Small Game, Predator and TrappingFrom shooting squirrels in your backyard to calling coyotes in Arizona. This forum now contains trapping information..
I am not sure of hide thickness in PA. Out here in Cali, towards the central coast, the hides even in winter are less thick then say a colder climate would have. I own a Ruger .17 HMR and have taken a few yotes with the firecracker of a caliber but I have kept my shots under 120 yards. I will not rely on the .17 HMR to take down a full size yote past that for that is a risk I do not take. If you can almost guarantee, which is unlikely, no problems with windage, drop, shift, human error, and accurate yard measurment, then it is possible, under the distance I said before. Now, with my .308 or .338, thats a different story. My advice, try to call them in as close as your are comfortable, and always take head shots with the .17 HMR. Works for me if it is within the 120 yard realm.
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I am reminded everyday that life is too precious by my best friend, Lt. Ken Ballard, who lost his life while serving in Iraq. He fought for our freedom, to do what we do, and how we do it. Hunt till you drop!
That's very sound advice. I have hunted coyotes in NY, and the hides are thick. I also shoot a Hummer and would not be confident in it past 100 yards on a coyote. Definately sticking to head shots when you can.
It all depends on your distance, how well you know where your rifle is hitting, and your ability to put a bullet where you intend it to strike. Practice with your rifle and always know where it's hitting at various distances.
I've got a Marlin .17 with a bull barrel and very nice Nikkon scope. I've knocked a crow out of a tree top at about 230 yards withit. So, under the right conditions, one should be able toscore head shots on coyotes at that distance. My concern would be whether the bullet would have enough juice to penetrate the skull at that range. As for body shots, I would be leery about trying anything over the 100-120 yard range unless you are an excellent tracker.
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"Shoot him again....his soul is still dancing"
I've got a Marlin .17 with a bull barrel and very nice Nikkon scope. I've knocked a crow out of a tree top at about 230 yards withit. So, under the right conditions, one should be able toscore head shots on coyotes at that distance. My concern would be whether the bullet would have enough juice to penetrate the skull at that range. As for body shots, I would be leery about trying anything over the 100-120 yard range unless you are an excellent tracker.
Unless you're an excellent tracker with snow on the ground, as the blood trail will be scant at best!! I keep hearing about "head shots"! The coyotes I call in don't stand around much, so I have a hard time beleiveing that there are that many guys that can pull off "head shots" ona regular basis. And why carry a rifle that "limits" you to about 100 yards, and even then it's iffy. Why not use something that you can take the shot when the shot presents itself, pick up the fur ball and go to the next spot!!
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The area of Illinois where I hunt is pretty thickly populated. The .17 seems like a good versatile choice for someone looking to drop everything from squirrels, to crows,to coyotes, with more of an emphasis on crows. Shooting a centerfire cartridge can cause problems and is damned epxensive unless one is a handloader. Also, shooting something like a coyote or fox with a 25-06 (my dream gun) tends to produce a mangled fur ball that would not interest a fur buyer. But, that's justmy perspective.
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"Shoot him again....his soul is still dancing"
Unless you're an excellent tracker with snow on the ground, as the blood trail will be scant at best!! I keep hearing about "head shots"! The coyotes I call in don't stand around much, so I have a hard time beleiveing that there are that many guys that can pull off "head shots" on a regular basis. And why carry a rifle that "limits" you to about 100 yards, and even then it's iffy. Why not use something that you can take the shot when the shot presents itself, pick up the fur ball and go to the next spot!!
I use head shots with the .17HMR only when i have the .17 with me at one time. I do pull off head shots with both my .17 and .308, and have no problem with pulling them off on a regular basis. I prefer my .308 for my normal yote gun, but like I said there has been times where I had only the .17. I do not take body shots with the .17, only with the .308. And as you said " Why carry a rifle that limits a 100 yard shot", sometimes that maybe the only gun a person purchased, had that day, or preferred was the tool that was available to him/her. For me, its not my first choice by far in a normal yote gun. And again, head shots can be preformed on a regular basis if needed as for the caliber of the gun. I don't think I have ever had a problem not having head shots taken on a normal basis.
__________________
I am reminded everyday that life is too precious by my best friend, Lt. Ken Ballard, who lost his life while serving in Iraq. He fought for our freedom, to do what we do, and how we do it. Hunt till you drop!
I don't know anything about the 17. My opinion is I would question if there is enough gun there. Mathematically the 17 is nearly 25% less than a 22 calliber.
.17 cal. for coyote?
