Coyotes and Valdez!
Have done too much varmint hunting ... like Burt Lancaster in "Tell Them Valdez is Coming" ... when asked when he hunted Apache he replied "Before I knew better!' What a great movie and a great actor!
But, loved the varmint hunting for years. Tried all types of calls, electronic, electronic with daughters stuffed rabbit tried on - what fun - and mouth calls. Rifles from 375 H&H (yes) to 220 Swift to 221FB. Found the high vel 22 CFs with Blitz/SX bullets were the best. The 22-250 was my fav but I have an old 222 I love. Even played with a early Rem XP-100 in 221 Fireball! These little fragile bullets at 3000+ resulted in DRT (dead right there). Usually not even an exit hole as all the energy was expended in the body. Often not a single step was taken. The heavier (even 243 and 6mm) but especially things like 257, 308, 358, 7mmm, 300m, 375 blew a nice hole all the way through and the 'dog' traveled a long way, often dragging guts or as cripples. :barf: So, I went the HiVel 22CFs exclusively ..... until my love for dogs finally got to me.
Longest shot 450 good paces. Shortest was bbl against the coyote's chest as he joined me in a bush .. yep it can get exciting. Longest run, over 600 paces with insides hanging out and catching on the stubble and brush
. Shortest ... many DRT. Best day - 16. Worst - many skunked! Or, maybe vice versa??
Got to the point I only used a voice call and only hunted in daylight (night hunting with light is legal here). Stewart reed call was my choice but I still have 20 or so of various types. Got rid of all the electronic crap. Still call, then shoot them with my camera. Can't hear worth a damn anymore so sometimes take my bird dog, hold her tight and watch her as she will hear and see the 'target' long before I do. I would not see some of 'em at all. Last coyote I killed was with a 20g O/U when I was bird hunting and the coyote attacked my dog. Held her by the collar while I shot him from a long distance of 2-3 feet. Got pics of my dog with her face stitched up. She was hunting two days later. In a similar situation it would be so long Wily again. .... but they are dogs, too. I have watched many coyote pups romp and play just like any other.
So, use that great 22-250, a humane calibre, and enjoy the heck out of it like I did!!
And, thanx for the new thread so I do write this!!!! Sometimes the search does not do it all.