I am pretty new here and I just gotta say I love it! It gets addictive reading all the new information from you guys so thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!
Anyway, I live in northern Utah and I come from a hunting background where I usually went hunting every year with my dad and brothers (sometimes I had the tag and sometimes I would just tag along when they drew out and I didn’t) so I’m pretty familiar with hunting but I have never hunted coyote. My little brother and I really want to get some coyote hunting in before he leaves on a mission and I go to grad school in the summer but we don’t really know where to start so I’m wondering if you guys have any tips to help us noobs get started. I don’t really know what specifics to ask but I’ll take any advice I can get! As for guns, I have an ar15 in 5.56 and my dad has a .270 bolt action, which one would you guys choose between those? Or any better options? Sorry for such a long post! Thanks in advance!
Well, for a little money you could get a new barrel with a 1 to 7 or 8 or 9 twist rate which would allow you to shoot the heavier .223 bullets, which are fine for coyotes. If your AR has a 1:9 then shoot the 60-69 grain stuff and it will hammer a coyote, you be good to 500 with that stuff. Nothing wrong with the 270, overkill for a coyote and more expensive for sure. Despite all the new things out there, a 223 with heavier rounds is still the most distance effective and cost effective varmint round. Hell, if it likes the military surplus 62 grain green tip go with that.
Good luck
The Hornady 55 grain ballistic tips work well and would shoot in a 1:12 twist rate which is what is found in a lot of traditional era .223 rifles.
Welcome Ben! Coyotes are pretty tough to hunt in Utah since there’s a bounty and lots of guys chasing them with thermals. Don’t get discouraged if your hunts don’t go like what you see on YouTube with 10 coyote days.
You said you’re in northern Utah. I saw tons of coyotes up in this area while hunting last year. Here is a gos coordinate 41.778458, -113.957625
A 223 works fine for coyotes but sometimes they’ll run off on you. 270 will certainly get them. Just pick an accurate gun. Under all that fur, it’s actually a pretty small target of vitals on a coyote.
I drive around until I see tons of tracks in an area and then walk about 300 yards from my truck left on the other side of a hill and call for 15-20 mins per spot. Make 10 stands and you’ll likely get 1 or 2 with some sightings.
I think there’s a weird rule that you have to check with the sheriff before night hunting. In Washington county I think you have to buy a special night hunting tag and log where you are going to be hunting at night on a website. I never did it