Small Game, Predator and TrappingFrom shooting squirrels in your backyard to calling coyotes in Arizona. This forum now contains trapping information..
Saturday, shot 3 foxes, saw 1 more and saw one coyote. Sunday, shot at a group of 4 coyotes, couldn't hit any, also saw 2 foxes. Around noon, chased 3 coyotes around the section, but couldn't hit them. At around 3, spotted a coyote in a field, tried calling and calling, would not even acknowledge us. It finally curled up into ball about 3/4 mile away, so we made the stalk in the open field, using a tree as cover between us and the coyote. After 2 hours, we got as close as we could, and called. still would not even react. I decided my brother would have to take the shot. I tried to get it to stand up, I yelled, I screamed, and jumped up and down, would not look at us. He took the shot at about 450 yards. He missed, which I expected, but the coyote ran right towards us, I told my brother not to shoot, but he did, and kept missing. Finally at 100 yards, he hit in the leg, then he shot it in the vitals. Small female, don't have pictures, man was that one hell of a hunt. Later we chased 3 more coyotes, killing one. We also saw 2 more foxes. In the last week we have shot 5 foxes in a 4 mile area.
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"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance."
Saturday, shot 3 foxes, saw 1 more and saw one coyote. Sunday, shot at a group of 4 coyotes, couldn't hit any, also saw 2 foxes. Around noon, chased 3 coyotes around the section, but couldn't hit them. At around 3, spotted a coyote in a field, tried calling and calling, would not even acknowledge us. It finally curled up into ball about 3/4 mile away, so we made the stalk in the open field, using a tree as cover between us and the coyote. After 2 hours, we got as close as we could, and called. still would not even react. I decided my brother would have to take the shot. I tried to get it to stand up, I yelled, I screamed, and jumped up and down, would not look at us. He took the shot at about 450 yards. He missed, which I expected, but the coyote ran right towards us, I told my brother not to shoot, but he did, and kept missing. Finally at 100 yards, he hit in the leg, then he shot it in the vitals. Small female, don't have pictures, man was that one hell of a hunt. Later we chased 3 more coyotes, killing one. We also saw 2 more foxes. In the last week we have shot 5 foxes in a 4 mile area.
I suggest you take a 22LR and work on your form and accuracy. Reading your post makes me concerned for others (I mean 2 legged others).
country1 just because someone misses doesnt mean they are an unsafe hunter it just means they are a poor shot, especailly at a running coyote you cant expect to hit it every time, maybe they were just having an off day. Last day of duck season here i shot a full box of shells and killed a single duck it jsut wasnt my day, but the day before i killed my limit of 6 ducks in 6 shots you jsut cant hit anything somedays.
Missing with a shotgun shot shell is different than missing with a rifle. It was several misses not just one. Everyone needs to stay within the limits of the weather conditions, shot opportunity and our ability for that particular day. If you are having a bad day, shorten your shotrange or go homeand come back another day. The ground in most places this time of year is either hard or frozen. Even if it is snow covered, the snow mayhave a hard crust or it may have turned into ice. A rifle bullet that does not hit its target can skip along the groundagooddistance. I know several farmers who have had bullets hit their buildings or equipment from a hunter who missed. I have heard a bullet zing above my head on more than one occasion; and it does not give you a warm, fuzzy feeling. On one occasion we located the hunter. He was shooting a 223, missed, and he was over 1/2 mile away from our farm on the other side of a road. I don't know how may times he shot, but myself and another person heard two bullets zing over our heads. Once we pull the trigger, we can't bring the bullet back. If we don't want more restrictions on hunting and firearms, we need to use them as wisely as possible. Don't give the anti's any ammunition.
We had coyote fever, we stalked it for 2 hours, I could not let it get away. I KNEW there were no buildings, I KNEW there were no people, I KNEW there was a backstop. Next time I'll keep my joyful experiences to myself.
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"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance."
I understand the excitement of the hunt, as I hunt myself. When we are excited, we need to be even more careful. Sometimes we do not see every everything or use our best judgement due to the excitement.
If you are interested, here are some of the things that concern me. You mention your brothertaking a 450 yard shot,and it did not sound likethere wasa proper,steady rest for the rifle. I have taken game at long distances, and for meit requires a good, steady rest. There aresomevery experiencedmarksmen who might be able to do this consistantlywithout a rest, but it is not me nordoes it sound like it is your brother. I personally don't know anyone who says theycan consistantly hit a target at 450 yards withoutthe properrest. You mention shooting at several coyotes but not being able to hit them. We all need to be aware of the shooting conditions, our abilities and the abilities of our firearm and cartridge. It sounds like youmay have beenshooting outside of one of these parameters.
I am not mad at you or condemming you, but I am concerned. I am trying to help youavoid a possible event nobody wants to happen. The day a close relative of mine was married,I had acousin who witnessed and heardhis friend being shot in the chest. It is an experiencehe willnever forget (his friend died). I have an uncle who was almost hit by a stray bullet while working in the field. He had just hopped off the tractor to pick up something laying in his field. Just as he was about to bend over topick up the item, a bullet went flying by him and hit the groundabout 10 yards where he was standing. He hit the ground for safety and started scanning forthe shooter. While looking, he noticed an object some distance away. To make a long story short, when he drove up to the guy he was white as a ghost. This shooterthought he had hit my uncle, and he just froze.
Hunt and enjoy the hunt but take care to make it a safe hunt. Sometimes a bullet may do something we do not expect. Account for the unexpected - this comes from experience. Every hunt that ends safely is a good hunt. Good hunting.
Great predator weekend.
