Suggestions for calibre and platform

[MKP777]

I know it's $$$, but can you use a thermal site? Would let you get closer.

I tried using a thermal. I bought an ATN Thor. I sited it in as per their instructions. The problems started there. I had it mounted and sited it in this put the horizontal cross hair down near the bottom of the image. Like almost at the edge.
There was still enough there for me to try hunting with hit once. The next day, I contacted ATN and there was not much help at all. I ended up sending the scope back.
But thermal would have been great if it had worked.
Years and years ago I tried night vision. This is back in the 90's. I had to site it in with a lens cap on it that had a pin hole in there. I sited it in and the first time I used it at night the muzzle flash took out the scope.
So I haven't had a lot of luck with night vision or thermal.
Believe you me though, it would make a major diff for me.

 

[C-130 Dude]

I tried using a thermal. I bought an ATN Thor. I sited it in as per their instructions. The problems started there. I had it mounted and sited it in this put the horizontal cross hair down near the bottom of the image. Like almost at the edge.
There was still enough there for me to try hunting with hit once. The next day, I contacted ATN and there was not much help at all. I ended up sending the scope back.
But thermal would have been great if it had worked.
Years and years ago I tried night vision. This is back in the 90's. I had to site it in with a lens cap on it that had a pin hole in there. I sited it in and the first time I used it at night the muzzle flash took out the scope.
So I haven't had a lot of luck with night vision or thermal.
Believe you me though, it would make a major diff for me.

Yeah that's how sighting in thermals work. Same as using night vision goggles. After all, there really not for day use.

 

[MKP777]

Here's a thread you may find interesting. This guy is real knowledgeable. And instead of hunting one at a time. Take out the dens. It will have a bigger impact. He explains what to look for, etc. I have yet to read the whole thread for it's long. But you may find some helpful tips along the way.
https://www.longrangehunting.com/posts/1883214/bookmark

I followed their tracks with the snow on the ground trying hard to find their den. I wanted to find the den and eliminate them all there.
I went crazy following tracks in the snow. I'm no spring chicken but it is hard to hike up steep terrain in 2-3 feet of snow. Tracks cross tracks that cross tracks and eventually I am confused and winded.
I figured with the snow, I'd easily be able to find them. No.
The other day I was walking down my driveway and realized I felt I was being watched. Its very rural so neighbors are spread out pretty thin. I was about 100 yards down the driveway and I realize in the middle of a snow field about 400 yards out in front of me, there was a major sized coyote looking right at me. I stopped. I turned around and headed back to the house looking over my shoulder. A little dot in the snow then moved and it had been another crouching coyote that was much smaller, which joined the big one. They were headed east and I had been headed north. I was pretty sure I knew where they were headed.
I got back into the house, grabbed my AR. It has a 10 inch barrel and a 1-4 power scope. Rounds are 2600 fps out of the muzzle. So not great. It was what was handy.
I went out the back door and and headed east myself. Directly east out my back door it slopes down and then ends up a cliff that overlooks a canyon. I figured they were headed down a draw that puts them at the floor of that canyon. If they were headed down that draw I'd be concealed by terrain until hopefully I could get into a firing position.
I was almost to the part where it turns to cliff, I was very exposed there and noticed the coyotes were already down there. I was too late. They were standing still and looking around. I could have sat down in the snow and tried for a shot right there or moved just 10 more feet to this big rock that would provide a bench of sorts. I chose to bench. As soon as I moved another inch they made me.
They started running east at about half coyote speed. So I got to the rock and clicked it off safe, steadied as best I could while sort of winded from my walk in the deep snow. I took the shot. I missed.
But now they went to greyhound speed and were out of there. East and up the other side of the canyon like it was flat ground.
I drove down to where the road was closest to where I'd saw them down there and started hiking with the AR. I figured if they were afraid after getting shot at, maybe they'd go straight to their den.
I saw their tracks which were light over the packed snow. I could see they were bold at the front which is what they look like when they run.
Then I found the bullet strike in the snow, it wasn't that far from their tracks. Like about 6 inches left. I didn't feel as bad about my miss. I always feel like an idiot when I miss.
But right after the bullet strike the tracks change to barely perceptible. I followed them and followed them. According to my GPS, I hiked 1.6 miles through that snow and up terrain. I definitely got a workout for my heart for sure!
I was going up a snow field and then the tracks just disappeared into thin frikn air!
Exasperating.
Finding their den, would be very very satisfying.

 

[MKP777]

Yeah that's how sighting in thermals work. Same as using night vision goggles. After all, there really not for day use.

So the horizontal cross hair ends up way down at the edge of the image?

 

[M1A1ABRAMS]

I followed their tracks with the snow on the ground trying hard to find their den. I wanted to find the den and eliminate them all there.
I went crazy following tracks in the snow. I'm no spring chicken but it is hard to hike up steep terrain in 2-3 feet of snow. Tracks cross tracks that cross tracks and eventually I am confused and winded.
I figured with the snow, I'd easily be able to find them. No.
The other day I was walking down my driveway and realized I felt I was being watched. Its very rural so neighbors are spread out pretty thin. I was about 100 yards down the driveway and I realize in the middle of a snow field about 400 yards out in front of me, there was a major sized coyote looking right at me. I stopped. I turned around and headed back to the house looking over my shoulder. A little dot in the snow then moved and it had been another crouching coyote that was much smaller, which joined the big one. They were headed east and I had been headed north. I was pretty sure I knew where they were headed.
I got back into the house, grabbed my AR. It has a 10 inch barrel and a 1-4 power scope. Rounds are 2600 fps out of the muzzle. So not great. It was what was handy.
I went out the back door and and headed east myself. Directly east out my back door it slopes down and then ends up a cliff that overlooks a canyon. I figured they were headed down a draw that puts them at the floor of that canyon. If they were headed down that draw I'd be concealed by terrain until hopefully I could get into a firing position.
I was almost to the part where it turns to cliff, I was very exposed there and noticed the coyotes were already down there. I was too late. They were standing still and looking around. I could have sat down in the snow and tried for a shot right there or moved just 10 more feet to this big rock that would provide a bench of sorts. I chose to bench. As soon as I moved another inch they made me.
They started running east at about half coyote speed. So I got to the rock and clicked it off safe, steadied as best I could while sort of winded from my walk in the deep snow. I took the shot. I missed.
But now they went to greyhound speed and were out of there. East and up the other side of the canyon like it was flat ground.
I drove down to where the road was closest to where I'd saw them down there and started hiking with the AR. I figured if they were afraid after getting shot at, maybe they'd go straight to their den.
I saw their tracks which were light over the packed snow. I could see they were bold at the front which is what they look like when they run.
Then I found the bullet strike in the snow, it wasn't that far from their tracks. Like about 6 inches left. I didn't feel as bad about my miss. I always feel like an idiot when I miss.
But right after the bullet strike the tracks change to barely perceptible. I followed them and followed them. According to my GPS, I hiked 1.6 miles through that snow and up terrain. I definitely got a workout for my heart for sure!
I was going up a snow field and then the tracks just disappeared into thin frikn air!
Exasperating.
Finding their den, would be very very satisfying.

One thing for sure. The coyote will keep you in shape. lol I would guess it will take time to notice their dens. I doubt they will make it easy for ya. As I said the post had a lot of good info for sure. Just don't get to aggravated with yourself. You will learn.

 

[DSheetz]

Coyotes in my area don't have dens unless they have pups, the pups here only use the dens till early summer, they have a home range now and if they are heavy with pups, they soon will be looking for a den and cleaning out a few holes that are prospective dens for the pups to be born in. I have seen coyotes have pups as early as April 8th but the average is around is the end of April, I don't start denning here till April 25th. Soon they will be very territorial and start to defend their home range so they will respond well to some coyote vocalizations, there are some inexpensive e-calls that would have a few coyote vocalizations that are mostly howls with few barks involved as I find the barks to be warnings or threats to them. Locator or interrogation howls female in heat female calls that aren't a challenge at this time works well in a few weeks they will respond to get intruders to leave their area. Before long they will just tell you where they are if you can wait for them to talk on their own.

 

[JiggyIi]

I came out here to get away from the city life. I wanted to be near nature and I liked seeing all the wildlife. It is very rural. The sellers of the home left chickens behind. I didn't know a dang thing about raising chickens and told the realtor to get them out of here. No response, so I was stuck with them. I studied about it and found out they're pretty easy to raise. Also, they eat all the bugs in the yard. No pesticides needed. So we got more of them and raised them up from chicks. They follow us around, eat out of our hands and the eggs they produce are the best I ever had. Chickens are a lot smarter than they get credit for. I see them cooperatively hunt insects. They know to stay away from rattlesnakes. The first time I saw a coyote running off with a chicken in its jaws a certain sort of deep anger moved through me. I could see the chicken still looking at me. I felt like an utter failure. I started using a shotgun and that worked once. After that they came in more stealthy. Daylight attacks and often several coyotes at once. When I got out of the Army I promised myself, no more camo ever. But then there I was, with camo on, laying in the weeds waiting. Some days I've waited for hours. I have experimented with a coyote call from Foxpro. The rifle I have is a 26" barrel, 223 Remington 700 PSS. Pretty accurate but only for about 300 to 500.
I once sat in the weeds leaned against a small tree with camo netting over me. I had local grass tied in with it and built a gillie suit sort of, for my head. I waited for hours. I switched the call to rabbit distress and waited for a while. I saw something move out the corner of my eye. 10 feet to my left was a coyote watching my decoy move. I went for my pistol quiet as I could. I got the pistol leveled onto the coyote but with a very very awkward hold across my body and when I moved the safety off, it looked to its right and saw me. I fired. It went down and then got up and ran like a greyhound.
Coyotes never made that mistake again. They now stay out further. I see their tracks in the snow visiting the coop at night but they aint' got into it yet. They will never stop. I've tried security lights, barbed wire, motion sensors. Diplomacy has failed. I still love nature and all the wildlife. Just not coyotes and rats. Rats have been an issue too. But that is a short range, night time hunting issue.
I like the info I've gotten here but the words about barrel wear and ammo availability are big factors for me. I think the Creedmore might be more economical for me. When I have a rifle, I fire quite a bit. Its all about trigger time.
My neck has an injury and I can't shoot prone anymore. So I have to somehow do it seated. I've sat out there sometimes so long, I've seen a rattlesnake crawl right by me. I've had a hawk come down and land next to me until it finally noticed me and was outta there.
Shooting from a seated position is an issue. I'm more visible that way but mostly its my hold. Its not nearly as steady as prone shooting. From prone I was rock solid. This is a permanent injury and won't go away.
So it is me that must adjust. I just haven't found a way to have a good solid hold when not shooting prone.
Thanks again to all that has helped me with this advice. I sure appreciate it.

How about trapping them by the coop??

 

[C-130 Dude]

So the horizontal cross hair ends up way down at the edge of the image?

Have you tried to test your sighting at night? You really need to. It's the only way to be sure your on target. I don't use thermals any more. Too rich for my blood. Experience and proficiency will come with use. Post a help msg on this site. I'm sure there are folks that use this type sighting system.

 

[Hugnot]

Fear the coyote.

Taylor Mitchell - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A tragic sad loss. They lose fear of humans if not controlled.

 

[M1A1ABRAMS]

Coyotes in my area don't have dens unless they have pups, the pups here only use the dens till early summer, they have a home range now and if they are heavy with pups, they soon will be looking for a den and cleaning out a few holes that are prospective dens for the pups to be born in. I have seen coyotes have pups as early as April 8th but the average is around is the end of April, I don't start denning here till April 25th. Soon they will be very territorial and start to defend their home range so they will respond well to some coyote vocalizations, there are some inexpensive e-calls that would have a few coyote vocalizations that are mostly howls with few barks involved as I find the barks to be warnings or threats to them. Locator or interrogation howls female in heat female calls that aren't a challenge at this time works well in a few weeks they will respond to get intruders to leave their area. Before long they will just tell you where they are if you can wait for them to talk on their own.

I was hoping you would chime in.

 

[DSheetz]

To target specific coyotes in any manor is a challenge setting traps isn't learned over night and when done correctly for coyotes is a complex art form that took me a few years to get to where I could fool a specific coyote and consistently catch it. Snares took a little less time for me to get the hang of getting a specific coyote with, but human scent is still a problem they also take preparation to get them ready to use. Calling also is an art to master and not learned quickly to be consistent at getting specific coyotes. No matter how you decide to target a specific animal it is a challenge and mistakes will be made by all of us at times in doing that and why we find it so interesting as well as rewarding to do it. A small party for myself after each successful targeted animal is collected, a smile a cup of coffee and saying thank you for allowing me to harvest that animal then on to the next challenge, some animals are taken in a day or two while some take a month or two, a few still take a couple of years it all depends on how cautious they are or become study them and their ways enjoy what you are doing don't beat yourself up when you make a mistake learn from it ,they do , endeavor to persevere , they don't live forever but there will always be a replacement for the ones that you kill , when you create a vacuum someone will flow in to fill it the time of the year dictates how fast that will happen .

 

[MKP777]

So those two I saw might be a breeding pair? And soon they will have pups? I found a couple of bushes that had major amounts of tracks to and from. Like a dang high way. But no den, no burrow or hole dug.
If they are fixn to have pups, what call would they respond to now for location?

 

[MKP777]

How about trapping them by the coop??

I can't really use traps. I would likely end up just trapping pets or animals I didn't want to trap.

 

[MKP777]

Well whatever you get, get an ARCA rail for it and a tripod. You could always end up with a chassis based rifle that has an ARCA rail built in.

I saw that ARCA rail. That is really cool. I like how you can slide a bipod quickly up and down it. That would have to be a must. Also noticed the Sig's and the Ruger's have that folder stock. When I saw a video of how handy that is when cleaning I was impressed. I want at least a 24" barrel though. And a lot of the Sig's come with 18" barrels.