Shoots100

One major thing with predator hunting, is getting set up before you start calling. Getting set up in daylight is a breeze compared to nighttime and rushing at night makes it almost impossible and is super frustrating, especially when you miss. Situations like what you had is why I hunt alone 90% of the time. Rushing and trying to get the kill recorded has taught some dogs and me a lesson. Buy extra batteries for your NV gear and turn them on before you head out into the field, especially when it's colder outside. I put my XQ50 on standby, so it's ready to go with a push of a button. I have shuttered eye guards on everything else to minimize light exposure. Get a QD rear monopod for your rifle and that'll steady your shot's on the tripod. You might think your steady, but the recorded media doesn't lie. Nice work otherwise and it'll only get better with more time in the field to hone your skills. SJC

Sorry about the late reply. I built it on a left hand savage axis action using a 24" Criterion barrel and precision Lug + Nut from NSS. I built a 20 vartarg for a friend and while super accurate, getting 221 brass to form at the time was expensive. It was a super accurate round though and I caught the 20 bug. Since I had a plentiful amount of 223 brass, the 20 Practical was the choice for me. It was also the cheapest build I could afford at the time and it's super accurate. I didn't get to go out into the woods because of other obligations lately, but the next couple of weeks I'll be spending some time at local spots with the 9mm pcp rifle. SJC

I built a 20 practical (39 grn JHP going 4,200 fps) so I could hunt varmints during deer hunting season, but never saw a dog the two times I went out. Now that deer season is over, I'm hoping to get some action this weekend with the neutered big bore AR. SJC

If you can, You need to set up some pop up blinds and bait stations in the spot's you hunt. We scout the roads for road kill and any scraps of meat we can. Hit the butcher shops and supermarkets for scraps, worse they can say is no. SJC

I wish you weren't so far away, as we could do some hunting with thermal's. Of course, Once you hunt with a thermal and see what your missing, you'd sell body parts to get one. The pain isn't that bad and who needs two kidneys. I live in the lower Hudson valley and don't get many shots past 100 yards. I look forward to reading about a successful hunt while your out with your son, as I know most of the youth would rather be staring at their phone instead of being in the woods at night chasing coyote with their father. Good Job, SJC