Problem coyotes

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Psycho_Limey

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Friends farm in central Alberta has problem coyotes, menacing family members and pets. Father passed away a while back, nobody has a firearms license so i'm helping out.
I own a mossberg 817 and what i'm looking for folks, is a quick rundown or link to info regarding the laws here. I know the very basics of hunting safety, and i know my firearms safety down pat, owned restricted firearms for a few years.

I've read http://www.albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/ and understand coyotes are a nuisance animal meaning i need nothing more than a PAL so I'm just wondering if there's anything more to what i can and cannot do when hunting problem coyotes, and any tips/tricks you folks have.
Plus some ammunition recommendations would be appreciated, as i only recently got the 817 for a deal. Too cheap to go up to 22/250 but my understanding was .22 is tougher to drop a coyote cleanly with so i got what i could afford, a .17hmr

Short version, damsels in distress need man with gun to help. I have the gun and the will, i just don't wanna get in trouble or do anything stupid.
 
Shoot away, my friend. Coyotes are 100% fair game with no bag limit any time of year - classified as "varmints" under old regs and "nuisance animals" under the new politically correct 'verbiage'.

The long and the short of it is that a well-placed .22 shot will kill just as dead as a .17 HMR; see if a friend has something like a .223/5.56x45 or a .243 Winchester you can sling into the field. Even .220 Swift and .222 Remington will give you PLENTY of power and definitely added range over a .22LR. See if you can beg, borrow, or steal another rig for the longer shots.

That said, a good afternoon in a field with the right wind should net you a few dogs - .17 HMR or .50 BMG, you've just gotta hit 'em right to drop 'em.

Good luck!

-M
 
Use the 20 gr HMR bullets for a little more oomph. You'll lilkely find that follow up shots are necessary. As I'm sure you already know the HMr is marginal on coyotes. They are way tougher than they look.

If you had a bit of dough socked away I would recommend picking up a Stevens 200 in .223 (for cheap ammo) or any other calibre up to 25-06. Obviously this is something you'd want to do if there are going to be lots of coyote.

As for tips... Stay still. Coyotes are extremely wary and can easily sense motion. I usually sit still with my back against a tree or hay bale. If you can't get the coyotes to come in try baiting them.
 
Here's a good tip: give me a call and I'll bring along my .223, complete with 63 grain coyote eliminators :D Where in AB are you? I'm in Airdrie.
The coyotes I've seen this year have been unusually dumb, actually! IF they are menacing, they'll be really easy to get rid of because they don't feel afraid to show themselves.
The key is to use common sense when picking your shot. Setting up so that you won't have a road, house or livestock behind where you think they'll be coming from will help alot, then just wait for them in the early morning or evening. I think your HMR will drop them just fine as long as you're within 100 yards give or take a little. Read an article just recently saying just that.
 
If your just killing them for pest control, you don't have a larger caliber to shoot them with? Like a 30-30, 303, or something?
Right guys? He's not looking to keep the fur or anything(from what I understand), so wouldn't using a larger caliber be ok, and ensure a quicker(and positive) death.
 
Surely there is something lighter than a 17 hummer to use on a coyote. C'mon where's yuor imagination?:eek::eek: Especailly in the hands of a novice coyote hunter.

The 17hmr is a gopher gun, or in the case of coyotes a gofer gun. as in gofer something heavier. Coyotes are not easy to kill. After seeing thousands shot trust me the 17 hmr is not the caliber to use.

Borrow something larger or invite someone with some calling experience and a larger caliber along.
 
Thanks a lot for the info guys. Right now I've only got a deposit down on the 817 as rather than impulse buy i decided to keep it simple. So lets add something new here.
I need an inexpensive, under $400 rifle, I'm thinking .223 for that mil surplus ammo opportunity. Semi or bolt makes no difference for this gun, but keep in mind, I've got no available optics for a rifle.
I've heard talk of the Stevens 200 in .223 from a few sources, worth it?
I'm assuming any 3-9 or 4x scope for centerfire rifles will do the trick but we all know about assumptions.
Recommend me something that'll get this coyote problem fixed!
 
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If you want something cheap, and don't need it to be a 1/2 MOA paper-puncher, think Norinco for the cheapest end of the spectrum. Marstar is your friend. The SKS or JW-103 are both chambered in 7.62x39 and it's dirt cheap (both the gun and the ammo)! Also, 7.62x39 soft-points can be found in most places, when last I checked.

For a cheap .223, there are usually a few kicking around the local gun shops this time of year for varmint season... P&D has a Stevens 200 in .223 for $369, brand new; just above it in the price list is a Savage 25LV for $575 - not a bad price on that particular gun either.

-M
 
Also, optics-wise, Marstar has a 3-12x50mm illuminated reticle scope on sale for $89.00 and that INCLUDES matching high-profile "see-thru" rings. Put that on a Stevens 200 and you're laughing price-wise.

-M
 
Well, i can turn my deposit into a guncase, something i've sorely been needing, and that Stevens 200 is lookin good, phoned P&D and they've got 3 of em. Now to make time to check it out.
Doc M said:
Also, optics-wise, Marstar has a 3-12x50mm illuminated reticle scope on sale for $89.00 and that INCLUDES matching high-profile "see-thru" rings. Put that on a Stevens 200 and you're laughing price-wise.

-M
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Sold, to the man with a thin wallet.
 
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Ya I agree you'll do much better with the .223 in the end. I thought you had already bought the 17hmr.
.223 is really fun to use, because it's such a flat shooting round and very little recoil, but it does good damage. I really like the AE 50 gr HP for gophers and what not. They are only $9 for 20 rounds too when you can find them.
 
I was watching Wild TV and there was a guy on there hunting coyotes. He was calling them in and using a shotgun with buckshot. I watched him roll one at 75 yards. Maybe your shotgun could be an option.
 
Slapshot said:
I was watching Wild TV and there was a guy on there hunting coyotes. He was calling them in and using a shotgun with buckshot. I watched him roll one at 75 yards. Maybe your shotgun could be an option.
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That would be Les Johnson. He likes to call em into 'whites of their eyes' range. And, iirc, he's using Hevishot.
 
Redfrog said:
Surely there is something lighter than a 17 hummer to use on a coyote. C'mon where's yuor imagination?:eek::eek: Especailly in the hands of a novice coyote hunter.

The 17hmr is a gopher gun, or in the case of coyotes a gofer gun. as in gofer something heavier. Coyotes are not easy to kill. After seeing thousands shot trust me the 17 hmr is not the caliber to use.

Borrow something larger or invite someone with some calling experience and a larger caliber along.
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I recomend a .177 air rifle for novice coyote hunters handling problem coyotes. About 6 #3 Bridgers is a better bet.
 
cheap shooter

Psycho_Limey said:
Well, i can turn my deposit into a guncase, something i've sorely been needing, and that Stevens 200 is lookin good, phoned P&D and they've got 3 of em. Now to make time to check it out.

Sold, to the man with a thin wallet.
Click to expand...

If you are looking for an economical rifle there is the Rossi single shots. You can get .223 or .243 with a interchangable 12 guage barrel for around $250 new or a bit less used. They come with open sights and are tapped for a scope mount if you want to upgrade later. I used one in .223 for 4 years and shot over 350 coyotes with it plus uncountable gophers and other pests. The shotgun barrel also got coyotes with buckshot and several feathered critters with bird shot. It won't break the bank and you get a 2 for 1 in the deal.
 
Purchased a stevens 200 in .223 from P&D today. Went with that Marstar scope deal, should get here sometime next week or so. Expect to see pictures of the action sometime in July.

Thanks again folks!
 
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