Missing

When I first started I had several misses. But I seemed to follow up nicely with the second shot.
Misses bother me, but not nearly as bad as recording misses and looking at the video and think “what the heck were you doing?!?!?” I do know I get impatient when they’re coming in and rush the shot and getting better at my timing of the trigger pull.
 
I’ve found I’m definitely more accurate shooting daytime coyotes than nighttime. Last year I didn’t miss any during the daytime but also only averaged probably 50% at night. It was my first year night hunting but still missed easy shots. No range finder on my thermal which I plan to change on the next one. Not that I ever shoot far enough to need to hold over, but after I shoot I really have no idea how far they are.
 
Ryanjac23 said:
I’ve found I’m definitely more accurate shooting daytime coyotes than nighttime. Last year I didn’t miss any during the daytime but also only averaged probably 50% at night. It was my first year night hunting but still missed easy shots. No range finder on my thermal which I plan to change on the next one. Not that I ever shoot far enough to need to hold over, but after I shoot I really have no idea how far they are.
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Definitely something to this ^^^

When I shot day optics using red lights I rarely missed. Switched to NV and it wasn’t a terrible transition, but I think I dropped a notch. Thermal transition was rough and I believe that’s when I really got into my own head. I had to do a hard reset. Clear out the
jetsam to save the sinking ship, so to speak. Lol…
 
I consider myself an average rifle shot. I have been hunting coyotes since 2006. So, I have had my misses.

I CAN REMEMBER JUST ABOUT EVERY SINGLE MISS AND THEY STILL HAUNT ME A DECADE+ LATER.

Does anyone else experience this? I can still see in my mind two coyotes coming in from 800 yards out and then me missing on a particular hunt in 2009.
 
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There are a lot of bullet eaters out there that don't show up on thermal like they do during the day. How many times do you wait on a coyote to clear a little brush or weeds before you take the shot during the day and don't even think about it? Some of that stuff just doesn't show up on thermal. There you go, another built in excuse.;)
Seems like I have to hold a little longer with thermal than I'm used to during the day. I also have a tendency to shoot center mass at night, which I have to fight off once in awhile.
I shoot somewhere North of 90%. Missing really ticks me off.
 
Spurchaser said:
When I first started I had several misses. But I seemed to follow up nicely with the second shot.
Misses bother me, but not nearly as bad as recording misses and looking at the video and think “what the heck were you doing?!?!?” I do know I get impatient when they’re coming in and rush the shot and getting better at my timing of the trigger pull.
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Yep, recording can be very humbling-also taught me to be more patient (most times, anyhow ;) ).
 
dave3006 said:
I consider myself an average rifle shot. I have been hunting coyotes since 2006. So, I have had my misses.

I CAN REMEMBER JUST ABOUT EVERY SINGLE MISS AND THEY STILL HAUNT ME A DECADE+ LATER.

Does anyone else experience this? I can still see in my mind two coyotes coming in from 800 yards out and then me missing on a particular hunt in 2009.
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I have many misses that still bother me. Every time I hunt a stand or area I've missed a coyote, I replay those misses in my head.

Shotgun misses are the worst. Normally I'll get them with the 2nd shot with my shotgun, if I miss the first shot. Unfortunately, I've had more than one coyote that I've had at less than 30 yards get away after I've failed to stop them with a shotgun.

About 15 years ago I became really upset with myself for missing shots at mule deer. I practiced my shooting a lot more and have killed every deer and elk I've shot at with my rifle or muzzleloader in the last 15 years. Missing a shot is a terrible feeling when you put so much effort into a hunt. Frequent coyote hunting has made me a much better shot on deer.
 
Ryanjac23 said:
On average, what do you feel your miss ratio is on coyotes? Obviously a million variables but on 10 coyotes you shoot at, how many do you kill?

Went out yesterday for the first real set of stands for the year. Made 5 stands, called in coyotes on 2 of them and clean missed them both. 100 yard-ish shots, picture perfect and I just missed…checked today and the gun is dead on.

Just curious as to what you guys see. Looking back at past years I’m roughly 65%-70% on shots taken.
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Well, you will never hit them if you don't shoot at them. LoL

With that said... I guess I get it from years of bow hunting, I try to take the high precentage shots. Example, I rarely shoot at a running coyote. I will only take a frontal shot if I think it's the only shot I am going to get. So, in all honesty, I don't miss very often. The female that I did miss the other night, I'm still scratching my head on that one. I'm thinking putting my right hand on the rifle instead of the tripod and rushing the shot had something to do with it. Another thing is that I try to get the coyotes as close as possible. The longest shot I've ever take on a coyote is only 200 yards. I've had people hunt with me or watch my videos and say "man, you are trying to get them too close". I'm like, "but there's no such thing".
 
man I hate missing it's the cardinal sin for me, I average 90%+. However when things go South they go all the frigging way. Put a new drop in trigger in the lower of this new 20"upper I put on, running 40gr pills about 3500. Went about behind the house the other night, called one in, he stopped, CLICK, pulled the bolt back, CLICK, 5 times CLICK. 5 brand new rounds laying on the ground with a light hammer strike.
Ran in the house, put the old trigger group back in and back out to the stand. About an hour later here come's another, rushed the shot, and missed.
Back to the house shaking my head, warm up, call it a night... we have those days!!
 
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