Coyote#4 - failed

[max115]

Merry Christmas everyone.

Let me know what your initial thought is after watching this video.  Was this a case of a buck fever, lucky coyote or just bad shot behind the trigger moment?

I have been waiting over a year to shoot these coyotes and finally I got the green light from the owner last month.  I haven't been back at this location for over 6 months because the rat population has been drastically reduced after several months of constant shooting and due to the vegetation over growth in the area.  I have been collecting the rats that I shot and left them in the same area where the coyotes would frequent.  I set up my trail cam for two weeks and I have collected some useful footages of the coyotes activities.  Only recently that I purchased a Pard007S for my Impact MK2 and a game caller so I can use to assist me with the hunt.  I set up my camo tent inside an open barn facing the open area with my shooting table and chair.  I placed the trail cam 35 yards directly in line to my sight with the bait just 25 yards from me.  This set up enabled me to see the tiny red lights lit up when the coyotes came into the sensor zone. 

A perfect set up IMO.  But how did I still failed?

Not to make excuses but these were the factors that I felt was the issue:

1) a case of "buck fever"

2) cold and long hours of waiting inside the tent (6 hours)

3) too much adrenaline

4) lack of experience with night time coyote hunt

5) it wasn't her time to go (lucky)

6) or simply a bad shooter behind the trigger

Anyway, I hope you will enjoy watching this video and perhaps learn a few things about what to expect and how to plan for a night time coyote shoot.

Thank you.

[JimD]

Disappointing.  If you can hit rats you can hit a coyote.  Obviously.  So I think we can rule out the "bad shooter".  Movement by the coyote at the right time, maybe.  Buck fever, possible.  I will add another to your list to rule out.  I missed a squirrel recently because it was a little closer than I thought and my scope on my P35 is really high.  I thought the squirrel was 20 yards away where my gun would only be 1/4 inch low which I normally ignore.  But it was really 18 yards away where my gun is shooting almost half an inch low.  That by itself did not cause the miss but I think it contributed.  Do you know where your impact shoots at 25 yards?  Probably you do and it was not a factor but if you aren't sure I would check it.

I guess that is why it is "hunting" and not "shooting".  No guarantee of success, animal still has a chance.

[max115]

@JimD.  Thanks.  I did set the zero at 25 yards with my Impact so the POI should not be the reason.  Yes disappointing and I didn't sleep well for two days, lol.  I have been back with the baiting and trail cam and luckily the coyotes have been returning to continue feeding on the rat bait.  Weather has been terrible as of late, so I haven't been back to hunt other than shooting rats to feed them to keep them interested.  I was extremely lucky with my previous three coyotes shoot but they were daytime and all were stationary.  I am not giving up and with the knowledge I have now, my chances should be better next time around.  Thank you for watching and commenting.

[Nomadic Pirate]

Angle, .......bad angle when they are looking directly at you.
Timing, .....you want to shoot as they stop not as they have been still for a moment that is when they can move again at any second,.......track and the second they stop send that pellet, that is the only time they are truly still.

[max115]

@Nomadic Pirate.  thank you for the tip.  I will keep that in mind.

[Sqrl Klr]

I've seen coyote hunters often use a brief noise to make them freeze in place so they can tag em while they're frozen there trying to figure out what's going on. Lip squeaks, whoops, barks, growls, even saying HEY to get them to stop in place. Facing you is fine as I've guys take them out with head or heart shots dropping them in place once they freeze. You're a good enough shot that you could tag them on the run like a lot of coyote hunters do too.

Btw watch these guys videos if you haven't seen them. They often call coyotes within feet of them while spotlighting them with very bright white light. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQa5cwBGes6Kp0cGQOj2Brw/videos

[JungleShooter]

Max,

you are one of the very few guys on the forums/networks* who is open and honest about misses.

It takes a lot of courage to show that kind of humility. I applaud you.



I appreciate your self-critical reflection and analysis — you allow me to learn from your mistakes. Thank you!! 😊

Matthias



*Just today I watched a vid by another airgunner, who calls self-describes himself as "a professional airgunner" and as "a qualified FX air-smith" — I wish that had been a joke. But it wasn't.
Max, you're a reality check (how many times do we airgunner really miss?), and a humility check (how full are we of ourselves?). Thank you!

[max115]

@SqrlKlr.  You are right, I have watched coyote hunters using brief noise to draw their attention before taking the shot.  I am still learning but thank you for the advise.  I will do my best next time out.

@JungelShooter.  Thank you.  I like to share my experience as real as it happens, no sugar coating is needed.  I was expecting a lot of negative comments before posting this video, but to my surprise, it hasn't happened yet (but I know I will get a few eventually).  My purpose is to share information on what I learned, mistakes that can be avoided and of course getting positive or negative feedback from viewers.  That is one way to learn and to keep the conversation going with this fantastic hobby of ours with air gunning.  The weather has been brutal as of late, so I haven't been able to go out and try my luck.  Hopefully I will report back with a positive event soon.  Cheers. 

[mpbby]

For me, it seems as a very positive event.  To kill the prey is relative to the context. Not starving, not being a professional hunting or competition, I consider it as the 'whole thing'.  Very well equipped, you planned all well, executed well and recorded well. You covered the basis with calling and baiting.  You accomplished a lot of 'action', anxiety, adrenaline, .., main factors you were looking for.  Btw, there is a Brazilian saying .. a day for the prey, a day for the hunter.

Now, you have added some tips .. just to fine tuning a complement .. the trigger moment.
 
In other words, would you prefer to have an 'accidental' coyote while you were hunting the rats, in the first 30 s, facing you, perfectly still and with its head down, plenty of time to change the rifle, aim and kill?

My guess is you were not there only for the killing, your hunting profile is of someone that really enjoy the 'whole thing', with all the details.

Congratulations!

In time .. thank you very much for sharing, and in the way you did.

[max115]

@mpbby.  Thank you.  I learned a lot from my mistake and information gathered with the trail cam footages.  I don't consider myself a "hunter" as I don't hunt for food.  I am doing this strictly as a favour to the farmer(s) helping them eliminate the problem they face with livestock lost due to the coyotes attack sometimes.  As long as I am needed to help out at these permissions whether to deal with starlings, rats or coyotes, I will gladly be out there doing my part to shoot and play with my gears.
I would not want to accidentally ran into the coyotes as that would not turn out good for my behalf.  So, I think my approach and setup is ideal, at least to me, and safer.
Thank you for your comments and have a safe holiday.  I will continue to shoot and share my experience with my future videos.  Thanks.

[mpbby]

Well, focusing on 'results', if the coyotes have a similar behaviour next time, I would not leave the tent after hitting the first one.. A second good shot seems likely. 

[max115]

@mpbby.  Good point as they often travel together.  If I do get another opportunity next time and successful, I would make sure the coast is clear before venturing out.  I was only given the green light to tag one coyote at this location, preferably the male.  Will see what happens in the next outing when the weather is more bearable.  Thanks for watching.

[Sqrl Klr]

@SqrlKlr.  You are right, I have watched coyote hunters using brief noise to draw their attention before taking the shot.  I am still learning but thank you for the advise.  I will do my best next time out.

You'll continue to improve as time goes on but even those who are very experienced like those night crew guys still make mistakes so don't beat yourself up as it happens to us all. You'll get the coyote as they're creatures of habit doing the same pattern over and again. Once you get him figured out he'll be no match but the way I see it he was very lucky as it is but his luck will run out.

[max115]

@Sqrl Klr.  Thanks.  Yes the Night Crew guys are very good at what they do and they have lots of experience thats for sure. I just to be be patience with these coyotes and if I continue to leave the rats out for them to feed on, they will eventually make the mistake.  Will see what happens in the near future.  Thanks for the encouragement and suggestion.

[customcutter]

Excellent video and commentary.  Thanks for sharing.  I know it wasn't the outcome you wanted, but we learn more from our failures than our success's. 

I noticed that they seemed to stare more when they were at a distance from the bait.  Once they make the decision to go for the bait, it's quicker movements and then they are gone.

Also I know that you were frustrated by not being able to find the coyote in your 6X IR scope.  It's a big investment but thermal is 1000x better than IR.  No hiding unless they are behind an object.  You could see them at slightly further distance, when they are still away from the bait.  The other option would be a big bore and a heart/lung shot.

Also you might set up more game trail camera's with IR lights that would allow you to see a larger area and possibly take them before they get close to the bait.

Good luck.  I've killed a few coyotes on my In-laws farms.  Two had killed a calf before it was born, they had eaten the nose, lips, and tongue off while it was still being born.  I managed to kill both of them with my Custom 6.5 Swedish Mauser.

[max115]

@customcutter.  Thank you.  I definitely learned a few valuable lessons.  I thought I was well prepared for this night hunt but I was wrong as there were too many challenges to shoot in the dark.  Unlike my three successful daytime coyotes where I was able to take my time to aim and see them in broad daylight.  Not being able to see is a major disadvantage when it comes to hunting. 

Yes a thermal scope would be perfect but unfortunately it is not legal here.  I thought about converting my Impact to a .25 calibre but I have invested too much money on the .22 slugs in my possession and the thoughts of buying and zeroing discourage me.  I will stick with the .22 slugs for now and see what happens. 

Additional trail cameras would be very helpful as they would alert me and give me extra time to look for the prey especially stalking long hours in the tent and under cold temperature.  Thats why I haven't been back to stalk these coyotes lately.  I am just waiting for warmer temperature in the coming Spring to set up another try. 

Lots of people don't know the damage coyotes can do to the farm animals especially with the calves.  I have seem the aftermath of the dead calves and truly understand why farmers hate coyotes and want them gone at all cost.  I am trying to help them out whenever I can.  Cheers.

[customcutter]

What about a thermal monocular or are they illegal also?  I was afraid they would be outlawed nationally many years ago so I invested before that election cycle.

I don't think I can mount it on my AEA HP Carbine, but once I get my BT65 conversion finished I will mount it on it.  The raccoon and opossum tearing up my pool screens will not stand a chance.

Good luck, enjoy your video's.

[runner57us]

Sorry, I am new to the whole airgun and pest elimination endeavor so I really can't add anything to help.  However, I certainly found your post very instructional for me to watch and the verbal information was good for me to learn and understand all the work and effort you had put into this opportunity. Thank you for sharing this learning opportunity.

[max115]

@customcutter.  funny you should mentioned the thermal monocular.  We do have them in the Basspro shop here.  Might be something for me to invest into.  Sounds like the raccoons and possums are in trouble.

@runner57us.  Thank you for watching and I am glad you learned a few things along the way.  We all are beginners at one point.  Only thru trial and errors that we gained knowledge and experience.