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Hunting & Fishing Let’s start a coyote thread.
- Thread starter Tugboater
- Start date
The veins in a cat's neck are towards the hide so using the loop of a catch pole that locks as you pull it shut will cut the blood flow to their brain very very quickly. It's a quick dispatch without blood or holes in the hide. Does make it trickier to release one though.
first double. Small dogs down there, max weight ~25lbs
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Mine I used a painter's pole and have an attachment that holds a veterinary syringe I use to inject the skunk to kill it. Usually less smell involved than if you shoot it. Especially since I hear people tell each other to shoot them in the head. That nervous shock causes a lot of the musk to be released. With the sleeper pole I walk slowly and talk to the skunk and let him smell the pole once they calm down I inject them and step back still talking calmly. The last one never picked his head up from a nap when I did it.
Thanks for the explanation. My dad traps raccoons at his place to protect the chickens, but gets an occasional skunk. He shoots them, and they stink like hell.
A pretty good sized male. Shot him head on in the chest, and the 150gr SST never exited (that's twice). Wished that I'd saved the pelt on this one, but I'm short on time to be messing with such things late at night.
If you must shoot them I recommend keeping it in the lungs. I've shot a few that way with a 17wsm while calling raccoons and they were done instantly with no stink but that's a small sample size. My dad has shot a few that way with his 17hmr inside of cage traps as it's hard to get the pole in the cage. He's had decent luck with it but not 100%Thanks for the explanation. My dad traps raccoons at his place to protect the chickens, but gets an occasional skunk. He shoots them, and they stink like hell.
.308 at close to 2,600. Range was about 100 yards, give or take 10.
I've found that penetration of the SST (150 in .308, 120 in 6.8, and 123 in 6.5G) is typically only 12-14" in flesh unless you hit heavy bone (then less) However the trauma from the ~ 2-8" mark is pretty fantastic. Bonus that they are 40 cents per bullet and not double that.
In my experience shooting skunks as well as dispatching those caught in traps, they more often than not will spray a little posthumously (there's a term, and I can't remember it at the moment). Doesn't matter if it is a .22 CB short or a .308.
The old local guys around here say to gut shoot them and let them run off to die. I think that is probably part old wives tale as the ones I've double lunged with a CB short sprayed a little as their last breath left. That and I have no desire to purposely hurt something and let it suffer. Plus it is a great way to end up with a dead skunk under your shop etc...
The old local guys around here say to gut shoot them and let them run off to die. I think that is probably part old wives tale as the ones I've double lunged with a CB short sprayed a little as their last breath left. That and I have no desire to purposely hurt something and let it suffer. Plus it is a great way to end up with a dead skunk under your shop etc...
Yeah I haven't had luck shooting them in the trap unless it's a cage trap. I've killed 4 this year with the sleeper pole and since they were caught in my #3 coyote traps they sprayed a little before I got there but they didn't spray from the pole. The only one where his body stunk was during a rain where we got 3 inches of rain and he sprayed in the puddle of my flooded trench set. That puddle was the same color as the musk. The injection acts fast but he became my long distance call lure for the week. Glad I have this pole figured out as I'm also now set up to collect the musk for sale.
I know dad uses a 22LR to shoot them, but I don't know where he's shooting them. I've never been there when he's had one trapped, and I've never bothered asking. He just let's them sit until the buzzards take care of them.
Out of curious, what are you using in the syringe to dispatch the skunks?
Ugh...I went and commented about shooting skunks in traps this morning.
And then promptly went out and found this...
I popped her in the head with a .22 CB and she didn't spray per se...but she did leak a bit out. I left her alone and went and messed with deer stuff for about 20 minutes while I waited for the air to clear off enough that I didn't come home smelling like her.
And then promptly went out and found this...
I popped her in the head with a .22 CB and she didn't spray per se...but she did leak a bit out. I left her alone and went and messed with deer stuff for about 20 minutes while I waited for the air to clear off enough that I didn't come home smelling like her.
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Yeah I've seen the dribble and I've seen a full spray with head shots lol.
Sometimes with the dribble it's not on the skunk and can still handle without much mess but the dirt holds it and remaking the set is where the stink comes from.
If need to clean it up on you I keep a bottle of peroxide, a box of baking soda and some dawn dish soap around and mix when needed. Also going to give a commercial item a try called Skouts honor.
Sometimes with the dribble it's not on the skunk and can still handle without much mess but the dirt holds it and remaking the set is where the stink comes from.
If need to clean it up on you I keep a bottle of peroxide, a box of baking soda and some dawn dish soap around and mix when needed. Also going to give a commercial item a try called Skouts honor.
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Yeah, I'm going to move that set next week. I'm taking this week off since we've got nothing but rain in the forecast. Last week I did my Indian Rain Dance by setting up twice.
.I might still sneak out and try to pop a coyote or two this week though. They are thick AF on the hillside behind me, but they aren't coming down across the creek onto my place. I hate trying to shoot them when the moonlight is bright anyway. Those boogers can see a lot better in the dark than many will give them credit for, like deer. Hogs...not so much, they are about like us.
I took one of my EcoFlow "generators" into my shooting shack. Plugged in the Halo XRF for pretty much unlimited power. I'm not calling or baiting them yet.
Dillo at 185 yards facing me. I could see his ears so I aimed just a smidge under them.
Small coyote at 140 yards just cruising through.
My dog was out about 100 yards and making noise with another armadillo. I was watching him and laughing at him when this one popped right into view at 25 yards. I had to wait a second to be sure my dog was not directly down range. Coyote was looking at the bird dog, too.
When my hunting buddy heard the shot, he came running to see what he needed to fetch. The armadillo was right at 100 yards.
Not a bad night for just sitting in the shooting shack (which is only 50 yards from the back door) and hanging out.
Dillo at 185 yards facing me. I could see his ears so I aimed just a smidge under them.
Small coyote at 140 yards just cruising through.
My dog was out about 100 yards and making noise with another armadillo. I was watching him and laughing at him when this one popped right into view at 25 yards. I had to wait a second to be sure my dog was not directly down range. Coyote was looking at the bird dog, too.
When my hunting buddy heard the shot, he came running to see what he needed to fetch. The armadillo was right at 100 yards.
Not a bad night for just sitting in the shooting shack (which is only 50 yards from the back door) and hanging out.
Cold , crunchy snow, wind and a full moon makes it tough to hunt coyote.
This dog came in from my six 20 yards away, bolted and thought it was safe to stop in the woods.
Had just enough time to swing the rifle around and hit record.
SJC
This dog came in from my six 20 yards away, bolted and thought it was safe to stop in the woods.
Had just enough time to swing the rifle around and hit record.
SJC
A couple more recently. I need to post the video (so all three dudes who want to watch can see), but the one (second in these photos) was smack in the middle of my cattle. I managed to pop her as she got to the edge of them, but there were still several cows about 150-200 yards further downrange. It's my cattle, so I'm a little more brazen with my shot selection... I figured that if I stuck it into the shoulder blades that I'd lose ~30% of the bullet and slow it way the hell down. The shot worked perfectly...but that won't keep the safety Sally's from commenting.
This one was close to 100 yards. I guess I only kept the exit photo. 150gr SST from a .308:
And here's the shoulder shot girl. Was probably only 70 yards for the shot. Entry and exit. I may have gone just under the scapula (my intended target), but it got the other one on the way out:
I don't let 'yotes that are comfortable snooping around in a herd go if I can get to them. I believe that they are much more comfortable getting up on brand new calves when that time comes.
This one was close to 100 yards. I guess I only kept the exit photo. 150gr SST from a .308:
And here's the shoulder shot girl. Was probably only 70 yards for the shot. Entry and exit. I may have gone just under the scapula (my intended target), but it got the other one on the way out:
I don't let 'yotes that are comfortable snooping around in a herd go if I can get to them. I believe that they are much more comfortable getting up on brand new calves when that time comes.
This one came through while I was sitting in a double stand with my son. He had his bow trying to get his 4th deer of the year with it. I took a shot at 455 yards with a 15 mph full value wind, huge dust cloud, couldn't tell if I was over or under. She ran right at us and then across at 250 and I didn't miss the second shot. Almost led her too much. 6.5 PRC and 147s at 2910 fps. Didn't do as much damage as I thought it would have. Shot her Friday night and didn't get pictures until Saturday morning. All the deer that were 300-600 yards didn't flinch at the shot.
Sometimes those bullets need a little more resistance to really do well, especially if you didn't connect with bone. Although so far, in my experience that has been less of the case with the ELD-M. I've had several BTHP just zip through (Scenar and Berger) coyotes if I didn't hit bone.
Plus, they are getting the cattle comfortable with their presence.
Got this one about midnight, still just sitting in my shooting shack...no calling, no baiting. I'll do those when this quits working. This one and 3 friends chased a small buck but got distracted by the previous carcasses.
250 yard shot with 53 gr VMAX out of an AR. No obvious entrance nor exit wound but they drop instantly.
I should have waited because they would probably have gotten closer and more in the open and I may have been able to take more than one.
My son shot one last year, same bullet, factory load, running quartering away, and it blew a softball sized hole. They have worked well on deer for me the last several years.
I've shot about 15 coyotes now with the 130 ELD-M out of a 6.5x47L. I have ZERO complaints so far about any of the lethality...BUT, the terminal results have not been 100% uniform or predictable. It would appear that you are in the same boat.
I still like what I'm seeing a lot more than my experiences with the SMK/Berger OTM/Lapua bullets. Others may have differing opinions...
Connecting with bone has a lot to do with it too.
The 75 ELDM out of a 22 Creedmoor is pretty rough on coyotes. From last weekend:
Got a few this weekend with some buddies, I think we got 12 total. We had a little mini coyote derby with some friendly wagers. Part of it is recovering them, which adds a little spice to the game since some come in from some pretty deep coulees. Thanks to @SkyScrapin for a new tool in the tool belt to find a few. Lots of them shot with 22GT's or 22 Creeds shooting the 62VTs. As of a few weeks ago I thought they held some type of magical power that instantly pancaked every coyote I shot. But alas, there is no perfect bullet and had a few runners this go around that were shot right in the wheelhouse. So far, my anecdotal unscientific analysis concluded that if they were 250 and under=Pancake. 250 and over=various degrees of running. All the same end result though.
Missed one twice in the same general area a couple days ago @ 350. It seems that the 87 grain vmax does NOT like to go through snow on the bed rail of the truck on the way to it's intended target. Twice!
(At least the truck body is <cough> still intact.)
This one was shot @ 375 with the 6 Creedmoor, MV just north of 3400 , 44.4 gr RL17. I better get another barrel ordered as the round count is getting up there.. I'm also shooting the 87 Vmax in a 6x47 Lapua , at a modest 3200 ish fps.
Only one coyote killed so far off my friends' dead bull, 318 yds 223AI 75 gr ELDM atop 25.1 gr H4895. It spun around a couple times and died about 10ft from the carcass. I'll probably be there in the am for a couple hours. Life and retirement are GOOD!
(At least the truck body is <cough> still intact.)
This one was shot @ 375 with the 6 Creedmoor, MV just north of 3400 , 44.4 gr RL17. I better get another barrel ordered as the round count is getting up there.. I'm also shooting the 87 Vmax in a 6x47 Lapua , at a modest 3200 ish fps.
Only one coyote killed so far off my friends' dead bull, 318 yds 223AI 75 gr ELDM atop 25.1 gr H4895. It spun around a couple times and died about 10ft from the carcass. I'll probably be there in the am for a couple hours. Life and retirement are GOOD!
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My most recent...with fresh snow and a lot of free time around the holidays there are sure to be a few more soon. Last year was a down year with only 35 dogs down, this year should be our best yet.
Edit: should add, my coyote rifle is a 16" suppressed home built AR shooting 77gr TMKs over 8208XBR/CCI450 primers. Daytime it wears a Leupold VX-R, at night a Pulsar thermal.
Edit: should add, my coyote rifle is a 16" suppressed home built AR shooting 77gr TMKs over 8208XBR/CCI450 primers. Daytime it wears a Leupold VX-R, at night a Pulsar thermal.
