Coyote. I have a lot to learn...

So, this subject is just a coyote, but I would like to be able to shoot wildlife a little better.

My long lens (70-300 G) is a handful for me at 300mm. Hard to keep it sharp. I often wish for more reach, but if I can't even handle 300mm...

These shots are either handheld with VR on, or on a fence post with VR off. VR is set to normal, not active.

I need to shadow a good wildlife shooter some time.

No critique is too brutal, let's hear it.

Is this image sharp? Am I cropping way too much?

1. ISO 125 280mm f/5.6 1/400 heavily cropped. SOOC image below

2. sooc

3. ISO 125 220mm f/5.6 1/400 Cropped a similar amount

4. Here's one with no crop, still not pleasantly sharp. 220mm f/5.6 1/400

What's that they say about taking your head out of the viewfinder to notice things around you?

I noticed something in post, so I wrote myself a little note to remind me not to target fixate

Thank you for looking