Harry58
Member
My state allows hunting coyote at night with either a handgun (any caliber) or a long gun (not bigger than 22 caliber rimfire). I suspect that a 22 WMR is enough gun, but what is your opinion on a 22 LR or other rimfires?
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22 rimfire enough for coyote?
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thomasinaz
US Veteran
A 22RF is not enough to reliably kill a coyote. Can it be done, yes......but not consistently. These are pretty tough animals and you need something to anchor them or else they'll just run off and die, or linger wounded for a while. When we used to hunt them in upper NY state we used 12 guage shotguns, and mostly night hunted (legal there). The shotgun was due to the thick woods in upper NY. In AZ we use any good 22 centerfire or up, with 243 being a good caliber. Much more open, and longer shots here. If you're limited to RF calibers where you hunt then stick with the magnum. If not, I'd suggest a small centerfire rifle round or shotgun, depending on the terrain. Or any good centerfire revolver that you can shoot well.....
Steve C
Member
A .22 LR is perfectly capable of killing a coyote. Night hunting you aren't shooting at long ranges if you are jack lighting or using night vision. I know everyone wants to be over gunned and thinks you have to blow a critter in half to do them in rather than just being a fair marksman and hitting the vitals. Use a hollow point, doesn't even have to be a hyper velocity. If you have a .22 mag then it adds a little range.
.22 mag is a minimum for these (very) tough critters. I've seen em run with a solid hit with a .223.
If legal for night hunting like here in Michigan go to a good heavy loaded 12ga. "Dead Coyote" brand seems to be a favorite with (T shot if you can find it and it's not cheap) a full choke. This will give you more killing power with only slightly less range than the .22 mag.
If legal for night hunting like here in Michigan go to a good heavy loaded 12ga. "Dead Coyote" brand seems to be a favorite with (T shot if you can find it and it's not cheap) a full choke. This will give you more killing power with only slightly less range than the .22 mag.
David LaPell
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I wouldn't use anything less than a .22 Magnum on coyotes, especially here in the northeast. I have hit them with everything from .22 Hornet to .32-20 and shotgun slugs, and some of these things are tough hombres.
Maximumbob54
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Are these sickly scrawny creatures that are full of disease and worms that are coming in too close and may have rabies? I would think at fifty to a hundred yards with a Stinger or a Velociter you could send one to another world. Glowing yellow eyes that are fat on your barn cats or chickens and are quick to scoot out, maybe follow that shotgun advice or pick them off with a .223 at a distance before they get in close. They seem to be pretty predictable in my limited experience. It shouldn't be hard to just wait for him when he gets hungry. So I guess it depends on your situation.
Hammerless-12
Member
YEP, 22RF works just fine on em.
I've known several guys who preferred the 22 mag for coyotes, some farmers have had good luck with the LR using Velocitors or similar hot loads. Hunting conditions have a lot to do with it. Around farms or when calling ranges tend to be short in the midwest. Hunting over large open fields a centerfire 223 or 22-250 would be a better choice. At night I preferred a 12 gauge loaded with #4 buckshot, usually anchors them quite well as they come in to a call. Have to consider the conditions you are hunting under.
I *might* use a 22 WMR, but not a 22LR. The last feral tom cat I hit in the vitals (through its upper triceps into the heart/lung area) at less than 20 yards with a CCI 40 gr subsonic HP (normally an excellent small game round) made it 40 yards before dropping.
Given the limitations stated in the original post I'd opt for a centerfire handgun.
Given the limitations stated in the original post I'd opt for a centerfire handgun.
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Ky Bob
Member
A .22 rimfire would not make a quick kill and the yote would suffer IMO.
mtime7
Member
I wouldn't unless i had to, but if you can make the head shot take it. and carolina and Ga definately need some people out hunting them, no matter where they die or how
11e40
Member
.22 mag would be the very minimum , at very close range. these things are tougher than you think. even though their varmits they deserve to be dispatched humanely. just me.
There are a lot of good reasons to not have a wounded coyote loose in your neighborhood.
Given the lawful choices you have, I would opt for a shotgun - if you are using a spotlight, he will probably not stand still long enough for a head shot.
Given the lawful choices you have, I would opt for a shotgun - if you are using a spotlight, he will probably not stand still long enough for a head shot.
Larry from Bend
Member
We have soooo many coyotes that I tend to shoot at them with whatever I have handy. I killed one earlier this Spring with a LR round in a Ruger BearCat. So yes the LR will do the job; just not always.
Coyotes ARE tough. I've wondered if the .223 is enough gun at times and I had one run off after getting hit by my 6mm-06. Gotta hit them where they live.
Coyotes ARE tough. I've wondered if the .223 is enough gun at times and I had one run off after getting hit by my 6mm-06. Gotta hit them where they live.
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