Do coyotes attack..... yip, yip yip, they do.

[TPM]

The barrel can be no longer than 18 inches (I believe) from the chambered shell to the end of the barrel.

Actually it's measured from the bolt face to the muzzle with the action closed and the chamber empty. The barrel length must be just over 18" (most guys cut them to 18 1/2" to be safe) and the over-all length of the gun must be, I believe, 26" (?).
I have a friend who used to guide on horseback in the Rockies. They would carry a shotgun much like yours except they carried them in a scabboard on their backs muzzle down and the magazine loaded but none in the chamber. In the event of an emergency you are not likely to have time to get a shell out of your pocket and load it.

I even practice to see how fast I can get the gun off my back, bullet in magazine, and pump a round in the chamber.

With most pump guns you don't have to load it in the magazine first. Just open the action, drop the shell in the ejection port and close the action.

If you're going to rely on a pistol grip shotgun make sure you practice with it. They are brutal to control when firing. Make sure there is no gap between the grip and the web at the base of your thumb. Also make sure your fore-arm is in line with the shotgun. This will allow your arm to take some of the recoil.

[Kenton]

Last spring, i was planting a grass field while I was working for pheasants forever. In one field there were six different coyotes and one followed about 15 yards behind the tractor waiting for voles to come his way. I also saw a three legged rabbit which i figured should have been an easy meal. Anyway, a while later I noticed a large 'yote about 200 yards away. This thing was huge, I grabed my video camera that i carried with me and ran to get in front of it. It disappeared into a bushy fencerow so I went to the other side to wait. When I got through there was a 'yote pup heading back into the fencerow. I figured this could be awesome. I got close to where the pup disappeared and waited to get some video. Nothing happened for a short time so I whistled like a woodchuck to try and get some action. Boy, did I! The big 'yote came flying out of the bush teeth showing and growling. We were pretty much face to face but it left as fast as my heart was racing. I think once it realized what I was, it did not want any part of that fight. I was so focused on geting close, it never even dawned on me that it might get ugly, I won't make that mistake again.