Coyote City

[Musky Buck]

Hey guys, my first thread here, got a lot of coyotes in my area, way way too many. Trapping doesn't seem like an option yet, so the question is hunting them, have 0 snow yet, what's the best way to get these critters ? What would be the best options ? Each night in many directions I can hear them loud and clear so they could hear me also, I don't exactly have a nice coyote type rifle, what would you recommend scope wise and or rifle wise, I used to use a 12 gauge with buckshot way way back when we used dogs etc. I don't have access to the hounds really anymore so ? Also, when you hear the chaotic yapping they do how many run together, seems like 4-5 but it's so hard to say. Any Coyote hunting/trapping help would be greatly appreciated, they really need to be knocked down some and I may have access to thousands of private acres to hunt them on, massive pastures that are 1,280 acres in size, part of why there's so many around, lots of wooded fencelines etc. Thanks Guys.

[Musky Buck]

No coyote tips ? Chunk of meat and some arsonic? Just kidding, is a .223 a good coyote gun or no ? What would be the best decent priced scope for night hunting ? If I trap, according to season etc., I'm concerned if I catch one the others may rip it to shreds ? I say this as a trapping friend from years back had this happen, but I think it was a red fox in the trap and the coyotes throttled it.

[RangerJack]

the best option is to snare them. buy some snares and set them in local drainage ditches/obvious predator trails. yotes are difficult to get in footholds. a good snare set up in a "narrow spot" in a drainage ditch will catch fox and coyotes like clockwork. snow is helpful.

the second best thing for the yotes is to be patient until the full moon week around January 9th. Hopefully by then we will have snow. Then you will be able to hunt them at night, especially in large open areas (like the farm sites you have available). I would purchase a .223 for starters, especially if you're not worried about fur condition. Otherwise guns like the .22-250, .17HMR, etc. will be a better option. You can get a FoxPro Spitfire online for around $170 bucks, and that will be your best option for a digital call. It all depends on how much you want to spend or how much you want to get out. Also, for a scope, make sure it has a thick enough reticle to see after dark. If you have money, the more expensive scopes are the way to go. you get what you pay for with scopes. I went with a .22-250 by the way! the bullets are expensive, but are worth it once you can reload them yourself.

good luck

[tanman]

22-250 is the way to go I wouldn't run out and buy a foxpro unless your planning on hunting them regularly I only use mouth calls and I shoot plenty, in this scenario sounds like you have plenty of coyotes I would pick out a few different spots to hunt each atleast half mile apart a mile is nothin for a coyote to come to a call. Hunting at night is definetly the way to go evenings and mornings can be just as good I have a 4-12x40 on my 22-250 and night hunting is no problem... be sure to play the wind and and try to hunt areas where they can't sneek up on you, camo and scent are also verty important, goodluck!