I am planning on hunting coyotes this year. I am going to use a Mossberg 500 12 gauge shotgun. What size shot should I use? The shots will be 40 yards max. I do not want to tear the pelt up too much. Thanks

00buck is what i use when usinga shotgun. or dead coyote. both are good

Ive always used #4 buck in a shotgun when hunting for coyotes ive never taken a shot out to 40 yards but in know a25-30 yard shot youll put about five pellets into the kill zone (head)with a few others all around with a 2 3/4" shell. if you use a 3" or 3 1/2" the results would be devesitatingly effective. if your worried about sewing holes dont worry too much #4 buck is only.24 caliber.body shots would be kinda messy at close range though.

I also prefer the 4 buck over the 00 buck, more pellets to get the job done. 3" 4 buck is lethal on a broadside coyote out to 50 yards with a well patterned gun!

As they are about the same size as a dingo I would use a load of SSG’s and you should knock them at 50m or so easy.

I agree.

Yep, #4 is the way to go for what you're asking. 00 is effective, but just doesn't have the pellet quantity of 4's

use 3" if you can find them.

personally I LOVE my 243 for the job. It gets out there in range and dose em in good. but if you can't use a rifle use either 4 or 00 buckshot. but the 00 does some good damage.

try the new federal "dead coyote" 12 ga ammo. its shot size is "T" and according to tests with the ammo its gets great results at 50 yds.

"t" shot size. i just saw this in the store the other day. sounds nice to me. first person I've herd of who uses it here. guess I'm gonna have to do some shooting this summer to see how it works out. keep you fellas posted on the results. good luck hunting to all this year