For coyotes, at close ranges can mean a million different things. I' ve had hunts where I lay on a round bale line calling electronically, and had a coyote come up and nibble on my overall ankle cuffs! I' ve also had ambush hunts in tall grass where I wanted to cuss my cousin for moving so much, only to turn to look at him to come face to face with a yote. I' ve also had a cousin shoot a coyote as it stepped over my back (pretty LOUD to say the least). From this, I started taking two guns, an SKS for long range shooting when they run away, and a SxS coach gun, with 00-4shot, 20" bbls. When I' m hunting away from here, I take a long barrel with an XX-Full choke with 2-4shot (gives 4" pattern at 35yrds!!!!!) With that gun, I can take the choke tube out without damaging my threads and fire with a cylinder/bore choke basically, and it hasn' t failed me on a hunt yet, if they come in close I can quietly and quickly remove the choke and get them. This is just what works for me though.

WHAT MOST GUYS WOULD/SHOULD DO...use a mod choke with 4 or larger (larger diameter that is) shot, in any length barrel, in standard lengths, you WILL NOT notice the difference in pattern at that close range (35 or less yrds). I agree on getting fiber optic sights, so they are visible in low light, I mounted a large ghost ring on one of my shotguns once that I felt worked very well for close range shooting (I patterned, and then calibrated the ring diameter to about 70% of how big my pattern appears from my standard range, (25yrds) so I could VERY quickly aquire my target and fire without having to worry much about exact aiming pts) Also helps leading on running coyotes.