[jrfoxx]

So, lets say you're me (my apologies if thats insulting :)), and in Oregon, the "no closed season" critters mostly include squirrel, cottonail, coyote, and nutria (thereare others but these cover the "extremes" in animal size).Most likely, yu will be seeing squirells and rabbits, but a "target of opportunity" of nutria or coyote may (hopefully) come up.Best choices from the guns I have is .22wmr or a 12ga o/u, which could have a different load in each barrel.Only one gun will be carried (except a handgun, but I'm not comfortable hunting with any of them at my current skill level, past 25yds, for ethical reasons).What would you recomend, gun and ammo wise.FWIW, I'm considering a Marlin 25mn .22wmr with CCI Maxi-Mag HP's and a 4x scope, or a 12ga Ruger Red Label o/u with screw in chokes (if you pick the 12ga,please suggest chokes and loads).What say you for a good "cover all my bases" gun (if it's even possible/reasonble)? Thanks

[gdvan01]

That depends, do you want there to be anything left after shooting these critters?

[jrfoxx]

sorry, should have mentioned, I plan to eat the squirrels rabbit, and nutria. the coyote and 'other' ones, will be left as food for scavangers (unless someone an convince me that eating possum, coyote, or skunk is safe and tasty).

[koja48]

Shotgun for all; let the quarry determine the shot size. 22 mag is too much for pot hunting, too little for 'yotes. Never hunted nutria, so don't know how tough they are, thus I would err on the conservative side & recommend the shottie.

[wdlsguy]

http://www.hevishot.com/products_dead_coyote.html

[Smoke]

I'd vote .22 and skip eating the nutria.....dang big rats is all they are.

Smoke

[oregonhunter]

I would never use a 22mag on a coyote

[rantingredneck]

As long as you keep shots within 75 to 100 yds a .22 mag will kill a coyote. Use a heavier bullet (45 grain minimum, heavier if you can find it) and aim for head/neck. You want deep penetration here not explosion. If you can place your shots the yotes will be gone. The heavier, slower bullets will also not blow up your edibles quite so much. Again head shots are in order to save edible meat. I've squirrel hunted with a .22 Mag before. You'll pretty much decapitate them, but as long as you weren't planning to eat the brains this shouldn't be a problem. If coyotes are truly going to be a target of opportunity and not something you're actively pursuing then I don't think you're going to want to "invest" in the dead coyote shells. 22.00 for 10 shells is a bit extreme IMO. At least that's what Bass Pro Shops sells them for.

Happy hunting........