What would you have done?

[Q_Sertorius]

I’ve been second guessing myself for the past two days about how a situation with a coyote played out.

I was walking the buried waterline checking for leaks because my dad complained of lower water pressure than normal. I carried my suppressed .223 RSS trainer. I went all the way up to the spring, just at the woodline on the farm. I found a potential leak and started back.

I had Lucy (my Bavarian mountain hound puppy) off leash. She was about 30 yards in front of me and to my left, doing puppy things. Connie the wondermutt was off doing wondermutt things about 200 yards to my left. I was going through a gate and about to close it when out of the corner of my eye I saw a very large coyote about 100 yards away and to my right. The wind was swirling, but generally blowing from left to right.

I unslung my rifle and chambered a round, but the coyote went behind a white thorn tree before I could sight in on it. I rested my rifle on a crook in the fencepost and was looking over my scope waiting for it to come past the tree. It didn’t. I looked through the scope at a very fuzzy gap in the tree branches and saw the coyote had gone down into a crouch, ears back, and appeared to be focused on the puppy, which was now about 40 yards in front of me and slightly to my left. The puppy was blissfully unaware of the coyote.

Based on my experience with coyotes in Twentynine Palms, where they caught and ate people’s pets fairly regularly, I thought there was a chance the coyote would attack the puppy. I didn’t want to try a shot while the coyote was doing that, so I decided to take my chances through the slight gap in the tree branches. I fired and saw the coyote jump, turn and run. I didn’t hear that satisfying “thump” I heard on deer this past year. I also didn’t find any blood. I am fairly sure the bullet deflected off a branch. The gap through which I tried to shoot is on the center left of the tree.

Had this been a deer, I would not have taken that shot. I would have either waited in place, or stalked along the fence to my right, using the fence line briars and the tree as concealment, and taken the shot if it was clear.

I am pissed at myself because this was the first coyote I have ever seen on the farm. They weren’t very common 25 years ago when I was living on the farm. Now, I hear them every night. The guys who work the farm routinely see them in daylight, but never carry rifles. And during deer season, my friend John passed on shooting “a very large coyote” about 200 yards from this spot because he “didn’t know I wanted him to shoot coyotes.” Based on the description and location, I think it’s a same one. I really want to kill some of them.

Was I right to be concerned that a large coyote (he probably looked bigger due to his winter coat, but he looked a lot bigger than the scrawny little ones I used to see in the desert) would attack my 25-pound puppy?

What would you have done differently in this situation?

 

[beerbucksducks]

I’ve killed quite a few coyotes while walking my dog off leash. I have had them get to cover and sit and watch the dogs before. After seeing that, you standing pretty close with a rifle and your older dog cruising around, I don’t think I would have been worried about the coyote going after the pup. With that said, coyotes around here get shot at all the time so they probably aren’t as bold. My lab ran one down and mowed him over once, before I could nick him on the collar.
I’m pretty good at rushing shots and missing coyotes, so my end result would have been the same as yours haha.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Chris in TN]

My stance on coyotes is that I always try the shot if it's safe. It usually works. I'll take shots (meaning unstable or in a hurry) I'd never consider on a deer. Sometimes I miss, but overall my record is pretty decent.

Hard to say exactly what I would have done. But like you, when I miss an animal, I second guess it later.

ETA: And your farm is gorgeous.

When we lived in east TN I used to go fish the New River in VA with a buddy and your photo reminds me of the hills near the river. I've kayaked when there was snow on the highest hills within sight of the river.

 

[justinspicher]

I’ve rushed a few shots on coyotes this year out checking cows. My shots had me standing out in the open shooting at a coyote on the run.

I don’t want to let a coyote make a decision. Not on a cow, calf, horse or a dog. If you’re on the property I’m going to shoot at you, some shots are more favorable than others, but even if I miss, it seems a statement to that critter.

This thought process has been a mixed blessing. Our coyotes run every time they hear or see us, no more trying to hide or scoot to a place to hang out. They flat out sprint as fast as they can move to get off the property.

It is what it is. If you could make every shot there’d be no reason to practice.

 

[WI in the west]

It seems coyotes behave very differently accross the country based on hunting pressure and human interactions. Here in eastern wisconsin i wouldnt of been worried at all but they get hunted with hounds and dudes with thermals very hard and its pretty densely populated compared to the west. Id of assumed it realised it was caught in the open some what and was just getting to
Cover to let you slip by thinking ypu didnt notice it maybe.
But if i was in your scenario and was at all worried about my dog based on you saying there have been attacks id of ripped one at it. Or even into the tree or ground just for the sake of spooking it at just eliminating the chance of a situation even happening.
If the priority was killing a coyote then i guess my rule Of thumb is take the first shot you think you can make cause they just have a knack for disappearing even in the open.

 

[North of 60]

Coyotes are like pigs to me...like Chris said, as long as the shot is safe, i'll take every safe shot i can at them.

If it is a miss, they learn they aren't welcome

 

[2muchhp]

Sounds about what I would do. Take the shot, hope for a second if it comes out in the clear. Puppy or not - shotem, it may not be after the pup this time, but what about the next

 

[WiscoHoundsman]

I would have likely shot unless I thought it would move and give me a better shot. Coyotes here (sw Wisconsin) are no problem to dogs anyways. I had one come in this fall in Colorado and it sat and watched me about 200 yards away for 5 minutes without moving more than a turn of its head. He could have been just seeing what all was going on with 2 dogs and a human around him.

 

[Cornhusker]

I would have shot. When I was a kid 60 years ago my dad and I were running our beagles on a rabbit when a coyote came in and killed my dad's champion beagle. FC Papio Creek Ticker we only had shotguns but we unloaded on that yote. We always shot coyotes when the opportunity arose as they were really hard on beagles that were trailing. We had several attacked through the years but only lost 1 and as always happens he was the best one.

 

[mtnbound]

I’ve been second guessing myself for the past two days about how a situation with a coyote played out.

I was walking the buried waterline checking for leaks because my dad complained of lower water pressure than normal. I carried my suppressed .223 RSS trainer. I went all the way up to the spring, just at the woodline on the farm. I found a potential leak and started back.

I had Lucy (my Bavarian mountain hound puppy) off leash. She was about 30 yards in front of me and to my left, doing puppy things. Connie the wondermutt was off doing wondermutt things about 200 yards to my left. I was going through a gate and about to close it when out of the corner of my eye I saw a very large coyote about 100 yards away and to my right. The wind was swirling, but generally blowing from left to right.

I unslung my rifle and chambered a round, but the coyote went behind a white thorn tree before I could sight in on it. I rested my rifle on a crook in the fencepost and was looking over my scope waiting for it to come past the tree. It didn’t. I looked through the scope at a very fuzzy gap in the tree branches and saw the coyote had gone down into a crouch, ears back, and appeared to be focused on the puppy, which was now about 40 yards in front of me and slightly to my left. The puppy was blissfully unaware of the coyote.

Based on my experience with coyotes in Twentynine Palms, where they caught and ate people’s pets fairly regularly, I thought there was a chance the coyote would attack the puppy. I didn’t want to try a shot while the coyote was doing that, so I decided to take my chances through the slight gap in the tree branches. I fired and saw the coyote jump, turn and run. I didn’t hear that satisfying “thump” I heard on deer this past year. I also didn’t find any blood. I am fairly sure the bullet deflected off a branch. The gap through which I tried to shoot is on the center left of the tree.

Had this been a deer, I would not have taken that shot. I would have either waited in place, or stalked along the fence to my right, using the fence line briars and the tree as concealment, and taken the shot if it was clear.

I am pissed at myself because this was the first coyote I have ever seen on the farm. They weren’t very common 25 years ago when I was living on the farm. Now, I hear them every night. The guys who work the farm routinely see them in daylight, but never carry rifles. And during deer season, my friend John passed on shooting “a very large coyote” about 200 yards from this spot because he “didn’t know I wanted him to shoot coyotes.” Based on the description and location, I think it’s a same one. I really want to kill some of them.

Was I right to be concerned that a large coyote (he probably looked bigger due to his winter coat, but he looked a lot bigger than the scrawny little ones I used to see in the desert) would attack my 25-pound puppy?

What would you have done differently in this situation?

Yep, I would have done the same. I had a young healer get killed by a yote. I have had three other dogs get into multiple fights with them when they have puppies as they get very aggressive. They serve a purpose but I will take a shot at a dog whenever I can so long as it’s safe. Anything attacking a member of the family gets engaged.

 

[waspocrew]

I'd have sent it as well. You might not have had another chance at it anyways.

 

[omicron1792]

I’m a little confused Q. What is the question?

Coyotes always catch some lead if possible. Is there anyone that lets them walk unless it will interrupt another hunt?

 

[waspocrew]

I’m a little confused Q. What is the question?

Coyotes always catch some lead if possible. Is there anyone that lets them walk unless it will interrupt another hunt?

I see them frequently enough that I don't really care to shoot a coyote during prime hunting hours if rifle deer or elk hunting. Mid day when nothing is going on - of course I'll shoot.

 

[Taudisio]

My only thought would be circling the bush in the same direction as your dog to see if you could get a clear shot (while keeping your pup in sight). I wasn’t there and don’t have previous knowledge of the brush layout, but that’s the only thing I could see doing different if I didn’t take the same shot you did. It sounds like you had a reasonable gap, and I probably would have taken the same shot you did.

 

[S-3 ranch]

I would have taken the shot unless it was hunting season ( we don’t pressure the game shooting) but if I am seeing coyotes in the day , the traps and snares are coming out, find where they use the fence to cross and set up a line of traps and snares

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I’m a little confused Q. What is the question?

Coyotes always catch some lead if possible. Is there anyone that lets them walk unless it will interrupt another hunt?

The question is whether I should have been more patient before shooting at it. Not whether or not to shoot at all. I am always going to try to kill coyotes.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I see them frequently enough that I don't really care to shoot a coyote during prime hunting hours if rifle deer or elk hunting. Mid day when nothing is going on - of course I'll shoot.

It’s not hunting season now (which is why the puppy was off leash and I was carrying my .223).

Edit - given the choice between a deer and a coyote, I would shoot the coyote twice.

 

[Matt5266]

you missed, it happens. Life goes on. Atleast scared the out of it. You'll probably get another Crack at him

 

[waspocrew]

It’s not hunting season now (which is why the puppy was off leash and I was carrying my .223).

Edit - given the choice between a deer and a coyote, I would shoot the coyote twice.

Oh I got that from your post - I should have quoted omicron above me. Was referring to his question about anyone letting a coyote go.

 

[omicron1792]

It’s not hunting season now (which is why the puppy was off leash and I was carrying my .223).

Edit - given the choice between a deer and a coyote, I would shoot the coyote twice.

I got you.

I think you did right. I don’t find yotes wait around long. If they sit or stand for a few seconds, that’s the time to shoot. He would have been gone IMO if you waited.