Coyote hunting, caliber limitations...

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Andy4802

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Chute A Blondeau, ON
I've got 3 days left in my black powder season and i haven't seen a single deer. My buddy shot one, tried to track it in the dark and decided to come back in the morning, coyotes had gotten to it already (he won't be leaving one overnight again, trust me). We are seeing a lot more coyote tracks than deer tracks :( ... i shot at one with my .50 cal but missed. Believe it or not he was sniffing at my apples in the clearing in front of my deer stand, which leads me to believe they are pretty damn hungry...

I want to get serious about hunting Coyotes this year, but i am a bit limited where we hunt... no long range rifle (no centerfire AFAIK) allowed. So basically i can hunt coyotes with my black powder gun or my shotgun.

given the limitation, what would you recommend? (based on what i currently own)
1. scoped .50 cal (CVA wolf)
2. open sight buckshot 12 gauge through my 870?
3. rifled slugs through the 870 smoothbore?

i have full choke and mod choke barrels for my 870

ideally i would like to get a rifled slug barrel with a scope, but the budget is tight right now so i won't be able to do that for a couple more months.

For whats its worth, i am not concerned about the condition of the pelts after the kill.

thoughts?
 
I'd use the scoped .50 . You're not going to get any more range or accuracy from your 12 ga. even after you ad the rifled barrel (more energy; but the CVA is giving you lots for song-dogs).

You might want to consider a .22Mag or a 17HMR, for the same kind of money you'd be laying-out for the new barrel, you'd have something that shoots a lot flatter and quieter.
 
Alot of yotes are shot around here with a 12 Gauge. Most guys use Coyote specific choke and shot. I'm told it's pretty effective out to about 70 yards.
 
Andy4802 said:
Believe it or not he was sniffing at my apples in the clearing in front of my deer stand, which leads me to believe they are pretty damn hungry...
Click to expand...

Coyotes have been eating our apples more than the deer have on one of the propeties I hunt. Hy hunting partner claims to have seen 5 at once, and shot at two with his bow, but missed both. (In a way I'm kinda glad he hidn't shoot at any deer this year)
 
Ive taken a couple bush muts with my 17 rim. Not my first choice but it did em in. I would recommend the CCI 20 gr bullet. Thicker jacket. I would use the muzzel loader. Where do you live that you cant use any center fire rifle ??
 
Hudson, Qc. , but the piece of land we hunt adjacent to us is technically Vaudreuil. Close to residential... i think thats the reason for the rule.
I could check it out with the municipality i suppose, but i have been told by more experienced hunters than myself that center fire is a big no no there.
 
Coyotes love apples..use your muzzleloader,,could use the practice..hehehe, shotgun as back up..for a closer shot.
 
Go for the scoped muzzle loader. It's going to be much more accurate and give you longer range than a shotgun. My .50 cal in-line is accurate enough that I could honestly shoot coyotes out to 200 yards with it.
 
I would suggest going calling and using the 50, however i would have the shotgun on hand with the buckshot handy, sometimes they can suprise you. Good thing you dont care about the pelts, you will be impressed by the exit hole(s)
 
#4 buck shot (lead) out of full choke is recomended.

If you cant find that load, #bb lead, in the heaviest payload, with full choke is a good second choice.
Try... very quietly with a rabbit in distress call, in a known bush they use for bedding, in the evening. youll do well....:D

Be very cautious of youre approach, cause they usually know youre there if youre too noisy, or the wind is in their favour.

Youre luck often depends on how savy you are.

The muzzle loader is also a good ideal, but you only have one shot.:(
 
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