Shooting a coyote....?? Did I do it right?

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Jeff000

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In a past thread I was told with a 22-250 I just pretty much had to hit a coyote to kill it.

This morning was out at the gf's dads place sighting in and breaking in my gun. (Is 200 yard zero the best?) anyways, was making 3" groups. (I really need to learn how to control my breathing better). Shooting 50 gr hornady v max.

Anyways, had a coyote almost walk in front of the target, in the time it took me to load in 2 shots (the whole push rounds down into the flip plate mag thing is weird to me) the yote had walked closer, probably 150 yards, it was facing me. I didn't know if shooting it in the face would be a good idea so I shot it center of its chest I guess you would call it. It fell instantly, and I watched it for a bit to make sure it didn't move, so I could shoot again if needed.

Walking to get my target and stuff I couldn't find the coyote, I found a spot that looked to have a lot of blood though.
Is there any way I didn't kill it? was that a bad way to shoot it? where did it go? It was probably 45 minutes from when I shot it to when I went to see it. Did it just get dragged somewhere by some other animal?
 
unless you hit a leg it's dead somewhere. Shooting it like that is fine. They are some of the toughest critters you will find. I have seen coyotes that have gone 100 yards to cover with baseball sized holes through there chest from .270 and .300 mags. Most will flop right there or spin a bit and fall over, but some just do some amazing things.
 
Jayph said:
unless you hit a leg it's dead somewhere. Shooting it like that is fine. They are some of the toughest critters you will find. I have seen coyotes that have gone 100 yards to cover with baseball sized holes through there chest from .270 and .300 mags. Most will flop right there or spin a bit and fall over, but some just do some amazing things.
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I am pretty confident I didn't get him in the leg. I watched it to make sure it didn't move for what seemed like a long time and it didn't move at all.


DesertWolf said:
just follow the blood ;)

I'd have taken him between the eyes myself if the bullets were right :D
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I tried to follow the blood, but its so leafy and just a mess out that it was hard to follow.
There was a pool of blood in the frozen mud probably 10" across. bigger puddle then I could make peeing earlier in the mud, lol.

I didn't know what would happen if I shot it in the head. Would the vmax have killed it with a head shot? I know skull can be hard.
 
Head shots and whomever told you that with 22-250 all you need to do is hit anywhere to kill hasn't been out much and\or has no ethics. It is your responsibility to make a quick kill on any animal.
 
Jeff000 said:
In a past thread I was told with a 22-250 I just pretty much had to hit a coyote to kill it.

This morning was out at the gf's dads place sighting in and breaking in my gun. (Is 200 yard zero the best?) anyways, was making 3" groups. (I really need to learn how to control my breathing better). Shooting 50 gr hornady v max.

It was probably 45 minutes from when I shot it to when I went to see it. Did it just get dragged somewhere by some other animal?
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Was this your first coyote????

You waited 45 minutes???

First one I shot, I ran own the field like a raving lunatic....:D

I say your shot was just fine...a lot of blood..

If something dragged it off, I'd think you would have seen it...
 
waderow said:
Head shots and whomever told you that with 22-250 all you need to do is hit anywhere to kill hasn't been out much and\or has no ethics. It is your responsibility to make a quick kill on any animal.
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I was going for a quick kill, I figure from that close his lungs and heart would just explode.
It was in the yote picture thread where I was told to just hit it.


sealhunter said:
Was this your first coyote????

You waited 45 minutes???

First one I shot, I ran own the field like a raving lunatic....:D

I say your shot was just fine...a lot of blood..

If something dragged it off, I'd think you would have seen it...
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Ya this was my first.
I was headed to go right after I shot, but had to help load the bobcat onto a trailer and tie it down. So it was 45-60 minutes before I got the chance to walk down.

Ya lots of blood, I'll make damn sure next time :) Headed back out there in a bit.
 
I have a feeling you'll find the coyote not too far away. I nailed one with a poor shot in the front end with a 30/30 and the crazy bugger spun about 10 times.....as soon as he quit moving I threw another at his chest and he took off. I was suprised to say the least.

Found him later about 100 meters away hidden in some brush. First shot had pretty much busted up his shoulder, the next shot had went through the front of the ribs one side, rear ribs on the other. Tough animal.....
 
I've hit coyotes with a .270 in the head and had to shoot them again because they where still alive - one quarter of its head was missing. They are super tough critters.
 
I shot this coyote in the upper leg shoulder, it still ran a good ways before spinning and going crazy,...a second shot finished it.

If you are confident in the shot,..pull the trigger..

If it's dead right ther. perfect..but sometimes #### happens...so if it isn't DRT, ya just do what it takes as fast and humanely as possible...

my 2 cents..

[youtube]FeOkt7-QbqE[/youtube]
 
I've taken similar shots & if it fell it is dead close by. They are tough & that is why I think a 22-250, a swift.243 are far better yote calibers than a 223. Yes I've shot with all 3 cal. and 223,222,and hornets. Keep looking for any & all coyotes you can get. Good luck AJ
 
BigUglyMan said:
I imagine that he's dust somewhere nearby. Go slow and if you lose the sign you can start running grids to find him.
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Ok I found it, about 50 meters from where I shot it, no exit wound, but it hit pretty much dead center between his front lets center mass. Right where I was aiming. I have no idea how it moved after that.... that would have major lung, heart and well everything damage, no idea how far it would have penetrated.


mandarb11 said:
So this yote walked to you while you were sighting in your rifle? Wow if all hunts could be that easy!
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Well a bit earlier the gf was popping some cans of spam with a .222, I think it was coming in for a meal, lol.




Managed to shoot another one, probably 115 yards, 55gr nosler ballistic tip. I think this round is faster, had more kick for sure. No idea what the ballistic tip is about over the vmax. Got this one just rear of its front leg on its left side, looked like its right front leg was hardly being held on, very strange. It got maybe 5 paces from where I shot it. I went right away to see this time. gave it a poke with a stick and it didn't move.
Had one in my cross hairs about 400 meters away, but never shot that far so I had no idea what to expect so I watch it run away instead of closer.

Coyotes are fun :)
The first one is still odd, I really have a hard time seeing how it made it anywhere after such a devastating shot, I almost want to cut it open and see the wound track, lol. Doubt it will last much over night though???
 
Get use to it they can run after shots that would drop some other animals. I watched more than one get shot and run off and you go "how" and then you find them and see where you shot and go "HOW" they are very tough. the one that came after my father last winter was hit three times one put a hole through the chest I could fit my arm through. He didn't go down till he was taken out in the spine from four feet from the muzzle comming at my dad. That was with a .270

.22-250 is a great coyote round but there is no magic in it. takes perfect shot placement for DRT coyotes and sometimes even then they will go 20-100 yards.
 
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