Coyote 1:01

[Chukar60]

I have been on a on again off again pursuit to call a coyote to an air gun kill.
My first outing went well except I was not prepared and learned some important lessons.
1. Have your gun up and ready.
2. Yes there is such a thing as coyotes fever. Just like buck fever.
3. When you are ready to leave a call set wait for 5-10 minutes after the call sequence is done.

Today was session #2. Had a blast!! Set up in a known hot spot for coyotes on the ranch we manage. Played the wind perfect and started the call sequence. Within 30 seconds I see a mature coyote headed straight for the set up on a run. This time the gun was up and I had pre ranged several notable features so there would be no guessing yardage. I was 37 yards downwind of the call just below a small ridge. The yote never broke stride and made it all the way to the call. Literally right to the call. The minute it got a sniff it shifted gears and was gone. Not two minutes later another came in from upwind. It came over another small finger about 70 yards from me. Once again came in hot. It slowed as it approached the call, circled about 10 feet downwind of the call, caught the scent and hightailed it out of there.
Lessons learned.
1. When they are coming in that fast, pause the call or shut it off before they get too close. They know exactly where that sound was coming from. Make them slow down and look.
2. You don’t need a high magnification scope for this work. Lower power and the widest field of view is better.
3. I was convinced that I needed to be within 35 yards of the call. I think 50 yards is plenty close. I am using an M3 30 cal shooting 45 gr slugs @ 94 fpe. I believe this will kill a coyote at 75 yards and would not hesitate on a standing calm coyote at 100 yards.

This has been the most fun I have had in decades. Thrilling sport and I am learning a lot in the process. There is more to this than buying a call and blaring it over the landscape.
More to follow. I know for some these lessons are basic knowledge, but for those who have never done this, maybe I can save you some trials and tribulation by sharing?

 

[MOhunter]

That is awesome! Glad you're having fun and having luck! A few coyotes out here seem to know when it's a fake decoy call. I've actually had luck using an app on my phone, but then they come in right at YOU! Like you said, the secret is waiting between calls. Not sure if you've seen this yet, but a lot of times a junior ranking coyote will come out first. Then about 60 yards back a more senior member of the pack will come out. they send the junior members to check things out first. Doesn't happen all the time, but it did on the first coyote I killed. Hope you post some pics soon.

 

[Cantona256]

Coyote fever is 100% real and I have it so bad even more cowbell won’t fix it…

I actually wouldn’t have changed a thing you did OP. Sounds like everything was good but you were waiting for them to stop before you took the shot…you gotta stop the coyote yourself. I like to give them a little bark or howl. Just from my own mouth a little “woof” at 50y or so and they will stop ears up to see what it is. Then you blast him…. Also you can stop the call as you said and mouth squeak them in… changing the sound and location a little will often get them to slow down or stop and investigate.

Also I’m assuming you’re not in Utah otherwise I’d say “can I come??!?” Haha

 

[Cantona256]

And for the record 94fpe is plenty! I’m operating with 65fpe at the moment and I’ll take them out to 100y… if you “woof” them they usually present you a frontal view and that upper chest area is a juicy target… side on I go right behind that front shoulder blade but not too low. I’m actually trying to clip vitals and or CNS… it’s rough country out here so tracking a wounded dog at night ain’t really what I’m looking for haha.

I know that there is a lot of debate about “is this enough power” and I find that a lot of people overestimate what is needed to overcompensate for not being patient enough for the “right” shot. That being the shot that you as the shooter feels most comfortable taking. Also more than 50y I don’t recommend a headshot unless you really got it like that…. I’ve seen a lot of coyotes and foxes matrix out a headshot at the last second. I suspect they can hear the slug as it gets close.