Misses, mess ups and mishaps...

Busted78

Busted78

New member
This is long winded (sorry) but figured I'd share my embarrassing and 100% avoidable mistakes on a recent hunt.
Only been hunting coyotes for 8 years now and have a LOT to learn. I've learned quite a bit from my hunting partner, this site, podcasts, some social media and just time in the field (whether successful or not). I've had some success and a lot of failures (which I seem to learn the most from) but had a few "misses, mess ups and mishaps" recently (as the title implies) that were 100% my fault and completely avoidable. I use a "ground and pound" style seat w/ a back support and a bipod that cradles the fore end of my rifle (22-250/ not attached with a pic rail). Was frustrated with myself after a very poor performance and that got me thinkning..... I needed to reevaluate myself as a hunter.

3 weeks ago, I hunted with a buddy for 2 days. Was HOT 🥵and was a grind but had a lot of fun (mixed with a lot of frustration). In short, on the first set I missed a chip shot on a coyote that sprinted in and stopped (was a double but I initially saw just 1). I got too excited, let adrenalin overtake me and just flat out rushed the shot (both coyotes ran off/ different directions). I knew immediately what I'd done wrong 😡(was pissed at myself). Partner kept calling and called in a third coyote. Calmed myself down and killed that one at 185 yds. Can't hit one RIGHT in front of me??, but somehow manage to hit one further out. On another set that day, missed another shot at roughly 250 yds (rushed it/ shot when I knew I wasn't stable)😖. Again, my fault and avoidable. The following day I missed another chip shot. Saw a coyote at 300 yds as we were getting set up. Partner did his job and coaxed it in on a string. (I failed to do mine.) I got cocky/ overconfident and wanted to see how close we could get that coyote to come in before I shot. (side note, I had 2 cups of coffee 30 min before this set to wake me up a bit/ NOT a smart idea). My heart was pumping out of my chest as this coyote slowly worked its way through the tall grass towards us. Between the coffee and the adrenaline (I know to stay calm but doesn't always happen) I missed a shot at 85 yds.🤬 AGAIN, 100% my fault, but still scratched my head trying to figure out HOW I missed that one. Unstable shooting platform (didn't take the time get a tight/stable platform between myself, the rifle and the bipod).

Since then, I've tried to identify what I did wrong and what I can do to improve.
- PRACTICE: I got lazy the last 2 years and ONLY shot when we would hunt. HORRIBLE IDEA (I know better). Hadn't shot my rifle since February (6 months). Not enough time behind the rifle and my shooting position/ posture was horrible and "loose". I realized this when I went to the range recently and evaluated my seated position with my bipod. Have worked on that at home while dry firing and also while at the range...actually shooting (no more excuses of being lazy). Confirmed there's nothing wrong with the rifle/ glass or bipod. (It's 100% on me/ the shooter😔) I'm committing every Friday morning to time behind the rifle at the range. 3 weeks in a row now and a LOT more practice in the future.
- Staying calm on set and keeping my composure😏. That'll come back with more time in the field and actually working on that while on set with coyotes coming in.
- NO COFFEE before a hunt. The third coyote I missed, I literally felt like my heart was going to come out of my chest🤯. Won't make that mistake again.

Figured I'd share some of my recent 100% avoidable misses and mishaps. I know there's going to be more, but I'm doing my best to work on what I can. JUST when I start to feel confident at this "predator hunting" addiction😎, I get humbled REAL QUICK🥺.

Feel free to share any misses, mishaps and mess ups you've had in the field over the years. We can all learn from them (I know I do).;)
 
few people "self evaluate" and fewer admit their short comings, usually what you hear are excuses. I'd say you're on the road to a very good year of hunting.
We went out last week, coyote # 1= no clear/safe shot. Coyote # 2 was in the brushy fence line, no shot. One more appearance from the brush & I would've had him BUT he never showed again. Coyote #3 was crossing the pipeline, I've made these shots time and time again, BUT I couldn't get settled on him to touch one off, one more second, yes, but didn't have one more second.
Like you, back to the range to dust off the dust, from target acquisition, safety release and squeeze. Go through all the motions and setup 2 targets side by side by 4' apart and somewhat vertically offset. Practice practice practice, and dust off the dust. :)
 
Oh, I’ve had my share of this! Here’s one of my posts from a couple seasons back that might make you feel like you’re not alone! 🤣

www.predatormasters.com

Let my guard down and it cost me

Edit - In my main post on the Hunter of the Month program, I said: The objective of this program is to encourage participation by and education of our members through interactive storytelling, not only of the successful hunts, but also the failures that we all have. Ultimately, it is not only...
www.predatormasters.com www.predatormasters.com
 
hunt0168 said:
Oh, I’ve had my share of this! Here’s one of my posts from a couple seasons back that might make you feel like you’re not alone! 🤣

www.predatormasters.com

Let my guard down and it cost me

Edit - In my main post on the Hunter of the Month program, I said: The objective of this program is to encourage participation by and education of our members through interactive storytelling, not only of the successful hunts, but also the failures that we all have. Ultimately, it is not only...
www.predatormasters.com www.predatormasters.com
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Just read through that post. Had me chuckling because we’ve ALL been there, and we ALL will make the same mistakes again at some point (hopefully just not as frequent). I’m trying to identify all the small things I need to change/ improve on to become more successful while hunting these jokers (there’s a lot😉). Glad we can laugh at ourselves but also learn from it as well. Thanks for sharing.
 
Hunter55 said:
few people "self evaluate" and fewer admit their short comings, usually what you hear are excuses. I'd say you're on the road to a very good year of hunting.
We went out last week, coyote # 1= no clear/safe shot. Coyote # 2 was in the brushy fence line, no shot. One more appearance from the brush & I would've had him BUT he never showed again. Coyote #3 was crossing the pipeline, I've made these shots time and time again, BUT I couldn't get settled on him to touch one off, one more second, yes, but didn't have one more second.
Like you, back to the range to dust off the dust, from target acquisition, safety release and squeeze. Go through all the motions and setup 2 targets side by side by 4' apart and somewhat vertically offset. Practice practice practice, and dust off the dust. :)
Click to expand...
Thank you Hunter55. As long as I can clean up my act, I’m trying to make this season better than last season. Always trying to improve (Lord knows I need a LOT of work 😉).
 
What I get from reading your tale of tails is that you are, and most likely will always be, a student striving earnestly to be a better student. Seeking knowledge on your own or humble enough to collect from others will make your sets productive over time. The basics are most important, know your equipment first of all, you will never catch a coyote barehanded. Do a lot of scouting to determine best probable locations to set up, from any angle, use the wind, sun, available cover and the lay of the land. No one begins predator hunting as a journeyman, we are at best, apprentices. Keep going as often as you can, success will come, (y)
 
Adrenaline rush can result in rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, dilated pupils and jitters. None help you shoot accurately. For some hunters darkness (hunting at night) makes it worse. Relaxing/breathing slowly and not focusing on possible negative results, especially when walking in and setting up. Get in control and calm before starting calling. When the set is over, make sure your heart rate/breathing is normal. Carry the feeling of being calm over to the next setup. I like to picture the reticle on the kill zone of a coyote and than duplicate it when a coyote appears. Let the adrenaline flow after success.
 
one night as limbhanger10 was placing the call, i was busy watching the combine in the next field over and how cool it looked thru the thermal scanner as it was cutting corn after dark. he comes back after setting the call and says "where did the coyote go" i said "what coyote" he says "the one that ran right in front of you" i said i never saw it.

i told him what i was doing and he said "we're hunting coyotes, not combines"
 
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