.22 magnum for coyotes?

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It's not really evidence, however, a few guys who have say the coyotes die slowly and they often can't find them, even with heart and lung shots.
 
Coyote pelts from Alabama aren't worth the effort so pest control is the (mostly) reason for hunting them. We take them as targets of opportunity to preserve the wild turkey,quail and deer populations. I like my .22wmr but would opt for my .223 if coyote was the primary target.
 
Just want to stress shot placement when using the .22 mag. I have shot two coyotes with the .22 mag. The first I got in the neck and it was DRT. The second was in the lung area and it fell down and was hurt, but then it bolted. I trailed it for about 100 yds before I lost the trail. Didn't recover it though is the point. My dad has shot a handful of coyotes with the .22 mag (around 5). Hit one in the neck, DRT. The others were lung shots and only one was found about 100 yds from where he hit it. Most of these shots are between 50-100 yds. What we have learned: lung shots over 50 yds are almost surely deadly but not much success recovering them. With the .22mag it seems to be best to pick your shots more carefully and wait for a CNS shot. I have little doubt a well placed lung shot kills them, but they go a ways. Shoot for the head or neck if possible.
 
I've seen some pretty decent pelts on some of our AL coyotes. I've shot a few with a wmr never to be recovered although I'm certain they died so if you just want to kill them I suppose it's as good as anything, although I would choose the hornady 30 grain v-max over any 40 grain load. I personally bought a H&R handi-rifle chambered in .22 hornet as a coyote gun. As my name implies the .25-06 is my favorite all around cartridge but it's kinda on the expensive side just to pop pesky critters.
 
Alquarterbore,have you tried to sell one of those pelts? The last one I sold was a thick well primed male. The buyer Campbell Fur & Root Co. in Gurley,Al. gave me $12.50 for it only because it was already skinned and stretched. DEFINITELY NOT worth it! They have become so numerous here (No.Cen.Al.) that they are threatening other species. Quail and cottontail populations are down and the wild turkey (in this area) population is stuggling. They are an unprotected species and fair game any time except at night. Kill as many as you can ,we got plenty.
 
How in the heck does a coyote catch a turkey, anyway - they can just fly away - I can see a poult, but a grown turkey?
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Have watched two fully grown turkeys become predator food; one was caught by a bobcat and another by a coyote. A coyote catches a turkey the same way a bobcat catches a grown turkey. They hunker down and sneak up on it. A turkey is kind of like a bumblebee-it is not all that fast getting off the ground. If the coyote is within about 15 feet of the turkey when starts its take off run; the bird is coyote food.
 
The biggest threat to wild turkey populations by coyotes is nest robbing. The number of adult turkeys taken is minimal. A coyote(and coon,possum,skunk..etc.) will eat every egg in the nest.
 
I checked speed on the Hornady vmax, they were the very high 2200's to 2300 +. pretty accurate through my Marlin 925m.
 
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I was by no means saying not to shoot them. I know they are a nuisance and I'll shoot any I get a chance to. 22 wmr is just too susceptible to wind drift in my opinion. With a hornady v-max it's great out to 50 yards but even with this pick of the litter load let even a light breeze blow up and past that range it becomes unpredictable. Step up to a cheap 22 centerfire and you alleviate much of this problem. And I keep nicer looking pelts for myself I wouldn't even know where to sell one except to the occasional friend who wants one for his wall. I really wasn't trying to argue the point. I agree with you. I just like to find 'em for the fun of it.
 
What else is the 22 mag good for ?
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Lots and lots of things: squirrels, rabbits, skunks, raccoons, possums, turkeys (where legal), small beavers, target shooting.

IMO, song dogs deserve a .22 Hornet / .218 Bee or bigger for a clean kill.
 
I'm NOT advocating using a .22mag instead of a larger caliber for coyote. I would definitely go larger if given a choice, however, if I am out with my Savage M65 bolt gun and a coyote gives me a shot within 100 yards...he's MINE!
 
Yes Dr. Tad,Alabama beaver can reach 80lbs(not typical,45lbs on average). I trapped and hunted them for a number of years(25+). At a .22lr's effective range it is more than adequate for even the largest beaver. Beaver are NOT very tough animals to kill.(a beast to carry out afterwards though!)
 
Dr.Tad,if it were legal and our deer were as small(an 80lb deer is just out of spots) as large beaver,maybe but probably not because deer as much tougher than beaver.
 
A .22 mag will kill a coyote just fine at 50 yards. I recomend hollow points. A friend of mine droped a dog at 115 yards with a .17 hmr once and I would think a .22 mag would do the same. I have killed them at 40 yards with my 22 mag. I usually use my shotgun when I am hunting in thick woods.
 
Well, I'm pretty dang bored today, and my oh so craptastic job doesn't require my presence until 4pm tomorrow. I may be tempted to sit out with the old Glenfield 25 tonight.
 
Odd that in 49 posts nobody has mentioned shooting the coyote on the point of the shoulder. I have taken dozens of them with 22lr & 22mag this way with none moving from the spot.
 
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