The American Beagler Forum

Just curious, and interested in getting some opinions...I live in Ohio, and can't legally hunt Coyotes with a centerfire rifle, so what gun and load would you reccomend for hunting Coyotes? I'm leaning towards a 12 ga. that can shoot the 3" shells and #4 shot.

Try the 12ga Hevi Shot dead Coyote load. It will reach out and kill them at distances better than 50 yds.

use a slug

22-250, it will reach out to 400 yards and hit a quarter when using a quality rifle and scope.
For windy days, a 6mm, .260 or .243
Get a high explosive bullet that will explode on impact for safety reasons. I prefer Sierra Blitz or HP Match Kings.
Or if you want a brush gun then the .12 gauge or .44 magnum will do just fine. The 45/70 is another nice round for the thickest of brush.

I have had alot of luck with 12 gauge semi automatic with hastings barrel using copper sabots and a 12/9/42 scope usually I can drop them a little over a 100 yards with it also haven't had any run for more then 30 yards

I have never seen where you can't use center fire rifle to hunt coyotes or groung hogs in Ohio

tommyt wrote:I have never seen where you can't use center fire rifle to hunt coyotes or groung hogs in Ohio

Your not serious I hope. LOL

If you can use a rifle, I have had good luck with a 243 with 90 grain bullet. But better luck with a 25-06 with 120's. Hitting them most any place with a 25-06 is a coyote in hand.

Jack wrote:If you can use a rifle, I have had good luck with a 243 with 90 grain bullet. But better luck with a 25-06 with 120's. Hitting them most any place with a 25-06 is a coyote in hand.

yes ill agree on the 25/06 thats my favorite caliber i use mine on groundhog or deer whatever i wanna shoot the 25/06 will do the trick i use 117 gr balistic tip handloaded its all in the shot placement ive dropped deer at 300 yds or longer n they hit the ground like they was hit with a doubly bited axe good caliber jb

I agree with the 12ga and dead coyote loads. A friend of mine and I use a fox pro electronic caller and 12ga 3.5" dead coyote and it knocks them stone cold dead. Expensive shells but I can't think of one beagler that wouldn't spend $3 a shot to kill a coyote.

Talk to them in dog talk and not sqealing rabbits. We have found if you use coyote vocalizations (invite call, and locator) the seem to charge right in to see who the new player is on the block. We don't us any challenge calls. Good luck and shoot a bunch of them.....

you can legally hunt coyotes with a rifle in ohio

Can you use centerfire on other game? Just curious.

I haven't shot coyote, but i got a Savage bolt action slug gun three years ago now, for deer hunting. The first year, I shot a fox with it at over sixty yards. I was using Lightfield hybred EXp in 2 3/4", I use them in the woods as there cheaper. Gutted the fox on the spot. I do shoot some winchesters that will group around three and a half inches at 150yd. Winchesters are around 13 $ a box last time I bought them, Thats almost 3$ a shot. The Lightfields are 2$ a shot. That 2$ fox was well worth it.

BTW, Before I got that gun I was seeing deer just out of my range with my smoothbore. So far that fox is the only animal I've shot with it yet.

Most guys I know use flat shooting centerfire rifles. The 25-06 is a good choice for sure as mentioned above.
My personal preference, the 22-250 is the ultimate killing round and will kill deer size game easily at to 400 yards. Traveling close to 4,000 fps @ the muzzle, the .22 cal. bullet will destroy a yote at close or long ranges. Use a 50 gr. or bigger bullet. Depends on twist rate if you go over 55 grains.

what ever I have in my hand!! the only time you can't use a rifle in ohio is deer gun season and primitive weapons deer season any other time you can use a 460 weatherby to squirrel hunt if you want. I kill 2or3 yotes a year groundhog hunting with my 22-250. I am going to shoot at a coyote anytime it is safe to put lead in his direction I have made up some round ball slugs for my 28 ga. just to have something for yotes when carrying my 28 ga
Roy

I HAVE SAVAGE BOLT 243 GUN WITHH ACCOU TRIGGER adjustable.I USE 50 GRAIN BULLETS THAT SCREAM AT OVER 4000FPS DEAD ON AT 400 YDS WITH A 2 INCH HIGH SETTING AT 100YDS.