Enough is enough?

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moose1987

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Hey all. So I dont care that you grandfather has shot a 1000 moose in right behind the ear with a .22mag. I am wondering if a 22mag is enought to ethically harvest a coyote/wolf at say 100/200 yards. I relize this has probally been argued over multiple times but i a just asking and dont want jack ass answer. Is it enought? 50gr bullets i dont see why not
 
if you can get the coyote behind the eye or in the ear it will drop him, Chances of being that good a shot at 200 yards is slim most times.
 
Absolutely not.... bullet size is one thing, energy is another.... I have harvested wolves in the 100 pound class and many bigger out there...

cue the "shot placement is everything" crowd........
 
I'm going to go on the "no" side for one. I'd say within 50, marginal. At 200 you're going to be aiming 2' feet high and, at best, wounding an animal.
 
The 22 WRM is capable of terminating a coyote out to about 75 mtrs reliably on a good body hit, I have done it several times rather than use my CF while hunting. Beyond that results get "iffy" and a wolf would be a 1 in 10 retrieval process I'm afraid. They are much heavier and have much bigger lungs allowing them the ability to make a couple of miles with a 22 WRM through them. I am relatively certain one could kill wolves with the 22Mag put actually getting your hands on it would be almost impossible as they impart virtually no shock to an animal this size. I consider the 222 to be too small for wolves and have had 100% retrieval with my 243s over the years, as well as 7 mags, 300 Mags and the last one with a 9.3X300 WM and a 270 gn Matrix.........she was very dead, very fast........pretty much instantaneous !!!!
 
Depending on where you live it might not even be legal, check your local regs. Not that I consider a wolf big game, but where I am at .24 cal is the smallest caliber legally used.
 
No it is not.the problem with the 22 cal rim fire bullets is you don't get a second hole and you don't get a blood trail. So yes thy will die from a hit you may not find them . Dutch
 
I am going to say yes, up to 100 yards. I carry a 22 WMR pretty much year round and no, I don't shoot them in the eye. Coyotes up to 150-200 yards. A 222 works as far as I am willing to shoot from anywhere except a blind, so 300-350 yards. I would switch up to a 22-250 or a Swift, or a 243 for real long shots.

Last one I shot was with a 165 NAB at about 20 yards from the -06, went in front shoulder, sent all its internals out the opposing rear quarter. Bang-flop-skid. Lol. I was moose hunting and watched a cow and calf run by, being chased by several wolves, so I waited until they were close and dropped th lead wolf, the rest scattered. Hopefully I saved that calf.
 
I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a coyote with one at under 100 yards, 50-75 max being much more preferable. A wolf? Not unless it was a have no other choice scenario and it was inside of 15 yards. In a trap needing to be dispatched would be the best case scenario for me killing a wolf with a 22WMR but I don't have much confidence in anything that won't leave a tangerine sized exit hole in them.
 
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I don't shoot a lot of dogs - kinda an "in between" hunt for me.

But I wouldn't consider using a 22 mag or 22 LR or 17 Hornady or 17 Win et al - those are for "rodents" and bunnies.

My 223 is the smallest/least powerful round I would consider adequate for yotes and I AM one of those "shot placement, non-magnum shooting kinda guys" that pass up iffy shots in order to use minimal calibers.
 
Templar Knight said:
The short answer from an ethical hunter stand point would be NO .
Click to expand...

An ethical hunter doesn't take marginal shots with equipment or ability not up to the task. It really doesn't matter if you are hunting moose with a 243, or a 416 Ruger, don't take bad shots. I commend those that have the backbone to pass on a shot that isn't ethical, whether it be too far, bad angle, moving, too small firearm, or even too large..... Yes, there is too much at times. Such as the guy shooting a grouse up the rear in a tree with 12ga 3" #4 lead, should have just passed on it.

Ethics can be an individual thing, what is "ethical" for one, may not be for someone else. I know fellas that I wouldn't bat an eye if they shot a deer at 500 yards, but for me that's too far with my current ability and confidence in my equipment to be sure of a clean kill. So, if I was to attempt that shot, I would be unethical in my own eyes. That doesn't make anyone else unethical for taking that same shot opportunity.

Hope that makes my point of view a little more clear
 
I agree with clefty's point... However.....

The OP said "harvest", which to me means you are actively seeking that shot..... Not a shot of opportunity.....

Anyone setting up for yotes with a call, that does a stand and sequnce that is carrying a .22 mag is doing it wrong IMOP....... And if they are after wolves, they are borderline requiring institutionalized.......
 
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