Mr. Hall, please use a bolt gun with a magazine for follow up shots on the first animal hit, and hunt in such a way to expect multiples to come in on the same stand. When you hit one, blow a wounded pup call, expect one of their buddies to show up looking for his buddy.
Bullet choice is critical as some target bullets work and often there are better choices for killing animals effectively. If you hit a coyote behind the diaphragm, which happens often because they often do not stop, then you will need a follow up shot. You have to learn to shoot them on the walk, trot, and run, leade them like you would a dove. For this reason, you often hit them further back in the stomach or hips. These shots that are not perfect is where bullet choice or cartridge choice often pays off in spades. NEVER think of coyote hunting and perfect broadside shots, as you hit them all over the body...it's called hunting.
AR's feel like a klunky boat paddle to me in how they handle. AR10's are a boat anchor. Also, you never know from what direction a coyote may come in from. Often, you maybe forced to shoot on your "off" shoulder, don't be scared to do this. Swinging the gun with your strong arm is easy to do along with your point and shoot instinct.
22/250 AI(55g Sierra's, 55g Berger, and 60g Berger in a 12T) and 243 Win(60g Sierra, 80g Sierra bltiz bt) anchor coyotes hard at some yardage. NEVER think of coyote hunting and perfect broadside shots, as you hit them all over the body.
In a std 223 Rem bolt gun, the 55g Sierra blitz lead tip with a hot load of benchmark with a cci 450 is doing 3475 and massacres a coyote, 12-14T with short freebore. I killed a lot of coyotes in Az. with this load.
Try and not walk through where you are going to be hunting. Coyotes can smell your tracks from 10-15 feet away if you pumped gasoline in the same boots you walked out to your stand in. If you take two cans of sardines in oil, put them in a sock, now put that sock in a coffee can with a lid on it, you will have a fantastic attractant that will carry for hundreds of yards. Hang the sock out on a limb 4-5' off the ground. Check the law and make sure this is legal in your state.
We have killed a lot Doubles, lot of 4-7 on one stand, and once in Mexico, 4 of us killed 17 on one stand. So, a huge mistake is to think that your shot will scare them off, often they are so jacked up racing each other to the stand, never hearing the gun go off or confused in the direction of the gunshot.
Try to set up where you can see down wind, 2year old coyotes and up will often circle down wind trying to get a snoot full of what ever is making the calling sound or the predator that is in the process of eating that screaming prey. Coyotes are scared to death of each other, as they may encounter a coyote that is from another territory, and they do fight doing serious harm to each other.
Coyotes can spot the slightest movement, even if you are up in a tree. So, put reflective tape on your gun barrel, and if you are looking into the Sun, wear a face mask, even in a box stand. As you see a coyote, move your gun slowly and deliberately in the direction of the coyote. Don't shuffle your feet in the bottom of the box stand getting in the right position. Put carpet on the floor if you have to. The wrong chair in the box stand can wake up the dead trying to get it moved to where you can shoot. They can hear you unzip your coat at 200 yards.
Coyotes are some of the smartest animals you can ever hunt, assume nothing. Late July and early August will be your most productive months, kill everyone you see. When you shoot, start the stand all over again, cycle your rifle very quietly. If your ejected brass hits the plywood floor, it will sound like you are waking up the Dead.
If Bobcats are in season, kill them also. Bobcats take out a tremendous number of fawns every year. Coons will come to a call also, check your fish and game regulations.
There are very effective ways to kill the human scent if you are interested, we have used it for years with some really amazing results and experiences with game in the field.
Good luck!
