Opinions on a coyote that is sleeping in a field

Mr. Outdoors

Mr. Outdoors

Member
I have a question. Last weekend I found a coyote laying in a field. He appeared like he was sleeping. Has anyone brought out an e-caller into the field in this scenario and made a coyote get up and come to them if you thought you could not get close enough for a kill shot?
 
How can you get a visual on a coyote, and not be able to get a shot? Where you scanning the field with binoculars? I would set up with a rifle, then give a couple squeeks from a hand call, and when he stands up to check it out - POW!
 
Stalk into postion and shoot him while he's sleeping. I've had too many bolt the second they hear a sound.

Tim
 
Originally Posted By: HiggyHow can you get a visual on a coyote, and not be able to get a shot? Where you scanning the field with binoculars? I would set up with a rifle, then give a couple squeeks from a hand call, and when he stands up to check it out - POW!


Terrain is pretty open in these parts. Most sections are a square mile and if the coyote is bedded out near the middle of it he's 800 yards+ out. Best thing to do is to get as close as possible with the wind in your face. If possible use the terrian features to conceal your approach and be slow & quiet. You might be able to close the gap to within 2-300 yards. If you miss on your first shot hopefully it goes high. I've seen coyote & fox both react the same. When I have shot high & missed they will come right at you or quartering towards you (if they have not spotted you) I can only conclude that the "snap" of the bullet as it passes by fools them into thinking the threat is coming from another direction. Fox will run into the next section once they feel safe and may give you another opportunity. A Coyote will run for miles.
 
I would agree with DTOM. I shot one this year after I saw one out in the middle of a large section. I set the foxpro a ways away from us, that way i felt we had the angles covered, if he came in or just wanted to leave. That one came downwind after a quiet short series. But I've seen more of them get up and leave after they wake up to a call.
 
Biggest reason why they bolt is starting calling to loud. I have got two fox and a yote with this method so far. I start with vole sqeaks. If they don't here that, i switch to a rabbit. Start with no volume and slowly work up until i get a reaction. Even at a 1/2 mile they hear it on 10-14 on my foxpro. Biggest thing is to get in as close as you can without them knowing anything is up. I have never had one take off. Some will just stand up and just sit there for bit to wake up then they will come. Or they bounce up and come in. Depends on the dog, but more times than not i get them to come in.
 
In this situation i could see his whole body from the hill top where i spotted him. I got to 216 yds laid down and all i could see was the top 1.5in between his ears, the rest of his body was buried in the snow. With the excitment I ended up ticking the snow in front of him but the bullet never hit him. he skipped to the next section and hit a dredge ditch and was gone. Thanks for the insight, next time i have this situation im going to try to get the coyote to stand up. Onward and upward eh.
 
I spotted 3 more the weekend of 1-23 at .75 mi and they took off and never saw them again. They could see me watching them. Very flat here.
 
Ive made alot of sneeks over the past 5 yrs by spotting and getting within 200 yrds. I always carry a call, just for the fact like you said, sometimes you can only see maybe the neck, head and ears, or nothing at all but you know its there. Then I try to get my gun on sticks and get on my call, sometimes they pop up and check things out, sometimes they bolt the other way.
 
Start practicing 800+ yard shots. I have been shooting out to 1200 yards lately and am getting quite proficient at it. I like knowing that if I can see an animal, I can hit vitals. Takes tons of trigger time and good equipment but can be done if the wind isn't bad. I do find that around here you can usually get to 500 yards or less even if they know you are there.
 
mnshortdraw- ive been doing exactly what you said. I picked up a 300wsm and some NightForce glass for the extended ranges. I figure that since the land around here is cut into 1 mi squares. That 800 yds will come close to covering everything from the road. And i can always get closer than the road and they will just lay there. So far this year i have not seen any laying yet. This weekend the moon will be dark for the most part and i will be out looking for the chance to shoot some of the coyotes that like to stay in the center of the sections.
 
I am using the NXS 5.5-22x56 on my 308 and my 22. The lit reticle is perfect for moonlight, and they both track perfectly and are 100% repeatable. With my handloads, I am hitting under MOA at 1000 yards. Good enough for yotes or bigger animals. I love it when I kick up a deer close, and it runs out to 5 or 600 yards and stops. Sorry, you didn't run far enough!
 
I wish I had NF on all my guns, they are great. Ive killed one coyote with my 300 wsm and shot at another. I got a little to excited when taking my shot and i missed. It was about 250 yds standing.
 
Shoot him where he lies, if you can. When we were kids on a bitter sunny day on a Sunday we'd watch for the foxes to be napping on the south side of a hill, then wack them.
 
I'm a spot and stalk guy having taken just a tad over 2500 coyotes here in Montana (I'm 71). I get within comfort range (out to 300 or slightly more). If I have a single coyote sleeping, I usually awaken it hoping to get it to stand up for a shot. Even with its head is up the shot is a little higher percentage. Hardly ever use a call, just give a short sharpe "Hey". If it continues to lay, shoot it. If I have two sleeping, I always shoot the further one sleeping. The other one will always jump up and run away from the sound of the bullet hitting its buddy which has it coming in my direction. It will run a short ways stop and look back toward its buddy as if to say, "What's wrong with you...lets get going". I quietly work the bolt and prepare for the shot on the second coyote. Three sleeping is a whole new ball game. Michael
 
Stalking bedded coyotes and getting a perfect shot is as much fun as calling them in. I used to go hunting only when the wind was low enough to call. The last few years we have had enough coyotes around to spot bedded down. I will hunt on days a little to windy to call and spot and stalk them. A little wind the better. Helps mask any sounds I make.
 
Michaeljcanoe- That is awesome 2500 coyotes that's quite a few more that i will shot by the time I'm 71 if i still live in Iowa. I have an uncle that lives in Great falls and I keep telling him to get into coyote hunting so i can come out and he and I could go. He just says he to busy to get caught up in coyote hunting. One of these days im going to make the 18 hr trip and show up on his door step.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top