Bad things happen fast, and training pays

[13MWZ]

I was forced to draw my weapon today and use it in self defense. Not in a situation you would generally think of when talking about a concealed firearm, but none the less.

I've been down at our ranch all week hunting. It is close to the Mexico border and signs of "migrators" are common. I was doing some work on one of our feeders and as always I had my sidekick with me. Typically I open carry one of my full size firearms on the ranch but since I planned on going into town later I put on my concealment rig (XDm 9mm compact) after the morning hunt and carried out my work. While working on the feeder I heard something coming through the brush towards me. I was making noise so I knew whatever it was knew I was there. As I turned to see what/who it was a coyote (the animal kind, not the human trafficker kind) leaped from behind some small cedar trees and charged me! I had never seen a coyote charge a person, especially in broad day light. Before I knew what had happened the coyote flopped over about 15 yards in front of me and was bleeding. My first thought was that my Father-in-law was nearby and shot it. Then I realized I had my XDm in my hands and was standing in the modified weaver. I looked for brass on the ground to see if it was really me that fired, sure enough there laid 4 empty casings! I cautiously closed the distance between the coyote and I keeping my weapon trained on him. It wasn’t long before I could see 2 entrance wounds on his face (one just left of his nose and one just below his eye) and two in his neck.

I was amazed. My training from the military, police academy, and training I have conducted in my own time really worked! In the blink of an eye by the time I identified the thread I had already drawn my weapon (inside the waist band behind an un-tucked button down shirt and jacket) and fired 4 kill shots on a small/moving threat.

I have no idea why a coyote decided to charge me in the middle of the day, but it did, and I was ready. This is defiantly an experience I will carry with me as a reminder and motivation to continue training and never let my guard down....on duty and off.

Hopefully this experience will remind and motivate yall as well to continue training. When you get the plastic in your wallet, DO NOT think that is the end of it and you’r good to go. If you've been to any kind of training DO NOT think that is the end and you are an expert. Continue your training, even if it's just walking around your house when nobody else is there and drawing your weapon at make believe threats (unloaded of course).

This time it was a suicidal coyote, next time it might be the other kind of coyote.

[The Annoyed Man]

Suicide by rancher. What do you suppose would have made the animal charge like that? Could it have had rabies or something?

[threoh8]

Sick, mistaken ID (maybe the OP sounded like dinner of some sort), spooked by something else in the brush ...

In any case, problem solved.

[13MWZ]

He actually appeared to be very healthy, however I'm no doctor. Wild animals (and domestic for that matter) do some odd things, no telling what's going on in their little heads.

At this point I'm just glad that an animal acting as violent as this one will not be around myself, my family or my animals.

[mojo84]

I suspect it was rabid. Good thing you got it before it got you.

[SRH78]

Strange, that is definitely not normal behavior for a coyote. Anyways, 4 for 4 in the head and neck of a running coyote is very good shooting.

The only time I ever had to draw AND fire quickly was a big hog that broke out of a poorly built trap. I can't take credit for any feats of marksmanship though as she was at a distance of maybe a couple of yards. No aiming or even raising the gun, just clear the holster and fire. For anyone wondering about a jacketed bullet for big game, I was impressed with the performance of the Hornady XTP mag. It entered the left side of the jaw and exited just in front of the right hip. That big sow piled up and was DRT.

[i8godzilla]

I suspect it was rabid. Good thing you got it before it got you.

THIS

[Seabear]

Excellent! Isn't cool when you have good training, reinforced by good practice, and great awareness, and everything just falls into place.

You are correct about getting your card not being the end of it. Like I tell my students, it's just the beginning. Good job!

[thatguy]

Excellent! Isn't cool when you have good training, reinforced by good practice, and great awareness, and everything just falls into place.

You are correct about getting your card not being the end of it. Like I tell my students, it's just the beginning. Good job!

[AustinBoy]

you drew your weapon and used it and on the same day are posting about it!

Wait until the attorney that the coyote's family hires gets a hold of you!

"He was a good coyote. He was only coming over to say hi and see if you had a treat for him."

Seriously, great job.

[13MWZ]

you drew your weapon and used it and on the same day are posting about it!

Wait until the attorney that the coyote's family hires gets a hold of you!

"He was a good coyote. He was only coming over to say hi and see if you had a treat for him."

Seriously, great job.

That's awesome!

SRH78, Honestly I'm suprised I was that accurate, I dont even remember drawing let alone aiming. It all just happened so fast. I deffinatly have to give credit to my instructors. In the academy we spent a lot of time drilling in quick draw and firing in many stances and possitions. These drills are what prepared me for this encounter. It's a great feeling knowing I am capable of doing what I did. I'll have to try and duplicate the scenario next trip to the range to see if it was a fluke.

Unfortunatly I havent seen any keeper deer so far, 2 more days at the ranch. Hopefully I wont go home empty handed......but atleast I got to kill something besides time lol.

[Ed4032]

Hey is your name Rick Perry?

[puma guy]

Ed4032 beat me to it!
Have you ever considered running for governor? A coyote running toward a human being is definitely not normal behavior. Instinct tells a wild animal to beware and coyotes are one of the most wary. Rabies is the most obvious cause and a rabid animal can appear healthy. Guarding a kill or pups could be a possibility or maybe you look like Gov'nr Perry. My father was in India during WW2 where rabies was almost epidemic (he was bitten and had to take the preventive vaccine himself) --- any way he told me he toured a hospital and the staff would clap loudly to show how it stimulated convulsive behavior (he called it torturing the poor victims) so if you were making enough noise that could've been a stimulus. Have you contacted the gamewarden or health officials to get it tested? Good shooting on your part may have saved you from the dreaded preventative measures. There's not as bad as they used to be but definitely not fun. I found a racoon in one of our stands this year and no matter what I did to get it to run out it wouldn't. It didn't growl or get into a hostile posture. I finally had to shoot it with my CCW. There was fresh "guano" inside the stand indicating it was eating so it probably wasn't rabid, but it could have had distemper which will cause odd behavior in coons.

[CC Italian]

Believe it or not when ever I go back packing in state and national parks out west the park rangers all told me that the number one animal to worry about other then humans and snakes are foxes. Apparently people get attacked by rabid foxes all the time!

[speedsix]

Ed4032 beat me to it!
Have you ever considered running for governor? A coyote running toward a human being is definitely not normal behavior. Instinct tells a wild animal to beware and coyotes are one of the most wary. Rabies is the most obvious cause and a rabid animal can appear healthy. Guarding a kill or pups could be a possibility or maybe you look like Gov'nr Perry. My father was in India during WW2 where rabies was almost epidemic (he was bitten and had to take the preventive vaccine himself) --- any way he told me he toured a hospital and the staff would clap loudly to show how it stimulated convulsive behavior (he called it torturing the poor victims) so if you were making enough noise that could've been a stimulus. Have you contacted the gamewarden or health officials to get it tested? Good shooting on your part may have saved you from the dreaded preventative measures. There's not as bad as they used to be but definitely not fun. I found a racoon in one of our stands this year and no matter what I did to get it to run out it wouldn't. It didn't growl or get into a hostile posture. I finally had to shoot it with my CCW. There was fresh "guano" inside the stand indicating it was eating so it probably wasn't rabid, but it could have had distemper which will cause odd behavior in coons.

...rabies is likely the reason when a single smaller wild animal attacks us...

...your racoon might have been easier to evict if it weren't for the refrigerator, color TV, and Lazyboy...