Shotgun Coyote Hunting in Newfoundland

[dangertree]

Hi All,

Wondering if anyone here uses a 12g for coyote?

I'm going to be hunting from some pretty close country, and I've been watching some American vids where they recommend a shotgun over a rifle for these conditions.

The regs here state that shotguns with #2 shot of larger can be used. I've got a 2 3/4 that I'd like to take out.

Appreciate hearing any thoughts on using a shotgun rather than a 22 centrefire.




Also, for Newfs reading, anyone having any luck with coyotes in the Conception Bay North / Trinity Bay South areas or points between there and St. John's?

Myself and my hunting buddy have been getting a fair number of hares in the area this winter. Hoping that this recent snow-dump will result in some hungry yotes ripe for the calling.

Thanks in advance,

DT

 

[Varmit]

well, you'll have to get real close, how are you hunting them? calling I presume, if you are in thick stuff and the yote is only seen at close range then the shotgun would be the way to go. get 3" BB I would say

 

[dangertree]

Calling. We will be taking some bait as well if a place comes up for it.

The ponds are pretty much frozen over finally, and there's a fair dump of hard snow in the woods, the regs say they're mating now, so I figure the conditions are good.

On a snowed over road today I saw coyote prints along rabbit runs and along moose tracks. So... they're here. I also had a shrew follow me around for a few minutes today, trying to climb on my boots, lotsa food for coyotes, hoping for some good pelts.

The country around here seems ripe for shotguns. Never read much here about it?

My guns a 2 3/4, any suggestions?

 

[Varmit]

Any luck yet? The yotes move a lot and sometimes where you find good sign they are 10 miles away. Some people go out at night and locate them with callers and then hit that area in the morning. I've tried a bit here in NS with no luck. Go to the huntmasters forums and you can get good info

 

[Ljungman]

I only see them when I DON'T have a gun on me. Hoping to get some action for my AR180B this year though. Gotta get my self a call.

 

[boxhitch]

I recently read an article about a coyote hunting competition in the US, and the winning team figured they won by changing tactics and instead of hunting fields/openings like the other 3 teams, they hunted off the edges, in the thick stuff, with shotguns. Definite two person setup as the shots were usually made 30-50 yds downwind from the caller. 12 dogs in two days. No electronic calls allowed.

 

[dangertree]

Thanks guys.

As for luck yet. Only out for one day, totally skunked. Weird day. Never even saw an animal, not even a squirrill. Probably a poor choice of areas.

My hunting partner has been doing a lot of calling around for areas. We'll be trying again very soon in Central near Grand Falls, either Twin Lakes or the Bay D'espoir area. Also hear that the Gander River area is worth trying.

Been told that seal meat works well as bait, so we'll try that along with a friends nasty old moose that he's trying to pawn off.

 

[super7]

I've only seen 1 set of tracks so far (1000 acre marsh area on avalon). Went back and tried calling for it. No luck with the coyote but called in a fox.

 

[jiminthecorner]

Coyotes in NFLD!!!!????

Jeez how'd they get there? must have been imported like moose but when? Sorry to sound so ignorant(its a mainlander thing) They've only been in Ontario for 75 yrs or so. Jiminthecorner

 

[Ljungman]

Jeez how'd they get there? must have been imported like moose but when? Sorry to sound so ignorant(its a mainlander thing) They've only been in Ontario for 75 yrs or so. Jiminthecorner

They are fairly new to the island. It is beleaved they crossed the ice near the tip of the norther peninsula which is only a few kms from labrador. This is the perfect place for them. Only peditors we have bigger than a fox is Lynx and Black Bear. All the Timber Wolves we had are long exstinced. And ofcourse, lots of moose/caribou/hares and such for them to feed on. Oh yea....and livestock.

They started to see them in the early 80's. It was only 3 or 4 years ago that you were first allowed to shoot them. And only two years since we've had a "coyote licence". Befor that, we couldn't use any centerfire rifle smaller that .243 for anything but seals in NF. Now I can finally use .223. Not unusual for NF though, .22 rimfires were banned for hunting untill I was 16 (1998 or maybe 1997).

 

[jiminthecorner]

ljungman coyotes

Thanks for the reply,We have them as a problem on the farm here in southern Ontario. Have shot 23 so far in 10 years ,once in my wife's chicken coop!! She hates them with a passion since she lost her favorite cat to one!!

 

[dorm]

Coyotes and coyote culling!!!!

They've been getting more and more numerous up here in the NWT over the past few years. They seem to be enjoying the bush near the Yellowknife airport as there have been complaints about them hampering runway traffic.

They're brave little bastards too, as I actually had one on my deck back in the early winter. (A buddy of mine says he had a wolf under his deck last winter trying to make off with the remnants of a caribou carcass he had hanging after taking off the meat.)

Anyway, I haven't made any effort to educate myself on hunting them but if and when I do I have a nice little toy to do it with.

Savage Model 12, stainless fluted barrel in .223 Rem.

This gem can pop the bottom of a pop can at 300 yds pretty easily if I do my part so I would like to try it on some varmints.

Incidentally, when I left the rock in '97 we still weren't allowed to hunt with a .22 rimfire and coyotes were just being talked about in the St. Mary's area where there are lots of sheep.

Save me some, as I might get back for a hunt one of these days!!!