Coyotes In Semi-Rural Area -- Which Caliber & Bullet Type?

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Mike1234567

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I recently moved to a semi-rural area. Most of us live on two acres so my neigbors are pretty close. Also, there's no brick/stone construction... mostly trailers.

I know there are coyotes in this general area but I've yet to see a live one. In fact, I've never seen a dead one here (highway kills) until the last few days... I've seen at least one dead on the highway every day for the last few days. I'm thinking they may be moving through this area now but I don't know. I don't think I'll need to dispatch one near at my home but I'd like to be prepared just in case. There are many small pets that people allow to run free... I don't but I do have an old pug and a dog door leading to a small fence yard. The short fence only serves to keep my dog in. It'll do nothing to keep a coyote out.

I want to encourage coyotes to leave and think twice about coming back should they come through. However, I don't want any collateral damage. Excess noise is a concern too.

The soil in my area is fine sandy loam. There are quite a few trees but it's not deep forest by any means.

AMMO CHOICE: My thought is either Hornady .22 WMR 30gr V-Max or their .223 40gr V-Max.

BTW, I don't own a .17 HMR and would rather not buy one. I MIGHT consider a .17 Rem but I'd really rather avoid buying into another caliber. I'm not all that interested in .22 Hornet either. All this stated, I am open to suggestions.

Lastly, yes I know to not miss nor take iffy shots and to always be aware of what's behind my target.:)

ETA #1: Also posted on the rimfirecentral forum.

ETA #2: I should make it clear that I can be talked into any caliber as long as it really is by far the best fit for my needs.

ETA #3: Rifles I have right now suitable to this task... Remington 597 .22 WMR and RRA with .223 upper 20" barrel 1:8 twist. Also, I have a 12ga Baikal with BB may be suitable?? What about a .410 bore Saiga?
 
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Well, my instant thought after reading

My thought is either Hornady .22 WMR 30gr V-Max or their .223 40gr V-Max.
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Was to split the difference with a Hornet. But you don't want one, so let's look at your other possibility (which happens to be my predator rifle of choice)

The .17 Rem's biggest advantages are 1)usually no exit hole, so pelts are pristine and 2) very low ricochet probability; Those little 20 and 25 gr. bullets at over 4,000 FPS disintegrate when they hit earth and 3) virtually no recoil

It also has an extremely flat trajectory.

If you get into the .17 Rem, I can pretty much assure you you'll fall in love with it.

They are, however, kind of a PITA to load. It's challenging to handle those tiny bullets, and extruded powders tend to get crossways on the case mouth. Lots of spilled powder is just a fact of life loading for this cartridge.

They're also just as loud as a .223. If noise is a concern, that's where the Hornet shines. It is about the same noise level as .22 WMR.

The WMR will work with good shot placement, but I feel it's pretty light for 25-40 pound animals beyond 50 yards or so.
 
I live in a semi rural area, houses a little closer together but with lots of forest service land mixed in. Coyotes are frequent visitors and I hear or seem them weekly. I have two cockers I love more than some of my children ad I make sure the coyotes know there's a price to be paid for "hunting" my family. I keep an Itaca M37 16ga with 000 Buck at the front door and a SW Governor, with .410 buck at the back. And when I hike with the dogs I carry either the Governor or a Ruger LCR with .38+P or .357M. I've sent several coyotes back into the woods with an arse full of lead and each time I do the homestead is coyote-free for a few weeks. They're annoying but they aren't stupid!
 
I shoot the Fiocchi 223 40 grain V-max. Box of 50 at Guns Unlimited in Omaha runs around 15 bucks.
 
Mike1234567 what rifles do you own now? Shotgun can be a great yote rig to. Dont count them out.
 
A 3" 12ga with Heavi-shot Dead Coyote loads will take care of business out past 75 yds or so. It will also do double duty for 2-legged varmints.
 
The coyotes about my way are mainly around it seems at night. My future solution will be a couple of bulldogs and some night vision coupled with some sort of electronic calling system to get them closer to the house at night. I think a 12 ga shotgun with #2 birdshot or bb's will do fine. Rifle's have too much range to be safe in a settled area.
 
Pugs are a favorite meal for coyote. Before getting a rifle to take care of Mr Coyote make sure you are not in violation of any laws regarding discharge.
Two acres between dwellings is not very much. It may not be wise to use center fire ammo. Rim Fire travels a good deal also.
Anyway you can go to an area down the road, that is less populated, and call the coyote in? You could stake your pug out as bait.
You may have to find another way to take care of the problem.
 
husker said:
Mike1234567 what rifles do you own now? Shotgun can be a great yote rig to. Dont count them out.
Click to expand...

I edited my OP to reflect what calibers I have that are suitable for varminting... (edit #3). I suppose I could use a shotgun with BB. I just want to avoid too many projectiles flying around.

bejay said:
why not just use a 22 rimfire.
Click to expand...

.22LR might be okay much of the time due to the loose sandy soil but there are some rocks and other hard debris such as tree limbs... so I'm worried about ricochet. Also, when the sand is wet due to rain it's more prone to ricochet, I think.
 
You could stake your pug out as bait.
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Your pug would be a nervous wreck after the first couple hunts. Toy dogs still have their senses intact and would know if they were being stalked or not. A neighbor walks his C. Spaniel at night and the dog does know when there are coyotes about and it acts scared. A pug is small enough that maybe even a fox would also be interested.
 
.22LR might be okay much of the time due to the loose sandy soil but there are some rocks and other hard debris such as tree limbs... so I'm worried about ricochet. Also, when the sand is wet due to rain it's more prone to ricochet, I think.
Click to expand...
If you use a .22LR use the longest barrel you can get with subsonic hollow point ammo and your rifle's report will be like from a powerful pellet gun. Use a very accurate rifle since you need to place your shots well if you want to take a coyote humanely. The fact that you are seeing deadones suggest disease is about. Be especially careful of rabies. Me when something like a raccoon dies I dig a hole next to the animals and with a stick push it in. After filling in the hole you need to cover it with something heavy or it will get dug up and eaten by other hungry critters.
 
barnetmill said:
If you use a .22LR use the longest barrel you can get with subsonic hollow point ammo and your rifle's report will be like from a powerful pellet gun. Use a very accurate rifle since you need to place your shots well if you want to take a coyote humanely. The fact that you are seeing deadones suggest disease is about. Be especially careful of rabies. Me when something like a raccoon dies I dig a hole next to the animals and with a stick push it in. After filling in the hole you need to cover it with something heavy or it will get dug up and eaten by other hungry critters.
Click to expand...

RE: .22LR.... I do worry about ricochet so I'd like to find something that nearly garantees bullet disintegration every time.

RE: Dead Coyotes... Those have all been road kills on the highway about 4-6 miles away as the crow flies.
 
theicemanmpls said:
Pugs are not my favorite as one killed my daughters cat. It was not a good thing to deal with.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry about your daughter's cat.

I adopted a kitten recently and my old pug just ignores it. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body. The cat is fully grown now and tries to play with the dog but, again, he just ignores it. I do sometimes catch him sleeping snuggled up against the cat's cage though.:D

I'll look into the suggested shotguns loads. It'd be nice to have something quieter than a 12ga though.

BTW, I do have a Saiga .410 bore too.
 
Most semi-rural areas have laws against discharge, so make sure you don't run afoul of those.

My solution would the something very simple: 22LR shooting CCI Velocitors. Those who claim to know say that they have a significant knock down advantage over regular 22LR.

My second choice would be 30-45 yard shots with 20 gauge turkey loads.

223 is too much gun for an area with 2 acre lots.
 
If you all ready have a .410 shotgun, try using either buck shot loads or slugs through it. Either a 17hmr or 17M2 will work too.
 
I would seriously consider the 204 with barnes varmint grenade bullets or one of the centerfire 17s these bullets will explode upon impact and ricochets SHOULD not be possible.
 
My suspicions were right. I spoke to a neighbor tonight who told me that another neighbor a couple houses down saw a coyote on their property about three weeks ago. That's only about 1000 yards away from me. Also, I've noticed all the neighbors' loose dogs have been agitated lately. My neighbors have lost pets in the last couple weeks and they don't know where they went. I feel the need to step up my vigilance.
 
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