Night Vision 45 Coyotes Down with the IR Hunter MKIII
- Thread starter skinney_7
- Start date
I use a BO 20 MOA rail with the Larue mount on the MKIII 60mm, working on a review of the rifles we use, but I can show pics if you want.
Most of the time it's 22-250's, but I have a nasty 223 bolt that we were running a lot in these video's.
"Anyone"... Are you referring to myself, or my team, or is this a broad question for anyone who uses Thermal and NV? I've said it once and I'll say it many more times I'm sure, but if you aren't confident in your skill set, in your ability, in your training, or your equipment, you should NEVER attempt shots like this or shots that you don't know you can make. IF you can not properly ID an animal with thermal or NV, for God sakes, don't try and shoot it, that's just stupidity at it's finest.
In this particular feedlot, my buddy, and neighbor had over 2000 fat cows that were all supposed to be open, but about 10% were bred and starting to calve in the feedlot, bringing opportunistic predators a little to close to his investments. Close shots over the cattle, absolutely... A random shot for anyone to make, absolutely not. Could we and did we do it comfortably and confidently? Yes as demonstrated in the video.
I was wondering if you guys had heard of or seen it happen. I would hope it didn’t happen to you.
I agree, we see a lot of things that could potentially be a target, but aren't. The more time behind these units the better you get, and I'm certainly still learning... A lot.
you saw a submissive coyote,
Outstanding footage. Sure wish it was that open in the swamp. I'm lucky to see one step out of the thick vegetation. 
As well as a dominant Alpha.
If you ever need help I would be there in heartbeat. That looks fun!
A lot of guys think we have tons of Coyotes, or an outrageous population, then guys try to butt into the area and wonder where they are, and why they don't have any success... Some of this footage is in -20 degree conditions, and there's lots of techniques 99% of guys don't use, whether it's because they can't, won't or don't know how.
Skinney, I'd love to see some pictures of your bolt gun setups with the MK3s. Thank you!
Yeah, we get this a lot in MD when we post piles of predators. Everyone and their brother wants to go along, or hunt the same areas.
However, they don't want to:
A) Invest in good thermal, precision rifles or good tripods(I thought the last guy I showed my RRS to was going to have a heart attack when I told him what it cost; he didn't ask about the rest of the set up, lol)
B) Spend significant time knocking on doors getting land access
C) PRACTICE
D) Take notes on what works and when. Maybe even recording their own sounds.
E) Freeze their balls off/having to power through work the next day
Yeah, we get this a lot in MD when we post piles of predators. Everyone and their brother wants to go along, or hunt the same areas.
However, they don't want to:
A) Invest in good thermal, precision rifles or good tripods(I thought the last guy I showed my RRS to was going to have a heart attack when I told him what it cost; he didn't ask about the rest of the set up, lol)
B) Spend significant time knocking on doors getting land access
C) PRACTICE
D) Take notes on what works and when. Maybe even recording their own sounds.
E) Freeze their balls off/having to power through work the next day
I'm surprised how a vast majority of the yotes you dropped with 22 cal bullets were D. R. T. Great shot placement. I assumed you were using 6.8SPC or larger.
Ive found that pushing fragmenting projectiles fast, combined with proper shot placement, is key to DRT coyotes. I dont like SPCs or Grendels for predators because many of their projectiles dont expand appropriately(like they would on a larger critter, like a pig), and have a pretty fast drop. For hunting predators at night with thermals, I threw everything but speed out the door. I realized that due to range estimation being more difficult with thermals(unless you know the property very well), as well as the coyotes and fox moving constantly at night, I want the longest MPBR I can get. Going from a 5.56, to a 22 Hellcat(22x47 Lapua) in my '15 made a significant difference in DRT, especially at distance. Even though the Hellcat is pushing a 40gr BT 4320fps, im still building either a 6CM or 243AI with a slow twist for these big eastern coyotes.
How much effort your willing to put put in is so true. If your willing to remain on station long enough, they will come.
I'll get some pics of some of our sets ups put up next week sometime.
I’m still trying to figure out which thermal scope to go with. I have a MK 12 SPR clone I put together with a 18” barrel with a NF ATACR 4-16x42 with a Armasight CO-X HD+ Clip-on NV. The rifle I’m going to use with thermal will either be a Remington 700 SS Milspec .223 with 20” barrel that will shoot 1/2” all day with bulk 55 grain soft points. But the rifle I think that would be better is a 6mm Creedmoor custom build with a 22” barrel in a XLR Chassis. I just got a new tripod with a ZRODelta DCLW Head.
Skinny, what’s the longest distance that you are shooting coyotes effectively? I’m looking to get a thermal scope that has enough optical zoom for killing yotes from 100-300 yards. Most of my shots are from 100 to 300 and longer. I have been on the fence about the Flir Thermosight Pro PTS736 because it has 6x optical zoom. I would love to have the Trijicon MK 3 60mm. But that’s in a price range all by itself!
Sent you a PM.
