Coyote and my AR setup

[Grime]

I have yet to go Coyote hunting, but want to start. My question is...

My AR is currently equipped with an Aimpoint CompML3 2MOA, would that be enough or should I add the 3x magnifier? Or should I just grab a scope if I want to hunt?


Thanks.
Grime

[mcantar18c]

I mostly hunt coyotes with irons. Sometimes I'll bring a bolt gun with a 3x9 and an AR with a 4x32, but iron sights work just fine. Really its just a question of are you good enough without magnified optics.
IMO your Aimpoint will do just fine if you do your part.

[970TJ]

Depending the area, I call with both a 12 gauge and a 22.250. Probably half of the coyotes I shoot are with the shotgun because a)Fur damage. I don't like skinning coyotes that are blown in half, and there is less to sew up which normally=more money. and b)Distance. I can usually get them inside of 50yds, and a 12 guage knocks them flat at that range.
The rifle comes in handy when I can't them in close, or if I fawk up.

[Grime]

Wow, if they come close to 50 yards, thats plenty for a red dot. I had no idea you could get them that close. Is that pretty average when calling?

Thanks for the responses.
Grime

[rondog]

Skin 'em? Money? Are those mangy bastards worth something? I didn't know that. Figured they were like prairie dogs, blast 'em and let 'em rot. Let their carcasses attract their homies so you can blast them too.

[970TJ]

Wow, if they come close to 50 yards, thats plenty for a red dot. I had no idea you could get them that close. Is that pretty average when calling?

Thanks for the responses.
Grime

Yep. Most of them I call in are killed with a shotgun and inside of 50 yards. The closest one I've ever killed was shot on a dead charge in at under 10 yards, and went down right at 6 steps. Trust me, I didn't intend for him to get that close....it happened really fast......he popped up over a little rise where I didn't expect one to come from on a dead run and was looking over my head and didn't know exactly where I was. He was also the biggest I've ever killed and the only one to ever take a 12 guage head on and not go right down. Really pretty coyote...I had him rugged out and have him hanging in the living room.

Skin 'em? Money? Are those mangy bastards worth something? I didn't know that. Figured they were like prairie dogs, blast 'em and let 'em rot. Let their carcasses attract their homies so you can blast them too.

A guy can make pretty good money if you're set up for it and hunt ALOT. Fur and landowner bounties.

[Mtn.man]

Ever use a .22?

works pretty good if you are proficient and use the HPmags.

[970TJ]

I have killed a few with a .22 magnum, but I've lost just as many. I only want to carry two rifles at most, so I stick to a .22 centerfire and 12 guage.

[Grime]

I have killed a few with a .22 magnum, but I've lost just as many. I only want to carry two rifles at most, so I stick to a .22 centerfire and 12 guage.

What are you using in the 12 gauge for yotes?

I have a 18" Fixed Cylinder Choke barrel on my 870, I am assuming the spread would be to wide for coyote? Haven't tested the spread pattern on it yet, might need to do that first.

Extra barrel is relatively inexpensive, however.

How much damage on average does a .223 do to a coyote pelt?

[sscoyote]

I use my AR 223 AI mostly for coyotes, and don't worry much about fur damage. If there's fur damage i just sew them up. Doesn't take much really. But we shot 20 of them down here in SoCO this last season and 2 of them were good--the rest were manged out.

Just started using the new 53 gr. V-max a nd shot 1 with it last season...and that was one of the good ones actually. 125 yds. maybe on the point of the shoulder and didn't exit--3500 out of that bullet in my AR.

Most of my coyote hunting these days is spot and stalk and howling. I have had 3-9x's, 4-12's and 4-16's on that AR as ranges can sometimes stretch.