Guys, iot was a surprise to me. Am guessing it went between ribs. A lucky shot. Not quite like using the Evanix Blizzard for an eye shot at 40 yards 2 weeks ago. Helped a lot by being at rest on the log the beavers had felled and relatively close. If it had been much further away I would not have taken the shot.
As for the blackbirds, will get a ton of practice all spring and summer long. They are pests here. You did read the part where I missed a lot more than I hit, didn't you? Don't want you to think I am 'BobtheNailer' here... just that conditions were right for both coyotes. The skunk was more challenging as the fart was trying to hustle away and I got him.
In our area as we go around any skunk or raccoon we see in broad daylight has a good chance of being rabid. We shoot and leave them alone. These are later in the day approaching evening. Then and early morning are the time to find these jokers running around. Good healthy animals too near the chicken coop, grain bins and farm animals for comfort.
Yes, shooting coyotes with a good powder burner makes more sense. As I wrote, these were both in the sweet spot for the rifles. Now I will start looking at what will serve best for coyotes with the goal being 800-1000 yard shots. They are used to 200-300 yard shooters for the most part. Many will run when you see them, run and then stop and look back when out of range. Would be nice to practice and be good enough and have a rifle accurate enough(when all is going right) to hit one with a kill shot at 800-1000 yards. Me rested, braced and calm and the conditions right and taking one down at that range would be nice. We'll see. I may be shaky enough that it is only a pipe dream.
