[bountyhunter]

Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving. Well it is official, we have coyotes in the area. The game warden said this morning that they think that the yokes are here for good (they have been tracking them in the area for several years but hoped they were passing through), which means that they will need to be exterminated for the sake of the livestock on the farm (they have already killed several calves in the last two weeks). My question is what is the most effective calibur for coyotes and varmits of that size? I was thinking of a .243 since I do not have many shots over 300 yards. All make, model, and calibur suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

[txlefty]

Yotes arn't that tuff of animal and most any cal. will kill one, even a .22, but if you want a more ethical kill go .222 or up. I would use whatever gun you feel very accurate with, good shot placement is the most important factor.

 

[Ulysses]

I would say that coyotes have been in Virginia for 10-15 years, or perhaps longer. Good luck in trying to "exterminate" them. :? It's not likely to happen in your lifetime, IMO. One benefit is that they will help a little with the overabundance of deer, but you are just trading one problem for another. :? Make the best of it and learn to live with it.

 

[huntswithdogs]

Bounty,
Where at in the Ole Dominon are ya? Need any help? If your close enough,I'll gladly help ya.
While "U" is correct about them "helping with the deer population problems" that we have,they are also helping themselves to turkeys,grouse,rabbits and as you stated,calves and sheep. We won't even get into the number of small pets that just " disappear". Shoot em with what ever ya have handy! That 243 should be just the trick. If ya reload,use some HP bullets. Their skin isn't that thick.

HWD

 

[EyeMissum]

They're also in N.C. too.

 

[wb]

In the foothill areas of Southern California, small dogs and cats can be the main food source for Coyotes (and Mountain lions).
So keep the small critters inside at night. 8)

 

[A5guy]

I live in an Indiana city two blocks from main street. Coyotes rule the streets at night here and eat many stray cats and dogs. They breed in city parks and along railroad right of ways. Sometime one will pick up a kid and all heck(or worse) will break loose.

 

[TMats]

When do you calve in VA?!? This time of year they should all be either in the feed lot or being backgrounded for replacement heifers. Even if you've got fall calvers, coyotes aren't typically blamed for the loss of many calves; guess you need tougher mother cows :wink:

This is Shotgun Forum...call 'em in and shoot 'em with a slug or buckshot.

 

[danurve]

I would think you have had yotes for years and years. They typicaly go 35-50 lbs. here easy. Nevertheless a .243 will slam a coyote with authority. A few dedicated .22 centerfire shooters keep the tripple duce alive, and the 22-250 has a nice bark. A .223 is cheaper to shoot and no doubt easier to find ammo for, but I like the .243 for flat shooting accuracy.

 

[JohnBT]

"The coyote harvest has increased from 1,295 in the 1993-94 hunting season to over 6,000 in the 1998-1999 hunting season." - www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulatio ... easons.asp

A few years ago a man was attacked at his home between Richmond and Williamsburg. Here's a brief account of it from a Washington Post article on coyote problems in the Metro D.C. area.

"The only known human assault in Virginia in the past five years was in New Kent County in January 2003. In that case, a man riding a lawn mower was attacked by a rabid coyote weighing about 50 pounds, large for a coyote. After kicking it away several times, the man was able to get his shotgun and shoot the animal as it chased him to his front porch, state records say."

 

[VAShooterGal]

We have a beef cattle farm and we're eat up with 'em... You can sit outside on the deck and hear them every night. Here's 2 of the one's I've killed... Both males.

My husband's holding this one up for me as I had puppies here and didn't want to touch him.

Saw one on the Blue Ridge Parkway the other night that was as big as a -large- German Shepard. They're here. They're increasing in numbers and they're not going anywhere

 

[bountyhunter]

VAShooterGal, what gauge/calibur was your husband using to kill the coyotes? I was deer hunting this morning in Southampton (I live in Suffolk), and they were all around me howling and barking, etc. while I was setting up. I guess me being there was disturbing to them. They stayed out of shotgun range, and I really was wishing I had brought my .223 with me.

 

[Raf]

Yeah we got 'em here in the middle peninsula, Gloucester, Mathews and Middlesex counties. I have heard stories of the distruction they are doing.

I guess I will have to get invovled and learn how to hunt these critters. :wink:

 

[hodgeman]

Yep, you guys have had coyotes for a number of years. I spend a great deal of time in NE Tennessee and SW Virginia and have had a number of opportunities to see them. A number of livestock killings were blamed on them along the border areas of Hawkins/Scott counties. A .223 will pretty well ruin their day and I imagine a .243 loaded with varmint bullets would be even better. I'm not sure a heavier big game bullet would expand properly in such a small animal but then again it might not matter. If you've already got a .30 caliber rifle then get a light varmint load (I've used a 110gr. load in a .308 and was impressed on groundhogs to no end) and you're all set to go. If you're in the "shotgun only" part of VA then a tight choke and small buckshot would be fine. Several guys I know call them in at dusk to ranges of 25-30 yards.

 

[rob454]

I usually use a SKS 7.62x39. Shoots great and Ive had shots up to 250 yards. Cheap to shoot and very reliable rugged rifle.
its a little heavy but I changed to a polymer hunting stock and the rifle looks very new now. I liek it better than my 30-06 for coyote. We usually nail 1-2 everytime we go hunting. The game warned in the area loves us. We go there 1x a month and usually get somethig. We told him we usually hit them at night and he said I dotn care when or how you hit them just drop them. I guess they have a real problem up there
Rob

 

[rkite]

I hunt in Bath county Va. with several friends. We have been seeing coyotes for about 12 years. At night you can hear them howling and singing. Some of the locals have been loosing their pet cats to them.