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coyote hunting this weekend

J

JML755

Well-known Member
I own 55A of vacant property that I'm slowly developing for my retirement home. It's got about 40A of woods and a nice big pond. I bought an adjacent house (foreclosure) as an investment and a base of operations when I'm working on the "P" as we call it. Plus, my daughter and friend are renting it but I kept 1 BR for myself.

So, most weekends, I take our 2 dogs (GSPs) out and let them roam the property while I cut grass, cut deadfall, etc. Weekend mornings they follow me around the house, whining when I put my hat on and they go nuts when I grab the truck keys. Great place for energetic dogs.

My problem: daughter's friend noticed 2 coyotes on the front lawn of the house 2 wks ago. Then last weekend I saw a coyote in a field on the 55A property. It took off when I drove in. Mentioned this to a neighbor who says there's a den in our woods on the property and they hear them howling at nite. Now I'm worried. My dogs aren't small (55# & 65#) but I don't think they'd be a match for a pack of coyotes if they came across them. My dogs have been roaming free on the acreage for a long time so I'm kind of surprised (and thankful) there's been no encounters up to now.

So, I'm thinking that I'll keep my dogs off the property until I can rid the place of the den. Which brings me to you guys. I'm not a hunter but I do have a 10/22. I figure that would probably kill one at fairly close range. I've looked at snares online but don't know if they'd be effective or where I'd put them. Plus, I only go there on weekends so I'm reluctant to let a coyote suffer if I'm not there to tend them. I don't want to use poisoned meat because I'd be afraid my dogs might find pieces of it someday. big question: would I be wasting my time to spend a day in the woods with my 10/22? any other advice appreciated.
 
I think the coyotes tend to be curious about the dogs, I would keep them in at night. The dieing rabbit calls seem to be effective.
 
You would be very lucky to kill one with a 10/22 and then it would have to be a head shot. Probably all you might accomplish would be to wound one. I'm not a fan of wounding an animal, no matter what they are.
Personally, with dogs that size I wouldn't worry about it, but like someone said, maybe keep them penned up at night. In the dead of winter, if coyotes get packed up and food is scarce you never know, but I have lived in the country most of my life and have never had any troubles. And I do have coyotes around, believe me, but I keep the dogs in at night. Bob
 
I would not worry about your dogs being attacked by the coyotes. The dogs might force the issue, but unless there is a group of five or more, the yips will put a bunch of distance between them and your dogs. During the daylight, your dogs have the advantage, after dark, not so much. During the day, the yips are in the den, napping. a 10/22 is fine for point blank range, less than 20 yards. After that, just going to wound, if you hit them. Get a 223 or 22/250 with a scope, good for 250 yards and it will make a mess of a yip. One or to dead yips, and the pack will find a new place to call home.
 
Its when they lose fear of humans and get comfortable in places you don't want them. sounds like there might be a problem.

22LR, I'm sure its been done, you really need to be accurate with it for a head shot and range is limited for. Varmint caliber, .223 is common, something a little more substantial, highly accurate that you can shoot well in tight groups at ranges you have. You'll get a lot of suggestions and opinions on that, in general a larger small center fire would be desirable.

I had to take one with a .308, military ball ammo, right behind the shoulder at 100 yds, dropped and did not move, just what I had ready and shoot very well, nothing beyond to worry about, overkill, but at ranges I have, I would use it again.
 
I'd be getting a bigger rifle. Besides 22 lr ammo is hard to get. .223 is easily found yet. Make a perfect coyote round I'd think. H&R handi rifles are reasonably cheap and shoot good. Dad has a 22 hornet in one for ground hogs.
 
Snares with camLocks for yotes.

If a domestic dog gets caught in a snare, he will just sit down and wait on you to find him and set him free. Whereas, a yote, on snared, will continue to fight and struggle until it strangulates itself.

I can give you a link to a great forum with plenty of good guys that have awesome advice for trapping, much like this site for tractors.

Greg
 
You will need to call them in. They can hear and smell you from a long ways away.

A .22 rimfire will not reliably kill coyotes, certainly not at the range at which you're likely to call them to. You need a centerfire rifle. .223, .22-250 and .243 will do the job.

They're unlikely to mess with your dogs unless they get real hungry.
 

Unless you plan to have chickens or other small livestock your better off leaving the coyotes alone, they wont bother you or your dogs, but they will keep the skunks, weasels and other nuisance critters in check. We have alot coyotes around here, they like hanging around the cattle because the cattle stir up gophers, mice and snakes in the pasture, I keep a close watch during calving but unless they find a calve before its on its feet theres never been a problem. Coyotes dont hunt in packs taking large prey like wolves so even a small dog is not at risk unless the dog corners the coyote. Your better off teaching your dogs to stay in the yard and leave the coyotes alone.

You can use a 22 to 'chase' coyotes away from the yard and they will learn to stay clear of the yard after being chased out a few times... but a 22 is not enough lead to kill one without a vital shot, and wounding one means it might die nearby where your dogs will find it which is not good either... the dogs can get deseases from the carcass.
 
This is just a thought but works good on woodchuck holes in my hayfeild. I take a skid loader bucket full of liquid cow manure( like comes out of freestall barn) and dump it down their hole. It either buries them inside or they move on somewhere else but they don't dig another hole, that makes me happy. If you have a dairy farm close by and know where their den is, it sure wouldn't hurt to try! Good Luck...John
 
I am fairly close to you and have the same problem.

I use to have 2 English Mastiffs 155 & 175lbs, and they did not like coyotes. They weren"t fast enough to run them down, but would chase them any chance they got.

Now I have 2 mountain feist terriers. Mean as all get out, but at 20-25lbs, they are no match for coyotes.

I agree with MarkB and others. I killed a coyote with a .22LR 10/22. But its all I had in my hand. And it was 25 yards. Likely will never happen again.

I use a 30-.06 with 55 grain sabot loads or a 12 gauge with #4 when we are running them.

I am not sure how to bait, don"t wanna hurt my dogs or my neighbors. I believe by Michigan law you have to check your traps every 24 hours.

With you not being there, not sure how you are going to thin them successfully. My best plan has been to scan the fields right at dawn every morning before I leave for work.

Good luck,
Rick
a165738.jpg
 
Go to a sporting goods store and buy the biggest treble fishing hooks you can. Hang them about four foot from the ground in a low hanging tree baited with any meat you wish. Leave overnight and they will be waiting there for you the next morning. Walk up to them and dispose with a 22 lr in the ear. Simple
 
Thanks for all the replies, guys. You pretty much answered my questions. I'm not worried about nighttime. I only take them there during the day to run around. Plus, I have a fenced dog run at the house there that would be used at night for "potty duty" if I did spend the night there (hasn't happened yet since we live just 30 minutes away).

The concern is that a small dog was killed by a coyote near our house in Clinton Twp, MI a couple of years ago and I saw a video of a coyote carrying off a cat. The fact that they are hunters and depend upon "red meat" to survive has me worried that they'll see one of my GSP's running through the woods and think "LUNCH!"

Thanks, again. I got enough "don't worry about the dogs" responses" that I think I'll continue to take them out there. As for the ammo size, you confirmed my suspicions but I know a kid who is a gunsmith that might like to come out with his heavier ammo and do some hunting. :)

And, Rick, I can imagine the look on a coyote's face when he saw the 2 English Mastiffs coming at them. :lol: At 155/175 , I can see why you didn't worry.
 
Not true about domestic dogs in snares. Every fall here we hear about someone's family dog that was caught in a snare and died, usually within minutes of being found by their owners, and usually along walking trails that are well used by people out for evening walks with their dogs. Trappers are never caught and held responsible, and a lot of people live in real fear for their dogs' lives here in the fall. Most of the time, snares are set extremely close to towns and cities.
 
Friend/neighbor of mine has had very good luck with snares trying to keep the coyotes out of his watermelon field. So far he's caught/killed more than 30, last time I asked.

Agree that the coyotes are not likely a threat to your medium-size dogs. My dogs run free 24/7 and I have seen them 'visiting' with the 'yotes out in the back of the woodlot. Never saw any hostility. On the other hand, I did have a dog killed and another nearly killed in my backyard by some rogue dogs.
 
A .22LR hollow point will do the job up to 70-80 yards pretty easily - especially if you are using something like a 10-22 that allows you to follow up with 1-3 in the body close together. Even with hollow points I've had 22s go right through their body leaving nice sized exit wounds. I've dropped several with .22 WMR bolt actions with a single shot at 100 yards.

After the rimfires a .223 and bigger seem like overkill but they do the job with no questions asked.
 
We have a big problem here in central Florida on our hunting lease with coyotes. Last year I shot two out of my hunting blind with my 17HMR Savage. Both were head shots at just over a hundred yards. I wouldn't recommend a 17 but it worked for me. Like the others have said a small caliber center fire is your best bet. Both shots I made were off of a good rest looking thru a scope that cost more than the rifle did. Both of them dropped were they were standing. This year when I get on my stand I'll have both rifles with me again my 17 and my 6.5 Mauser
 
and if one of your dogs ends up with a big trebel hook in his mouth what then? sounds like a rotten thing to do,unless you are into cruelty to animals .
 
CR,
My experience with coyote dogs and hunters is anything but pleasant.First experience on our way to Rice Lake,a pickup stopped in the middle of the county road,some jerk had a coyote down with his boot on the coyotes throat, while the dog chewed the coyote apart. Should have shot the owner but I didn't have a gun, would have surely been tempted, to throw pain and suffering on the owner and the dogs.Second experience, making up wood while setting in the bobcat seat, along comes a hound with a collar,jumps in the bucket and up to the seat, giving me kisses. Took a while to shoo her away, when up come the owner later,wanting to know if I seen the dog,my reply, Nope, not hide nor hair. Dog didn't want any part of the hunting of coyotes,can't say as I blame it. We live right next to the county forest ground and in some nights can hear the coyote singing,which is a beautiful,lonesome sound,now I heard that coyotes will try and call domestic dogs out so they can kill them. Our pal Jake is walked nightly with my son who is armed with a 45 long slide to protect Jake if ever one entered our area. I can remember hunting season was open with the deer license a bounty on wolf and bear,$35.00 bounty. I shot at one wolf and missed now I'm glad I did, they are reported every once in a while and are now protected, my opinion is it's a good thing,now if we could just keep the DNR from killing them. JMO and I'm proud to post it. By the way we lived in coyote/wolf country for over 40 years and never had a bad experience from either animals, all the time owning dogs of all sizes.
LOU
 
A bolt action rifle like Ruger 77/22 or Kimber Model 82 chambered in .22 LR or 22WMRF with a good scope like Burris, Leupold or Zeiss will take them from 60 to 100 yards with no problems. I have owened several 10/22 and the stock rifle does not have the accuracy over 50 yards as does the stock bolt action rifle.
 
I don't know where you live or the laws there, but in Indiana they can be hunted 24x7 by property owners on our property, or with permission of a property owner on their property. However, dens are off limits. As has been said, yotes have extremely keen sight, smell, hearing. They didn't earn the name wiley for nothing. They can get up and scoot at break neck speed. Get yourself a call, like mentioned of a trapped and dying rabbit, and be down wind of it, them while setup and waiting. A .22 will do ok up close, especially a .22 mag. As other have said, a .223 will certainly do it. .17 WMR will work well if hit in the right spot. There used to be a website, coyotegods, but I think its gone. Lotta folks there knew yotes inside out. By the way, seeing a yote passing through is one thing, but seeing them hang out is a problem.

Good luck.

Mark
 
Where do you live? The Eastern Coyote is a whole 'nother animal from the little timid Western Coyote.I've seen them here in the East go over 80lbs with 50-60 normal for adults.They're vicious killers and I'd shoot one with a .22 if thats all I had but to make a clean kill you need a little more power like a 5.56/.223 on the ones here.You'll be wasting your time hunting them in the daytime just walking around.You need to hunt them at night with callers or baited sets and at least with spotlights but nighvision is needed to be really effective.I've had several people 'hunt'
coyotes on my farm but the only guy thats really been successful is one with about $10,000 in nightvision and infrared scopes etc.I have 9 Great Pyrenees dogs to protect my livestock and smaller dogs without them I'd be wiped out in a hurry
 
I Had a young guy that worked for me at one time and he said that the best thing he ever used was a box full of kittens. Place them in a tree and let them meow and cry, he said that a coyote walked within a few feet of him looking up at the box and did not even care about him and was very easy to care of. Hope this helps
John
 
Traditional Farmer- I agree. The Eastern yote is a cross...see link.

We trap them anytime they show up because they are a menace. The yotes destroy the quail, rabbit and grouse populations, let alone the chicken flock.

BTW, the fur market is up for hides.

Greg
a165779.jpg

a165780.jpg

yote

Forgot to add...got $85.00 for this hide.
 
you say your not a hunter well if your going the live in the country you better learn real fast and get your self more fire power. you well need more protection for 2 and 4 legged critters hopefully not many 4 legged but in this day and age you just might. cop are only there to wright report after the fact
 
(quoted from post at 12:36:10 08/13/14) You would be very lucky to kill one with a 10/22 and then it would have to be a head shot. Probably all you might accomplish would be to wound one. ........... Bob
Click to expand...

One in the 'boiler room' will do the job. A .22 hollow point through the heart and/or lungs gets them every time for me. 8)
 
That's much appreciated information ! I've never attempted it with a .22 LR, however say a heavy barrel semi, ruger makes one I believe, trying to recall, 1 friend has one, thick barrel and another, a late model, not sure if its the same heavy barrel type, the previous being very accurate and say CCI stingers or the best ammo you can use, it would be effective enough at 75 yds., sometimes I have seen them closer, but most times, its 100yds or more. I am used to a semi in .308 that nys does not like any more, and have made use of the follow up shot to complete a kill, nothing better than having total confidence in what you shoot.

The .22 wmr, I have in a marlin 783, just got a scope and mounts for it, need to dial that one in, have wondered how much more effective it would be, good to know its effective on coyote, last time I fooled with it, open sights, I was hitting very tight groups at 50yds, problem now is, I still cannot find ammo for it, have small stash on hand, really annoying, really nice plinker.
 
The last one I saw, earlier this spring was that size and was around the houses at night, left scat in the lane. The rabbit population is strong here, they really do well, turkey, and I do see some quail. Vole population is up again, see them often this year, they like those. I've seen crayfish skeleton and fish scales in their scat as well, they do eat a variety of things or so it seems. Most times theres a lot of fur, thought one had eaten an orange cat.

I don't trust them, being that size is something to use caution with, for the most part, they've been left alone here, but there have been times with the intense howling right next to the house, 3am, thats when its time to push em out or deal with them. I placed a shot over the same one I saw this spring, thinking it was illegal, could have easily dropped it, next time it will.

I witnessed one chasing a deer in the middle of the day, was that size, I stayed in the same place, the whitetail came right at me, tongue haning out, stressed big time, deer literally almost ran into me, minute or so later, from my right deer does it again, I have not moved, and low and behold, there is a big healthy coyote looking down at me, seems I broke the cycle, I have never seen a deer look like that before, they are relentless and will definitely run its prey to death.

Funny thing is there are cats roaming all over this area, they must have ample prey, even the fawns are present, I have seen no kills of those, and of course deer population control is not a bad thing, they have at times taken numerous fawns in a small area.
 
I have seen some of these so calles "hunters" around here too, several of them driving around in their 4x4 trucks with radios chasing and shooting like some kind of rambozos. shooting across roads,tresspassing and leaving a trail of empty budweiser cans behind.In my opinion that is not hunting,its just getting liquered up with your dirtball freinds and shooting up the neighborhood. If an animal is chewing up your livestock,well then you have to shoot it,BUT otherwise let them be.They eat lots of vermin ,and the wilderness wouldnt be the same without their calls in the evening. just my 2 cents worth
 
The first thing the OP needs to do is determine what the legalities involved are. If coyotes in Mi. are like they are in NY they are fur bearers with definite game laws protecting them. But here we also have a law that allows you to protect your livestock. Either way, best to know ahead of time. 2ndly, eastern coyotes DO hunt in packs. They carry some type of wolf DNA and it seems that accounts for the packing and much larger size. Your GSPs are probably safe, your house cat or beagle...not so much. 3rd, a 22lr will do the job given good shot placement out to 50 yards at least. I've killed them with 22 short HP out of a Smith Kit Gun at 40 yards and over. A rifle is a lot easier. A heavy shotgun more so.

As for trapping and calling, trapping is a skill, not something just anyone can do at all, much less do well. Calling is easier if you use an electronic type call. Telling someone to use a mouth call with out them knowing what it's supposed to sound like is wasted effort and will just educate to coyotes.

Eastern coyotes DO hunt in daytime, all day, especially in winter. Houses and people are no deterrent. I've had lambs killed within 3 feet of my barn. That's why we have 4 Pyrenees livestock guard dogs now.

I wouldn't worry about the OP's GSP except in the dead of winter. THey get desperate then.
 
That one is shaped very different from the coyotes in E. Tx.

I've read where the Red wolves are crossing with coyotes. Could be the grey wolves are also crossing.

That would lead to a nasty hybrid. Larger, smarter, stronger.

Only good thing I can think of is maybe they would start working on the feral hog population.
 
(quoted from post at 21:43:52 08/13/14) .......
The .22 wmr, I have in a marlin 783, just got a scope and mounts for it, need to dial that one in, have wondered how much more effective it would be, good to know its effective on coyote, last time I fooled with it, open sights, I was hitting very tight groups at 50yds, problem now is, I still cannot find ammo for it, have small stash on hand, really annoying, really nice plinker.[/quote]

I'd definitely use the WMR over .22 LR but for 100 yd. shots the .308 would be my pick of the 3 but the 250 Savage w/87 gr. Sierras would be what I would take out of my cabinet followed by the .243 or 6mm Remington. I've got .223s but prefer a 6mm or 25 cal. for varmints out beyond 100 yds. BUT ...... that's just me :wink:
 

Lots of good advice but all I've got is the 10/22. From what I've seen in the responses:
- My 2 GSPs are probably all right during the day...except in winter.
- Don't let them roam at night.
- Get a bigger gun/ammo.
 
At least with the coyotes we have around here, my experience is that they are pretty hard to hit! They are very wary, and it has been unusual to ever get a shot at one closer than about 100 yards.

You may be a better shot than I am, but I doubt that I could hit a coyote with a .22 at over 100 yards, especially if the coyote was moving.

I have shot at coyotes with my scoped 30.06 at fairly long distance and saw them jump high in the air. I thought I hit one, but could never find the carcass or any blood.

However my area has got much more populated with humans since I did most of my coyote hunting. After my Dad subdivided the property, I decided that there was too much chance of getting myself in trouble, or even hurting someone. So now I seldom shoot anything other than shotguns. I sometimes hear coyotes at night, but I have not seen one around my property in years. Good luck!
 
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