Truth about Headshots and Coyotes

[davidlthies]

I keep reading about questions of caliber and yardage. I read about head shots only with this caliber or that caliber. I read rebuttals of "you cant always do a head shot". I have a few things to say about that.

I hunt a lot of things. Some of those things being squirrels. 99% of my kills are head shots on the squirrels. The 1% that is not a head shot is a neck shot that removes the head. I am not an olympic champion shooter. I do not have a $3000 rifle set up.

Head shots are VERY possible in most hunting situations. When they are not, wait. If you have a doubt about making a clean kill, wait. The experianced hunter does not pull the trigger on first glance of a moving target.

Back in my youth, my father would give me five rounds to go hunt with. For each kill that I brought home, he would give me one more round. We became very conservative with our ammunition and developed our skills early.

I am no better shot than the next guy in the field. I think I might have more patience than some though.

Now with all that being said. When it comes to Coyote hunting. If you happen to see one while out squirrel or rabbit hunting, and it is close enough to chose which eyeball you want to enter into, by all means, take that shot with your rimfire. But if you are out HUNTING for a coyote, you should probably have a 22 caliber centerfire in hand.

The local yotes have a serious dislike for the HBAR15 and mini14 (both in .223 caliber) but my personal favorite is the 22-250 for a mid-western hunt.

There are LOTS of rounds out there. Some people like one round better than the other for this reason or that reason. this one is flatter. This one is less expensive. This one has better grouping. This one is made by orphans in gondaloushipia and all proceeds go to get their piano lessons paid for. I could list all the calibers and the pros and cons of each as I see them. We would then hear from Al, Bob, Charlie, David, Elmer, Frank, Gunther, Harry, Iomus, Jerry, Ken, Larry, Mark, Nathan, Opus, Paul, Quinten, Raul, Sam, Tiberius, Ube, Victor, Walter, Xander, Yan, and Zaiver about how each of my points are not valid because of this reason or that reason or because they know of a cousin who did this or that and came up with this and that results different.

[Crittergiter]

Wow, your very first post here and you kick it off with a preaching "how to" I would think that an intro might be more appropriate. But thats just me. Head shot eh, well considering distance (which you fail to mention) could be 300 yards or better for coyotes, what about that pesky cross wind? Would you pass this on for big game hunters also? I mean a squirrel head shot is nothing so a deer head should be a walk in the park, right?

I think i'll stick with the high percentage "vital" kill shots, but thanks for that invaluable insight.

[davidlthies]

"Now with all that being said. When it comes to Coyote hunting. If you happen to see one while out squirrel or rabbit hunting, and it is close enough to chose which eyeball you want to enter into, by all means, take that shot with your rimfire. But if you are out HUNTING for a coyote, you should probably have a 22 caliber centerfire in hand. "


I thought that pretty much summed it up.

But I guess you fell into the ...."There are LOTS of rounds out there. Some people like one round better than the other for this reason or that reason. this one is flatter. This one is less expensive. This one has better grouping. This one is made by orphans in gondaloushipia and all proceeds go to get their piano lessons paid for. I could list all the calibers and the pros and cons of each as I see them. We would then hear from Al, Bob, Charlie, David, Elmer, Frank, Gunther, Harry, Iomus, Jerry, Ken, Larry, Mark, Nathan, Opus, Paul, Quinten, Raul, Sam, Tiberius, Ube, Victor, Walter, Xander, Yan, and Zaiver about how each of my points are not valid because of this reason or that reason or because they know of a cousin who did this or that and came up with this and that results different. "



On another note. Just because it is my first post in THIS group, by no means negates the fact that there MIGHT be some truth in my thoughts.

Granted even a seasoned hunter has different opinions than other seasoned hunters, that would nonetheless not give rise to a personal attack on the posters ability to pass on ideas and information.

In fact I am VERY open to reading other peoples ideas and thoughts. This does not mean I do not have my own ideas and practiced ways of doing things.

Skip back to that part where I posted about "it is close enough to chose which eyeball you want to enter into..." that is if you happen to come upone one while hunting other game with a rimfire....
Read it agian. I am sure you were hasty to jump to a conclusion and only skimmed what was written.

Gosh! I love counter-points! I really do. I do not like a society where people mindlessly follow eanything/everything. I WANT to be questioned. I WANT to be challenged. I also want to be the questioner and challenger at times. Life would be too boring and easy without it.



David

[Crittergiter]

Don't take nothin by it, I'm just having a little fun. I know it's hard to read sarcasm and good natured fun on a board, but it's there.

I did note your valid points but thought it would be more fun to poke at some of the holes, sorry I didn't acknowledge those points in my first response.

[Howler]

when planning to take a head shot on squirrels, a hunter has the option of pickin and choosin' when to take the shot, hence the probability of high success, where as that luxury is most often not afforded on called coyotes. While plinking squirrels, the hunter often has much time to find his/her comfort position and has time to squeeze the trigger.Most times that's not the case on called coyotes. And there in lays the problem with the general acceptance to the head shot debate. In both cases your aiming for an egg sized target, BUT in one case you got all the time in the world and the luxury and getting comfortable on a stationary target, and called coyotesjust don't stand around that long and often times the shooter ends up being out ofcomfortable shooting position on the coyote and endsup being less accurate because of it.
Two different animals withvery different hunting senarios!

[goos_blues]

There is really no reason to take a headshot. I take headshots on squirrels and gophers and stuff to, but its usually around 40 yards max. There is no point in shooting a coyote in the head, especially at longer ranges. The vitals behind the shoulder are huge compared to a brain. I think most people here realize the 223 and 22-250 are good for coyote.

[HighDesertWolf]

ORIGINAL: Howler

when planning to take a head shot on squirrels, a hunter has the option of pickin and choosin' when to take the shot, hence the probability of high success, where as that luxury is most often not afforded on called coyotes. While plinking squirrels, the hunter often has much time to find his/her comfort position and has time to squeeze the trigger.Most times that's not the case on called coyotes. And there in lays the problem with the general acceptance to the head shot debate. In both cases your aiming for an egg sized target, BUT in one case you got all the time in the world and the luxury and getting comfortable on a stationary target, and called coyotesjust don't stand around that long and often times the shooter ends up being out ofcomfortable shooting position on the coyote and endsup being less accurate because of it.
Two different animals withvery different hunting senarios!

Howler,
Totally agree with ya, those yotes might pause for a moment giving ya a second or two to aim the shot and squeeze the trigger. I think its only natural to prefer the larger target, the vitals.

[Howler]

What? You and me agree, it can't be!

Makes sense to me to aim for the largest kill zone, but there's no shortage of sharp shooters around that will disagree![8D]

[Jrbhunter]

I could kill a bull elk at75 yardswithmy 17hmr.





What does this prove?



Coyote hunters carry coyote guns... squirrel hunters carry squirrel guns.

[Diggerr]

Im not even going to take this on other than, if you can make it take. AZ is open and mountainous where i go I use a 7mm Mag to practice with it, havent taken any with my 223 yet