Critter guns

[wjh2657]

I have not done a whole lot of elephant hunting here lately and I haven't taken down a major gang of BGs in a gunfight in simply months! So, my real utliliztion of my guns lately has been to dispatch unwanted critters from my yard and garage. Mostly little slithery critters. We have snakes here and it seems they are all Copperheads. Some of the smaller ones have occasionally slipped into the garage, even though we keep it closed. I keep the garage heated so I think they are headed for the warmth.

I have developed a battery of working guns to take care of this yeoman's work. The top one is a NEF pardner youth model in .410 bore. The bottom one is a Crickett that my grandkids outgrew. I mounted a Center Point Laser on it.

The shotgun, loaded with 7 1/2 shot, is for outdoors in the yard and the Crickett , loaded with rat shot is for inside the garage. I have sighted in the .22 at 12 feet and get a pretty effective pattern. They are not awesome by any means, but they get fired more for real (at a living target) than any other gun I own. I wouldn't use the .22 rat shot on any of the bigger snakes, but they haven't been getting into the garage so they are .410 bait anyways.

[Guest cjr]

hmm,deadly combination.Great choice.

Happy Hunting

[Guest GunTroll]

Sounds like someone needs to buy you a savage 24 for Christmas!

[Moped]

That's an incredible idea GunTroll!

Nice looking Snake combo too wjh!

[glockster157]

I WANT TO SEE PICS OF SNAKES AT ROOM TEMP! Keep us in mind the next time you get one.

[Sidewinder]

Speaking of critters (varmits etc.), is anyone hunting Yotes with a .22 cal. rifle? Is something like a 10-22 adequate for dispatching the coyote type critter? If so, can you tell us about the field results...max distance to trust the shot... was it a kill shot on the spot...how many killed with the 22 cartridge, that sort of stuff. Or is it a "no go" situation with a .22 against the Yote?

Why do they call it common sense, when it's so uncommon? TN Sen. Fred Thompson

[Warbird]

Sure you COULD kill them with a 22 if you are close enough. Unless it is a perfect shot a longer shot could also certainly mean death but it would run and die quite a while later. I know people who hunt wolf with 22 as they want the hides. Then again they know the trick to getting very close.

Personally I would go for something more powerful.

[wjh2657]

Sounds like someone needs to buy you a savage 24 for Christmas!

I have relayed your message to the wife!

[Sidewinder]

Sounds like someone needs to buy you a savage 24 for Christmas!

Sounds like you might be into savage 24s for critters, and other 4 legged animals. Do you know if there's a rifle caliber close to the .243 on a Savage 20 gauge? And if so, do you know of anyone that has one they want to get rid of? I'd like to hunt some of those coyote critters.

Why do they call it common sense, when it's so uncommon? TN Sen. Fred Thompson

[Guest GunTroll]

I'm not too familiar with these 24's. I have worked on a few but don't know much about the line. Most I have seen are 22 LR over some gauge of shotgun. A quick google showed me they have 223 over 20 ga. I'm not the authority on these. I'm sure they have many combos out there.

[Hidalgo]

Speaking of critters (varmits etc.), is anyone hunting Yotes with a .22 cal. rifle? Is something like a 10-22 adequate for dispatching the coyote type critter?

Anyone who hunts coyotes in TN outside of deer season is (or had BETTER be) using a rimfire. I have taken several coyotes with a .22 but the shot has to be perfect to avoid a bad situation. Heart shots are mandatory and the ammo needs to be of the "hot" variety ... as in Velocitors, etc. Honestly, a good shotgun is a far better choice if you can get them within 25 yards or so.

[Guest grimel]

Anyone who hunts coyotes in TN outside of deer season is (or had BETTER be) using a rimfire. I have taken several coyotes with a .22 but the shot has to be perfect to avoid a bad situation. Heart shots are mandatory and the ammo needs to be of the "hot" variety ... as in Velocitors, etc. Honestly, a good shotgun is a far better choice if you can get them within 25 yards or so.

Go back and read the freakin' laws before blathering.

If you know what you are doing with a shotgun, 60+ yds is fair game. The best rifle for coyotes especially if you want to sell hides is some variation of the 17 Remington. The 22mag is way underpowered.

[jughead]

one should look up the snake statute in tenn, and i thought coyotes could be taken with any weapon except during deer season when it had to be a weapon that is legal to take deer with.

[Guest grimel]

i thought coyotes could be taken with any weapon except during deer season when it had to be a weapon that is legal to take deer with.

You'd be correct excepting LBL and a few other places our "genius" regulators "fixed".

[Hidalgo]

Go back and read the freakin' laws before blathering.

If you know what you are doing with a shotgun, 60+ yds is fair game. The best rifle for coyotes especially if you want to sell hides is some variation of the 17 Remington. The 22mag is way underpowered.

I KNOW "the freakin' laws" *******.

Although our coyote season is "open year-round", there are many times that you must use a rimfire to legally hunt them. If you disagree ... then YOU need to read "the freakin' laws".

You're correct about a 22Mag being underpowered. And a .22LR is even moreso. But during times when rimfire is mandatory, what other choices do we have? None.

As for selling hides, I have seen few in Tennessee that would bring more than $15 or so if you could even get them sold at all. Most are mangy or thin. As for the .17 Rem being ideal, similar results can be had with the .223 Rem and .204 Ruger if proper bullets are used. The .17 Rem isn't the "Holy Grail" that some coyote hunters have made it out to be.

Are you by any chance a member of the "coyote gods (we worship the .17 Rem)" website?

Edited October 31, 2009 by Hidalgo

[Hidalgo]

You'd be correct excepting LBL and a few other places our "genius" regulators "fixed".

Not true.

It depends upon where you are hunting. Any WMA is rimfire only during squirrel season. And a centerfire rifle is a bad choice during turkey season also. Just ask any game officer ...

It's a TOTAL mess and the State needs to clean it up and make it simpler.

Before anyone goes coyote hunting in Tennessee, I would strongly suggest that they acquire a Hunting Guide and read it thoroughly. ANYTIME that you are hunting coyotes, it can be a "gray area" and legality is totally up to the Wildlife Officer's discretion and opinion. If in doubt ... call an officer beforehand and inquire directly. And be sure to write down his name for future reference if there is a problem.

Edited October 31, 2009 by Hidalgo

[Good_Steward]

In WMA's 'yote hunting requires whatever caliber is legal for said hunting season, from MY understanding, which is why I only hunt them on private land. A 22 mag will do the job nicely within 50 yards from my personal experience, but my caliber of choice is the .22-250 above all others, including the .204. Much much much more devastating results. Put's 'em down like the hammer of Thor smacked 'em. I have seen them shot with the .17 caliber centerfires, .204, and .223, and turn to nip at the POI before running. I've never had one run with the .22-250.

Edited October 31, 2009 by Good_Steward

[Guest grimel]

I KNOW "the freakin' laws" *******.

Although our coyote season is "open year-round", there are many times that you must use a rimfire to legally hunt them. If you disagree ... then YOU need to read "the freakin' laws".

This is the law. Anything other than this is an exception. Thus, your statement a rimfire is required other than deer season is flat wrong. I do know the law.

Small Game Hunting

• Shotguns and handguns using ammunition loaded with Number 4 or smaller shot are legal for all small game hunting.
  
• Shotguns using ammunition loaded with T (0.20 inch diameter) or smaller shot are legal for hunting coyotes and beaver except during big game seasons.
  
• Shotguns loaded with nontoxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are legal for hunting waterfowl.
  
• Rifles and handguns using rim-fire ammunition and air rifles are legal for hunting small game except migratory birds.
  
• Rifles and handguns using center-fire ammunition are legal for hunting beaver, bobcat, coyotes, fox, groundhogs, and crows, except during deer, bear, or boar seasons.
  

Are you by any chance a member of the "coyote gods (we worship the .17 Rem)" website?

Actually, they really like the 17 Mach4 and the smaller .17's. I like the 17 Rem if I'm going to be in an open area. Bang, flop as long as you avoid shoulders. Otherwise I like either a 12ga with T's or BB's or a 4-8" .32 H&R mag or bigger handgun.

[Sidewinder]

Thanks for all the good input on coyote hunting. I've never done it before, but am interested in getting started. I have some .22s, some deer rifles, and some shotguns, but am looking for a Savage 110 chambered in .243 for the yote. My line of thinking is I could use it for coyote and deer... at certain times. Anyone used the Savage 110 in .243 for this, and if so, how far out does it allow a good kill shot? I have no...zip...nadda experience with the .243 cartridge, but want a reasonably priced gun that shoots one. I've owned a savage 110 before, in 7mm Rem Mag.,and while they won't win a lot of beauty contest, they seem to be accurate shooters.

Why do they call it common sense, when it's so uncommon? TN Sen. Fred Thompson

[Hidalgo]

This is the law. Anything other than this is an exception. Thus, your statement a rimfire is required other than deer season is flat wrong. I do know the law.

Small Game Hunting

• Rifles and handguns using center-fire ammunition are legal for hunting beaver, bobcat, coyotes, fox, groundhogs, and crows, except during deer, bear, or boar seasons.
  

If you are going STRICTLY by the regulations that you posted ... then NO ... you have NOT covered the entire picture and are going to get someone in some serious trouble!

What I was referring to (and said in the next post) is the fact that there are MANY times that a centerfire is illegal. And NOT simply as the regs above state.

Try going coyote hunting with a centerfire on a WMA during ANY season except deer season. It is ILLEGAL. You will GO TO JAIL.

I'll repeat it once again: Anyone who is going to go coyote hunting in Tennessee had better read the regulations thoroughly. If in doubt, call a game officer and inquire.

This conversation and disagreement is a prime example of how difficult it is to wade through our current regulations.

[Guest GunTroll]

TN is confusing!