Coyote dilemma

M

Martin248

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
34   0   0
Location
USA
So my plan was to get a light weight rifle for coyotes and other small game. I was thinking about a Remington Model 7, getting it in .223, and attaching a light weight 3x9 scope, or maybe a fixed 6x Leopold. Something light to keep the rifle handy, almost like a scout but with a regular style optic.

But then I started learning about how coyotes are mostly dusk and dawn creatures, and it's best to hunt in lower light conditions when they're out and about. And where I live I can hunt them at night or in the evening (WA state these days).

So that set me off to looking at low light scopes and night vision scopes. The low light ones are all like 56mm monsters and the night vision kit is equivalently big and heavy. And expensive. So then maybe it will be a bit silly, even top heavy, on a little rifle like a model 7, plus the optics would be way more $$$ than the rifle.

So then I should go for a full 700 that justifies the bigger scope and that would be pretty nice, plus if it's a bigger rifle probably it should be a 308 or similar, to make the most of its ability. Carrying around the ammo gets heavier too, plus that big optical rig.

But I was so looking forward to roaming the badlands with a light handy rifle. On the other hand, if I'm limited to full daylight I may never see any coyotes, which is less fun.

What would you do? I know. Get both. But I'm on a budget, just one for now.

Looking for opinions then I'll make up my own mind.
 
Just buy better glass. A good quality scope gives you better image quality. Bigger objective lens can net you a little more magnifaction in lower light but its often not needed. The human pupil is only like 5mm. Any more than that is wasted in exit pupil size.
Even my bushnell elites alloe me to see before and after legal light shooting conditions. Sometthing like a swarvoski will greatly increase that effect.
 
Look up CGNer fratri and read what he has been shooting in the fall and winter.
there are lots of opportunity for mid day shooting and using a .223 too.
Just need a device to call them yodel dogs in for a meal.
They will come and your in some prime area in the Badlands of Wa. State.
Rob
 
Traditionally folks just hunted coyotes at night with the benefit of a red or green spotlight. Is that not a legal option in Washington state?
 
I would recommend staying with your light weight idea and using ANY of the leupold firedot scopes, where I hunt, even in legal times, the dot illuminated in the bush or against a dark tree line. Better scopes as suggested allow you to see better in lower light, but unless they are illuminated, seeing the reticle is usually another story. Below is my take on a lightweight rifle, a tikka 22-250 superlite (fluted barrel) It is in an aftermarket Mcmillan stock which drops the weight to about 5.5lbs. Scope is a Leupold VX6 3-18x44



If you are legal to hunt at night with lights and night vision in your state, I would encourage you to go that way, it looks like a blast, and if you go all in, I would suggest a second rifle. Since you are in the good ol' USA, something off the AR15 platform offers lots of rail for lights, NV, scopes etc, and fast followup shots.
 
Learning to use a good coyote call will net you more "daylight" opportunities than an expensive night vision outfit in the "warm weather season" when there is no snow but in the snow season, just a good clear day time scope will work just as well at night...snow illuminates the background so that middle of the night shooting, even at long distance, is very viable...again good calling will enhance your success with yote's big time
 
fingers284 said:
Learning to use a good coyote call will net you more "daylight" opportunities than an expensive night vision outfit in the "warm weather season" when there is no snow but in the snow season, just a good clear day time scope will work just as well at night...snow illuminates the background so that middle of the night shooting, even at long distance, is very viable...again good calling will enhance your success with yote's big time
Click to expand...

X2 on that!!!!
 
DMS1 said:
I would recommend staying with your light weight idea and using ANY of the leupold firedot scopes, where I hunt, even in legal times, the dot illuminated in the bush or against a dark tree line. Better scopes as suggested allow you to see better in lower light, but unless they are illuminated, seeing the reticle is usually another story. Below is my take on a lightweight rifle, a tikka 22-250 superlite (fluted barrel) It is in an aftermarket Mcmillan stock which drops the weight to about 5.5lbs. Scope is a Leupold VX6 3-18x44



If you are legal to hunt at night with lights and night vision in your state, I would encourage you to go that way, it looks like a blast, and if you go all in, I would suggest a second rifle. Since you are in the good ol' USA, something off the AR15 platform offers lots of rail for lights, NV, scopes etc, and fast followup shots.
Click to expand...

Coyotes you can "spotlight" in WA (thermal, night vision, flashlights, IR lights, actual spotlights) but other game it's illegal to "spotlight", however a regular low light scope is still ok, eg, moonlight hunting.

My focus on coyote is in part because WA exempts coyote hunting from a lot of rules that apply to other game, like hunting with night vision, but it would be nice if the rig could still be used for other game as well.

I looked at mounting a FLIR, but it's the same problem as the big 56mm scopes, it's not a lightweight "mountain rifle" when you attach the stuff as it's pretty heavy kit. I think it makes more sense to build that out on a larger rifle where you get additional benefits from carrying around a lot of weight.

So it's either a light weight like your Tikka, with a regular compact illuminated scope, or it's a big rifle with serious optics. This is my dilemma, both are cool.
 
Last edited:
Shorter eye relief adds to better view thru a scope as well. With a 223 you dont need much eye relief. Ive taken 3 coyotes out on a moonless snow covered field. My short eye relief scope really helped. Shots were 20 feet for the first. 120 yards for the second and about 270 paces for the last. 5 shots for 3 dogs in the dark. I was happy.
They were trying to eat my ducklings and my house dogs were tearing the house apart to get at them as they were growling and yipping at my dogs. I wasnt hunting. I was protecting my dogs and ducks
 
brybenn said:
Shorter eye relief adds to better view thru a scope as well. With a 223 you dont need much eye relief. Ive taken 3 coyotes out on a moonless snow covered field. My short eye relief scope really helped. Shots were 20 feet for the first. 120 yards for the second and about 270 paces for the last. 5 shots for 3 dogs in the dark. I was happy.
They were trying to eat my ducklings and my house dogs were tearing the house apart to get at them as they were growling and yipping at my dogs. I wasnt hunting. I was protecting my dogs and ducks
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's pretty much why WA exempts coyotes from the otherwise general prohibition on hunting with spotlights or night vision. Just so folks like you can protect their livestock from a night time predator.

What power and make of scope we you using?
 
Unless you plan on using it for nighthunting a regular good quality day scope can net you a PILE of coyotes. Although it's true that coyotes do a lot of work at night they also do a whole lot during the day as well and can be shot off bait or called in during daylight hours.
 
Remington's short action is still pretty long for a .223, so you might find that one in .22-250 feeds from the magazine better. If you're set on a .223, a rifle having a smaller action is a better idea IMHO.
 
I don't think you could go wrong with a light handy rifle with an illuminated reticle or just a good quality optic on top with a bold reticle. Given the ability to night hunt, you could spend some money on a night spotting light kit to go with it when you're out in the wee hours. A Tikka with 1:9 twist and a 5 round mag would be pretty sweet. Happy hunting .. badlands are one of my favourite places to be, enjoy!
 
Martin248 said:
Yeah, that's pretty much why WA exempts coyotes from the otherwise general prohibition on hunting with spotlights or night vision. Just so folks like you can protect their livestock from a night time predator.

What power and make of scope we you using?
Click to expand...

Its actually a barska 6-24×44. Its surprisingly clear but has a shorter eye relief so it looks better than it is. The larger objective helps to hide some of the flash which ruins your night vision hence why the 3rd coyote got so far out. Plus i missed twice as he was running. Shots were on 6 power
 
brybenn said:
Its actually a barska 6-24×44. Its surprisingly clear but has a shorter eye relief so it looks better than it is. The larger objective helps to hide some of the flash which ruins your night vision hence why the 3rd coyote got so far out. Plus i missed twice as he was running. Shots were on 6 power
Click to expand...

Have you ever used a good scope? Because of your bar is set at Barska, you’ll be amazed when you look through quality glass.
 
Boomer said:
Remington's short action is still pretty long for a .223, so you might find that one in .22-250 feeds from the magazine better. If you're set on a .223, a rifle having a smaller action is a better idea IMHO.
Click to expand...

Interesting, I had not thought the action would be a problem. I was tending to 223 because it's cheap and available which is always nice, and I have other firearms that also eat it and it's got a lot of options in terms of bullet type and weight--really can go from rabbit to maybe even deer with different ammo.

I could look for a different rifle, but what drew me to the model 7 is that it's short and light, with a 16" barrel. When I look at alternatives they're mostly 20" plus, which is still pretty good, but not quite as handy. It rains a lot here where I live so a stainless steel barrel and good synthetic stock was also a draw and that's available.

The savage 110 "lightweight storm" might be another option, light weight, stainless, barrel is 20" so not quite as handy but not bad, but is the action really any better? Or what else?

Or I chooses larger caliber and stick with the Remington.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom