average range of coyote kills, how far?

[mcseal2]

I shoot quite a few coyotes on our ranch and keep a count each year. As I've educated them with the occasional miss, my shots have gradually gotten farther. I have been working on keeping myself and equipment up to the task of reaching a little more. I started this year keeping my count on the computer, entering time of day, place, range, gun/load, wind, etc. I am up to 11 since the first of January (gotta love snow) and my average range is 259yds. The closest was 170 and the furthest 412. I've ranged 4 before shooting and the rest were ranged after because I didn't feel I had time to spare. I waited for them to stop and look and took the shot immediately. I've missed 5 and most misses made sense after ranging them. 8 were shot with the 243, 1 with a 223, and 2 with my 270. How does this compare to other's hunting?

I've taken to zeroing to keep my trajectory +/- 2.8" as far as possible. Any more and I miss to many high. This puts me close to dead on at 260yds. If I know a yote is within 200 I aim for the heart, otherwise I hold center. I have used the Leupold VH scopes alot, but am getting the CDS installed on some and like it better. The VH requires a 200yd zero and the CDS lets you pick your own. I like to dial it to 260yds and leave it unless I think the shot is 300+ and I have time to range it. I'm curious what systems others use that works for them.

Most of these were shot while working, 2 while calling. I've called alot, but with limited sucess lately. Coyotes around here are getting pretty educated on the calls. I think between the increased popularity of calling and being shot at during deer season the coyotes are getting tough to call until we get a new batch. I've been disappointed at their responses with the great conditions we've had.

 

[JD338]

The spots that I hunt can offer 400-500 yd shots. The coyotes I kill are called in to either a hand call or my FoxPro. Average distance is between 50-100 yds. My longest kill is around 200 yds and my closest is about 20 yds. Most have been taken with a 22-250 but I have also used a 243 Win and 257 Roberts. Nite time calling is with a Remington 11-87 Super Mag loaded with 12 ga 3.5" Dead Coyote loads. Most are killed between 25-50 yds.

JD338

 

[mcseal2]

The spots that I hunt can offer 400-500 yd shots. The coyotes I kill are called in to either a hand call or my FoxPro. Average distance is between 50-100 yds. My longest kill is around 200 yds and my closest is about 20 yds. Most have been taken with a 22-250 but I have also used a 243 Win and 257 Roberts. Nite time calling is with a Remington 11-87 Super Mag loaded with 12 ga 3.5" Dead Coyote loads. Most are killed between 25-50 yds.

JD338

I have some 3" dead coyote loads and the choke to go with them, but haven't had the chance to use them yet. My girlfriend carries my 870 turkey gun with the dead coyote combo for calling.

 

[Elkman]

I haven't pursued them steadily for a number of years, but when I was, I was using a 22-250 and I was typically shooting less than a 100 yards. Of course I had a few long ones and a couple in my lap for which a long barreled 250 is slightly better than a club but not much.!!!!

 

[SJB358]

Bill, isnt a club what you started hunting with, ya know, before gun powder and rifles! HA.. Just kidding buddy. My coyote hunting mimicks JD's area. Usually if I get to hunt with someone, a shotgun is used by one of us, and the rifle by the other, more times than not, it is a 22-250. Scotty

 

[jmad_81]

Most of the dogs I shoot are while I'm working as well (gotta love farming!). It is very open here with rolling hills (old sand dunes that have "healed" over), a few big draws, and lots of fields. From november of 2009 to November of 2010 my savage .243 took 30 yotes. All but two were shot with 55 bts at 3962 fps. Farthest shot was with a 462 yards with an Amax, closest was around 75 yards. I like to use a Max point blank range that keeps my bullets +/- 2". Giving me a 300 yard dead on hold. After that I have my mil dots worked out, and if I have time I use the turrets. I'm a big fan of the dots if a guy is in a bit of a hurry. It doesn't take much practice to get them memorized. Then when you see a dog it goes pretty quick. They also allow me to change loads, bullets or even guns. All I have to do is go shoot at the range and figure out my new dot drop chart.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Id say on average for me itd be somewhere right around that 250 yard mark as well. I kill around 20-25 coyotes a year the last few years. Id say 80% are between 150-400, with the other 25% falling this side of 150 or that side of 400.

I hunt a lot of the same stuff Jmad does and its all open stuff, a flat shooting rifle is your friend out here.

I like to use either a 243 w/55s or 70's, or a 25-06 w/85s.

I use to zero at 300 yards, but found I missed high quite often at 200-225. So I just started zeroing at 200 and leave it there, problem solved. I figure anyway you look at it, if you have to hold over your guessing so better to have it on at around the 200-250 mark when its heat of the moment time. Uusually when there out there a ways, you have a little more time, not a lot, but a little.

I run Leupolds w/target knobs. If I have time, I'll range and dial, but when yote hunting, you really dont have that happen to often, this is why its nice to have a fast/flat shooting rifle, take the guesswork out for you.

 

[Songdog]

We've killed 22 coyotes this season... I'd say most are in the 175 to 225 range... with most of the misses going in the 125-150 range (all high by the way!). I hunt very open country... but find that when calling, it's pretty easy to get them to about 250... after that, you're playing with fire... so most are shot at the first opportunity inside that yardage. This is why all my rifles are sighted in 1" high at 100... out to 150, it's put the X on it a squeeze the trigger... but it's tough to miss high

Spot and stalk... no, no... not "see from the road and bail out of the truck" (the two are often mistaken for one another)... I'd say the average shot is more like 375-450... turrets are king even at this range... because precision is the key, and you almost always have plenty of time. We've killed 3 this year over 6 bills... and the furthest kill of the year... a 947 yard cold-bore pole-axing of a coyote... with a 52 Amax out of the Swift no less.

By the way... I love the "spot from the road and bail out of the truck" dogs just as much as the next guy... ok... maybe a little more... I've shot A LOT of coyotes that way.Distance on those shots are a crap shoot... could be 70 yards... could be 450... depends on how dumb the coyote is... and your "sneakiness" while jamming on the breaks, jumping out the door, and throwing a round into the gun....

 

[mcseal2]

Id say on average for me itd be somewhere right around that 250 yard mark as well. I kill around 20-25 coyotes a year the last few years. Id say 80% are between 150-400, with the other 25% falling this side of 150 or that side of 400.

I hunt a lot of the same stuff Jmad does and its all open stuff, a flat shooting rifle is your friend out here.

I like to use either a 243 w/55s or 70's, or a 25-06 w/85s.

I use to zero at 300 yards, but found I missed high quite often at 200-225. So I just started zeroing at 200 and leave it there, problem solved. I figure anyway you look at it, if you have to hold over your guessing so better to have it on at around the 200-250 mark when its heat of the moment time. Uusually when there out there a ways, you have a little more time, not a lot, but a little.

I run Leupolds w/target knobs. If I have time, I'll range and dial, but when yote hunting, you really dont have that happen to often, this is why its nice to have a fast/flat shooting rifle, take the guesswork out for you.

That's pretty much my thinking too, get your BC and velocity as high as possible to keep making shots quick and simple. The dialing only works when you catch one unaware at long range, otherwise they won't stop long enough for ranging and dialing. I just loaded 15 rounds to start breaking the barrel in on my new 6mm Rem I get to pick up from the gunsmith's tomorrow. I shot out the barrel on my favorite 243 and decided to go with 6mm on the re-barrel for a little more speed. I loaded 75gr V-max bullets with IMR 4350 for a break-in load. I really want to try the 90gr AccuBond in it when it's available. I wouldn't need that much bullet for coyotes, but I could have a turret built for it and use it for anything I'd shoot with a 6mm.

I ended 2010 with 37.5 coyotes. On new years eve a friend and I jumped one while he was riding with me feeding cattle. Our shots went off together and it fell, but we aren't sure who hit it so I counted a half. 40 is my record from my first year back on the ranch full time. Dad didn't shoot unless they were within a hundred yards so I got lots of easy shots. I missed lots of them too but learned from my mistakes. I get 25-40 every year.

As to Songdog's truck shooting post that is an art in itself, trying to make your vehicle seem harmless while positioning for a shot, then barking or hollering to try to stop them. I unhooked the horn on my old Chevy and put in a button to activate it under the dash. It was real sensitive and I bumped it occasionally when locking my elbow in the wheel to get a steady shot over the mirror. My shooting from the vehicle is done in our pastures where it is legal on coyotes. I also have a front and rear bag for shooting over the hood, and have bailed and shot lots too. Even our Polaris Ranger got an overhead gun-rack for sniping coyotes while checking cows that are calving. I prefer to use the window, hood, or flatbed to bailing though, no sense wasting a good rest when available. Some states law doesn't allow using a vehicle for a rest though and vehicles with other people in them that don't sit still make poor rests.

 

[super-7]

I would have to agree with the 200 to 400 yrd average up here it is fairly open, I like a ballistic plex reticle as I have found no time to mess with turrets, maybe my bushnell pro sport 1000 is a POS, but after 350 yrds, I have a very hard time to get a reading off of a coyote or fox. So once it doesn't read I know it's a ways out there, I missed a fox the other day because I missed judged, he was further then I thought. I find missing high the norm aswell. I have the 243 sighted at 250 yrds zero, I can hold on hair with a 75 gr v-max to almost 350. 6" off drop between 250 and 350, so top plex must be high on the back. With a fox when skinned I think the depth of the torso is only 6" at best, makes for a tough shot.

 

[mcseal2]

I would have to agree with the 200 to 400 yrd average up here it is fairly open, I like a ballistic plex reticle as I have found no time to mess with turrets, maybe my bushnell pro sport 1000 is a POS, but after 350 yrds, I have a very hard time to get a reading off of a coyote or fox. So once it doesn't read I know it's a ways out there, I missed a fox the other day because I missed judged, he was further then I thought. I find missing high the norm aswell. I have the 243 sighted at 250 yrds zero, I can hold on hair with a 75 gr v-max to almost 350. 6" off drop between 250 and 350, so top plex must be high on the back. With a fox when skinned I think the depth of the torso is only 6" at best, makes for a tough shot.

does the 75 V-max wreck fox pelts? I've shot 2 bobcat with this bullet and will never use it on another one, it made a mess. Also I use the bushnell 1500 elite and it works much better. The 2 guys I shoot with alot have the 1200 which works as good as mine, and the 1000 which seems to struggle at half the range. Someday I'd like to get one that takes shot angle into consideration and gives you the true range for elk and deer hunting in the mountains.

 

[super-7]

I would love to tell ya how it works on foxes, but I haven't got one with a V-max yet. I have to hammer 1 this winter I hope, then I'll let you know. On yotes anything out past 200 yrds there is very little pelt damage, I got one the other day at under 100 and entry was small but exit wound was golf ball sized, not bad but still some damage.I like the higher BC of the 75 gr V-max compared to a lighter bullet, but thats just a personal preference. We are back in the deep freeze here again -28* C, but they are calling for it to warm up next week into single digits, after a cold blast calling seems to be more effective as an easy meal is appealing. :mrgreen:

 

[mcseal2]

I have used the 75gr V-max alot and rarely had it exit a well-hit coyote. I started on a new box of them this January, and they seem to be exiting more often. I really doubt it is the bullet, I am using a 22" rifle instead of my old 20" gun and a different powder so my velocity is increased. I've taken over 100 yotes with that bullet and it is my favorite bullet for coyotes. I am looking at other options because on the rare occasion I get a chance at a cat I want to be able to take the shot without destroying it. It is a good balance of BC and velocity for sure, I wouldn't want to shoot anything lighter in the wind around home.

 

[Guy Miner]

My average is likely right around 200 yards. They're fun to hunt. Smart little rascals. Some have been much closer, and if they're way out there, well I don't hesitate to give it a try.

 

[FOTIS]

I have never killed one. That said I have witnessed my friends do it. All the shots were under 200 yards. None of these were called in. Just targets of opportunity.

 

[Songdog]

I have never killed one.

Alright... that's it!!

You and me, next weekend... I'll meet you 20min south of Cheyenne on Hwy. 85... we can rectify your coyote situation post haste. Bring the boy if y'want... we'll get him one too.

 

[YoteSmoker]

Sounds like POP has a mandatory appointment at the Pawnee grasslands.

 

[JD338]

I have never killed one.

Alright... that's it!!

You and me, next weekend... I'll meet you 20min south of Cheyenne on Hwy. 85... we can rectify your coyote situation post haste. Bring the boy if y'want... we'll get him one too.

Songdog,

Nice offer! I wish I was closer, I would take you up on the offer myself.

JD338

 

[Songdog]

I'll be honest... that offer is open to ANYONE on this board who'd like to shoot a prairie poodle or two. I know the Pawnee like the back of my hand... and I've got permission to hunt a couple thousand acres of private land out there too... but it's only available in February. I'm at that point where it's far more fun for me to watch others shoot coyotes than it is for me to shoot them myself... so come on out, the weather's fine (if you like single digit temps and sub-zero windchills)

Offer is on the table....

 

[killdeernow]

I've gotten 9 this year so far. The wife said, "don't make me hate hunting" so I didn't get out too much.

Here in NV they have been pretty close and few came in behind me (now I take my 870 w/me to every stand as a backup). I only use hand calls as well. In AZ they have been farther out but Wal-Mart equipment is still more than adequate to take 'em down. I haven't found a reason to modify the 223 WSSM yet (that's my next project...).

Average range has been about 100 yards...probably closer if I look in my book and do the math. I haven't had to reach out yet. I hear predator hunting has exploded but I have only run into one other hunter in over two years. Translated to, these coyotes aren't educated where I hunt so the distances are probably tainted.

I have to get out one more time this year.