Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

OK guys, I wanna start hunting squirel and coyote. Now, what kinds of firearms are used for hunting these specific animals?

For squirel I'm assuming a shotgun, but whiat shot and action? And I'm not really sure about coyote, should I get a bolt action, semi-automatic? If bolt action is suggested, will my 30-06 be too much?

And what do you do with them after you kill em'? Squirels and coyote.

Also, is there any websites with real good information about how to hunt these animals or one of em' because I have no idea, and no small game hunting is on HuntingNet's thing.

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

for squirrel you can use a variety of guns: 22lr, 12ga, 20 ga, hi-powered pellet gun, or a .17

you can eat squirrels if you want. any action shotgun will work. single shot, pump, semi, etc.

for yote's, if you plan on keeping the pelt i wouldn't use a 30-06. go with a 22-250. if you aren't trying to sell the pelt for money, the 30-06 will be fine. it's just over-kill an not necessary. after you kill a yote there are basically two things you can do. leave it, or try to sell the pelt.

check out www.varmintal.com for tons of information on calling, hunting, which calls to use, etc. for yote's

hope that helped you. good luck

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

Your 30-06 will work for coyotes. If you plan on keeping the hides, you may have to do a little stitching. A shotgun will also work.

After you get into it a little more, you may decide you want a dedicated predator rifle. Any of the .22 centerfires make great predator rifles.

Most of my rifles are bolt actions, but semi-autos and single shots work fine, too. Usually bolt guns and single shots are plenty accurate, but some of the less expensive semi-autos are not. If someone goes the semi-auto route, an AR is probably the way to go.

I just recently picked up a Franchi I-12 shotgun, and I have been taking it out, especially at night, when I've been hunting. So far, I've got nothing but good things to say about it. A lot of this area is pretty brushy and shots are close, so a shotgun is not at much of a disadvantage.

I'm not much of a squirrel hunter, but my great grandfather was a die-hard squirrel hunter. He went out and shot 3 squirrels every Sunday for dinner with his Ithica 20 guage. His was a pump, but if it were myself buying a shotgun, there is no way I would not get a 12 guage semi-automatic. There are a lot to choose from, and many shoot 2-3/4" and 3" shells, which will work on squirrels, predators, and nearly anything else you care to hunt with a shotgun.

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

Can you guys please tell me what the pelt is? LOL

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

The pelt is the skin, fur attached

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

Alright thanks.

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

A great white hunter like you should've known what the "pelt" was. Here you are calling other hunters names, and you didn't even know what thepelt was? [:o]Grow up!!
I don't mind helping other hunters, but when they take the low ground and speak a split tongue toward other hunters on issues they know nothing about, I just gotta scratch my head!! [&:]

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

lol...are you black or something? why are you calling me a white hunter?

And if anybody needs to grow up it's obviously you, please only post if what you type is relevant to the thread's topic.

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

Don't worry about it he forgot that you are new at this stuff. I have talked to people before and they don't know what a pelt is. The word pelt is more common to trappers not hunters. Most hunters know them as hides not pelts, he might just be with PETA or the HSUS so forget him. So heres how to get started find a .22that will shot Long, Shorts and Long Rifle. You can kill squirel and coyotes with it.

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

I agree the .22 will work fine in both cases....at least to get you started. If it something that you really interested in then maybe go to something different. A 22 can be purchesed fairly cheap and they are alot of fun.

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

McKianj, why don't you go look at his comments on the "rabbit hunting video"! I'm fully aware of him being new to hunting and uneducated about any hunting anywhere except in his forest!
Predator26, I didn't call you a "white" hunter. Instead I used the phase "great white hunter" as if you are a hunter that is above the rest, but I said it tongue and cheek since I already could tell from your other posts that you haven't hunted far from home, and are uneducated about hunting laws, tactics, animals, etc. that are found across the nation! In laymans terms, I'd rather be called a great white hunter instead of a "douchebag" and hillbilly" hunter any day! Why don't you respondon the rabbit hunting video thread again. You've got some questions waiting for ya there!
Yeah, I'm with PETA and HSUS that's why I been posting here for just a few years![8D] Ya might want to hang out around here for a while before making such assumptions!

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

Sorry Howlerdid not mean for that to offend you. I won't make that assumption about you or anyone else OKAY.

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

for squirrels that are gonna be shot at running, use a 12 ga semiauto or pump, use no. 7 1/2 to no. 5 shot. but only use shot over six at 30 or more yards because this will tear the squirrel apart. 2 3/4 shells will work fine, no matter the shot size. anything out to 30 yards use a skeet or improved cylinder choke. any more than 30 use a modified or full choke. for still hunting, i would use a .22 lr, .17M2, .22 mag, or .17HMR, in any action (preferably semiauto if legal). they are only about 100 bucks at walmarts and bullets are cheap also. like 11 bucks for 550 .22 lr bullets. also top it off wiht a scope that can pull in enouhg light to shoot near the end of the day. for coyotes if you want to keep the pelt try only headshots (unless you want the head with it) and make sure your gun is super accurate and use the lowest grain bullets u can find. they will probably go faster and shoot flatter. but if u want to hit its vitals try somthing like .22 mag at the least, .22-250 (definitely not in ranges at 200yds or lower because of power), .223, .220 Swift (i prefer this one), .221 Fireball, .218 Bee, or maybe even a .243 at most. you can find plenty of info on how to gut and everything all around the web. u can choose any action u want but just make sure you top it of with a red dot scope or soemthing with some kidn of light if legal. good luck.

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

i just picked up a nice Savage Mark-II .22 from walmart for 105 dollars ,now there will be tax and ID check on you and it all figure out to be a hair under $119
get a box or remington shells .$10.00 for 550 of them a decent scope $30 bucks Tasco 3x9x40mm and a set of see thru mounts and your hooked up for squirrel and yotes
just get the hollow points solids just dont seem to do the job on a fox or a yote if the shot isnt perfectly placed
so for less then $180 dollars you can be in business

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

Skip the .22lr for fox and coyote! It's not enough gun period! You will loose way more than you recover even trying to use the .22lr on fox and coyote!

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

For squirrel I'd use a bow. But get some cheap arrows cause you're going to lose and break a bunch.
Have fun!

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

Iuse a 12 gauge for squirrels and anything I can for coyotes. I'm not picky about what I shoot either with.

RE: Just getting into squirel/coyote hunting!
 

Well, I hunt squirrels for eating and not just killing them. I don't like using the shotgun because it peppers them with shot. I use .22LR scoped rifle and mostly head shots.

Yotes, I use .243 cause it's the smallest I have in centerfire.If I had a .223 I would use it on Yotes.