Coyote Hunting

wch - you haven't indicated what part of the country you're in or what setting you're hunting in. In heavy woods, typically near small streams, there's plenty of food for the coyotes. We call them in close enough to use #1 & #4 buckshot out of a shorter-barrelled shotgun. Tight choke, pattern out to at least 50 yards to see how far you can effectively hit them. We typically hunt in areas after snow has fallen, usually requires snowshoes, sitting still for up to 45 minutes per set. Had a couple come up behind us last year - the sneaky bastards probably saw us move and with the deep snow, we never heard them.

Just bought the Primos 'Catnip' call and I hope it works as good as it sounds - 1st trip this year is in just 2 1/2 weeks! I also like the Hunters Specialties PC-1 & PC-3 calls.

I have also used a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .243 Win to take a dog in Montana. Had time to take out my antelope load and put in a Sierra 90gr FMJ handload - 185 paces down in a ravine. Remind me to shoot uphill and carry downhill..............
 
Yes

Shot placement is critical, but I have killed many different animals with a 22lr load. Inside of 100 yards you are capable of killing quickly.

I must state I trapped for many years, Fox, Coyotes,Beaver,Bobcats, Mt. Lions, domestic dogs turned loose all died with a 22 short in the ear with a Ruger Pistol Mark-I.

Out past 100 yards you are wasting lead.
 
Re: .22 and Coyotes

.22 LR can be effective on coyotes well beyond 100 yrds. I shot one at a verified 132 yrds with my Browning semi-auto. It had been preying on my chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese for about two weeks when my wife spotted it about 5:30 one morning. I got my .22 out of the safe, loaded it and went to investigate. The coyoted saw me and took off. Unfortunate for the coyoted it stopped at the fence at the far end of my pasture. Using a gate post for a rest I shot it - hit within 1/4" of the center of its forehead - dropped dead as a doorknob. My dad, who'd got up to watch, couldn't believe it. He insisted we get out the 100' tape and measure the distance - 396 ft. No bull - just fact.

A .22 can be deadly, not accurate, but deadly well beyond that.
 
Re: .22 and Coyotes

.22 LR can be effective on coyotes well beyond 100 yrds. I shot one at a verified 132 yrds with my Browning semi-auto. It had been preying on my chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese for about two weeks when my wife spotted it about 5:30 one morning. I got my .22 out of the safe, loaded it and went to investigate. The coyoted saw me and took off. Unfortunate for the coyoted it stopped at the fence at the far end of my pasture. Using a gate post for a rest I shot it - hit within 1/4" of the center of its forehead - dropped dead as a doorknob. My dad, who'd got up to watch, couldn't believe it. He insisted we get out the 100' tape and measure the distance - 396 ft. No bull - just fact.

A .22 can be deadly, not accurate, but deadly well beyond that.

ps I normally hunt coyotes with a Rem700 in 22-250 using either 45 gr UMC JHP or 55gr Ballistic Tips - both extremely accurate and lethal a llloooonnnnggg way out.
 
Let me clarify my last post,

The 22 LR would not be my first choice. But it would work if shot with good high velovity ammo, shot placement is everything.

.223 and 22-250 are the better suited weapons of choice. When I don't skin the hides I like my good old 30-06. Most shots are 100 yards or less if my partner does not cough or move.
 
The 22-250 and 220 Swift are pretty much king among coyote hunters where the geography offers longer shots. I still think of the .223 as the all around standard for varmints though, if only because of their sheer numbers.

I don't have one, but the 204 fan base is growing. I might like to try one of those some day - I came close to having a 204 last year if only because I found a case of ammo under a shelf, on the very day I couldn't find jack squat in a decent 223 round. :)

If the range isn't too far, I've heard of a few folks going as light as the 17HMR. I've been shooting crows with my 17HMR, but it seems to be awfully sensitive to wind drift, and on another occasion failed a clean kill on a feral cat when it seemed the range and shot placement shouldn't have been an issue. (Geez, an old feral tom is a tough little beast!) I'd stick to a center fire if a 17 was on my short list for a coyote rig.

At short ranges, fast action, where the hide doesn't matter - shotguns rule. Slightly more than a million years ago, I flushed a coyote while pheasant hunting on a sheep ranch. I can attest to the fact that at shortish ranges, a load of number 4s, 3" mag, will roll a coyote like it was built for the job. (My lab, however, would not retrieve it. ;))
 
My wife has a .243 for deer, and I been working up some smaller stuff for varmints, works great. My 30-06 for deer I worked up some 110-V Max's I was surprized on how well they worked. I had a Browning 22-250 varmint rifle with the laminated stock, boss system, and a Leupold 6.5x20x50 that was a tack driver. Wish I still had it, but had some heart problems and had to sell it. You dont need anything that cost that much, but like the prior post that .243 will work great, and also for deer. My wife does great with it for deer using a 100 grain Nosler Partition, I reload so that helps alot. Some think it is alittle light for deer but shot placement is key no matter what you have. Sometimes you need to leave them walk. But a .243 is a very good all around rifle, if keep in its limits.
 
depends on your location,where you are hunting them. what can you legally use,do you need a special permit, etc.

here in NJ we can use bow,m/l rifle or shotgun or modern shotgun. we have a special permit season as to where we can hunt them mon morn to sunday morn. overnight times is shotgun only. its complicated with the way f&w have it setup here.
 
You guys all have great advice on the subject.

One thought that crossed my mind is there are one or two bullets designed specifically for varmit hunting when minimal pelt damage is required. One is the Barnes "varmit grenade" and Hornady's v-max. They are designed for rapid expansion and to basically descenerate in the animal with no exit wound in many circumstances. They are available in the smaller diameter rounds such as the 22-250,.223,and maybe a few .243 rounds.
 
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