Options abound for your next coyote rifle

With deer gun season behind us, it is a good time to grab your coyote rifle. The breeding season for these canines runs through February.

Coyotes pay no mind to where you think they should appear. Where they stop as they run toward the calling is another guess; a long way off is the safe bet. A flat-shooting rifle is what you need for one of those long shots.

Flat shooting is a popular notion, but not exactly how it goes. The bullet follows a parabolic trajectory. Higher velocity is not the sole requirement for flatter trajectory. The outcome is a combination of velocity, bullet shape, and weight (including center of gravity), the wind speed and direction, and the distance to the target.

Your deer rifle will work, if you can dial it in at distances farther than you are probably used to at the target range or while deer hunting. The trajectory limits your effective distance, which is why it is legal for deer.

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A new purchase does not have to be a dedicated coyote rifle. It can also double for target shooting. A target gun is going to be heavier and more expensive, but will work well as a coyote rifle if you are willing to lug the weight.

For general purpose use, many hunters prefer an AR in .223 Remington/5.56 NATO. A good choice, the cartridges are flat shooting, and ammunition is plentiful. Follow-up shots are fast if you have two coyotes coming in or miss. Mounting night vision equipment is easy.

Serious hunters use bolt actions and AR platforms in order to have different cartridge guns available when conditions vary. Bolt actions once ruled when needed for certain cartridges. This is less true today. An AR can shoot a surprising array of cartridges. You may have to go to the AR-10 platform for some larger cartridges.

Another contender is the .22-250 Remington. This cartridge began life in the late 1930s as a wildcat of the .250 Savage case. The goal was the highest velocity possible with a .22 caliber bullet. Breaking the 4,000 feet per second (fps) barrier was not lost on western hunters, who kept it alive by handloading. In 1965, Remington offered it in their Model 700 bolt action. Sales were brisk. It continues to be one of the most popular coyote cartridges.

The .204 Ruger became mainstream in 2004, the cartridge of a California wildcatter well known in another technical field. He began experimenting in the 1960s with a .222 Remington Magnum case, necking it down to a 30-degree shoulder to achieve higher velocity than the .22 Hornet, with less pelt damage than the .22-250 Remington. The .204 Ruger has grown a loyal following since hitting the market.

The .22 Hornet is still an old favorite. Useful at shorter ranges, companies such as Savage keep it in production. Developed at the Springfield Amory in the 1920s, this cartridge saw use in the M-4 survival rifle during World War II. U.S.

Air Force crew members carried them under their seats for hunting purposes if they went down in the wilderness. None other than Colonel Townsend Whelen participated in the cartridge development. Townsend, a wildcatter among all wildcatters, turned the .30-06 Springfield cartridge into the .35 Whelen for big game hunting.

The .220 Swift came to market in the early to mid-1930s, the original varmint cartridge. Winchester touted it as the fastest commercial cartridge available. Since then, newer cartridges have come along, nearly equal in performance without burning through a barrel as quickly. A used or custom rifle and handloading may be necessary to enjoy the performance of the .220 Swift.

Deciding on your first coyote rifle may be easier when looking at the total package, starting with ammunition availability and price. From there, rifle options can be narrowed down.

Scouting can help when undecided. A walk over the land can give a more visual idea of the shooting distances you may face. It’s time well spent for choosing places to call, too.

The coyote thrives on any form of habitat where food is available, Canada goose goslings and white-tailed deer fawns for example. Predation on fawns is intense. Coyotes eat livestock if they can, especially sheep and chickens.

In remote areas, they eat small mammals such as mice and rabbits. Any animal is fair game, even turkeys at times. Their diet includes whatever else they find through the course of a year, nuts, fruit, vegetables, and carrion.

A farm is not the only option for your next coyote hunt. Habitat in early stages of succession attracts coyotes, reclaimed coal land is an example. The pasture-like/woodland habitat is common in portions of Ohio. State wildlife areas and other public hunting areas in the southeast often contain reclaimed