Zombie coyotes

[rookieforever33]

I have had a couple coyotes down recently that suddenly came back to life. Onw was laying on its back not moving for 15 seconds, when I turned my attention away for a minute, poof, disappeared. One I popped this morning bucked, flopped, and layed flat as a pancake for 30 seconds then got up and ran off. Ive shot enough coyotes to know they are tough as nails, and seen them run 100 yard dragging their back end. But this playing possum stuff is new to me. Anyone else see them do this?

 

[Nine Banger]

We trapped 2 coyotes this year on the same night.

I trap on both sides of a dirt road at my place and my neighbors place. He caught one. I caught one.

He dispatched his and then set it aside to show me after work and when we went to look it was gone.

Found it in cover about 50 yards away.

He took it out of trap, moved it, handled it, sat on it for a while, etc. and thought it was stone cold dead at the time.

It was a teachable moment for him about full metal jacket bullets not being good for anything but holes in paper.

 

[rookieforever33]

I found my zombie from this morning. It didnt wander far and decided it liked desth better

 

[Calcoyote]

I have had a couple coyotes down recently that suddenly came back to life. Onw was laying on its back not moving for 15 seconds, when I turned my attention away for a minute, poof, disappeared. One I popped this morning bucked, flopped, and layed flat as a pancake for 30 seconds then got up and ran off. Ive shot enough coyotes to know they are tough as nails, and seen them run 100 yard dragging their back end. But this playing possum stuff is new to me. Anyone else see them do this?

What cartridge and projectile are you using?

 

[waspocrew]

I shot one ~ 50 yards with an 87 gr Vmax from my 6 CM last summer. Watched it go down at the shot and I turned to make sure nothing else had come in. When I scanned back to the downed coyote, he was running off! Never found him, but I'd imagine he died somewhere out in the hills nearby.

 

[Calcoyote]

I shot one ~ 50 yards with an 87 gr Vmax from my 6 CM last summer. Watched it go down at the shot and I turned to make sure nothing else had come in. When I scanned back to the downed coyote, he was running off! Never found him, but I'd imagine he died somewhere out in the hills nearby.

Coyote are of the canine genus and canines are tough. Any 24 caliber cartridge should be DRT (Dead Right There) but sometimes you get a rogue coyote that can soak up a ton of lead and keep on going. I saw one run once after being hit solidly with a Rem 7mm mag. I remember another one that got nailed with a 80g Nosler BT from a 25-06 at less that 50 yards and ran off. They can be tough.

 

[rookieforever33]

What cartridge and projectile are you using?

223. 55 gr varmageddon. Has performed well on others. Great exit wounds. I think I might have spined that one.

 

[Calcoyote]

223. 55 gr varmageddon. Has performed well on others. Great exit wounds. I think I might have spined that one.

I would think the 55g Vamageddon would have been very adequate for coyote. I just wanted to confirm that it was not some kind of non expanding projectile. Sometimes guys that are collecting hides will use FMJs to limit the size of the exit wound and terminal performance can be a little unpredictable. Coyotes can be tough. You probably just shot a rogue one that refused to die.

 

[squaretac]

The initial trauma of the impact causes them to lie still wondering what happened. Then their adrenaline kicks in and makes them take off. Definitely weird stuff, but I have seen it happen.

 

[rookieforever33]

I would think the 55g Vamageddon would have been very adequate for coyote. I just wanted to confirm that it was not some kind of non expanding projectile. Sometimes guys that are collecting hides will use FMJs to limit the size of the exit wound and terminal performance can be a little unpredictable. Coyotes can be tough. You probably just shot a rogue one that refused to die.

No worries about fur for me. Im very cautious when shooting hard projectiles as I have heard some good ricochet sounds. Especially when things are frozen I go for something frangible. I know with coyote breeding it's hard to control a population by hunting. Anymore I only shoot at them when I see them by the house. All the more reason for frangible bullets

 

[blackpowder72]

I shoot a lot of coyotes with thermal. 223 55gr v max. A lot of spinners and run offs that need another one. I'm switching to a 243 for this winter.

 

[Nine Banger]

I shoot a lot of coyotes with thermal. 223 55gr v max. A lot of spinners and run offs that need another one. I'm switching to a 243 for this winter.

Which bullet are you thinking? Same but 6mm?

I have some 6.5 CM varmageddons I want to try, the 6.5 CM Vmax has a poor BC but we brought it to WY for prarie dogs and it worked OK 40-200yrds.

 

[blackpowder72]

Which bullet are you thinking? Same but 6mm?

I have some 6.5 CM varmageddons I want to try, the 6.5 CM Vmax has a poor BC but we brought it to WY for prarie dogs and it worked OK 40-200yrds.

I'm thinking 58gr Vmax or 75gr Vmax.

 

[blackpowder72]

I've also had really good luck over the years with Winchester Silvertip might try those.

 

[4Truck]

I shoot a lot of coyotes with thermal. 223 55gr v max. A lot of spinners and run offs that need another one. I'm switching to a 243 for this winter.

Did the same myself last year. 22-250 to 243. Only runners with 75 vmax are less than ideal shots. I still run 22-250 during the day and love it, but glad I went 243 for thermal.

Also seen the zombie effect. Usually find them later on. Within 100 yards or so.

 

[blackpowder72]

Did the same myself last year. 22-250 to 243. Only runners with 75 vmax are less than ideal shots. I still run 22-250 during the day and love it, but glad I went 243 for thermal.

Also seen the zombie effect. Usually find them later on. Within 100 yards or so.

You try the 58gr yet in 243 yet ?

 

[4Truck]

I haven’t. Just the 75 and 87. Rifle likes them both. With 75’s I can hold the back line at 300-350 and still make solid hits through a Yoter.

 

[waspocrew]

I'm currently using my 6 ARC with 108 ELDMs (factory ammo shoots pretty well). So far, 3 coyotes killed with it and they haven't gone anywhere. Distance of 50-250 yards. It definitely feels a little anemic compared to my 6 CM. I'll probably go back to the 6 CM or 22 CM this winter with the thermal for a bit more velocity.