Asking for ideas on how to "manage" coyotes

Yes a. 22 will take out a coyote but I would prefer something larger. Plus I like them to know what the noise is, so louder is good. The coyotes avoid us because we shoot fairly often. So far anyway...

We also have a. 22/410 over under. It's fantastic!

babs,

A .22 well placed [most recommend a brain shot] can easily take down a coyote, but most people do not recommend it simply due to the risk of injuring it rather than destroying/killing it.

If you are concerned about the loudness of a shotgun, then another alternative [expensive] would be a PCP air rifle. Unfortunately, they can be quite expensive for some of the larger calibers. Sam Yang Dragon Claw's .50 caliber can drop just about any animal, but it costs $600, and that does not include a scuba tank for refills.

I own a Benjamin Marauder .25 that shoots single holes at 70 yards [it will shoot 10 pellets all through the same original hole]. Benjamin also now makes 9mm, .357 cal, and I believe a .45 too.

Here's a link to their .357 cal Bulldog.

https://www.crosman.com/connect/ben...57-trophy-game-hunting-air-rifle/?hvid=47IZar

If you do not have nearby neighbors, and noise is not an issue, your best bet would be the shotgun, or a larger caliber rifle with a really nice scope on it.

What I like about the 25. Benjamin Marauder:

It is nearly impossible to miss anything under 70 yards when at rest [I can choose which eyeball to hit when I hunt turkeys with it]
It is so quiet that the loudest noise you hear is when the pellet hits the mark
You can pick them up with a nice zoom scope for under $500 during Christmas sales
The ammo [pellets] are easy to find and purchase and cost only pennies

Finally, my friend and local rancher has already lost 27 lambs in one month this year to coyotes. He keeps his sheep over near Davis, CA. He hired someone to shoot them.

Ebay has incredibly deals on the steel leg traps, but the State of California has terribly strict laws and punishments if you are caught using them, so I cannot recommend it.

One last suggestion: have you considered installing some well placed HD IP cameras to discover the coyotes habits and patterns? We have our entire property under 24 hour day and night IR surveillance so we will know who, what, when, etc. some animal or person trespasses upon our property.

Just some food for thought...and trying to help by sharing some ideas to stop the free food for coyotes!

Soar

I have some IP cameras that I use in the barn during kidding season, but they don't have storage so only good if I am awake and watching. We have one trail cam...saw a grey squirrel

I have a .22 handgun and rifle and a 12 gauge shotgun. DH would like one of those air rifles, he has talked about them quite a bit so I might have to look into those some more. He isn't here most of the time so if I buy something it is really for me.

I think that the fact that the two neighbors I used to have are gone has made a difference in the predator load. My dogs used to have back up from neighbor dogs, plus lights at other houses and just more activity. I am pretty much alone out here now...nice...but not.

Hot wire around the goat pen is not working well tonight so the dogs will be busy. The fence around the chicken yard is hot. Hot wires are great, except when they don't work, which seems to always be noticed in the evening. Searched and searched for the short and can't find it.

I don't let them get that close. A flat trajectory Weatherby .270 with a 3x9x 40 Busnell scope will reach out and touch 'em using cheap Remington core-lokt 130gr. Recoil is a bit significant, but managable--even my 5'2" tall wife uses it, but doesn't like it because it is a bolt ation. My 7.62x39 SKS iron sights does a pretty good job too. Took a lot of dialing in to get the front sight right on the sks, but if done right, it's almost as accurate as the .270, and a lot lighter tho pretty much limited to 200 yard accurate range. Noise-wise, everyone 1/2 mile around knows my .270.
I learned to shoot at the best--@ Edson Range's 200, 300, 500 yard lines. 500 yards is 80 ft beyond one full roll of barb wire--80 ft further than 1/4 mile. Targets were 40" tall, with an 8" round bullseye IIRC. Nowadays, they are human silhouettes and optics are used.

I don't understand shooting at human silhouettes; it bothers me a little. At the range I go to they even have silhouettes that look like Osama bin Lamen.

Of the few guns we own I let DH choose and buy, I can shoot and usually hit my target but never had a real interest in what kind of gun I was shooting. Maybe time for a change.

babsbag said:

I don't understand shooting at human silhouettes; it bothers me a little. At the range I go to they even have silhouettes that look like Osama bin Lamen.

Of the few guns we own I let DH choose and buy, I can shoot and usually hit my target but never had a real interest in what kind of gun I was shooting. Maybe time for a change.

Click to expand...

Edson Range is at Camp Pendelton California, USMC Base, and where I went to Infantry Training Regiment in 1969. A year later I would be shooting at and be shot at by the real thing in I Corps, S. Vietnam. None of us on either side wore bulls eyes, and often were.. just silhouettes.
The dark square window with the m-60 sticking out just above the door was my home for 13 months.
http://www.vvmf.org/userfiles/remembrances/rem_uploads/CH-53.jpg

Babs
Use the .22 since you already have it
If you were going to buy something .223 is a preferred varmit caliber or something in that range
A lot less recoil than a larger caliber

@greybeard Glad that you are around to remember that "home". I can't even imagine.

I have put up a few more fences on my land so the coyote has to work a little harder for his snacks. Makes in a pain for me to get from place to place but it is what it is for now. Sometimes the budget requires that I make do with what I have.

Babs,

Don't listen to OneFineAcre...

Instead, see if Greybeard can come to your ranch with the M-60 with night sights mounted in the Sikorsky while wearing IR goggles. Afterwards, I am certain it would be very difficult to find even one coyote in all of Anderson...

Ok, just joking. Actually, I really like OneFineAcre's suggestion!

And I would like to add to his suggestion...

Consider using CCI's .22lr Stinger or Velocitor rounds. Not sure what type of .22LR rifle you have, but you also may want to know the distance you can accurately place a head shot with the rifle.

I have the inexpensive and well known Ruger 10/22 with a CenterPoint Rifle Scope 3-9x40mm. At 100 yards, it is incredibly accurate, and you should be able to easily take down a coyote with a well placed head/brain shot.

Finally, if you do desire to purchase a .223 with the AR format [great varmint gun], better get it fast...Gavin Newsom's new form of absolute insanity is scheduled to take place January 1st, 2017, and if his twisted thinking and insanity wins, you will no longer be able to purchase a .223 rifle with the AR format in the lovely state of California ever again.

You do not understand human silhouettes at the gun ranges. I will be honest with you. For many people, human silhouettes at the gun range is one of the first steps to help people "get over" the initial shock of shooting at a real live person. After it becomes normal and natural for them, the next step is to help train people to place lethal shots in either the head [the "T" zone located in the ocular-cranial cavity], or the torso [thoracic cavity].

Shooting at human silhouettes is a must for anyone training to be in law enforcement, military, professional self-defense or to be a responsible CCW holder.

I have never seen a silhouette of the President at a gun range. No matter how terrible the President is, I feel having a human silhouette of the President and shooting at it is disrespectful, unhealthy, dishonorable, and downright sinful.

Instead of shooting at our leaders, we need to be shooting prayers up to heaven for them, no matter how terrible they are...

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. [1 Tim. 2:1-3].

Hope this helps!

@babsbag my favorite rifle was a Remington 22-250. I could drop a running deer with one shot. It packs a whallop, but doesn't kick real bad. I also used to play a little when bored in the deer stand......I shot AT squirrels, not hitting them, but killed them. I placed the crosshairs right in front of their nose and squeezed the trigger. The velocity of the bullet going by their heads killed them. Squirrel for supper! LOL

@greybeard God bless you. My brother was a disabled Viet Nam vet. He died several years ago.......I miss him. God bless all our veterans and those in active service.