Gun for coyote and, occasionally, deer as well in S Ontario

please be aware that in the areas listed by the OP are generally all contolled shotgun only seasons for deer. You would be prohibited to carry any rifle except possibly a .22 rimfire during any time that the controlled deer seasons are open. There are multipule season dates to be aware of.

Any caliber over .275 is prohibited for the most part in South western Ontario. That would rule out anything in the .30cal family. Which are generally thought of as deer calibers.

As for dual purpose look for something in the 6mm family. Small enough to be legal in the areas mentioned....but still have enough sauce to knock Bambi on its butt!!!!
ie) .270,.260,6mm,25.06,.257,.243....etc

Note: It is generally prohibited to hunt Bambi in rifle allowed areas with less than .240 caliber. So that Generally rules out the more popular varmit calibers .223,22-250,222 etc..
That should narrow down your choices. Good luck and have fun in your search for the perfect caliber for you!!!
Cdn1
 
Superbrad said:
No restriction during big game season for what rifle you can use for coyotes.... not that I am aware of anyways.....
Click to expand...

From the 2012 hunting regulations for Small Game (which Coyotes fall under here in Ontario)...

If you are hunting small game in an area where there is an open
season for deer, moose, elk, or black bear, you may not possess
or use a rifle of greater muzzle energy than 400 foot-pounds or
shells loaded with ball or with shot larger than No. 2 shot (or
if using non-toxic shot, you may not use steel shot larger than
triple BBB steel shot, or bismuth shot that is larger than double
BB bismuth shot), unless you possess a valid licence to hunt
deer, moose, elk or black bear as the case may be.
Click to expand...

I originally omitted the shotgun part, as we're talking about rifles here.
Stupid restriction, yes.
 
I have looked at the regulations and nowhere does it state that .22 centerfire is prohibited for big game in Ontario. It only states centerfire only. Can you please show us where this .22 centerfire prohibition statement is?

Walt
 
Once again, the "un-knowledge" here is staggering.

I can't state any recent knowledge about ON hunting laws. Only hunted Turkey around CFB Borden area while on course there in 2002...Huntsville to Orangeville but I do remember being quite surprised about being allowed to hunt varmints and small game with a .270 that rivals a .30-06 performances out to 500yds and then only being allowed to hunt big game with shotguns and ML's which effectively strip ranges down to under 200yds (yes, I know that some of the new ML's shoot accurately well beyond 200yds now).

I could NEVER explain the decisions made by un-informed bureaucrats. I do understand the need for shotgun/ML restricted areas in some of our more built-up communities. Fewer accidents when misses and pass-throughs occur, etc.

And the 400ft/lb rifle muzzle energy restriction takes care of the ".22 Centre-fire" question NOT being in the regs. I mean it doesn't really tell you that you can't shoot a 17-50BMG either, does it?

You need to study, not just read, all of the regs. Digest them as a whole. You really can't pick out just the portions that you think apply to you or the situation you WANT to be in. THAT will get you into trouble.
 
djmay71 said:
From the 2012 hunting regulations for Small Game (which Coyotes fall under here in Ontario)

I originally omitted the shotgun part, as we're talking about rifles here.
Stupid restriction, yes.
Click to expand...

Read it again... concentrate on the bold parts....

If you are hunting small game in an area where there is an open
season for deer, moose, elk, or black bear, you may not possess
or use a rifle of greater muzzle energy than 400 foot-pounds or
shells loaded with ball or with shot larger than No. 2 shot (or
if using non-toxic shot, you may not use steel shot larger than
triple BBB steel shot, or bismuth shot that is larger than double
BB bismuth shot), unless you possess a valid licence to hunt
deer, moose, elk or black bear as the case may be.

All you need to hunt yotes during deer season with your .223 is a deer license.... stupid?... yes.... but doesn't mean you can't....
 
I was referring to Cdn1's statement about not using anything smaller than a .240 calibre for big game. The regs just say centerfire. If you can show me, please do because I couldn't find it. I like to be properly informed because some people believe what they've heard and could be wrong, even some COs and other LEOs.

Walt
 
Superbrad said:
Read it again... concentrate on the bold parts....

If you are hunting small game in an area where there is an open
season for deer, moose, elk, or black bear, you may not possess
or use a rifle of greater muzzle energy than 400 foot-pounds or
shells loaded with ball or with shot larger than No. 2 shot (or
if using non-toxic shot, you may not use steel shot larger than
triple BBB steel shot, or bismuth shot that is larger than double
BB bismuth shot), unless you possess a valid licence to hunt
deer, moose, elk or black bear as the case may be.

All you need to hunt yotes during deer season with your .223 is a deer license.... stupid?... yes.... but doesn't mean you can't....
Click to expand...

I was aware of that point, however, I felt that it was sort of self explanatory.
Clearly some need to be spoon fed.
 
cost is double?????

Bigbubba said:
My choice would be 270 win over a 270 WSM just because the WSM is too expensive (double the cost) for the extra fps you get not to mention my shoulder doesnt need more recoil.

The 270 restriction had nothing to do with ballistics, or safety. After WWII there was tons of 303 rifles and ammo available dirt cheap and people were running around shooting the hell out of every stop sign and hydro pole so the County's passed bylaws allowing 270 or less so the guys with the 303 had to stop. Simple as that.
Click to expand...
24.00 a box,270 wsm,20.00 a box 270,for Federal blue box,plus tax.Fact not fiction.As for the extra feet per second,that your a little closer on, as you didnt say,as you do not know that either.As for op why not use the same rifle for both animals?Practice on the coyotes, as long as it is legal.Far better than paper.Most of us hunters never shoot our rifles as much as we would like to.
 
gtrussell said:
24.00 a box,270 wsm,20.00 a box 270,for Federal blue box,plus tax.Fact not fiction.As for the extra feet per second,that your a little closer on, as you didnt say,as you do not know that either.As for op why not use the same rifle for both animals?Practice on the coyotes, as long as it is legal.Far better than paper.Most of us hunters never shoot our rifles as much as we would like to.
Click to expand...

Less than $16.00 a box of .243 and .270 Winchester Power Points at Le Baron. (.308 and .30-06 as well.) It pays to stick to the popular calibers.
 
dugasgunner said:
1st: 6.5X55
2nd: 25-06
3rd: 243
4th: 270
Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

That's a good list... Dugas.

.270 WSM is definitely too much gun for your intended usage... if you had said that you want a "DEER" gun that will also do occasional coyotes, then that might be a way to go... BUT you said "COYOTE" gun with occasional deer, so you should definitely drop down to a lower energy caliber... The 6mm cartirdges are the perfect grouping to be looking at... I would rank the calibers as below;

1. .243 Win
2. .25/06 Rem
3. 6mm Rem
4. 6.5mm Creedmore
 
I shot a large coyote (broke my 50 pound max scale!) with a .270 win. about a year ago. At 270 yards the 130 grain federal dropped it like a stone and he seemed to be struggling to get up but was unable to do so. After waiting about 15 minutes to avoid pushing it I decided to close in as there was still movement. When I closed to about 80 yards he saw me coming and managed to get up and drag himself into the tree line. He wasn't moving fast or far though and after obtaining an angle for a safe finish shot I popped him in the back of the head/neck area that dropped him for good. Apon inspecting the body I saw the first shot had taken him just behind the front shoulder with a gaping exit the size of a hard ball. I was amazed at the resilience of this animal to still try to escape after such a devastating hit. I think the real problem with the .270 in this application is that the round punches through the yote so easily it doesn't dump enough energy in it's body and the rest is wasted downrange. I'd used lower weights in the past but always went back to the blue box federals due to availability. Had the pelt tanned as well took some stitching to patch it up but the coat is beautiful and thick in the winter. I now use a .223 for yotes and varmints exclusively. Ammo is dirt cheap and readily available, accuracy is excellent, recoil is very light and it drops varmints at long range very quickly. Would I use it for deer? No. Tough to find an ideal calibre for both animals as the ideal characteristics of a round for a deer and a coyote are not similar. Middle of the road? .243
 
Ill vote for for the 6.5x55. It (140 grn) seems to work on deer... bang -> flop. And for yotes, the 95vmax is good choice. Seems to me to be an ideal ontario calibre. That being said i have never hunted moose, but i dont think i would have any issues with my 140grn reloads in the mag.

Jp
 
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