dog gets outran, most times he burns a coyote to the ground. Sometimes a faster coyote will get tired before the hound, sometimes a good hound will burn out before he gets a hold of an evasive (sometimes slower) coyote. More often than not, our hounds get the upper hand, and that's all I'm concerned with.
My family has also been breeding registered quarterhorses for 5 generations, and had several that we've put on the track, or sold to a track stable. I've yet to own a horse that I believe could just flat run down a deer in the wild on a regular basis. Sure, I've ran a few down with a horse, roped a few even (not recommended), but by and large, my money is on the wild deer in a foot-race, not the quarterhorse with a supposed 15mph advantage in top speed. More often than not, if you take out after a deer, they'll evade your horse with ease.
Then again, I'd also put my money on an F-150 over a Ferrari, stipulating that the race occurs across a cattle pasture, not on a track.
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skinney
Director
Originally Posted By: weever82Originally Posted By: skinneythey are fast...
I estimate the average dog hauling a$$ is going a mere 30mph, but that does me no good... so I convert to fps
30mph... being, mph*1.46=ft/s... 30mph = 43.8fps
now its simple to have this figured out with your own load data... for example, your shooting 95gr bullets @ 3250fps. you call in a dog, he sees you, takes off running @ 90 degrees from you, @ about 44fps @ 100M (328ft) 328X44=14432 14432/3250=4.4ft is what you would have to lead that running yote.
thats only @ 100M so imagine a dog going a full blown 30mph @ a quarter mile, you gonna be able to fit that lead in your optics FOV??? better be zoomed all the way out and have some fine X hairs if ya plan on making that shot
If you a correct on the math (and im no math whiz) I would have to point my rifle 4.4ft in front of the coyote running at full speed? No wonder I never tag the fast ones. I wasn't leading them enough... Good to know!
Weev-
yep...
I've led a coyote (scope zoomed out to 5x) and gave him full lead with my NP-R1 reticle, rounds going over 2800fps, dog was @ full speed and full value, and my rounds were still hitting behind him, and he was barely 100yds.
I estimate the average dog hauling a$$ is going a mere 30mph, but that does me no good... so I convert to fps
30mph... being, mph*1.46=ft/s... 30mph = 43.8fps
now its simple to have this figured out with your own load data... for example, your shooting 95gr bullets @ 3250fps. you call in a dog, he sees you, takes off running @ 90 degrees from you, @ about 44fps @ 100M (328ft) 328X44=14432 14432/3250=4.4ft is what you would have to lead that running yote.
thats only @ 100M so imagine a dog going a full blown 30mph @ a quarter mile, you gonna be able to fit that lead in your optics FOV??? better be zoomed all the way out and have some fine X hairs if ya plan on making that shot
If you a correct on the math (and im no math whiz) I would have to point my rifle 4.4ft in front of the coyote running at full speed? No wonder I never tag the fast ones. I wasn't leading them enough... Good to know!
Weev-
yep...
I've led a coyote (scope zoomed out to 5x) and gave him full lead with my NP-R1 reticle, rounds going over 2800fps, dog was @ full speed and full value, and my rounds were still hitting behind him, and he was barely 100yds.
Tim Neitzke
New member
Originally Posted By: emeraldterriers1Originally Posted By: pk1I think the answer lies in the fact that a dog has better stamina than a coyote. Coyotes can only run in bursts of speed but can't maintain it.
i would disagree 100% a coyote can run like forrest gump.
seen them pushed by hounds for up to 30 plus miles(by GPS)the longer the race my money goes on the coyote.
A yote pushed by hounds does not run for miles and miles,running full tilt. I'm sure they will run more or less distance depending on terrain .They stop when they think they are safe and check their back trail. If tired they will bed up and rest, till the danger gets to close.
i would disagree 100% a coyote can run like forrest gump.
A yote pushed by hounds does not run for miles and miles,running full tilt. I'm sure they will run more or less distance depending on terrain .They stop when they think they are safe and check their back trail. If tired they will bed up and rest, till the danger gets to close.
Tim Neitzke
New member
Originally Posted By: skinneythey are fast...
I estimate the average dog hauling a$$ is going a mere 30mph, but that does me no good... so I convert to fps
30mph... being, mph*1.46=ft/s... 30mph = 43.8fps
now its simple to have this figured out with your own load data... for example, your shooting 95gr bullets @ 3250fps. you call in a dog, he sees you, takes off running @ 90 degrees from you, @ about 44fps @ 100M (328ft) 328X44=14432 14432/3250=4.4ft is what you would have to lead that running yote.
thats only @ 100M so imagine a dog going a full blown 30mph @ a quarter mile, you gonna be able to fit that lead in your optics FOV??? better be zoomed all the way out and have some fine X hairs if ya plan on making that shot
Yep,
A general rule of thumb is 1 full yote lead per 100 yards 90* to the shooter, while using a 3000-3500 fps round.
I estimate the average dog hauling a$$ is going a mere 30mph, but that does me no good... so I convert to fps
30mph... being, mph*1.46=ft/s... 30mph = 43.8fps
now its simple to have this figured out with your own load data... for example, your shooting 95gr bullets @ 3250fps. you call in a dog, he sees you, takes off running @ 90 degrees from you, @ about 44fps @ 100M (328ft) 328X44=14432 14432/3250=4.4ft is what you would have to lead that running yote.
thats only @ 100M so imagine a dog going a full blown 30mph @ a quarter mile, you gonna be able to fit that lead in your optics FOV??? better be zoomed all the way out and have some fine X hairs if ya plan on making that shot
Yep,
A general rule of thumb is 1 full yote lead per 100 yards 90* to the shooter, while using a 3000-3500 fps round.
Merdit
Active member
Originally Posted By: Varminterror
My family has also been breeding registered quarterhorses for 5 generations, and had several that we've put on the track, or sold to a track stable. I've yet to own a horse that I believe could just flat run down a deer in the wild on a regular basis. Sure, I've ran a few down with a horse, roped a few even (not recommended), but by and large, my money is on the wild deer in a foot-race, not the quarterhorse with a supposed 15mph advantage in top speed. More often than not, if you take out after a deer, they'll evade your horse with ease..
Just out of curiosity, where do you lay the odds if you removed the 35-40 pound saddle and the 170-220 pound rider, assuming a fast horse decided to run a deer down on it's own? I've never tried to rope a deer, yet, but I'm thinking a muley on flat ground would be slower than a whitey.
My family has also been breeding registered quarterhorses for 5 generations, and had several that we've put on the track, or sold to a track stable. I've yet to own a horse that I believe could just flat run down a deer in the wild on a regular basis. Sure, I've ran a few down with a horse, roped a few even (not recommended), but by and large, my money is on the wild deer in a foot-race, not the quarterhorse with a supposed 15mph advantage in top speed. More often than not, if you take out after a deer, they'll evade your horse with ease..
Just out of curiosity, where do you lay the odds if you removed the 35-40 pound saddle and the 170-220 pound rider, assuming a fast horse decided to run a deer down on it's own? I've never tried to rope a deer, yet, but I'm thinking a muley on flat ground would be slower than a whitey.
emeraldterriers1
New member
Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeOriginally Posted By: emeraldterriers1Originally Posted By: pk1I think the answer lies in the fact that a dog has better stamina than a coyote. Coyotes can only run in bursts of speed but can't maintain it.
i would disagree 100% a coyote can run like forrest gump.
seen them pushed by hounds for up to 30 plus miles(by GPS)the longer the race my money goes on the coyote.
A yote pushed by hounds does not run for miles and miles,running full tilt. I'm sure they will run more or less distance depending on terrain .They stop when they think they are safe and check their back trail. If tired they will bed up and rest, till the danger gets to close.
thats quiet obivious... either do hounds or horses. seen them run 20+ miles and never leave more than 2 sections.
i would disagree 100% a coyote can run like forrest gump.
A yote pushed by hounds does not run for miles and miles,running full tilt. I'm sure they will run more or less distance depending on terrain .They stop when they think they are safe and check their back trail. If tired they will bed up and rest, till the danger gets to close.
thats quiet obivious... either do hounds or horses. seen them run 20+ miles and never leave more than 2 sections.
Tim Neitzke
New member
"seen them run 20+ miles and never leave more than 2 sections."
LOL, That's forsure.
LOL, That's forsure.
I also grew up around grey hounds, and the most amazing "race" I ever witnessed was when a coyote out ran 3 sets of grey hounds before eluding us, and there was no time for the coyote to stop and take a nap, it was one set after another and all three turn looses were good. Total distance run for the coyote was about 3 miles, and although the last pack of dogs almost caught him, almost doesn't count. From what I've seen in the past is if grey hounds don't catch the coyote with-in about the first 1/2 mile, they ain't gonna catch him. No doubt the coyote has way more stamina then a grey hound.
And like Will stated, not all coyotes are that fast, but every now and then you'll find one that is especially fast.
And like Will stated, not all coyotes are that fast, but every now and then you'll find one that is especially fast.
the impactzone
New member
my Kestrel with Horus BC says I need to hold 12.5 Mrads shooting my 243 at 3750 @100 yards on a 30mph target in my vortex 5x20 at 14x thats right on the edge of the VOF 8.3 mrads on a 20 mph target @100 and 8.86 at 200
now if i can only tell the difference between a 20 & 30 mph coyote I might have some luck on those runners, but as they say if there is lead in the air there is hope
now if i can only tell the difference between a 20 & 30 mph coyote I might have some luck on those runners, but as they say if there is lead in the air there is hope
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Varminterror
New member
Originally Posted By: MerditJust out of curiosity, where do you lay the odds if you removed the 35-40 pound saddle and the 170-220 pound rider, assuming a fast horse decided to run a deer down on it's own?
You kind of missed the point of my post. I was rather pointing out that regardless of the "official measured top speed" of an animal, the PRACTICAL speed in the real world is a very different thing. But I'll play along...
To answer your question directly, the difference between the top speeds of an unsaddled horse and a saddled horse, in my humble opinion, is moot. I've RARELY ever seen an unsaddled horse just flat get after it, and I've never seen a "non-track horse" that I felt could out-speed on NORMAL terrain a trained (legitimate) track horse on the track. Quaterhorse speed records are based on speeds on the track, with a 1200lb highly trained and maintained speed machine underneath a 126lb or LESS rig and rider. Horses really don't slow down that much under load, much like football players don't slow down much in their pads (similar proportion, about 10-15% bodyweight). They train in it every day, and a good jockey moves with the horse. They might lose a few mph, but it's really not as much as you might think.
On various occasions, I have clocked horses, whether it was with the radar gun from our baseball team, an LEO friend's lidar gun, a roadside "your speed" sign, or racing beside a pickup. It's not uncommon to come in at 35-40mph with a western saddled quarterhorse on good ground.
Either way, they're faster saddled OR UNSADDLED than a deer, but again, good luck running a deer down on a regular basis (in all fairness, a lot of that has to do with acceleration and agility, deer will get going quicker, then it's much easier for them to redirect 150-200lbs than it is to redirect a 1500lb horse and rider).
Yes, I absolutely agree that on flat ground, or a track, a horse should have a top speed considerably higher than a deer, but my point was that in the real world doing of things, the actual results tend to not reflect that fact.
Similarly, put a funnycar on a circle track against a minivan and see who wins. I'm a sport biker, a Hayabusa will out run a Fireblade on the strip, but put them on the circle track or an MGP course and see what happens, the slower, weaker Fireblade will win. "Faster" doesn't always equal "able to catch". A cheetah doesn't always catch the antelope, a horse can't always catch a deer, but somehow, more often than not, a greyhound DOES catch a "statistically" faster coyote.
Originally Posted By: MerditI've never tried to rope a deer, yet, but I'm thinking a muley on flat ground would be slower than a whitey.
I hadn't weighed in on which I felt was faster between a whitetail or a muley because I honestly don't think it matters much. I'm not sure when "top speed" is honestly a consideration for my hunting of deer? Now, if I were hunting on foot with a pocket knife, I'd want to know which was easier game, and frankly, it's much easier to shoot them standing still than running, so that's where my effort goes.
Since you asked, I would very easily agree that Muley's, while heavier, should outrun a whitetail deer, and it's something universal across pretty much any species. In comparing any two animals, assuming similar physical condition, the one with more muscle and a longer leg will GENERALLY have the higher top speed, muley's have BOTH.
Muleys might weigh more, but that weight is made up of muscle, meaning more driving force to propel themselves, and they have longer legs, meaning for every stride they cover more ground. A lighter, shorter whitey should accelerate faster, but as far as top speed goes, the muley has the physiologic advantage.
Similarly, greyhounds can outrun Jack Russell Terriers, a 17hand thoroughbred will generally have a higher top-speed than a 15hand quarterhorse, wide receivers can outrun linebackers, etc etc. The more muscle an animal has dedicated to propulsion, and the longer their leg, the faster their top speed.
(Keep in mind that musculature and leg length are inversely related when it comes to acceleration and agility compared to top-speed. Quarter horses get to top speed faster than thoroughbreds, but they top out sooner. That's why we have both, to suit both types of races).
You kind of missed the point of my post. I was rather pointing out that regardless of the "official measured top speed" of an animal, the PRACTICAL speed in the real world is a very different thing. But I'll play along...
To answer your question directly, the difference between the top speeds of an unsaddled horse and a saddled horse, in my humble opinion, is moot. I've RARELY ever seen an unsaddled horse just flat get after it, and I've never seen a "non-track horse" that I felt could out-speed on NORMAL terrain a trained (legitimate) track horse on the track. Quaterhorse speed records are based on speeds on the track, with a 1200lb highly trained and maintained speed machine underneath a 126lb or LESS rig and rider. Horses really don't slow down that much under load, much like football players don't slow down much in their pads (similar proportion, about 10-15% bodyweight). They train in it every day, and a good jockey moves with the horse. They might lose a few mph, but it's really not as much as you might think.
On various occasions, I have clocked horses, whether it was with the radar gun from our baseball team, an LEO friend's lidar gun, a roadside "your speed" sign, or racing beside a pickup. It's not uncommon to come in at 35-40mph with a western saddled quarterhorse on good ground.
Either way, they're faster saddled OR UNSADDLED than a deer, but again, good luck running a deer down on a regular basis (in all fairness, a lot of that has to do with acceleration and agility, deer will get going quicker, then it's much easier for them to redirect 150-200lbs than it is to redirect a 1500lb horse and rider).
Yes, I absolutely agree that on flat ground, or a track, a horse should have a top speed considerably higher than a deer, but my point was that in the real world doing of things, the actual results tend to not reflect that fact.
Similarly, put a funnycar on a circle track against a minivan and see who wins. I'm a sport biker, a Hayabusa will out run a Fireblade on the strip, but put them on the circle track or an MGP course and see what happens, the slower, weaker Fireblade will win. "Faster" doesn't always equal "able to catch". A cheetah doesn't always catch the antelope, a horse can't always catch a deer, but somehow, more often than not, a greyhound DOES catch a "statistically" faster coyote.
Originally Posted By: MerditI've never tried to rope a deer, yet, but I'm thinking a muley on flat ground would be slower than a whitey.
I hadn't weighed in on which I felt was faster between a whitetail or a muley because I honestly don't think it matters much. I'm not sure when "top speed" is honestly a consideration for my hunting of deer? Now, if I were hunting on foot with a pocket knife, I'd want to know which was easier game, and frankly, it's much easier to shoot them standing still than running, so that's where my effort goes.
Since you asked, I would very easily agree that Muley's, while heavier, should outrun a whitetail deer, and it's something universal across pretty much any species. In comparing any two animals, assuming similar physical condition, the one with more muscle and a longer leg will GENERALLY have the higher top speed, muley's have BOTH.
Muleys might weigh more, but that weight is made up of muscle, meaning more driving force to propel themselves, and they have longer legs, meaning for every stride they cover more ground. A lighter, shorter whitey should accelerate faster, but as far as top speed goes, the muley has the physiologic advantage.
Similarly, greyhounds can outrun Jack Russell Terriers, a 17hand thoroughbred will generally have a higher top-speed than a 15hand quarterhorse, wide receivers can outrun linebackers, etc etc. The more muscle an animal has dedicated to propulsion, and the longer their leg, the faster their top speed.
(Keep in mind that musculature and leg length are inversely related when it comes to acceleration and agility compared to top-speed. Quarter horses get to top speed faster than thoroughbreds, but they top out sooner. That's why we have both, to suit both types of races).
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varmintterror- If weight is not so much of a factor on a race horse, why is 7-8 pounds considered a handicap, and why are there handicappers/handicaps on some races? Don't know where you are in KS, but if you get out towards the western part of the state let me know and we'll try to get together.
Back to the OP though, there are some other variables to consider also on coyote speed like ground conditions and how much roadrunner ol' wile E. is packing in his belly. I can't remember all of the coyotes I have shot, BUT, I am pretty sure I remember all of the running coyotes I have shot. Seeing a coyote running all out go into a cartwheeling, tumbling, dust cloud raising, sliding stop is a very satisfying feeling. There are so many variables to consider; speed, angle, terrain, cover, that I think that guys who are good at hitting running coyotes have it to more of an art than mathematical figures/science.
Back to the OP though, there are some other variables to consider also on coyote speed like ground conditions and how much roadrunner ol' wile E. is packing in his belly. I can't remember all of the coyotes I have shot, BUT, I am pretty sure I remember all of the running coyotes I have shot. Seeing a coyote running all out go into a cartwheeling, tumbling, dust cloud raising, sliding stop is a very satisfying feeling. There are so many variables to consider; speed, angle, terrain, cover, that I think that guys who are good at hitting running coyotes have it to more of an art than mathematical figures/science.