Caliber and charge for coyotes

[TheDegenerateBarber]

What is your favorite caliber and powder change for coyote hunting? While we’re at it, what’s your go to dog gun?

 

[Howie1968]

for the most part I use one of my .54s with my hog hunting load. I have foxpros so I call them in close, however I do have a hawken with a .54 roundball barrel green mountain that I use a .525 ball and .018 patch 100 grains Olde eyenesford 2F that I set up for longer shots

They are thin skinned and not hard to kill id say ideally a .45 prb or a conical would do great on them

 

[Grimord]

Because I live in CT and do most of my hunting on State land I am limited to .36 caliber or less with patched round ball only. I have taken several called in coyotes with the .36 using 35 grains of 3f for about 1900 fps out of my 39" barreled Penebaker rifle (dated 1842). I limit my shots to 50 yards or less, and so far have dropped every coyote I have shot at with 20' of where they were standing. Of course, during our deer season, I can shoot a coyote with my deer rifle (.58 caliber JBM rifle) if I have the opportunity, but I usually pass on them cause I don't want to take a chance of spooking a nice deer.

 

[TheDegenerateBarber]

I’ve been taking a 54 out, but am considering taking my 32 out tomorrow morning. My buddy is using a 45 and that seemed like a better direction to go than with a 50 or 54. Less damage to the hide was my only reasoning for wanting to try a smaller caliber out. Thanks for the feedback fellas!

 

[Bad Karma]

.45 Seneca with 50 grains of 3f under a .445 round ball. I use this rifle for the timber hunting. In open terrain I’ll use an M4...

 

[Tom Compton]

Coy dogs are little critters. I’ve killed ‘em w .22 Hornet. If I were specifically hunting the yodel mutt, I’d pick up a .40 stuffed w PRB pushed by 75 gr FFg (my100 yard load). Or a .36 w 65 gr FFg.

 

[Patrick Thomas]

Call em in close and you use a smoothbore.

 

[BrownBear]

Call em in close and you use a smoothbore.

That would sure be the most fun for me. In my long history of ventilating coyotes, probably 2/3 have been dropped with a modern shotgun launching #4 buck. DRT with very few pellets needed to finish the deed. 'Twas me putting together a rifle for the job, it would be a nice fast flat shooting 36 or 40, and I'd never look back. Seen too many drop with those .240" #4 buck to have the least doubt what a .350" or .390" ball through the lungs would do.

 

[Grimord]

I have to disagree with you Tom (Compton). Here in New England the yotes get to be pretty good size. I shot one last year that weighed 53#, and I have seen others that I am sure were even bigger. They are pretty tough critters, so it takes a good hit with a decent sized ball to drop them in their tracks. I won't shoot unless I have a good shot at the head or a broadside chest shot. Most of my shots are on called in coyotes at a maximum of 45-50 yards. My .36 seems to do the job quite nicely, and the hole in the pelt is easy to sew up. I did take a running shot at a yote two years ago that got the drop on me when I went to bring it my caller. The yote was running directy away from me, and i threw up the gun, aimed for the tail and let loose. The yote piled up against a tree about 40 yards out. Turns out I was alittle high with my shot. I hit the dog at the back of the head and the ball exited his mouth. A very clean kill, but sheer luck on my part, and I would not try it again.

 

[FishDFly]

Seems you and Tom agree, you with a .36 and him with a .40, not much difference.

Coyotes in Texas are smaller, 35 to 45 pounds.

In East Texas they are hunted more in the woods and in West Texas, it is more open and longer shots. I carry a mouth blown call when deer/hog hunting, thus most are shot with a .50 or. 54., since they are a target of when it happens along.

It does not take much to put a coyote down, think I would prefer a .45 since I like my .45. I would not feel under gunned with a .36 or .40 though.

In all honesty there is not market for hides and thus they are left where
they fall. I have 2 mounted and need no more.

 

[TheDegenerateBarber]

.45 Seneca with 50 grains of 3f under a .445 round ball. I use this rifle for the timber hunting. In open terrain I’ll use an M4...

Call em in close and you use a smoothbore.

A smooth bore trade gun is something I want to add to the collection next. I’ve been using an M4 or similar caliber centerfire rifles until this year.

 

[Huntschool]

40's will kill the heck out of em. I use Fox Pro and a 40 Getz barrel twisted 1/66 with up to 90 grs of 3fffg powder and a .395 Speer/Hornady ball. It pretty well knocks the heck out of em. I have also shot them with .32's with 1/48 twist and 30 grns of fffg. Most all DRT.

I must say I prefer the .40. Its a flint gun in the style of early Lancaster to early VA. flint gun

 

[Patrick Thomas]

That would sure be the most fun for me. In my long history of ventilating coyotes, probably 2/3 have been dropped with a modern shotgun launching #4 buck. DRT with very few pellets needed to finish the deed. 'Twas me putting together a rifle for the job, it would be a nice fast flat shooting 36 or 40, and I'd never look back. Seen too many drop with those .240" #4 buck to have the least doubt what a .350" or .390" ball through the lungs would do.

My brother participate in several predator hunting contests each year. (Sure is helping the quail population rebound). One in particular, the team has to shoot 5 coyotes or 5 grey foxes to weigh in one bobcat. I’d say 85% of the kills are with a shotgun. The only muzzloader kill of a coyote I’ve ever had was with a .45 and prb. Most effective.

 

[FishDFly]

In all honesty, when night hunting with a call, my preference is #4 buck shot in a modern shotgun.

Gun of choice when picking a M/L for night time work in the spring when fawns are laying around the edge of fields surrounded by woods would be a shot gun with a healthy dose of BBs for shot size.
Call of choice is fawn in distress.

BBs may not be lethal at the shot, but are terminal in the end.

 

[Critter Getter]

Most of the coyotes I have taken with a m/l was with a .45 prb.......it does a good job! Greg

 

[Rat]

I've killed way too many coyotes, so I declared peace on them and don't shoot them anymore. Never shot one with a ML, but have with everything else, including side arms. But again, got sick of the killing...but gained lots of experience calling in wild animals. If I were to hunt them again, I think a long barreled .40" would be pretty ideal.

 

[Bad Karma]

I've killed way too many coyotes, so I declared peace on them and don't shoot them anymore. Never shot one with a ML, but have with everything else, including side arms. But again, got sick of the killing...but gained lots of experience calling in wild animals. If I were to hunt them again, I think a long barreled .40" would be pretty ideal.

Same here. Last time I thought of shooting one it sat down about 40 yards in front of me ( I was taking a break) sat there a while watching some elk that I was was watching too. Then he turned around like my little beagle and laid down for a nap in the snow. R couldn’t shoot him then and haven’t shot one since.

 

[SDSmlf]

We are pretty much infested with yotes around the house. Four years ago three were acting as ‘midwives’ for a doe behind the house. Fawn was about half way out, doe was hamstrung.... popped two of the three with a 40 S&W pistol, and then put the doe out of it’s misery. Have declared war on them since. Have found a low velocity 22 RF (so called sniper rounds or CB caps) put them down pretty quick inside of 30 yards. Would feel real confident with a 32 round ball out to at least 60 yards. A 36 a bit further and 40 or larger on your ability to hit one in the chest.

 

[Rat]

I understand your war, and if they are over-populated, then it's in their (the coyotes) best interest to keep the population down to a dull roar. Here in Washington state, we are being infested with wolves, who, as you know, don't tolerate coyotes in their territory, so there will be a decline in the 'yotes pretty soon. They are already badly impacting the deer and elk, and have actually eliminated our Northeast Caribou herd. They killed all but three, who were then tranq'd and air lifted to a game preserve or something, so they could try to keep the gene pool alive. I kid you not.

 

[SDSmlf]

I understand your war, and if they are over-populated, then it's in their (the coyotes) best interest to keep the population down to a dull roar. Here in Washington state, we are being infested with wolves, who, as you know, don't tolerate coyotes in their territory, so there will be a decline in the 'yotes pretty soon. They are already badly impacting the deer and elk, and have actually eliminated our Northeast Caribou herd. They killed all but three, who were then tranq'd and air lifted to a game preserve or something, so they could try to keep the gene pool alive. I kid you not.

Have been in this house over 20 years. Used to be a rabbit-fox cycle. If we were seeing rabbits, we would see fox. Now very few fox and rabbits, but plenty of yotes. Heard some turkey this past Saturday and thought I would play with them a bit. In a matter of minutes I could see the yotes sneaking up through the woods as I called. Took one and the rest scattered. Put a couple of turkey decoys up on Sunday and started calling. Within 30 minutes had two yotes drop before they got out of the backyard. Good thing there is a ravine behind the house.