Whacked a big coyote

[Roadkill]

Sunday night at about 6:00 I went out to a place I had scouted previously. My alarm for coyote activity was chewed up shoes and plastic bottles along the bluff edge. I set up with the setting sun to my face, light breeze from the
south. I was about 15 yds down from the top of the ridge sitting on a large rock with an open wooded area 60-75 yds to my front and a thicket to the right. I put the fawn decoy to my right close to the thicket. I set the speaker
to the front of the decoy and ran the wire back to me. So the decoy was about twenty yards to my right and I was about fifty yards up the bluff with rocks to my rear.
I waited about fifteen minutes then started with a fawn distress (Predator system, uses two sounds at same time) on a low level and added ground hops as a back ground. I repeated the fawn distress but added crows as background. I increased the volume. Waited five minutes and repeated it but louder and longer. Shut it off and waited five minutes. Started again with fawn distress and ground hops but at low volume.
My kill zone was to my left shooting to my right but it stopped when it reached the fawn. My plan was for coyote to come form left, see the fawn move in slow and I'd shoot him. Good plan, didn't happen. Mr. coyote came in at a full run from the left, was so fast I had no time to get a scope on him. I'm using a 20x 50mm Springfield 1st Gen Combat scope on a Colt Sporter II.
Its like looking at a TV screen. I had it set at 6X, optics are excellent. He
didn't see the decoy and ran below it into the thicket. I had to shift my entire body to get point of aim to fawn and thicket. I finally caught movement as he eased out, one shot to the left chest right behind the shoulder, (55g soft point) he dropped, then jumped up and ran down the bluff in the thicket. I safed gun, put it on my shoulder, took my pistol (Colt Trooper .357 w/ 125g hollowpoints 6g red dot) and went into the thicket after him. Was easy to trail , found him dead about 50 yds down. Large male, 35-40 lbs, tan with black tips, very healthy. Very dead.

rk

 

[JesseL]

, very healthy. Very dead.

That doesn't sound very healthy

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

The only good Coyote is a dead Coyote. Yours is a good story.

I had to cross Stevens Pass this last Friday. Highway 2 here in Washington heading east. Not a hunting adventure, my son had a competition in Wenatchee this weekend. I'm always on the lookout for game. No rifle in the truck. Just my trusty truck gun, a RugerP85 9mm. Saw two Yote's on the trip. One too close to homes just outside Sedro Wooly, then one just east of the pass walking across a snow field. So we're doing 65mph down hill with a little slushy snow on the roadway. My F250 don't stop on a dime in those conditions. I did ask the wife, "Can I shoot him?" By the look on her face I think for a second there she thought that I meant 'while driving', (which would have meant for her to lay down and I shoot rodeo style out the window with the truck moving. One of those Jeff Foxworthy stories...), then she caught on as I had my foot on the brake. "No. He's too far away". If I had one of my other pistols I might have been up for the challenge, but unfortunately she was correct. (This time) So I let the mut live without even giving him a scare. DarnIt!!!

-Steve

 

[The-Fly]

 

[North Texan]

Good work, but need pics!

 

[Hollowdweller]

second the pics comment

 

[C. Rabbit]

The only good Coyote is a dead Coyote. Yours is a good story.

Do you know what the laws are for hunting coyotes in Washington? Can you just shoot them if you see them on your property? We have some come by our yard (out in the country), in which we keep rabbits in hutches.

Also, seeing as your from Lynden, can you recommend any good Whatcom County firearms stores? The best I know of is Yeahgers in Bellingham.

Crazed Rabbit

 

[Polishrifleman]

I've seen a ton of yotes around the state this year. I have probably seen at least 15 traveling between Seattle, Tri Cities, and Spokane from the Interstate doing the speed limit of course. I just haven't had the chance to get one yet.

Rabbit, head South a little ways to:

http://www.kesselrings.com/new/

They have it all. Oh, wait maybe you shouldn't go. It is tax time, save your money and your future. Gun stores with to much stuff are pure .

 

[merk]

Why is it people go after Coyotes? I dont think you can eat them, so whats the point?

Ive got a deer hunter buddy thats always talking about wanting to go after coyotes. Is there any particular reason? Im not asking this out of some "animal rights" B.S., I just want to know.

 

[ID_shooting]

"Why is it people go after Coyotes?"

Predator control mostly.

They do spread disease and are general pests, while I do not engage in yote killing, plenty do.

 

[merk]

Aye. Thanks!

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Not to steel dis thread, but witout dead Coyote pic's, Well- I'm answering a question

Rabbit and Polish Rifleman....

Kesselrings isn't my favorite gun store.. Yeagers either. I guess it depends on what I'm looking for. I go to Kesselrings for my target rimfire ammunition and primers. That's it. I buy my powder from GI Joes in Burlington. I buy guns from either friends, on-line or ... ACE Hardware in Lynden. Even Parts. Dave will set you up. He's got several catalogs and is much more reasonably priced than Kesselrings.He doesn't keep but 30 or so pistols on hand. Maybe twice that in long guns. Know exactly what you want to buy when you go there. He's not a smith, offers no services. If you know what you want, he'll order it or suggest something on the shelf. He does take trades and has some consignments occasionally. We've got WallyMart in Bellingham too... And of course Yeagers. There's a few more folks with FFL that I know about. Each with their own specialty. Let me know what you're looking for. I might just have a source for you.

As for the Coyote shootin... Here in Washington it's open season on them year round. There are a few exceptions for some GMU's and Wilderness area's. But for the most part, since there's an abundance of the predators, which do attack sheep, chickens, rabbits and other susseptable wild game, such as young deer, I say 'Shoot'em all'. A small game hunting license is required. But, if you're just shooting the dogs on your own property to protect your livestock, then I don't think there's a game warden that would say a thing. Now, go out and set up calls and have the bud's over for some beers and Yote' shootin, then he might get out his ticket book.

-Steve

 

[MCgunner]

"Why is it people go after Coyotes?"

Predator control mostly.

They do spread disease and are general pests, while I do not engage in yote killing, plenty do.

Besides, why not? They're fun targets. People pick on prairie dogs and ground hogs and they don't prey on peoples pet rabbits.

In Texas, preditor hunting is year round and people do it at night. It's not just coyotes, could be a bobcat, fox, even mountain lion. But, of course, 99 times out of a hundred the coyote is the first to answer the dinner bell.

Guys used to hunt 'em and sell the pelts, but there's pretty much no market anymore. I repair small engines, motorcycles, four wheelers. One of my customers (worn out old Suzuki ATV) is contracted to some of the local ranchers. They pay him to snare coyotes, by the dog. He spends his profits at the bar down the street, ain't exactly rich, but it's what he does I guess. He's a rather colorful character.

 

[bowfin]

Most of the people that hunt them in this state (Nebraska) sell their hides. Not a big money maker, usually it just pays for the gas it takes to go out to hunt them, but it is something.

There have been so many with mange (mites, that cause coyotes to scratch off all of their fur) that you feel almost like an angel of mercy to shoot them and put them out of their misery during the winter.

 

[Roadkill]

I have landowners in three counties asking me to shoot them. Take a small german shepard, double its intelligence, triple its killing instinct, then turn it loose. It will find something to eat. When folks ask me if there are coyotes around first question I ask is how is the cat population. A cat is a meal on wheels to a hungry coyote.

rk

 

[Art Eatman]

Remember how it was claimed that in the event of a nuclear holocaust, cockroaches would be primary survivors?

That's so the coyotes will have something to eat.

"The coyote is a survivor; I reckon he's got to be.
Lives in the snow at 40 below, and in Malibu-By-The-Sea." -- Ian Tyson

Coyotes eat ground-nest birds (pheasant, quail), mice, rabbits, house pets, fawns, kids (think goats, not people...but...), lambs and calves. Salty gloves, boots, bridles...

Art

 

[4v50 Gary]

Adding to what Art said, unattended children. Just another reason to put Wile E. Coyote down.

 

[dfaugh]

Take a small german shepard, double its intelligence, triple its killing instinct, then turn it loose.

Hey, i take offence to that (as an owner and breeder of German Shepherds) ...Coyotes aren't that smart, but their survival instancts are razor sharp, which makes them a challenge. We're almost overrun by the darned things here, after many years of not having any around, now they're everywhere....I used to see rabbits, turkeys and lots of deer, right in my back yard...Now almost none...saw only a few deer last year(as opposed to previous years when I saw many)...and I didn't see a one while hunting my property...I definitely think the coyotes are having an impact on the small game populations...I did see 2 coyotes moving across my back yard near the tree line, but they were gone by the time I got my gun out.

 

[Art Eatman]

I dunno, dfaugh. I've owned a GS, and been around a few. Been playing with Ol' Wily a long time, too. I gotta vote for Ol' Wily, when it comes to dog IQ.

I only know of one realy bad habit a coyote has that's contra-survival: He's gotta stop and look back before he disappears over a ridge or into brush. Big mistake.

Art

 

[Gunrunner]

Somebody needs to put a picture up. Guess it'll be me.

This one is from 'Malibu-By-The-Sea', about five years ago.

 

[PCGS65]

Nice pic Gunrunner!!!

Roadkill , great story but even a pic of the rotted carcass would be fine.

 

[Koobuh]

C. Yeager,
Yes, there are a few more than just Yeagers (which seems to be in the process of losing their FFL permanently. ).
Ace Hardware in Lynden has been mentioned. The prices are reasonable, and the service is too, for stuff in-store. I would hesitate to have an FFL item shipped there, as when they received my M39 from AIM they took it out of its box and left it sitting against a counter for several days, and didn't call me. Very unreasonable in that regard, but if you're looking for a good price on used long-guns they're the first place I'd look.
H&H in downtown bellingham has unreasonably high prices on EVERYTHING, but it's the only place I can reliably get 20 gauge slugs.
Big-5 in Bellis Fair has okay prices on milsurps and even modern guns when on sale (that is, when priced at the going rate...), and carries some supplies.
Aaaaand, wallyworld.

Not too much selection up here, I'm afraid.
Kesselrings doesn't count, as they're in Skagit county, way off in BFE as far as I care, and charge way way way too much for surplus guns. Ammo prices are good, though, cheaper than Yeagers at least.

 

[C. Rabbit]

Thanks for all the help and tips, guys. I was wondering if there would be any appropriate ammo for shooting out of an unrifled shotgun at 50-75 yards max for coyotes?

Thanks for the info on stores, I'll be sure to check out Ace's when I get back home. Do you know if Yeager's is going to permanently lose there FFL? I remember it was being "reviewed", or somesuch, three weeks ago.

Thanks again,
CR

 

[Koobuh]

It's looking pretty grim for them.
Their renewal was not turned in on time, and the BATFE has suspended the license for review of their records. Yeagers has had their FFL for many years, and there should be a good number of small to glaring errors in their paperwork, which the BATFE goons love to glomp onto.
There was the case of the NRA board member who lost his FFL due to the large number of errors in his paperwork just recently, if you hadn't heard. The general assumption at this point is that Yeagers is out of luck.

 

[Roadkill]

Here's the photo:

Poor little helpless fellow.

rk