Firepower for Coyote Protection

[Dominic Barry]

Is a .22 semi-auto enough to  protect yourself from a coyote? I do not get around well and am very nervous about being in the woods by myself. Will this gun do the trick if I should have a run-in with one or several? I have seen one and it was as big as a German Sheppard and heard several howl in daylight near our cabin. Being an unnatural sound in Newfoundland it made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.  Thanks for any input!!

[Ben Scaplen]

That should do the trick - I would be more than comfortable with a .22LR semi up against coyote(s).  Do you have a detachable magazine, or a tube magazine? If its detachable, purchase another and throw it in your pocket.

We took one down with a 12 gauge using a 3" magnum #00 buck shot the past weekend, one shot knocked him down solid @ 40 yards, so if you're carrying a shotgun all you need to do throw a few buck shot magnums in your pocket.

 

Also - I'm sure, like most animals, if they smell you coming they will be gone long before you get to them.

 

How many people here have 'stumbled' on a coyote at close range out in the woods?

[Dominic Barry]

Thanks Ben

[Mark Froggatt]

I have walked up on two coyotes in the wood. I do alot of salmon fishing and have to walk an hour through the woods at daybreak. The first one I saw like you said ran off as fast as it could but the second I walked up on was only about 10 yards away and he stood his ground and I had to back up and wait for him to make his way off. And I'll tell you he was no 30 pounds he was at least 50 and was not afraid of me at all. So it is a good idea to carry a firearm in the woods. I think so anyway

[Dominic Barry]

Thanks Kevin. The reason I carry the .22 is because it's only 3 pounds. I've had major heart surgery and don't get around too well. We don't get much in the way of bears on the Southern Avalon. I need something light to carry when checking snares so I'm counting on the .22 to do the trick.Like you said they are more afraid of us. There are lynx out there also but you hardly ever see one.

[keith stone]

Where abouts is your cabin. Id love to come.give you a hand with your coyote problem. My problem is i cant find one.

[John Ross]

Hello there Dominic,, Well ya know yes the 22 is capable of killin a coyote (yote) but I would like to make sure you are carrying a Repeater or a semi auto like our friend Ben is saying. You see it's not necessarily the noise the gun will make that i would be concerned with as much as the firepower the rifle would give me. If I had to choose between a 22 or a shotgun i'd probably take the 12 ga with BB loads for a little more fire power and it should be a pump or an semi auto loader. Now with that all said Dominic, it's like everything else SHOT PLACEMENT IS EVERYTHING if you hit em right with a 22 it will be dead dog for sure. I if you're in an area where the coyotes are not used to human food, like hunters or fishermen leaving parts of their lunch or boil-ups around then I don't think you have too much to worry about from Coyotes,, But on the other hand if they are used to getting a hand out whenever they are around where humans have been or around a residential area say, then they will probably cause you some problems looking for a hand out. If you ever get approached by DON'T TURN AND RUN for God's sake as this usually excites the predator instinct in them (like black bears for instance) and they may attack as you run away. Just back up slowly and make lots of noise and if you are armed give'm one for good measure and that will take the steam out of him and his buddys usually. There was a young girl killed last year in the Highlands of Cape Breton by a coyote that she turned and ran from and one out of the three caught her from behind , brought her down and killed her. Made an awful mess of her, so much so I hate to talk about it. So regardless of what you hear from the Bleeding Hearts on some Forms, it"s a proven fact "" Given the right circumstances COYOTES WILL ATTACK AND KILL HUMANS"" ,..Where i live it's legal to hunt them with a 243 rifle which a lot of people love and lighter weapons such as the 22-250 etc. The Boy's call a lot with a call called a Rabit Squeeler while hiding in the brush as they watch a large opening and kill them as they come into range. Actually any sound that sounds like an injured animal such as a crying rabbit will get the running in to you. Hope this info helps ya make up your mind my Friend

C  YA  JOHN

[John Ross]

Hello Gang,,, Before I get jumped on by a lot of people who don't agree with my comments about Coyotes, let me make one thing clear. In my last Post to Dominic I referreed to some people as being Bleeding Hearts and that remark was definately not directed at anyone in anyway shape or form, it was just an attempt by me to explain what I was trying to say, I don't have a Flair with words the way some guy's do OK BY.

C  YA JOHN

[Shane Pinsent]

Domonic, when most coyotes howl in daylight they know your there, and they are warning others of you, but like all wild animals they cant be trusted. I work as a forestry technicain and work alone most of the time, but always travel with my dog molly. I've seen plenty of coyote sign but find they keep their distance, and the few I've seen have taken off quite fast. I've been chased by more grouse than any thing, but did get charged by a cow moose with calf this spring. Thanks to molly I had time to hop over a cliff, but ended up being stuck there for 45 minutes before she left. Couple of my budies have been false charged in the last 2 years buy bears. We started carrying bangers with us, they are on a little pin that you fire in the air and sounds like shotgun when they go off. Also bear spray will work with coyotes and other animals. These are 2 that you don't need a hunting season to be open, and are easy to carry, but remember with the bangers fire behind you not the animal because you don't want to scare it towards you.