Coyote Hunting

[RustyFN]

This will sound like a dumb question because I don't hunt. I do own rifles and pistols but I shoot competition, IDPA, GSSF, Bullseye ect. Somebody I work with bought a 17 HMR rifle to go coyote hunting. A friend I work with and shoot with were talking about it and we were thinking that a 17 HMR would be a little small for coyote hunting. Most people I talk to that coyote hunt use a 223. Would the 17 HMR be a good gun for this or do you think it is a little small?
Rusty

 

[Grumulkin]

I think a 17 HMR would be plenty big if you were close enough and placed your shot well. By close enough, I mean 100 yards or less. It's definitely not a 400 yard coyote gun; those little bullets really poop out by then.

 

[hagar]

Might do OK for sideways shots, but not head on. I actually had a 22 magnum bounce off a coyotes skull at 15 yards. I killed a few with the 22 magnum, but they normally don't drop dead on the spot, and it does not leave much of a blood trail. Buy a 204 Ruger if you can.

 

[jmorris]

You could probably find someone on here that’s killed a water buffalo with a squirt gun. But, I would say the bullet construction is too light to be optimum for coyote size game.

 

[SUBMOAS]

Make your shot count....

I have shot two "yotes" with a 17HMR. You have to do a neck shot and keep it close. My friend shot one with a 17HMR and tried a lung shot, the shot was around 100 yards. It worked okay, but the coyote ran over 500+ yards after being shot. We finished him with a 22-250.
My.... .02

 

[Leanwolf]

Last Saturday at the Idaho Sportsmen's Show, a famous predator and big game caller, Jim Horn, gave a coyote calling/hunting seminar. He was asked which caliber he favored for coyote shooting?

He said that he has long favored the .22-250, but is transitioning to the .204 Ruger. He has used it recently and said he's never seen coyotes go down as they do with that .204.

Mine is a .223 Rem., by the way.

FWIW.

L.W.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

The 17 is definitley marginal, why not use one of your GSSF guns?

 

[SUBMOAS]

This one.......

I think he might mean .204 Ruger.........

 

[akodo]

17 REM, good choice, 17 HMR, even though it is loaded to higher pressures than 22mag, still not a good choice.

 

[RustyFN]

The 17 is definitley marginal, why not use one of your GSSF guns?

I wouldn't think you would want to hunt coyote with a glock pistol. Anyway it's not me that is going to use the 17 to hunt with I own a RRA 223. Somebody I work with bought the 17 for coyote hunting and I thought it was to small and wanted to hear from people who know a lot more about it than me. Thanks for all the replies and the education, I appreciate it.
Rusty

 

[koja48]

Would the 17 HMR be a good gun for this or do you think it is a little small?

WAY too small! Use a centerfire. I've pursued 'yotes my entire life & they are tough critters. A hunter owes everything he hunts a quick, humane kill. I'm not saying a 17HMR won't dispatch a coyote under ideal (read CLOSE) conditions, but it is a less than marginal choice, in my humble opinion. I've personally heard tell of several that ran off. Great rodent round; limit it to smaller vermin. 223 is good, 204 Ruger is awesome! 220 Swift and 22-250 are excellent, but they create a bit of pelt damage. I'll stand by the 204 . . .

 

[Leanwolf]

SUBMOAS - "I think he might mean .204 Ruger........."

You're correct! .204 Ruger. I edited my post. Getting old in my old age...

L.W.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

RUSTY I have had a lot of success using a G31, and G19 while calling coyotes. No you aren't going to take yotes at 300 yards, however 50-75 yards isn't out of the question, and while calling coyotes I routinely get shots under 40 yards. Give handgun hunting a try, you'll enjoy it.

 

[1911 guy]

Amish kid and close shots.

There's an Amish kid that shoots 'yotes near me. He says he doesn't shoot unless they're 75 yards or less and only head shots. He's nailed a few in the last couple years that I know of myself. It works, but only under limited conditions.