I've never predator hunted but I am a avid hunter for big game. I'm currently building a bolt action 6x45 for varmint and predator. I've notice on some youtube videos that some of the predator hunters are carrying a shotgun for close range and long gun for longer ranges. Why not just use the long gun? Is it about pelt damage?
Why shotgun for close range?
- Thread starter gmww
- Start date
LARUEminati
New member
Way easier to hit them, you got 40+ projectiles vs one
TripleDeuce660
Active member
Because they are over scoped. Try hitting one at 10 yards with a 6-18 scope. If you use a 1-4 or 2-7 I see no need for a shotgun, but you might have to let one walk at 600 yards. I just have a shotgun because much of the area near me is shotgun only.
Dropadoglv
New member
Originally Posted By: gmwwWhat are you fellas using and what range before going to long rifle? Thanks ahead of time. I'm patterned at 50yds. Using an Escort semi magnum 28" barrel with a Carlson coy choke. Using Heavy Magnum 12ga. #4...3" shells. Also, has a lot to do with the terrain your hunting. Heavy brush, thickets and so on. Sometimes their on top of you quick! (And, +1 to the other replies).
derbyacresbob
Well-known member
It is much easier to hit a running coyote at less than 40 yards than it is to hit it with a rifle.
Shotguns are made for short range use.
Shotguns are made for short range use.
SlickerThanSnot
New member
"Why shotgun for close range?"
after you call coyotes for awhile and you get it all figured out pretty good and start having coyotes run in to you at 30mph, never stop, and run away at 40mph, you will no longer wonder "why shotgun for close range".
and i dont care what scope you have on a rifle. when a coyote is running full out at close range they are very hard to hit with a rifle. very, very hard.
after you call coyotes for awhile and you get it all figured out pretty good and start having coyotes run in to you at 30mph, never stop, and run away at 40mph, you will no longer wonder "why shotgun for close range".
and i dont care what scope you have on a rifle. when a coyote is running full out at close range they are very hard to hit with a rifle. very, very hard.
Quote: and i dont care what scope you have on a rifle. when a coyote is running full out at close range they are very hard to hit with a rifle. very, very hard.
Boy you got that right, Slick! Case in point.
Couple of years ago, I was set up beside a caliche road adjacent to an outer ranch fence which was heavily grown up w/underbrush. I was about 20 yards from my call/decoy when I heard running footsteps approaching fast over my left shoulder. Almost simultaneously, I catch a movement out of corner of left eye. Suddenly, a hard charging coyote materialized about 10' away, cutting diagonally toward the decoy against heavy brush line to the right. I fired first shot about 2' behind him as he exited the roadway, 2nd shot maybe 10" behind, third shot a hair behind (he hit a higher gear w/each shot) and the 4th shot ????? just as he entered the brush next to the decoy. Who'da thunk you could miss a coyote four times in such a short time span!!? Even with an AR!
As I sat there laughing at myself, the coyote reappeared. I swear he was at least 350-400 yards down the roadway, standing there looking back in my direction, as if to say what the **** was that before disappearing back across the fence into the pasture from whence he came.
Wish I had been using a shotgun, but at that range, might have missed him anyway.
Regards,
hm
Boy you got that right, Slick! Case in point.
Couple of years ago, I was set up beside a caliche road adjacent to an outer ranch fence which was heavily grown up w/underbrush. I was about 20 yards from my call/decoy when I heard running footsteps approaching fast over my left shoulder. Almost simultaneously, I catch a movement out of corner of left eye. Suddenly, a hard charging coyote materialized about 10' away, cutting diagonally toward the decoy against heavy brush line to the right. I fired first shot about 2' behind him as he exited the roadway, 2nd shot maybe 10" behind, third shot a hair behind (he hit a higher gear w/each shot) and the 4th shot ????? just as he entered the brush next to the decoy. Who'da thunk you could miss a coyote four times in such a short time span!!? Even with an AR!
As I sat there laughing at myself, the coyote reappeared. I swear he was at least 350-400 yards down the roadway, standing there looking back in my direction, as if to say what the **** was that before disappearing back across the fence into the pasture from whence he came.
Wish I had been using a shotgun, but at that range, might have missed him anyway.
Regards,
hm
Bail
New member
Originally Posted By: hm1996 Quote: and i dont care what scope you have on a rifle. when a coyote is running full out at close range they are very hard to hit with a rifle. very, very hard.
Boy you got that right, Slick! Case in point.
Couple of years ago, I was set up beside a caliche road adjacent to an outer ranch fence which was heavily grown up w/underbrush. I was about 20 yards from my call/decoy when I heard running footsteps approaching fast over my left shoulder. Almost simultaneously, I catch a movement out of corner of left eye. Suddenly, a hard charging coyote materialized about 10' away, cutting diagonally toward the decoy against heavy brush line to the right. I fired first shot about 2' behind him as he exited the roadway, 2nd shot maybe 10" behind, third shot a hair behind (he hit a higher gear w/each shot) and the 4th shot ????? just as he entered the brush next to the decoy. Who'da thunk you could miss a coyote four times in such a short time span!!? Even with an AR!
As I sat there laughing at myself, the coyote reappeared. I swear he was at least 350-400 yards down the roadway, standing there looking back in my direction, as if to say what the **** was that before disappearing back across the fence into the pasture from whence he came.
Wish I had been using a shotgun, but at that range, might have missed him anyway.
Regards,
hm
Had the same scenario happen to me, except the coyote might have been even closer. Chased the Mojo in a circle, twice, while I was trying to get him in the scope. My buddy and I still laugh about it. Same reason I also always carry a shotgun to every stand now
Boy you got that right, Slick! Case in point.
Couple of years ago, I was set up beside a caliche road adjacent to an outer ranch fence which was heavily grown up w/underbrush. I was about 20 yards from my call/decoy when I heard running footsteps approaching fast over my left shoulder. Almost simultaneously, I catch a movement out of corner of left eye. Suddenly, a hard charging coyote materialized about 10' away, cutting diagonally toward the decoy against heavy brush line to the right. I fired first shot about 2' behind him as he exited the roadway, 2nd shot maybe 10" behind, third shot a hair behind (he hit a higher gear w/each shot) and the 4th shot ????? just as he entered the brush next to the decoy. Who'da thunk you could miss a coyote four times in such a short time span!!? Even with an AR!
As I sat there laughing at myself, the coyote reappeared. I swear he was at least 350-400 yards down the roadway, standing there looking back in my direction, as if to say what the **** was that before disappearing back across the fence into the pasture from whence he came.
Wish I had been using a shotgun, but at that range, might have missed him anyway.
Regards,
hm
Had the same scenario happen to me, except the coyote might have been even closer. Chased the Mojo in a circle, twice, while I was trying to get him in the scope. My buddy and I still laugh about it. Same reason I also always carry a shotgun to every stand now
calling4life
New member
I bought a 44mag carbine and put a 1-6x24 on it for close range coyotes.
Used a 308 with a Sightron SIII 8-32x56 on it for a couple years, killed several coyotes on the move under 30yds, closest started at about 10 feet, I pulled the gun up and killed him before he made the sub 30 foot journey into standing corn.
But I've waterfowl hunted for 22yrs or so, so even given the excessive magnification of the 8-32 power scope, I knew how to swing a gun and acquire a target.
Still hoping to either go 500 nitro double rifle or 500s&w rifle build shooting 700gr t-rex stoppers for my final close range killer.
I'm too bored of shotguns to go that route
Used a 308 with a Sightron SIII 8-32x56 on it for a couple years, killed several coyotes on the move under 30yds, closest started at about 10 feet, I pulled the gun up and killed him before he made the sub 30 foot journey into standing corn.
But I've waterfowl hunted for 22yrs or so, so even given the excessive magnification of the 8-32 power scope, I knew how to swing a gun and acquire a target.
Still hoping to either go 500 nitro double rifle or 500s&w rifle build shooting 700gr t-rex stoppers for my final close range killer.
I'm too bored of shotguns to go that route
Originally Posted By: SlickerThanSnot
and i dont care what scope you have on a rifle. when a coyote is running full out at close range they are very hard to hit with a rifle. very, very hard.
I used to think close in running coyotes were pretty easy with a rifle. I really did. But not anymore. Not, at, all... So I'm trying to learn how to use a shotgun, these days.
So far, mostly been making stands with it I just never did try and make with a rifle, even back when I thought running coyotes seemed pretty big and slow and easy to hit. Getting in the thick brush where I can't see any further than shotgun range anyway.
But when hunting with my partner, we have made a few "rifle stands" with him on the rifle and me on the shotgun, setup the way my friend Cal told me likes to (which he said Les Johnson is who he got it from). Basically, just setup to try and get the shotgunner run over, sitting out in front of the caller. It's been enlightening. More coyotes carried back to the truck already and I've just barely even started to learn how to utilize the shotgun.
But, yeah, an old dog trying to learn a new trick. And having a lot of fun doing it. Put it this way, I've got a "new" shotgun penciled in to the budget for next year
.
- DAA
and i dont care what scope you have on a rifle. when a coyote is running full out at close range they are very hard to hit with a rifle. very, very hard.
I used to think close in running coyotes were pretty easy with a rifle. I really did. But not anymore. Not, at, all... So I'm trying to learn how to use a shotgun, these days.
So far, mostly been making stands with it I just never did try and make with a rifle, even back when I thought running coyotes seemed pretty big and slow and easy to hit. Getting in the thick brush where I can't see any further than shotgun range anyway.
But when hunting with my partner, we have made a few "rifle stands" with him on the rifle and me on the shotgun, setup the way my friend Cal told me likes to (which he said Les Johnson is who he got it from). Basically, just setup to try and get the shotgunner run over, sitting out in front of the caller. It's been enlightening. More coyotes carried back to the truck already and I've just barely even started to learn how to utilize the shotgun.
But, yeah, an old dog trying to learn a new trick. And having a lot of fun doing it. Put it this way, I've got a "new" shotgun penciled in to the budget for next year
- DAA
SlickerThanSnot
New member
Originally Posted By: DAA Basically, just setup to try and get the shotgunner run over, sitting out in front of the caller.
there it is.
there it is.
derbyacresbob
Well-known member
I like having the e-caller 10 to 20 yards in front of me when using a shotgun. I want to see the coyotes that come in from the side or from behind the e-caller.
For reasons like what just happened to me this morning. For some reason I decided to take the AR for my last stand, somewhat thick desert cover. 3 minutes into the stand I see 3-5 coyotes going from right to left about 100 yards out. I duck down low behind a bush and make a quick call. Soon as I look up again 4 are running right towards me fast, I go to the right of the bush, they go to the left and they gone! If I had my Benelli with me, Im certain I would have had a triple today.