Coyote advice please

[FLHTCUI]

A .223 is just as dangerous as a 308 or any other common hunting caliber in the situation you describe.
A shotgun with full choke or even a turkey choke shooting some serious double-aught-buck might be the next option.
Look up these names Scott_R , AJHare for examples and check out their success stories and maybe glean some tips their.
Either way the center fire or the shot gun in a confined barnyard/farmyard and htose Coyotes will be educated once you shoot at them .
Have fun doing it though.
Rob

 

[guncrazy5606]

I also am faced with this coyote issue and there’s some great advice in here. Thank you for everyone’s posts.

However, my situation is a bit different. I’ve been tasked with getting rid of coyotes for my uncle. They have taken numberous cats, a baby piglet and now a neighbours small house dog that was let outside to pee. Their pack is getting larger and they are close to switching from just being bold to being aggressive. Chasing a dog on their back lawn. My uncle clipped one in it's back end with a 22 but it wasn’t enough to actually kill it. Where I think might situation is unique is that on each side of his place is animal pens (horses, goats and pigs) then after that is thick brush/trees. On the back size is a few (15-20) acres of pasture with cattle grazing on it. Beyond that is a road and scattered houses. He’s talked to everyone and they are okay with shooting the coyotes inside the 300m that is legally allowed.

The big question I have is what round should I use? Most shots will be inside 100 yards with the longest (and very unlikely) shot being 200 yards. Also keep in mind that any ricochet or terrible bullet accuracy is bad (due to the animals being around), a 22lr isn’t enough to put them down and a big game caliber carries a long way.

What I am thinking is a 223 (easy to find and definitely capable of putting down coyotes), with a very heavy grain to reduce travel distance and bullet/tip that fragments upon impact (reducing pass through and hopefully fragments/disburses energy quickly in the event of a miss. Ie little to no ricochet).

Thanks in advance for any help.

Like CV32 said. Inside 150m use a 22wmr. 80% of the coyotes I shoot I do so with a 22WMR.

Check out you local predator hunting regulations and see if you can bait on private land, if so set up a bait pile with scraps from your a local butcher frozen In buckets with water. Try to set your bait inside of 100m of a barn/ shed or other structures (check the regulations on this as well) that you can set up in and use for cover to shoot from. Leave the bait for 3-5 days continuing to add to it as necessary and check for signs they are coming to it. Once they are, set up on the bait early mornings and late evenings. Shot placement helps with the small caliber for sure and if you drop one, try to sit still for 20min and wait chances are another one will come to the bait or come back to check on the missing pack member. Enjoy

 

[D.Borden]

If you go with 223, a frangible bullet (like a Hornady Vmax or Speer TNT) would be a good choice but as far as bullet weight goes, you want to go lightweight (e.g. 40-50 gr) rather than heavy (e.g. 69-75 gr). It is the heavier bullets that will extract the most range out of the 223 cartridge, not the other way around. That said, I think something like 22WMR or 22 Hornet would be a better option in this regard.

That you for setting me straight on the bullet weight. And pointing me in the right direction with the Vmax and TNT. And the 22WMR or Hornet.

 

[D.Borden]

A .223 is just as dangerous as a 308 or any other common hunting caliber in the situation you describe.
A shotgun with full choke or even a turkey choke shooting some serious double-aught-buck might be the next option.
Look up these names Scott_R , AJHare for examples and check out their success stories and maybe glean some tips their.
Either way the center fire or the shot gun in a confined barnyard/farmyard and htose Coyotes will be educated once you shoot at them .
Have fun doing it though.
Rob

Thanks. I looked through Scott_R posts and didn’t find anything exactly on what he uses other than he likes the 204 and wants to try a 17. I will go through AJHare’s post next though. I kind of feel like a stalker though. Hopefully these two don’t mind me going through all their posts.
I will also look into the shotgun. All options are on the table and all input in appreciated.

 

[D.Borden]

Like CV32 said. Inside 150m use a 22wmr. 80% of the coyotes I shoot I do so with a 22WMR.

Check out you local predator hunting regulations and see if you can bait on private land, if so set up a bait pile with scraps from your a local butcher frozen In buckets with water. Try to set your bait inside of 100m of a barn/ shed or other structures (check the regulations on this as well) that you can set up in and use for cover to shoot from. Leave the bait for 3-5 days continuing to add to it as necessary and check for signs they are coming to it. Once they are, set up on the bait early mornings and late evenings. Shot placement helps with the small caliber for sure and if you drop one, try to sit still for 20min and wait chances are another one will come to the bait or come back to check on the missing pack member. Enjoy

Aside from having to learning about learning Alberta baiting laws, I’m also concerned that the farm dogs will end up getting getting into the bait first. But thank you for the advice. I will be looking in the 22 WMR.

 

[linux99]

......
...... Beyond that is a road and scattered houses. He’s talked to everyone and they are okay with shooting the coyotes inside the 300m that is legally allowed.
......

Be very careful with this one.

I presume you are referring to a by-law which states "shall not discharge a firearm within 300m of a dwelling or structure" or similar. And you have oral permission to shoot inside that 300m limit.

Unless it specifically has the words "without the owners permission" or "unless the owner allows" or similar then even if you get their permission you are breaking the law.

I know it seems counter intuitive but even with their permission, unless the law is set out specifically to allow it, the law is fixed and they can't waive the law.

Really - please be damn sure about this one before you do it or it could be a very costly coyote.

 

[cdn1canhunt]

A 22 hornet should work well for your situation. but again once you start shootin at em they will just go nocturnal. Well thought out traps or snares would be you best defence.

Good luck, have fun and be safe.

 

[D.Borden]

Be very careful with this one.

I presume you are referring to a by-law which states "shall not discharge a firearm within 300m of a dwelling or structure" or similar. And you have oral permission to shoot inside that 300m limit.

Unless it specifically has the words "without the owners permission" or "unless the owner allows" or similar then even if you get their permission you are breaking the law.

I know it seems counter intuitive but even with their permission, unless the law is set out specifically to allow it, the law is fixed and they can't waive the law.

Really - please be damn sure about this one before you do it or it could be a very costly coyote.

I agree and also had the same discussion with my uncle. He’s talked to either or both of (I can’t remember) the CFO and RCMP and apparently it’s fine because it’s all private property. The neighbors permission is in writing.

I’m also being hyper cautious in this. The 200 yard limit that I described isn’t the distance until the two other houses. There’s at least (again I am purposely underestimating this distance) 1000 yards between any two houses. Also his place is on a slight hill so everything would also be a slight down hill shot. It should go without saying but I will anyways, I will not be shooting/aiming in the direction of any where close to a home. However, I am also willing to hear opinions that I’m not being cautious enough.

 

[D.Borden]

A 22 hornet should work well for your situation. but again once you start shootin at em they will just go nocturnal. Well thought out traps or snares would be you best defence.

Good luck, have fun and be safe.

Assuming traps are allowed (which I haven’t looked into yet) is there any way that I could set them so that there is no chance to get another animal? Dogs would be my main concern.

 

[CV32]

I agree and also had the same discussion with my uncle. He’s talked to either or both of (I can’t remember) the CFO and RCMP and apparently it’s fine because it’s all private property. The neighbors permission is in writing.

Just keep in mind that whether its private property or whether there is owner permission still won't negate the applicable law.

 

[stubblejumper]

Wind and not moving while waiting have been the keys for me. I only set up and call if the wind is favorable, as they learn quick and soon catch on to calling if you don't get it done the first set up or two. As to hunting being an effective means of eliminating coyotes from the area, I killed the entire pack of five that I was seeing in two days, but within a few days more coyotes started appearing to take their place.

 

[D.Borden]

Thank you all for the concern. I looked up the Alberta hunting regulations and 200 yards is the legal distance. “discharge a weapon within 183 m (200 yards) or cause a projectile from a weapon to pass within 183 m (200 yards) of any occupied building. Owners, occupants, or persons authorized by the owner or occupant are excepted, subject to local bylaws.”

I also looked up the 223 Vmax (again using the biggest option) drop charts. The 40 grain drops 39 inches at 500 yards. So that gives me 300 yards of potential over shoot (from my self imposed 200 yard max shot) and 300 yards of ricochet. As far as ricochet, the way those V-Max or varmint rounds deform makes them less likely to ricochet. Apparently, the round nose bullets are the most likely to bounce around. According to this article... http://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/range-dangers/

 

[Cameron SS]

The big question I have is what round should I use? Most shots will be inside 100 yards with the longest (and very unlikely) shot being 200 yards. Also keep in mind that any ricochet or terrible bullet accuracy is bad (due to the animals being around), a 22lr isn’t enough to put them down and a big game caliber carries a long way.

What I am thinking is a 223 (easy to find and definitely capable of putting down coyotes), with a very heavy grain to reduce travel distance and bullet/tip that fragments upon impact (reducing pass through and hopefully fragments/disburses energy quickly in the event of a miss. Ie little to no ricochet).

Thanks in advance for any help.

Someone already mentioned this, but with centre fire rifle cartridges it is the light fast bullets that will fragment most with minimal ricochet risk. The slower heavier bullets will retain much more energy, travel further, and pose a much greater ricochet danger.

In addition to weight, is construction of the bullet itself. Anything labelled varmint will likely be a good choice. Barnes Varmint Grenades are spectacular.

I have no experience with .22WMR, but .22 LR will kill a Coyote at ranges less than 200m. It just won't incapacitate them quickly without excellent shot placement.

Be very careful with this one.

I presume you are referring to a by-law which states "shall not discharge a firearm within 300m of a dwelling or structure" or similar. And you have oral permission to shoot inside that 300m limit.

Unless it specifically has the words "without the owners permission" or "unless the owner allows" or similar then even if you get their permission you are breaking the law.

I know it seems counter intuitive but even with their permission, unless the law is set out specifically to allow it, the law is fixed and they can't waive the law.

Really - please be damn sure about this one before you do it or it could be a very costly coyote.

It will always be implied that shooting at less than ### meters from the owners house is permitted with the owners permission, otherwise no one would ever be allowed to shoot even on their own property, unless you were at least ###m away from your own house.

Also, shooting too close to someone's house COULD result in charges, if that person did not consent and filed a complaint, but those charges can always be defeated with the defense of necessity or defense of self or property when dealing with predator control, as long as long as you meet the requirements for successfully using those legal defenses, Ie Minimalism, reasonableness, due diligence, etc.

 

[mccabren]

Fresh dog #### might work. Coyotes scat mark and are becoming surprisingly territorial. The mangy bastards up at my cabin become uncharacteristically bold whenever I bring my dog up. My (dog-less) neighbors haven't seen a coyote in years.

I've bagged two so this year with 00 buck. A local OPP officer I know recommends the term "wildlife defense" should the police show up.

 

[TonyMo]

Now I understand there is a difference in hunting coyotes out west and here in Ontario but may I suggest reading threads on here by our very own member Fratri. I always find his coyote posts informative.
here is an example;
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1645451-Speedy-the-coyote-is-down

 

[FLHTCUI]

My opinion here...
#1 Patience

If they are taking the birds during that 4 hour span, keep sitting it. Over watch in the yard. Be set up before the owner cuts the birds loose to free range

-they are hunting in the yard so scent doesn't matter, it's gonna smell like a farm yard with people anyway.
-setting bait and calling was the wrong move, you shouldn't have done anything but sit the yard and wait.
-as soon as you changed the scenario you changed their pattern.
-they aren't stupid, they'll lay out and watch til it looks safe then scoot in for a bird, you just have to be there when it happens
-we had the same thing happen when I was a kid and sitting for the cagey prick wasn't doing it. My uncle hung a dead chicken from a tree at the corner of the barn close to the bush edge and waited dusk and dawn. The chicken was high enough off the ground that the yote had to stand on hind legs to try for it. Dead dog.

Yup, but once they smell some 700 X or BLC they will have been educated
Just kidding of course.
Great points about the over watch before the fowl have been released !
Maybe post a trail cam to try and set a pattern?
Rob

 

[shotzee]

Planning on going this week. But at -20 are there any considerations to make besides making sure Im warm? The wind is looking to be very favourable.

I have the option of a .270 win or .223(X95). I know the x95 isnt the premier yote hunting gun but I also use it for 3gun.

The first time I set up at a buddies place. I did everything correctly and low and behold in 5 minutes a little coyote comes to check out the foxpro/decoy. I was honestly so surprised. I wasnt expecting to actually see something!


One piece of advice is check out windy.com

It has great information on wind pattern projections

 

[a j cave]

IF Legal I would use snares! Here we need a trappers licence. Set where the cross barb wire fences and in heavy bush run ways. Also I sit in a comfortable bale stack and wait for evening to show up, little movement and no noise.