Hunting Coyotes
 

Greetings to all - I am new at crossbows and don't have a clue what they can do. I am an avid shooter shooting competition in IPSC pistol and3 Gunas well as Sniper matches. However, I want to hunt using a Crossbow. I have a few Coyotes who come in myarea making meals of our pets. I have called them up to a tree about 30 to 40yards from my front door. I could camo up and get close.

What is the effective range?

What kind should I get (about 6' tall and about 260 lbs - an old fart).

I looked at some in the Cabelas catalog and played with a few at the new Bass Pro shop in my area. Someof the crossbows have pulley type systems and some don't? Seems the pulley's would be better?

How fast is a reload?

I looked at some of the crank assists for reloading but they seem slow and noisy. How hard is it to pull back a 200 lbs. crossbow?

How do you practice with one? Can you reuse the arrows?

Price - No more then $1,000.00.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Safety Off

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

the parker buck buster is a good bow i got mine off ebay from a guy named wyvern creations for about 475.00 with 6 extra arrows this guys customer service is AA-1 hes there for you after the sale the parker buck buster cocks easy with a cocking aid hope this helps

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

The effective range of a crossbow is well over 100 yards, but only for target shooting.. Most guys claim to stay within about 30 yards for hunting deer, I wouldn't hesitate to take a 50 yard shot at a coyote.
Excalibur makes a few great bows, for $1000 you would have all the options and a case of beer or two.
Shoot lots of them, find one you like and that fits you, just like any other shouldered firearm. You will still end up with an Excalibur though.
Wheels are for compound bows, they are not getting much glory in the crossbow world.
Drawing a 200 pound bow is just that, 200 pounds.. There are alternatives between the strong arm technique and that cranker job, you'll see.
Fast reloads? Your kidding right? Mine only came with a 5 shot magazine.;)
Arrows are very reusable, and repairable once they do become wore or damaged.

A great deal of crossbow guys lean towards the Excalibur line, simple, reliable extremely accurate and terrific support. It (like all crossbows) is far from a long range weapon and does require practice to operate and shoot safely. Your a gun guy, you know that anything propelling any type of projectile requires practice.
I like your screen name by the way.:D

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

Ditto the above! 1st thing is to decide compound or recurve. Recurves are wider but simpler to maintain, you do it all yourself, what little there is. Compounds are narrower and have lots more that can go wrong due to the sheer number of parts. Of the recurves, Excal is king, and my bow of choice. However they are not for everyone. As a gun shooter, you are going to be amazed at the Excal range compensating scopes, the V-zone and L-zone, be sure to read some on them, no matter what bow you choose. Have fun! Oh, you can do alot better price wise than Bpro or Cabelas.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

Thanks guys - great information. About the reload question. The coyotes that are living near my house and causing problems run around in a 3 pack. They pretty much don't care about humans and are often poping up within 30 to 40 yards. I thought maybe I could hit one and possibly reload for another shot. I know I could easily take all 3 with myAR -However, I like the idea of stealthly hunting with a cross bow:D

When I was a kid, I bought one of the first Whamo cross bows. I think it was 40 lbs but don't remember. I shot a rabbit at close range and the arrow went right through it - the rabbit jerked a little but kept sitting in the same spot! -I don't even think he knew he was hit! But that was a long time ago. I remember the bow was not as quite as you would think. Are the newer onesnoisy as well?

Looks like the Excal is the one to start out with. Seems like everyone agrees. What model would be best for hunting? I read a 200 lbs bow could be pulled at 100 lbs with a rope device. I like the idea of POWER[:@]

Thanks again for your time in information. I feel this is going to be a GOOD forum and I plan to have fun with the cross bow (whatever I get). Thinking of giving a tree stand a go as well. Never used one but up where I have my cabin is a lot of trees.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

I have a Phoenix [175] and an Emax [225]. If I only had one [perish the thought] it would be an Exocet, which Pyper shoots or it's thumbhole stock brother Vortex, which Hotburn has. Have my doubts about a quick second shot on any thing, but like David said in his post 50 yds is doable on a yote for sure. I started out w/ a Whammo also, mine was 80# pull. They have been relegated to wall hanger status due to safety issues w/ metal limbs failing, btw.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

OK, looks like I am going to give the Equinox Excal a try. Does anyone know what the reticle looks like with the Vari-Zone multirange scope offered in the package they have in Cabelas? Here is the package:

The Equinox has a new ergonomic thumbhole stock and bone-crushing power that make it destined to become the flagship of the Excalibur line. The 225-lb. draw, 16-1/2" power stroke and recurve design throw bolts at 350 fps. The shorter overall length (38.4") makes it easier to cock and steadier to hold without sacrificing downrange performance. At 6.4 lbs., this is a lightweight crossbow for stealth hunting. The Realtree® AP HD™ camo is applied using the Kolorfusion process for amazing pattern reproduction. Tapped to accept Excalibur's scope and quiver mounts. Quick-detach sling swivels. Fiber-optic sight included.
Save money compared to buying these accessories separately. The kit includes an Equinox crossbow, Vari-Zone multirange scope, scope mount and rings, quiver bracket, four-bolt quiver, serving wax, excel string, rope cocking aid, crossbow stringer, six bolts, six 100-grain target points, and six 100-grain broadheads. Realtree® AP HD™ camo.

What else would I need?

Safety Off

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

Same as this but the reticules don't light up and are black.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

a 22 rifle will fix them as well. been there done that.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

AMEN jeeper,also the old trusty 12 gauge works to!;)

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

OH OH OH can i get a Heck YEAH i see burger in the light lol. i raise chickens and turkeys i also raiseup aace 22 cal single shot. need i say more.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

Hey, I like the way you guys think! However, I was kind of trying to keep the noise down thus the CB. I have some ammo for the 12 ga that is assume. It is called Poly Shok. It has a shape charge in the front which causes the little tiny "BB" to go out in an omni direction causing massive destruction. It was designed so if you missed and hit something, it will not go flying forever down range taking out many things in it's path. It does not kick much either.;) - but it does go BANG...

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

ok safety off try with the xbow first and, and if you miss bring a gun along just for a quick follow up shot. i love my xbow and compound bow but when it comes to yotes ill make sure i hit them with a gun been seeing alot more yotes and lesser deer around here as well as alot of hnters are saying the same. if i could get them close for a shot with mine i would but i think they know who i am not to brag heheheh but they stay out of bow rangs but in gun range. good luck to you.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

The yotes around here seem to know if I have a gun or a bow in hand. The dog officer is gonna call me next time he has a road kill and I am gonna sit right on top of it with 3 inch #4 buckshot out of an extra full turkey choke.

I know a couple of guys who live in the "BOONIES" who hang treble hooks three feet off the ground baited with spam. I really think it is uncool but it works. Not sure my nieghbors would think much of that and I am sure it is as illegal as you can get so DON"T do it.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

I thought I have heard it all! I don't have any right/wrong thoughts on how people should deal with predators, but this tactic at least gets points for creativity.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

Don't get me wrong David.. I WOULD never hang a treble hook in the woods!!! But doing so does show alot of creativity just not much tact or class.
As much as I dislike yotes even they deserve a quick clean death. Hanging from a hook in it's mouth for a couple of days just sits real bad with me.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

I love #4 buck!! Got 5 stuffed in Gramps Win 97 as we speak, lol.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

I have been partial to the #4 Buck since you introduced me to it too Dan.. That stuff is just plain destructive.:D

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

"What else would I need?"
This bow has 225 lbs pull weight. Enough power to kill an elepahnt (no kidding) much less 'yotes. I'd give it a try to see if you can handle pulling it repeatedly. I started with an Equinox but discovered that while shooting it was fun, cocking it was WORK. (I'm retired and pretty much allergic to work). Traded for a Vortex. It's 1" shorter and 25 lbs less pull weight. Still a very serious bow. Seems considerably easier for me to pull and it's easier on bolts and strings. The Equinox trigger also wan't as smooth as this Vortex's trigger.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

HMMM, spam - lol - could not use that on the West Coast - might catch an Hawaiian lol.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

Well my Vortex arrived with some disappointment. They have you disassemblying the product to put it back together. Further, They sent 4 wrench but they don't fit all the screws they want you to take off? I have an email into the factory to see what gives. This will be a good check on the service. More to come....

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

What do you have to disassemble? I do not remember having to take anything off to put it together? You trying to take the limbs off to put the pads on? Did you watch the entire DVD on how to assemble it? The only thing you should have to do is put the main bow on the stock, put the string on, cock it, put the pads on and your done except for the sight. What are you trying to take off? They do not give a wrench for the limbs since you should not be taking them off.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

No, did not watch the DVD yet. However, I got an installation document enclosed (1 sheet - front and back). It showed a diagram of the Dissipator bar and clear instructions to take it appart? It said to take (2) 5/16" limb screws and (4) #10 recoil plate screws out. The #10 screws do not have a wrench that fits (looks like sometype of smallhex head)? Then you replace the existing screws with longer ones which are enclosed (for recoil plate). Last thing you do is put the pads on. Maybe I should watch the video but why would they put this document inside the box, (4) allen type wrenchs and longer screws? I think this should have been done at the factory! The pads I can see doing - due to the fact they explained you need to have the bow strung before putting on the pads.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

Went and looked atmy original box and I do not have the sheet you spoke of. I looked at my dissipator bar mount screws and they do not look to go all the way through, so I do not know if what you have is a upgrade and it was supposed to be done by the seller before shipping it? If they gave you four of the same bolts and only longer I would say it is a upgrade that did not get done before shipping and that is why there is instructions but no wrench. The one thing I could tell you is that all USA Excal issues go through Dan Miller, He is the US rep. Give him a call in the morning and he will be able to sort it out for you ASAP. His number is 740-483-2312. Where did you get the CB from?

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

I got it from Cabelas. Thanks for the information regarding Dan Miller. His name has come up from two others - must know his stuff. Will call him first chance I get. Thanks again.

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

For pydpiper


Fasteddie's Home Made Coyote Caller

RE: Hunting Coyotes
 

The only Dissapointment I had was trying to put the string on,LOL,:D:D:D:D:D:Djust about busted my gut but I think weve all gone thru it untill we figured it out,then its wham bam on off.......
When I used to rabbit hunt alot I would (not on purpos;))skin and leave the fur and guts on a s,I mean on the ground then go back in the evening and sit about 75 off the pile if it/they were still thereand wait....worked well for me........Would have about 5 or so piles layed around the area....