Predator Hunting

[skyhightree1]

Hey for those of you that predator hunt. Do you hunt days or nights or both? What equipment do you use? What type of predators do you hunt? Does anyone use LED Torches for lighting thats what I am planning to upgrade too. I am also hoping santa brings me a new rifle a savage edge .223 to also carry with me while predator hunting. Has anyone started predator hunting yet?
My Equipment consists of :
Multiple mouth calls
Foxpro caller
Marlin .17 with 4x14x40 scope with lighted reticles
12 Gauge Remington 1100 magnum with Remington Turkey Load # 4
2 million candlepower spot light with red filter lens

 

[bear]

Coyote, Fox and Bobcat

Not able to use light here in Missouri. Hunt mostly early mornings late afternoon into evenings. Cloudy days all day. Bobcats right before dark. Bright moon with snow works.

Mouth calls and Foxpro.
Motion decoys
Howlers late in the season.

223 AR, 22-250, 17 fireball, 223wssm, 243wssm, 17 HMR occasionally
Scopes mostly lighted reticle from 3x9 to 6.5x20. Scope usually set at 4-8

12 Ga. Hevi-shot, "Dead Coyote" T-shot

 

[HOSS]

I dont do as much as I used to but I use mouth calls, Johnny Stewart electronic, AR-15 or Rem 700 in 6mm Remington. Mostly coyotes and on a rare, lucky day a bobcat. Daytime calling only here. Early mornings or late evenings.

 

[skyhightree1]

We have just recently seem to become swamped with coyotes so thats why I am planning to upgrade to a .223.. We can hunt day or night here. I have killed most of my bobcats during the early am. I use a turkey call and they seem to run right in to the call. I have never used the T shot the turkey load in my opinion does a great job. Has anyone taken a coyote with a .17 hmr ?

 

[highgrit]

I predator hunt year round. Most of the time I shoot a 243win because that's my truck gun. But I did kill 3 coyotes, 1 bobcat, and 2 foxes in one morning while deer hunting using a 300win. mag. There's one trick I have found to killing predators. If you can break their back they will act like a call and decoy for you. Some folks can't stand to hear a wounded animal cry or crawl around, but there's no better way to do it. I have no use for a varmit, or predator on my place.

 

[HOSS]

We have just recently seem to become swamped with coyotes so thats why I am planning to upgrade to a .223.. We can hunt day or night here. I have killed most of my bobcats during the early am. I use a turkey call and they seem to run right in to the call. I have never used the T shot the turkey load in my opinion does a great job. Has anyone taken a coyote with a .17 hmr ?

I shot a coyote with by brother-in-law's .17 HMR a couple of years ago. 60 yard broadside shot with the hit being in the heart / lung area. The bullet did not exit. The rib cage on the entry side was mush. I am guessing the internal organd were a mess. Coyote ran about 40 yards after the hit before going down. The shot didn't knock him over on impact.....he just flinched and ran. It was effective but on the light side in my opinion. This was an Idaho desert yote and not real big. Maybe 35 to 40 lbs. I wouldn't recommend it on the big, heavy coyotes we have here in the east.

 

[3waycross]

We have just recently seem to become swamped with coyotes so thats why I am planning to upgrade to a .223.. We can hunt day or night here. I have killed most of my bobcats during the early am. I use a turkey call and they seem to run right in to the call. I have never used the T shot the turkey load in my opinion does a great job. Has anyone taken a coyote with a .17 hmr ?

A few years ago we were shooting prairie dog in the San Louis valley near where i live and i was using my 17 a lot. On the way off my friends ranch, we saw a coyote at 300yds. I shot him with my 223 target rifle and turned around to put up the gun when my Dad says look and another one had run out of an irrigation ditch about 60yds away. The dumba$$ was standing there looking at me so i reached back in the truck and grabbed the 17. I shot him thru the ribs maybe a little bit back. He spun around several times and stopped and looked at me so i shot him in the neck. The second shot killed him graveyard dead. While it's not my go to predator gun i would use it again up to 100yds, expecially where noise is a problem.
To answer your other questions I also use a 223,243,22-250 and a 6mm Remington Ackley Improved. I hunt badgers, coyotes, foxes, and Bobcats! Mostly daytime but we will set up within 200yds of the cows during calving season at night with a moon and snow. You just need to remember that if you use a fawn bleat or anything that sounds like a calf in distress it will make your cows crazy too!

 

[skyhightree1]

I predator hunt year round. Most of the time I shoot a 243win because that's my truck gun. But I did kill 3 coyotes, 1 bobcat, and 2 foxes in one morning while deer hunting using a 300win. mag. There's one trick I have found to killing predators. If you can break their back they will act like a call and decoy for you. Some folks can't stand to hear a wounded animal cry or crawl around, but there's no better way to do it. I have no use for a varmit, or predator on my place.

I agree I hate them I really only hunt them though during spring gobbler season and winter and fall months.

 

[skyhightree1]

We have just recently seem to become swamped with coyotes so thats why I am planning to upgrade to a .223.. We can hunt day or night here. I have killed most of my bobcats during the early am. I use a turkey call and they seem to run right in to the call. I have never used the T shot the turkey load in my opinion does a great job. Has anyone taken a coyote with a .17 hmr ?

I shot a coyote with by brother-in-law's .17 HMR a couple of years ago. 60 yard broadside shot with the hit being in the heart / lung area. The bullet did not exit. The rib cage on the entry side was mush. I am guessing the internal organd were a mess. Coyote ran about 40 yards after the hit before going down. The shot didn't knock him over on impact.....he just flinched and ran. It was effective but on the light side in my opinion. This was an Idaho desert yote and not real big. Maybe 35 to 40 lbs. I wouldn't recommend it on the big, heavy coyotes we have here in the east.

Thanks Hoss I was thinking the same thing. I also want to use my .17hmr due to the fact I hunt at night and don't want the neighbors to think someone was spot lighting or waking them up.

 

[skyhightree1]

We have just recently seem to become swamped with coyotes so thats why I am planning to upgrade to a .223.. We can hunt day or night here. I have killed most of my bobcats during the early am. I use a turkey call and they seem to run right in to the call. I have never used the T shot the turkey load in my opinion does a great job. Has anyone taken a coyote with a .17 hmr ?

A few years ago we were shooting prairie dog in the San Louis valley near where i live and i was using my 17 a lot. On the way off my friends ranch, we saw a coyote at 300yds. I shot him with my 223 target rifle and turned around to put up the gun when my Dad says look and another one had run out of an irrigation ditch about 60yds away. The dumba$$ was standing there looking at me so i reached back in the truck and grabbed the 17. I shot him thru the ribs maybe a little bit back. He spun around several times and stopped and looked at me so i shot him in the neck. The second shot killed him graveyard dead. While it's not my go to predator gun i would use it again up to 100yds, expecially where noise is a problem.
To answer your other questions I also use a 223,243,22-250 and a 6mm Remington Ackley Improved. I hunt badgers, coyotes, foxes, and Bobcats! Mostly daytime but we will set up within 200yds of the cows during calving season at night with a moon and snow. You just need to remember that if you use a fawn bleat or anything that sounds like a calf in distress it will make your cows crazy too!

The noise thing is the big factor for me ... I doubt I will take any shots over 100yds ... thats funny about the cows.

 

[3waycross]

It's funny but real dangerous. The biggest problem we have with yotes is them bothering the cows and making them step on the calves. Don't wanna do anything to make that worse. I also don't want over 100 pi$$ed off momma cows lookin for me in the dark!

 

[Caustic Burno]

I pretty well take the stand if it ain't botherin me I leave it alone. Exception to the rule is Hog's I hate Hog's.
Now many a varmit has died to a 22 mag around here for getting after the wifes banny chicken's.
I actually would rather have the varmit except the wife really likes her banny chicken's.
I know banny chickens make fine bobcat,yote,dog,housecat,skunk,possum,coon,fox and various flying creature turd's.
Cause a many of one has been willing to die for one.

 

[Dave]

I mainly shoot coyotes although there are plenty of bobcats, bears, and cougars around that will also come to a call. Generally the coyotes come in first and you have to spend more time at a stand to get those others. I use a 22-250 or a 12 ga with 3 inch #4 buckshot.

 

[skyhightree1]

I mainly kill bobcats foxes and coons.. .They are a real pest out here and population is getting a bit much now...

 

[ousoonerfan22]

I have shot coyotes with a .17 hmr killing two but also had two run off.

 

[3waycross]

I have shot coyotes with a .17 hmr killing two but also had two run off.

I think it's like everything else. It's all about shot placement and after 100yds they run out of energy. However if you think it is not deadly at 100yds take a shot at a 2x4 at that range and check out the exit hole on that puppy!

Here is a link to more info on the 17HMR than you ever imagined.......a very good read.

http://www.varmintal.com/17hmr.htm

 

[skyhightree1]

I have shot coyotes with a .17 hmr killing two but also had two run off.

I think it's like everything else. It's all about shot placement and after 100yds they run out of energy. However if you think it is not deadly at 100yds take a shot at a 2x4 at that range and check out the exit hole on that puppy!

Here is a link to more info on the 17HMR than you ever imagined.......a very good read.

http://www.varmintal.com/17hmr.htm

Thanks 3waycross very good website... I guess I will stick with my .17

 

[3waycross]

For cryin out loud. DO NOT give up on the .223. I just wanted to let you and everyone else know more about the 17. I own 3, 223's and love every one of them. One of them is my walking varminter for everything.

 

[skyhightree1]

For cryin out loud. DO NOT give up on the .223. I just wanted to let you and everyone else know more about the 17. I own 3, 223's and love every one of them. One of them is my walking varminter for everything.

Oh no I won't give up on it I really only want to use my .17 on fox and bobcat coons stuff like that. When I shoot a coyote I want it to lay down so will hopefully have a .223 to use on them after xmas. I normally keep my .270 on my truck and in the tractor incase I see one. I don't have any rifles smaller than that other than the rimfire cartridges.

 

[Caustic Burno]

For cryin out loud. DO NOT give up on the .223. I just wanted to let you and everyone else know more about the 17. I own 3, 223's and love every one of them. One of them is my walking varminter for everything.

Don't worry I have a Ruger Mini by the front door.
The reason the 22 mag has taken so many as it stays on the Mule 365 so it is always with me.
The 22 Mag is cheaper to shoot and is a fine varmit gun including working on hog's.
I prefered 45-70 for hogs for a long time till I got smart enough to figure out I was creating work for myself.
With the 223 they run off in the woods reducing my work load.