Bipod Setup for Coyote Hunting

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Rodder

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Hello everyone,

I apologize if this is in the wrong subforum, please move it if it is.

Anyway a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go coyote hunting for the first time. I primarily target shoot and have only been deer hunting once a few years ago, so this was a very new experience for me. We didn't see anything but I had a blast and have definitely caught the coyote bug. When I was deer hunting years ago, it was in a forested area with shots within 50 yards. Because of this we were able to sit in chairs and take shots offhand. With the property we're using for coyotes it's mostly fields with shots ranging from 50 yards out to 200. The grass is about a 1-2' high so it's presented problems I've never had to deal with before. I've been watching tonnes of videos and it seems like long bipods and tripods are the solution that a lot of hunters use in these situations. With cost in mind I've ruled out tripods and have things narrowed down to a Harris Bipod in 12-25" or similar. The only downside to the Harris is although they swivel, they don't pan side to side, which some of the clones like the Caldwell long bipods do.

I use a Harris 6-9" on my target rifle and would ideally like to stay within the brand for qualities sake. For the hunters on the forum who shoot seated with tripods or bipods, does the ability to pan without picking up and moving the bipod warrant me looking at other brands?

I'm obviously very new to all of this so any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Rodder
 
Sitting with an extended bipod and no way to swivel has bitten me before as I get busted trying to move a 25" bipod attached to a rifle.

I have switched to sticks when not calling open fields or a 6-9 harris if I hunt over a calf/sheep kill.
 
I run the tall harris bipods almost exclusively for hunting. You'll be surprised at how much pan you actually have in them. There is enough flex in the system that it has never caused an issue for me. You can only pan so much from a seated position before you need to move the gun or yourself any ways. I have tried to run sticks and some smaller tripods and I always go back to my tall bipods. I much prefer having them attached to the rifle. If I do need to make a big change in direction I find it much easier to pick up the rifle and move it and not have to worry about moving a separate piece with it.
My buddy has a set of sticks, I think they are stoney point, they set up like mini tent poles. I like them and have debated getting a set to try out. The ability to have a normal length bipod on the rifle is appealing to me as well. I have had to collapse a long bipod in a hurry in an attempt to make longer shots on coyotes, 1 time in particular the bipod was all frozen up and it felt like a very epic battle that had me flopped on my side in a snow bank, cursing and swearing under my breath at the bipod trying to get it collapsed. I got the yote but I was pissed off at the bipod that time.
 
I never have had a problem with lift and move on a coyote. If they are running they don't catch you and if they have stopped it takes them a second or two to understand the move. As said above they do also have some movement if not moved. The largest problem is most of them are not high enough. I had to extend my Harris C25S for 2.5 inchs to take up field edges. You can see the extended bottom on the Harris.
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The cheaper models break easy, been there done that. Hunters ridge on the left Harris C25S on the right.
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This time of the year is not the time to teach your coyotes about the calling sport. The eastern coyote is harder to get to the open areas unlike the western cousin. The eastern coyote wants to stay in the woods/cover in daylight hours and will pickup on the calling sport fast. You would be better to wait for a dusting of snow to see them better. Wild TV is hurting all you new coyote hunter more then it helping you as your making them smart and harder to kill for us all.

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I have the tall Harris bipod. I find it perfect to sit in tall grass. I have it mounted to my XCR, so I had to get an adapter for the pic rail. The adapter I have swivels! I'm not sure what you are mounting it to, but they do have a lug to pic rail adapter. So you could get that then the swivel adapter haha. It would cost you more than the bipod and look stupid...but solves your concern. But the swivel isn't too important. You can probably only swivel it 10 degrees before you have to pick up the gun and move or you will fall over sideways. My bro has the same bipod on his bolt gun and has never missed a yote specifically because he couldn't swivel. ...he usually misses for other reasons.

I also took some ski pole baskets and slotted them so I can twist them onto the bottom of the legs. Helps a lot to get stable in deep snow.
 
I usually use the 25" Harris with the swivel. If I could pick my spot perfectly all the time I'd rather shoot from a 9-13" but inevitably the stubble will be an inch too high, or the ground will drop away in front of me, or the legs will sink into the snow and come up short. In rolling grasslands with little snow and matted down grass I can get by with a BR model.
 
I tried a few things and ended up with Primos Trigger Sticks tripod. I leave my Harris 6-9 bipod on my gun so it's there if it works when I set up, but usually the tripod gets used. It was around $150, but is well built and well thought out. I love how fast and easy it is to adjust the height and level.
 
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