Saw a coyote stalking through the brush about 150 yards from the house watching the deer graze in the yard. I snuck the 22.250AI out the basement door and waited for an opening.

I got the shot and the coyote spun around but it looks like I hit it too far back. It took off and I tracked it down to the creek where I lost the trail in the water.

I went back and took a photo of the scene:


I traced the path of my bullet back toward the house and found this:

Nice, humane, analysis and detective work. We should emulate this.

I went out this afternoon (nice 34 degree F rain) and walked the creek that separates my property from my neighbors. I could not find any sign on my side of the creek. I texted my neighbor for permission to look on his side but he's on vacation in Hawaii and hasn't gotten back to me yet.

Stuff happens when one pulls the trigger.

Consider borrowing my High Country Frank. :-)

I went on the neighbor's place but I couldn't find it, even with the thermal scanner (in case it was still alive).

I did find out why the coyote was so close to the house though. It looks like it killed a yearling within 50 yards of my backyard.

Wifezilla is not happy.

A seriously wounded coyote does not last long. They usually die withing a few days because they cannot hunt or get to water. We all like to kill them cleanly, but even the ones that escape the scene are gonners.