is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

Brawny

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Minuteman
Sep 21, 2011
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Nevada
I live on an 1.5 acre property, and due to recent land development, coyotes are becoming a major problem with us and our neighbors. Last month our neighbor's doberman was attacked by a pack of 4-5 of them and it was seriously wounded. Last night, my great grandmother let her pug out into a gated section of the yard so it could use the restroom, and it was attacked and eaten by another (maybe the same) pack, which managed to find a way through or over the gate. We all have repeatedly asked the city to help solve the problem, but have gotten no help or suggestions whatsoever. My neighbors and I have all talked about it, and have decided that if the city continues to ignore us, we will simply take matters into our own hands and have us a little "hunt". Our properties are on the outskirts of the city, and pretty much secluded. I just wanted to know if a .22 would be a decent choice for taking out these coyotes. I am a good shot with a .22, just don't want to injure them, as I quite frankly we want them dead not injured to come back another day.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

suppressed .22 w/1-9" twist barrel, with Aguila SSS 60 gr bullets.

.17 M2 or .17 HMR are even better. these two will make headshots seem easy out to 150 yards.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

Who cares, they're coyotes... been battling them for 15 years on my ranch. Now, when calculating projected income from livestock sales, I factor in opportunity cost for livestock lost based on whether I hired a professional trapper (to keep yote' population down) or not. They've killed two of my dogs, and are incredibly smart, so just shoot em' anywhere with any caliber and hope they die humanely. But if you hit em in the head or a solid chest shot with a heavy .22 bullet, they'll die eventually. Good luck...
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

Well I have been looking to buy a .17, but I have a few .22s already so i'm just gunna use what I got for now. I have probably taken a hundred squirrels and rabbits with a .22 so i'm sure I could kill a coyote. Heeler, good luck keeping those little fuckers off your ranch, i'm glad my problem isn't that big, but it's bad none the less.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

.22 will do the job just head shoot them if your a good shot shoot them in the ear or eye easier passage to the skull and use a high velocity and we found in aust for wild dogs a BBQ or a bit of rotten meat brings them in then happy hunting just get as many as you can first go cos if their like wild dogs or foxes they'll get a bit skittish after the first touch up and it gets harder to get them to come in again
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

thanks Big Cal, I was planning on nailing a couple old steaks to a board and baiting them to an area of the yard where we have a covered gazebo type deal. Three of us can sit in there and when they start eating we have floodlights we can set up to light them up and take them out.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

Use a red light above the bait,

with a flood light you will get about ,5 sec before they are all gone running like the wind,

of one is less than caring, semiauto .22LR, subsonic solids, red light above bait and then when they are in on the bait,

just let it rip.

Still I think you are way better of with a 17 mach2/Hrm and the use of a more stealthy approach.

I care if I get what I shoot at rather then just sling lead.

Desperate times and so on though.

/Chris
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

I specifically use a .22lr for this job. The damage to the yote is sufficient. We are going to have a bounty on them here, with the ranchers paying for the ears. I do my part to help, and it gets all my ammo paid.

Almost like a professional hunter!! LOL!!

We are not allowed to use anything bigger than a .23 caliber during rifle hunting season here. I would prefer to use my .243, but the rules are the rules.

DK
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

Shoot everyone of them, I have a problem with them at my farm. Running deer & eating the rabbits. Screw being ethical they have litter's and eat everything they can catch. I'm going to try the synthetic sponge soaked in bacon grease to also help thanks Bamawrx.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: z71rat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I specifically use a .22lr for this job. The damage to the yote is sufficient. We are going to have a bounty on them here, with the ranchers paying for the ears. I do my part to help, and it gets all my ammo paid.

Almost like a professional hunter!! LOL!!

We are not allowed to use anything bigger than a .23 caliber during rifle hunting season here. I would prefer to use my .243, but the rules are the rules.

DK </div></div>

Not allowed to go above .23 cal I'd be getting a .223 rem or 22-250 that's what we use over for pretty much everything except deer and they work awesome and gives you heaps better legs then .22lr or mag 223 and 22-250 is what most of the pro roo shooters use and they take out thousands in a season without any problems
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Swedish guy</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> semiauto .22LR, subsonic solids, red light above bait and then when they are in on the bait,

just let it rip. </div></div>

Great tip, will be using a red light now for sure, thank you for that tip.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: z71rat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I specifically use a .22lr for this job. The damage to the yote is sufficient. We are going to have a bounty on them here, with the ranchers paying for the ears. I do my part to help, and it gets all my ammo paid.

Almost like a professional hunter!! LOL!!

We are not allowed to use anything bigger than a .23 caliber during rifle hunting season here. I would prefer to use my .243, but the rules are the rules.

DK </div></div>

Sounds like a good time, wish they would do that out here sometime lol.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: former naval person</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The SSS Aguila 60 grain works well. </div></div>

Ordered a box from midway this morning, thanks for the recommendation.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Keith at PCR</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No country for old men Shotgun!




I wouldn't use .22LR or .22 subsonic on a coyote. I enjoy hunting/killing them but I respect them enough to use something a little more lethal. </div></div>

I would prefer using my shotgun, but I don't want to draw attention from too far away. A .22 is quiet enough to not alert anyone aside from my neighbors (who are happy someone is taking them out).
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Keith at PCR</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No country for old men Shotgun!




I wouldn't use .22LR or .22 subsonic on a coyote. I enjoy hunting/killing them but I respect them enough to use something a little more lethal. </div></div>

Keith you might make a fine 10/22 but dude you NEED to put some rounds down range and see what that baby is capable of.
laugh.gif


.22 is extremely lethal on thin skinned animals such as the coyote. I can't even count the dogs I have killed w/ a .22. As long as you keep things under 150 your money, and don't be scared of head shots!

CCI stingers: 32gr at 1650fps dead dog every time!

I would do suppressed 40gr'ers w/o hessitation but I would drop the range down to 75 and under and ear hole them/ give them a 3rd eye socket.....
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Zwhetz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I would prefer using my shotgun, but I don't want to draw attention from too far away. A .22 is quiet enough to not alert anyone aside from my neighbors (who are happy someone is taking them out). </div></div>


Reason 17,459 for me to not live inside the city limits.......

Hate to piss on your party here but if you don't want to draw attention then it means you know you could get into trouble for doing it. If you could get into trouble for this, then your city probably has an ordinace against what you want to do. Betting heavy odds that even though the city didn't want to help you out with the situation, they'd be more than happy to hang your ass over breaking one or more of their laws.

Call a nuisance animal specialist, and get your neighbors to pitch in on the cost, if there is one. Might be a lot cheaper than doing time and paying fines. Here on the farm we shoot the fucking things on sight, day or night, but we also have the "state trapper" helping us out with poison and traps.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tripwire</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Zwhetz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I would prefer using my shotgun, but I don't want to draw attention from too far away. A .22 is quiet enough to not alert anyone aside from my neighbors (who are happy someone is taking them out). </div></div>


Reason 17,459 for me to not live inside the city limits.......

Hate to piss on your party here but if you don't want to draw attention then it means you know you could get into trouble for doing it. If you could get into trouble for this, then your city probably has an ordinace against what you want to do. Betting heavy odds that even though the city didn't want to help you out with the situation, they'd be more than happy to hang your ass over breaking one or more of their laws.

Call a nuisance animal specialist, and get your neighbors to pitch in on the cost, if there is one. Might be a lot cheaper than doing time and paying fines. Here on the farm we shoot the fucking things on sight, day or night, but we also have the "state trapper" helping us out with poison and traps. </div></div>

The reason I don't want to make too much noise is not that I'm afraid of the city people catching me, our yard is about a mile from the entrance to a state park, and I don't want anyone to think there are poachers out at night. I have already looked into hiring a professional trapper, but there are none close by and they want a lot of money. I really respect that you posted as the "voice of reason" but I know that i'm so far away from the center of town that I will already have the guns back in the safe before anyone even makes it out here to investigate, if they even care to.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

Too bad you are in CA so no suppressor. With all the budget cuts you probably won't get any help from state, local, county agencies. Looks like you might have to handle it yourself. A 22 would a great way to put these Wiley Coyotes down.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

I have had great luck with the simple 40gr CCI minimag or 40gr powerpoints. Double tap to the chest and move to the next target.

I had the same problem but I chose to settle it using my .35whelen. Couple grains of bullseye under a cast 148 wadcutter, keep it under 1000fps and it is quieter than a the subsonic .22s.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/small_charges.htm
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

I recently shot a coyote in the ear with a subsonic 22 at 80 yards. The yote made it all of 15 - 20 yards before falling over. I did go ahead and put one more round in his head just to make sure but it did the trick. Even if you don't get a chance to walk up on it and put the final round its head like I did......it a coyote....you will be okay.

That said, if you do kill a couple, pictures would be nice.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Big Cal</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not allowed to go above .23 cal I'd be getting a .223 rem or 22-250 that's what we use over for pretty much everything except deer and they work awesome and gives you heaps better legs then .22lr or mag 223 and 22-250 is what most of the pro roo shooters use and they take out thousands in a season without any problems </div></div>

OK, let me clarify. We are not allowed to go over .23 cal during rifle hunting season. Once rifle season for deer and elk is over, my .243 will be singin a nice little song. So the .22lr is only for a few yotes during that time.

DK
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JTG 1977</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That said, if you do kill a couple, pictures would be nice.</div></div>

definitely will do, saw one in the yard this evening so as soon as that ammo gets here my brother and I will be staging a little hunt. Order tracking says it should be here tomorrow with any luck.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: frog5215</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Close, head, longer, chest. They will die. </div></div>

+1.. shot placement. I'd say it's ethical if you're confident in your shooting abilities.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

First off, if you have never seen a yote eating a calf as it is being born, you will never understand. There is no such thing as an ethical shot. You shoot to kill first, but if you can shot to wound, take it. Dead is dead, and if you can wound for a slow kill, all the better.

Second, subsonics, shot out of a 22" or longer barrel, are suprisingly quite. One shot is about all you will get with a bolt. Take it and make it count. A wound is better than nothing. And I will take a gut shot before a possible miss shot at a small target like a head shot. Take anything, baring any shot that might richochet into a neighbor. NEVER NEVER take a shot that might endanger a neighbor. I live in a neighborhood and have shot numerous prarie dogs and one coyote. My neighbor lost his dog to a yote, and the more neighbors that lose dogs, the less that complain about gunshots at night.

Yotes are sub ethical. Shoot to kill/wound/injure...anything/anytime.

Regards,
DT
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

If my co worker would read this post.... He would go nuts.
Why?

Well he thinks he can kill an elephant with a 22 and everything in between.

hahahahahah!

Love this Forum!
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Zwhetz</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: former naval person</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The SSS Aguila 60 grain works well. </div></div>

Ordered a box from midway this morning, thanks for the recommendation. </div></div>

Make sure your <span style="font-weight: bold">twist is at least 1:9</span> with the 60g Aguila. I use a 10-22 with a 1:9 twist, or an AR15 with a 22 conversion for the 60g Aguila's.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

I would set a few snares or leghold traps that way you dont have to invest alot of time waiting for them. When you do catch one a 220 swift will do the job nicely. Example

decemberyote003.jpg
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

I dont know if its ethical, are you trying to refrain from being loud? I shot 3 squirrels today on my 1 acre. I have houses on either side of my house(maybe 50 yds apart?) I dont shoot centerfire often. I will shoot subsonic 22lr every now and again, I try not to piss anyone off. I shot 3 squirrels at about 30 yards. I hit every one of them in either the head, neck or upper chest (heart lungs) not one of them died immediately. It took atleast 10-20 seconds for 2 of them to die. One i hit in the neck fell 20 feet and spazed for a couple minutes, then i went to finish him and he was gone! These are 40gr CCIs going 1050fps. I guess its not enough. The hmr I had would dominate them tho.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

Sorry for the break, but I now have some more news to share! About 40 mins ago I heard a pack of the bastards howling and yippin' so I went out there with the .22 and a rabbit call. About 5 mins after I sat down and called, a good sized coyote came right up to where I was set up, about 30' in front of me. He spooked just as I raised the gun, since I had no time to grab food to keep him occupied, but I still managed to get a good shot off on him. He ran down into a creek that runs through our yard, and that crap is so overgrown that I couldn't see anything when I looked for him, but In morning I'll see if hes down there. Those Aguilas made next to no noise, very happy with them. Pics inc if I find him tomorrow.

That was such a thrill I think I'll set up for the next few nights with proper bait/lighting. Got one but I know there are a bunch more out there.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

Mate if their anything like a fox or a feral dog try not to pull a shot unless it's a guarantee ull put him down dead as the get gun shy and won't come in without more work to get them to come in again so try bowl as many as you can while their still dumb if you can't nail it dead on in the head let it spook away it will come back and the more it sees you the less it fears you and won't scare as easily and maybe it will bring a couple of mates with it then go to town what we found was it doesant matter if you shoot 1 and kill it only wounding is a problem and if you can spot the alpha dog leave him till last as he'll keep leading the others in where as if you shoot him first the others will be really skittish for a long time and you don't just want to move them on cos they can come back you want them dead
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

If you want an ethics discussion and to be crapped on, go to predator masters.

I use .22 WMR exclusively for coyote out to 150 yards. A little 1.5 acre property would be cake for a .22. Aim for the head or chest and it will anchor them.

50 yards or closer you could just use a #4 buck, but you may get in trouble if you live semi close to town.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

Dirty, I've shot a shit load of coyotes and one little piece of advice....
It's common to zing a bullet into a coyote and they'll spin and bite at the wound. Since you're going to use the .22 be ready for quick follow up shots. I've lunged them with .223's, .22hornets, .22 mags, .22lr's and had them do the biting spin. In the time they're doing that you can often get another round in them for " insurance". Good luck.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

Forgot to mention if noise isn't too much of a factor a 12 gauge is pretty safe (compared to bullet travel, ricochet, etc) and can be serious yote medicine. #4 buckshot can be good to about 40 yards ( maybe a bit more). If you don't mind spending a few more dollars, Dead Coyote loads kick some major a$$.
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

When the coyote pack eats your dog, are they being ethical?

I have little kids, and coyotes, and the family is in the ranching business. Needless to say, 'yotes are to be killed on sight, with whatever tool is available.

Coyotes are very trainable, as in, miss your shot using the rabbit call, and the rabbit call may well quit working. Red lights don't freak them out as much as white lights.

As with all targets, shot placement is key. 22LR hollow points are plenty, although you need to hit vitals. Chest = 100 yd runoff, head/spine should drop them where they stand.

If you and the neighbors are on the same plan, who's going to call you in?

HotSunTX
 
Re: is a .22 ethical for small coyotes?

Got this one while it was after my dog. It was a 40yd shot, I was lucky enough to catch them in a stand off so I had a few seconds to make the shot. I aimed for the front shoulder blade as with hunting, I wanted to break her down fast. I didn't want to make a spine shot and miss. So I went for the sure thing. The yote dropped at the shot, but needed a shot to the spine to finish her off.

c24e9348.jpg