The following articles are copyrighted by Master Predator Hunting – Limited Liability Company. They were written during 2014/2015 as articles
/blogs for CoyoteLight at (http://www.coyotelight.com/articles/). If you wish to reprint or use any of the author’s article (s), please contact him
to request permission. He can be reached via email at contactus@masterpredatorhunting.com.
The Benefits of Early Season Coyote Hunting
If you hunt coyotes for reasons other than pelts, early season hunting can be the best of the year! Still not
motivated to hit the fields and woods? Consider the reasons below why you should begin your coyote
hunting season this month:
• Population Density
In September, coyote populations are at a high point. In many states, pups are born in April and typically
disperse between October through January. High mortality occurs during the dispersal period, as pups
are frequently killed in automobile accidents and many other causes which result from traveling long
distances through unfamiliar territory.
• Response to Calls
Since pups are still with their parents in September, pup distress calls and territorial coyote calls may
elicit a greater response from the alpha male and female during this time period.
• Hunting Pressure
In many states, once October arrives, hunters begin to saturate the woods and fields in search of both
small and large game. Prior to this time, coyotes have enjoyed relatively light human pressure during the
hot summer months. As such, coyotes may be less weary in responding to calls while the woods are still
relatively free of constant human intrusion.
• Trapping Seasons
Trappers are very efficient in harvesting large volumes of predators. In my home state of Pennsylvania,
trappers harvest 8 fox for every 2 harvested by predator hunters. I would infer that trappers also take a
significant portion of the coyote harvest. However, trapping seasons do not begin until early winter.
Therefore, hunting in September occurs before trapping begins and coyotes are more abundant.
• Virgin Ears
Many of your calls will fall on the virgin ears of the new crop of coyotes that have never heard the calls
of any predator hunter.
• Practice Makes Perfect
During my first two or three hunts each season, I am a bit rusty in my hand calling, silent approach and
set up, and remembering all of my gear. Typically, I find that I forget something or find something that
needs to be replaced or repaired. Hunting early allows you to work out the bugs prior to the opening of
bobcat and fox seasons so you are completely at your best and in the zone when all furbearers are on
the menu.
As an example, my first coyote hunt this season occurred in late August when I took out Luke Long,
CoyoteLight V.P. of Marketing. Mounted on my Savage Model 12 in .243 Win. was a new 6-24x scope.
On the second set, a red fox popped out of the high soybean field in front of me thirty yards away. At 6
power, I could not find the fox in my scope before it left. I realized immediately the field of view was too
small and sold my new scope the next day and replaced it with a model with a wider field of view.
• Cool Nights Emerge
After Labor Day passes, nights tend to become much cooler than they were in August. In my own
experience, I have more coyotes respond on cool nights in September. In essence, this month is a
transition month, similar to March. I believe the cool nights are more significant to coyotes because they
still experience fairly warm daytime temperatures during September. As such, I try to plan my hunts on
nights with no moon or a moon with limited illumination, and cool temperatures.
When you really consider all of the benefits of hunting coyotes in September, it pays to head out and
enjoy some of the best hunting of the year! Good luck, hunt safe, and hunt with the best light for the
best results, CoyoteLight!
(Scroll down to the next article.)
The Ideal Early Season Coyote Set
Many predator hunters start their season after the farm crops have been harvested. However, for those
willing to take advantage of the opportunities that early season hunting can offer, allow me to present a
set up that can prove to be very effective.
In farming areas, when the corn is high, coyotes have a tremendous amount of security moving
throughout their range almost completely hidden from humans. The brief times they are exposed
occurs when crossing roads, tractor paths, and low crop fields such as alfalfa, harvested wheat, hay, and
similar plantings.
In late October and early November the last of the corn has been harvested. Hundreds of previously
hidden acres become suddenly exposed. Coyotes can be visually identified over great distances in these
large, bare, open fields. While this may initially seem like a great benefit to the coyote hunter, this is not
always the case. Where I hunt, coyotes take every conceivable effort to avoid open fields because they
seem to realize they are readily visible and thus significantly more vulnerable under such conditions.
However, prior to harvest, when corn is still in the fields, narrow strips of low rotation crops between
corn plantings can be ideal sets for early season coyote hunting. Coyotes are much more likely to cross
these narrow openings than the wide open harvested corn fields after harvest. Farmers frequently
alternate crops to preserve soil quality by planting crops that add nitrogen and other nutrients back to
the soil. This practice of crop rotation provides a great opportunity for creating ideal set locations ups
for the coyote hunter.
Let’s review a great way to set up in this situation. Referring to the diagram, beginning on the very left
are woods. As we move to the right in the diagram, we first encounter a corn field, followed by a low
growing rotation crop such as alfalfa, or an early harvest crop such as wheat. Next is another large corn
field. Many farms will follow this crop rotation pattern across the entire property from one property
boarder to the next.
(Scroll down for diagram.)
In the situation pictured, I prefer to quietly set up in the first low crop field closest to the woods.
Typically, I use an E-caller in this situation and place it at least 100 yards upwind of my position. The
CoyoteLight offers significant advantages in this type of set. Since the beam is fully focus-able from a
tight beam for long range identification and shooting or a wide beam for a wide area of coverage, I open
up the light so it is wide and illuminates the entire strip of the field in which I am hunting. I leave the
light on during the entire set. Incorporated into the CoyoteLight is a specially designed regulated circuit
that give a fully charged CoyoteLight unbelievable run times. Lesser quality lights have much shorter run
times and a much narrower field of view and are significantly less effective in this type of set.
Since the wide beam of the CoyoteLight can illuminate the entire narrow field, I will often hunt this type
of set without the need for a second light for scanning. Although I do regularly use a scanning light, I
prefer not to in this scenario because shot opportunities often occur very quickly. Transitioning from a
scanning light to a gun light adds a few additional seconds which can result in a missed shot opportunity.
In this set, I position my gun mounted CoyoteLight to point in the direction where I anticipate a coyote
will cross the field. I watch and wait for the bright red reflection of a coyote’s eyes as it enters the field
in front of me. Often a coyote will trot across these narrow open fields while moving to get downwind
of the caller. If necessary, using my own voice I bark loudly to stop the coyote for a shot.
If you have access to farmlands with crop rotations, consider giving this set a try for a great early season
coyote set. In areas with only corn crops, this same strategy can be used by setting up on open tractor
paths. Good luck, hunt safe, and hunt with the best light for the best results, CoyoteLight!
(Scroll down to the next article.)
The Mighty but Overlooked .243 Win.
Many coyote hunters I encounter today hunt with a rifle chambered in either a .223 Rem. or a .22-250
Rem. Sometimes I will also encounter someone using a .204 Ruger or one of the many .17 caliber
variants. While all of these calibers are outstanding coyote calibers under the right conditions, the .243
Win. is capable of outperforming them all. However, it is often overlooked for coyote hunting.
Ballistically speaking, the .243 Win. will do anything the .223 and .22-.250 can do and do it much better
with a heavier bullet. The .204 Ruger does give it a run for its money in the trajectory department.
However, the .204 Ruger needs to use much lighter bullets to compete with the mighty .243 Win. If
hunting at long ranges in windy conditions, these light bullets will drift more significantly. Their lighter
mass will also result in less energy transferred into the animal.
Trajectory
200 Yards
Trajectory
300 Yards
Energy
(ft/lbs.)
200
Yards
Energy
(ft/lbs.)
300
Yards
Caliber
BulletWeight
Muzzle
Velocity
(fps)
.223
Rem.
55
3240
0
-7
764
578
.22250
Rem
55
3680
0
-5.1
1004
772
.204
Ruger
40
3900
0
-4.3
855
675
.243
Win.
58
3925
0
-4.4
1200
922
The .243 Win. has great authority in quickly and humanely anchoring a coyote. This is a significant
consideration for those who hunt coyote contests as well as those hunting at night. I have even
discovered a hand load that performs rather mildly on fox as well. In addition, the .243 Win. is a great
caliber for women and kids seeking a rifle that can also be used to hunt wolf and deer. Commercial
ammunition is readily available and all major gun manufactures chamber rifles in this caliber.
All of the calibers I mentioned in today’s blog are great coyote calibers. I have and do use several of the
often with great confidence. The point of my article today is to shine some light on the often
overlooked .243 Win. for coyote hunting. While it falls short in barrel life compared to a .223 Rem., it
has a lot of great features that make it an ideal coyote rifle.
The Wonderful World of .17 Caliber Rimfire Cartridges
If you think back to only the year 2000, very few hunters even knew about the existence of .17 caliber
rifle cartridges. There were a very small group who discovered the mighty .17 Remington centerfire.
However, although being around commercially since 1971, it did not achieve the following it deserved.
The other very small group of individuals familiar with .17 caliber cartridges were wildcat reloaders who
experimented with creating noncommercial configurations in the .17 caliber. However, the mere
thought of a .17 caliber rimfire cartridge…absolute heresy!
In 2002, the innovative team at Hornady set the shooting world upside down with the introduction of
the .17 Hornady Magnum (rimfire) Rifle cartridge! Hornady created this new round by necking down a
.22 Winchester Magnum Rifle case to .17 caliber. We owe the explosion of .17 caliber offerings in the
last decade to the .17 HMR. It was the spark that unleashed the magnificence of the .17 caliber to the
masses.
So, why exactly did the .17 HMR become such a successful offering? First, ammunition was reasonably
priced and remains so today. Also, there is the usual bandwagon crowd of buyers who enjoys trying out
the newest innovations on the market. The caliber was also appealing to those living in our rapidly
expanding urban and suburban populations. It offered these folks a relatively quiet round compared to
centerfire offerings. Also, raccoon and fox hunters were drawn to the fur friendliness of using this
caliber when seeking to preserve pelt values. Next, prairie dog and groundhog hunters appreciated the
mild recoil which enabled them to see their bullet strike the animal while watching through the scope.
Finally, the .17 HMR turned out to be a very accurate round.
Probably the most significant of all the factors contributing to the unbelievable success of the .17 HMR
was its inherent accuracy. Small calibers are used on small animals with tiny kill zones requiring precise
bullet placement for ethical hunting. If small calibers are not accurate, the market loses interest quickly.
As a word of caution, both gun and ammunition manufacturers have warned that .17 HMR cartridges
should not be shot in semi-automatic rifles or injury or death could result. However, in bolt action rifles
this round remains fairly popular.
Since the .17 HMR was such a great commercial success, Hornady wasted no time and only two years
later in 2004, introduced a second .17 caliber rimfire cartridge. Rather than being built on the .22
Winchester Magnum case, this new offering named the .17 Mach 2 rimfire was built on the smaller .22
long rifle case. Lacking in speed and power compared to its older brother the .17 HMR, the .17 Mach 2
has never achieved the success of the .17 HMR.
The last .17 rimfire to be discussed is my absolute favorite and I feel is the most exciting development in
rimfires, the mighty .17 Winchester Super Magnum! This caliber is still an infant having only hit the
market a mere two years ago in 2012. In order to contain the pressure of this round a nail gun blank
was used to build the case. The mighty .17 WSM can boast speeds of 3,000 fps with a 20 grain bullet. If
you ask me, that is pretty impressive for a rimfire rifle!
I used a .17 WSM on a few hunts last groundhog and predator season. In my limited experience with
this caliber, it proved ideal for groundhog, fox, and raccoon within 200 yards. It was lethal and very pelt
friendly. My gun preferred the 25 grain bullets but never quite achieved the accuracy I demanded so we
parted ways. However, like all new products, ammunition and rifles continue to be refined and
improved.
As evidence of continued advances, a new 20 grain caliber hollow point round is anticipated to hit the
market in the very near future. This is new ammunition which will join the existing offerings of 20 and
25 grain polymer rounds currently being sold on the market.
In a dozen years we have experienced a historically unprecedented surge in .17 caliber rimfire offerings.
This great tiny caliber offers many favorable attributes at an affordable price. Let’s hope that the
current .17 caliber offerings continue to hit the market. One can only imagine what might be the next
exciting new .17 caliber rimfire offering!
Trajectory
100 Yards
Trajectory
200 Yards
Trajectory
300 Yards
Energy
(ft/lbs.)
100
Yards
Energy
(ft/lbs.)
200
Yards
Cost
per
Round–
Caliber
BulletWeight
Muzzle
Velocity
(fps)
17
Mach
2
17
2100
0
-14
-52
88
49
18
cents
17
HMR
20
2375
0
-9.9
-42
140
75
28
cents
17
WSM
20
3000
+1.9
0
-10
279
190
32
cents
(Scroll down to the next article.)
The Wonderful World of 17 Caliber Centerfire Cartridges
If you are a predator or varmint hunter pursuing bobcat, fox, coyote, raccoon, prairie dog, ground hog,
or a host of similar sized critters, the .17 centerfire calibers are just for you! In fact, there is just so very
much to love about these fast, flat shooting, accurate offerings. If you have not experienced one for
yourself, you are missing something great!
My introduction to the .17 centerfire world occurred in 2008 when I purchased a Remington Model 700
CDL SFLE chambered in .17 Remington Fireball. I decided to try a .17 centerfire after speaking with
another CoyoteLight Prostaff as spectators at a predator calling contest. He gave his wildcat .17 Mach IV
high praise. Essentially, the .17 Rem. Fireball is a near ballistic twin to the .17 Mach IV.
Since jumping into the .17 centerfire world, I have been absolutely hooked ever since! In fact, I have
probably spent more time hunting with my .17 Rem. Fireball than any other caliber over the past seven
years. I would venture to guess that I put 200 rounds down the pipe each year hunting varmints and
predators. It is a good thing I love to reload, sure saves a lot of money.
Today it is relatively easy to obtain commercial .17 caliber centerfire rifles. You need not purchase an
expensive custom .17 wildcat chambering. Commercial variants including the .17 Hornet, .17 Fireball,
and .17 Rem. are available on the market. If you need a reason to add another gun to the safe, consider
giving one of the three calibers serious consideration. However, if you are an experienced reloader
seeking something unique, many wildcat offerings exists from custom gun makers (.17 Javelina, .17-222,
.17 PPC, .17 Ackley Bee, .17 Jet, .17 Squirrel, .17 Tactical, etc.).
Anyone wishing to study .17 caliber centerfire rifles in greater depth might consider picking up a copy of
Todd Kindler’s publication, The Sensational Seventeens. It has a wealth of information on this tiny
caliber from a true expert in the field. Kindler is a small caliber expert and owns and operates The
Woodchuck Den in Ohio. His business offers an assortment of quality custom handmade .17 caliber
bullets ranging from 21 to 30 grains, and many other items of interest to the small caliber shooter.
(Author’s Note: I have no personal or professional affiliation with Todd Kindler).
Why am I so positive about .17 caliber centerfires for varmint and predator hunters? Probably my first
reason is because are very flat shooting calibers. If you consider the data in the table below on the mid
powered .17 Rem. Fireball, the ballistics are very, very, very good. Sighted in at 200 yards and shooting
a 20 grain bullet, the bullet drops less than five inches at 300 yards, yet remains less than one inch high
at 100 yards! Another positive feature of the .17 calibers is their potential to be pelt friendly. Bullets
are small and typically range from 20 to 30 grains. With the proper bullet selection and shot placement,
they are frequently very fur friendly. In addition, cartridges such as the .17 Hornet and .17 Fireball use
very little powder, are inexpensive to reload, and they are relatively quiet to shoot.
Having humanely harvested hundreds of predators with my .17 Rem. Fireball, I would be remiss not to
point out some disadvantages of the .17 centerfires. Keep in mind that some of my perceptions are
based only upon my own individual hunting, shooting, reloading, and research. Your results may vary
and that is to be expected.
First, tiny .17 caliber bullets are not ideal for long range on windy days or nights. The small bullets can
drift significantly in high wind making it very difficult to shoot precisely at long ranges under such
conditions. If you hunt predators at long range in windy conditions, consider larger flat shooting
calibers such as the .220 Swift, .22-.250 Rem. or the .243 Win.
Second, commercial ammunition is relatively expensive and is not available in a wide selection of bullet
types outside polymer / plastic tipped, thin skinned, highly explosive varmint bullets. While I have found
this style of bullet to highly accurate, they are not the bullet I use for predators. Given their thin skin
and rapidly exploding design, when shot from the super high velocity .17 caliber centerfires, hitting bone
can result in bullet splash. When this occurs you typically hear a fox or coyote bark or yelp and may not
recover the animal due to inadequate penetration. However, if you have highly refined shooting skills
with sniper precise field accuracy, this may be of no concern to you.
Given the outstanding performance results of the three outstanding commercial calibers in the table
below, which one is a predator hunter to choose? Actually, they are all good choices depending upon
what you hunt, whether you reload or buy commercial ammunition, and how far you need to reach. If I
were exclusively a fox hunter, I would opt for the .17 Hornet with a 20 to 24 grain bullet. If fox, raccoon
and coyote were all on the menu, I would opt for the .17 Fireball with a bullet from 25 to 27 grains.
However, if I was strictly a bobcat or coyote hunter, I would choose the .17 Remington and a 30 grain
bullet.
Once you begin shooting and hunting with .17 caliber centerfire rifles, you may find it very hard not to
fall in love with these mighty mites of the centerfire world! If you use one of these calibers for night
hunting, they are capable of precise long range shots. In such situations, you will appreciate having the
best long range gun light, the CoyoteLight!
Bullet
Caliber
Weight
Muzzle
Velocity
(fps)
Trajectory
100 Yards
Trajectory
200 Yards
Trajectory
300 Yards
Energy
(ft/lbs.)
100
Yards
Energy
(ft/lbs.)
200
Yards
Cost
per
Round
17 Hornet
20
3650
+1.1
0
-6.4
420
294
$.75
17
Fireball
20
4000
+ .70
0
-4.9
507
358
$1.47
17
Remington
20
4250
+ .54
0
-4.25
574
470
$1.55
Predator Hunting Permission from Landowners
Tip 1: Be Yourself
Farmers and large landowners are constantly approached by people trying to sell them products or
services as well as men and women asking permission to deer hunt. Forget the old advice that suggests
you need to dress up in polished shoes and fancy clothes when approaching a potential new land owner
for permission. Have you ever seen a septic man working in a suit and tie or a doctor seeing patients in
jogging shorts and a hoodie? You are asking to hunt and showing up as a banker or car salesman will
not help your cause. Sure, it is important to be dressed neatly and conduct yourself respectfully.
However, you are not a politician or car salesman so do not try to be one when you are asking for
hunting permission.
Farmers and large landowners can detect insincerity as quickly as a coyote can detect a human’s scent.
However, if you are ACTING like someone other than yourself, they will immediately notice the ACT and
will be hesitant to give you permission. They want to know the real you and make their decision based
on the real you.
Tip 2: Social Etiquette
Keep in mind that you are asking the farmer or landowner for something. They are the person doing
you the favor. Before asking for what YOU WANT, have the courtesy to say hello and make some small
talk. Allow the person to see that you care enough to establish a rapport with them. You do not need
to become best buddies. However, if you’re the first words out of your mouth consists of asking for
something before they know anything about you, your chances of receiving permission can be greatly
reduced.
Tip 3: Provide Your Information
Provide the landowner with as much information about yourself in printed form as possible. As you
begin asking for permission, prior to the landowner responding, provide him or her with a business card
or a sheet of paper containing the following information: name, address, phone number, email, car or
truck color, make, and model, etc. If you are asking a farmer, let them know you will not hunt until all
their crops have been harvested, will never drive on their fields, and will park where they specify. Offer
to call them prior to each time you plan to hunt.
Tip 4: References
If you hunt nearby properties, mention the names of the landowners and the addresses of their
properties. Providing this information gives a certain degree of security to the potential new property
owner. If they know that their neighbors trust you enough to hunt on their land, they are much more
likely to take a chance on giving you predator hunting permission on their land.
The Value of Fur
For years I gave away my predator harvests to my hunting companions. My only motivation for
predator hunting was the challenge and enjoyment involved. I felt good knowing others appreciated
receiving my pelts and knowing that my harvests would not go to waste.
However, one year when I was not working and needed any money my pelts could offer. Out of
necessity, I kept and sold the fifty red fox and several grey fox I harvested predator hunting that season.
In doing so, I quickly realized the value of fur. I have been selling my pelts ever since!
If you do not have the time, expertise, or desire to process your own fur, no worries, you can still earn
money for the value of your pelts. It is relatively easy to find a trapper or fur buyer who will skin,
stretch, sew, and dry your pelts for a fee that will still leave you enough money to make a profit from
selling your own pelts. Consider picking up a large chest freezer to store you harvests during the season.
In some cases, fur buyers will buy your unprocessed predator carcasses but the money you receive is
usually small. Many find it to be a better option either self-process or pay someone to process your furs
and then to sell them directly to the North American Fur Auction (NAFA). This often results in receiving
the most money for your pelts.
NAFA has several published fur pick up routes each season. Predator hunters can meet their regional
route driver at specified advertised times and locations during the season. The representative accepts
your pelts and transports them to Canada for sale on the world wide auction. Several weeks after the
pelts have sold at auction, the hunter receives a check in the mail.
So, how much is a coyote pelt worth? It depends on several factors such as where the coyote was
harvested. Coyotes are sorted and classified as either Eastern (from Eastern Canada and the Eastern
United States) or Western. Pelts are further segregated into heavy, semi heavy, and sometimes flat.
Many other considerations such as color and condition determine the final price paid for a particular
pelt. However, as the below data illustrates, Western coyotes are typically worth more money than
Eastern coyotes.
Average coyote pelt prices paid by NAFA to hunters and trappers from the May 14-20, 2014 auction:
Fur Classification
Average Price
Western Coyote – Heavy
$88.12
Western Coyote – Semi Heavy
$42.92
Eastern Coyote
$22.82
Historical average approximate prices paid to suppers of coyote pelts from 2002 to 2014:
Year
Price
2002
$23
2003
$34
2004
$33
2005
$27
2006
$24
2007
$38
2008
$40
If
(Scroll down to the next article.)
2009
$24
2010
$24
2011
$33
2012
$50
2013
$70
2014
$65
Pelt Care after the Harvest
If you plan to sell your pelts for profit, the actions you take after the harvest can affect the amount of
money you will receive for your pelts. Consider the tips below to maximize the money you will receive
for your valuable fur:
Transportation
Depending on your vehicle, there are many options to transport harvested furbearers. In selecting a
method that works for you, avoid transporting predators on non-porous surfaces such as inside a plastic
bag or on the bed of a pick-up truck. Draining blood can pool underneath the carcass and saturate the
fur.
An ideal method to transport your harvest is through using an aluminum or steel cargo carrier with an
open grate bottom. Cargo carriers can be purchased for a reasonable price and easily attach into a
vehicle’s hitch. Most are also relatively light and can be installed by one person. Place your harvested
predators on the carrier with the exit wound facing the ground. Gravity will work to drop any leaking
blood through the grates and away from the fur.
If you do not have a trailer hitch, consider a large plastic tote with a sturdy lid. Place a coated white
closet rack/shelf unit on the bottom of the container. These can be found in big box stores in the home
or bathroom departments for a reasonable price. Use a hacksaw to cut the legs below the slotted shelf
so they will sit a few inches above the bottom of the tote. Place your harvested predator on the rack
with the exit wound facing the bottom of the tote. Any residual draining blood will fall through the shelf
and collect on the bottom of the container.
Paper Towels
Similar to duct tape, paper towels have many uses for the sportsman or sportswoman. Consider
keeping a roll in your vehicle. You never know when nature will call or your cheeseburger will roll on
the floor! They also are great for the successful predator hunter. Wearing protective gloves, pushing
paper towels into an exit wound soaks up a significant portion of any draining blood.
Freezing Temperatures
If you harvest a predator during freezing temperatures, a pelt can freeze and become stuck to a surface.
This can occur with predators transported in the back of a pick-up bed as well as other ways. It can even
happen when two pelts are touching each other and freeze together. If space is limited wrap some
paper towels around your harvests to keep them separated. However, should you ever find yourself
with a pelt that has frozen to a surface, refrain from trying to use force to pull the pelt free. Valuable
guard hairs can be torn off the pelt in the process. Instead, allow the frozen surface to melt inside a
warm building. If this is not an option, consider applying some warm water or using a hair dryer to
unfreeze the portion of the attached fur.
Washing
Pelts soiled with dirt, mud, or blood should be washed to receive top dollar. Washing will also loosen
any matted portions of the pelt which will increase the appearance of your pelt to the fur buyer. In
most cases cool water is all that is necessary. Should you find that you need to add some soap, use it
very sparingly. Soap can remove essential oils from a pelt and cause it to appear dull.
Processing
During the 2013-2014 predator season, I used the services of three different fur processors. If you skin,
stretch, dry, and sew your own pelts, I tip my hat to you. In doing so, you have the ability to control the
quality of your work. When I sold my pelts, my fur buyer noticed a significant difference in the quality of
the processing. In fact, only one of the three processors did a quality processing job.
Using a quality fur processor will increase your profits. In contrast, using a low quality processor will
cause you lost money in terms of what you will be paid for your processed pelt. Consider contacting
experienced trappers and predator hunters in your area to find high quality fur processors in your area.
You may also conduct an experiment like I did last year and try several to find out who does the best job.
Once you have found the best processor, use them for your future processing needs.
(Scroll down to the next article.)
Fox Hunting with the CoyoteLight Team
Driving home from work Friday evening, I heard the familiar chime of my phone notifying me a text
arrived. I smiled when I saw it was from Brett Kolb, President and CEO of CoyoteLight. He and I had
been trying to predator hunt together for the past two years but could not make it happen. Brett asked
if I could guide him and Luke Long, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, tonight! They were hoping to
film some fox hunting footage of the CoyoteLight in action.
“Heck yeah…come on up, I would love to take you guys out!” Knowing Brett and Luke on a personal
level is a pleasure. They are talented predator hunters, men of integrity, and they produce the best light
for hunting predators and hogs. Most hard core hunters eventually migrate to the CoyoteLight. They
are an investment in American made quality, but if you demand the best light to harvest the most
critters, there is no equal.
Checking the weather conditions for the night made me a bit nervous. The forecast indicated a full
moon for the entire night with clear skies and winds from 15 to 20 mph with 30 mph gusts! I usually
avoid hunting in these conditions, especially when hosting others. Flipping through aerial photographs
of my hunting properties, I searched for areas having thick cover surrounding open farm fields which
would be good for filming.
Luke had recently purchased a rifle chambered in .17 Hornet and was anxious to get his first kill with the
gun. Having just picked it up from his gunsmith he discovered his scope was mounted so close to the
barrel that a light could not be attached to the scope without a new base and rings. I offered him my
.17 Rem. Fireball, but he was excited to try out his new gun. Since we had the brightness potential of
the powerful CoyoteLight, he was able to shoot fine without a light on his scope.
We arrived at our first set of the night and after five minutes of calling we spotted red eyes in thick
brush 150 yards across a cut hay field. Brett turned up the power of the CoyoteLight he was using to
scan and Luke positively identified the animal as a beautiful red fox. He could have dropped the fox at
this distance but since we were filming, he demonstrated great patience in waiting for closer footage.
Over the next ten minutes this cautious and weary fox slowly slipped closer using the thick hedgerow as
cover from the bright moonlit field. Finally, at 120 yards the fox broke cover and trotted into the open
field towards my FoxPro Krakatoa II. As the fox approached twenty yards downwind of the caller and
closing fast, I pleaded for Luke to shoot before it picked up the smell of the ecaller and bolted. Luke’s
.17 Hornet barked and his perfectly placed shot dropped the fox in his tracks! (You can view the footage
of Luke’s harvest at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XmYCQqKLIU).
Next, it was Brett’s turn behind the gun while Luke worked the camera. We set up in a long rectangular
cut alfalfa field, approximately 200 yards wide and 500 yards long. Completely surrounding the field was
standing corn. Approximately ten minutes into our calling sequence I spotted a fox pop out of the corn
on a full charge headed directly towards us. It is amazing how quickly they can close the distance. I
almost tackled Brett in pointing out the fox to get him on target for the shot. Luckily for us, the vixen
decided she wanted to be a movie star and stopped to pose for the camera at 40 yards. Luke gave the
signal and Brett made a perfect shot dropping the fox on the spot. It was indeed a great night! (You can
view the footage of Brett’s harvest at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJCgqHN01MQ).
“Best” Bullet for Predator Hunting? (Part 1: Varmint Style Bullets)
Wow…here is a topic that has the potential to get a guy in trouble. When it comes to discussing the
“best” calibers, bullets, callers, or gear, strong opinions run deep! So, are you a Ford or Chevy
guy? Alright, enough avoiding the topic, let’s get to it!
When discussing recommended calibers and bullets in seminars, I always begin with a disclaimer. Your
opinion and my opinion are formed based on our own predator hunting experience. Since we all have
different experiences, it is natural everyone does not agree on the best bullet design for predator
hunting.
In truth, I can’t tell you the best bullet design for your own individual predator hunting. You will have to
make that decision yourself. However, I can provide information for you to consider that may help in
your decision. My perspective is formed from hundreds of hours of predator hunting every year,
reading and studying research, and extensive time spent at the range and reloading bench. Your
mileage may vary. My thoughts may change with additional rotations around the sun.
I feel predator hunters face two potential problems with bullets. The first one we will discuss in this
article. It involves selecting a bullet that will minimize pelt damage, yet consistently and humanely kill
furbearers. Many predator hunters favor explosive varmint style bullets to reduce fur
damage. Common bullets in this classification include: Hornady V-Max, Remington Disintegrator
Varmint, Winchester Varmint X, Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint, HSM Varmint Gold, Barnes Varmint
Grenade. This style of bullet is designed to explode completely within the target without producing an
exit wound.
The varmint style bullet may initially seem to be the best design for predator hunting. However, as the
saying goes, there is more to the story..! Rarely are things simple or straightforward in the world
ballistics or actual bullet performance on animals.
So, here is my take on varmint style bullets for predator hunting. If a hunter can consistently achieve
very accurate shot placement, varmint bullets are a viable choice as a pelt friendly bullet. Now for the
rub. The problem with varmint bullets occurs when they encounter heavy bone around the outside of
the animal. This often results in bullet splash, inadequate penetration, and unrecovered predators.
If you have the skill and shooting ability in real world, fast paced predator hunting to consistently hit the
vitals and avoid heavy bone, this is your bullet! Unfortunately, for many of us including myself, this can
be difficult task because predators are constantly moving and are relatively small targets. If you do your
predator hunting at night, this task becomes even more challenging.
I am currently hunting with a varmint style bullet for coyote hunting. The Eastern Coyotes in my region
have a relatively large vital area behind the shoulder bone. I feel confident in consistently placing my
shot within this kill zone while avoiding the shoulder and other heavy bones. My preferred caliber for
coyote hunting is the .243 Win. loaded with factory 58 grain Hornady V-Max SuperPerformance
ammunition.
When fox hunting, I personally choose not to shoot varmint style bullets. Fox are very small targets,
especially compared to the coyote or wolf. Ethical shots on a fox require consistently hitting a baseball
sized vital area behind the shoulder. If I factor in the possibility of other factors such as wind and lighter
bullets, I am not confident of my ability to place 95% of my shots into the small vital zone.
So, is the varmint style bullet the best for hunting predators? I will leave that decision up to
you. However, I will leave you with some additional food for thought. Allow me to share a real life
“experience” I was able to observe and consider.
When the .17 Hornet began showing up in retail stores in 2012, I received a beautiful CZ consignment
gun the following season and a several boxes of ammunition to review this new caliber. Unfortunately, I
was working on a writing project to develop fur friendly .223 Rem. rounds at the time and needed to kill
all my predators with the .223 Rem. to gather adequate data for my research. I contracted with a wellrespected, seasoned, and calling champion to use the .17 Hornet with factory ammunition loaded with
varmint style bullets. He would shoot predators and record pelt damage data for me to evaluate.
After two weeks with the rifle, I was disappointed to get a call from my hunter telling me he would not
finish the project because he did not recover four of the first five fox he shot. He concluded the varmint
style of bullets were causing inadequate penetration, bullet splash, and unrecovered
predators. Although I hand load for my .17 Fireball and shoot tight hollow point bullets, I purchased
some commercial varmint style ammunition. I experienced poorer performance from the varmint style
bullets as well, although not to the same extent.
Coincidentally, two months later, I was guiding a law enforcement officer for a two day fox
hunt. Surprisingly, he showed up with a .17 Hornet using the exact same ammunition as my contracted
hunter. I was silently a bit worried about the potential for unrecovered fox, but out of respect for his
choice of gear, I did not say anything. In retrospect, I am glad I did not reveal my concern. He went 9 for
9 on fox over our hunt. Every fox except one was dropped on the spot with a single shot. The varmint
style bullet worked wonderfully for this man while my contracted hunter said he would never shoot
such a bullet the rest of his life.
Moral of the story; I feel explosive varmint style bullets work well for predator hunters who can
consistently place bullets in the kill zone without hitting heavy bone under the fast paced conditions
involved in hunting predators.
(Scroll down to the next article.)
Best Bullet for Predator Hunting? (Part 2: Soft Point Bullets)
In the first article of this three part series on bullets for predator hunting, I shared my thoughts and
experience with varmint style bullets for hunting predators. In this second article, we will consider the
soft point bullet design. In the last article, we will conclude with consideration of the hollow point bullet
for predator hunting.
It was a conscious decision to leave out full metal jacket and copper bullet designs. Many states outlaw
full metal jacket bullets for hunting. These bullets are not designed to expand, as such, many feel that
makes use of this style of bullet unethical for hunting. Outside of a brain shot on a dangerous animal
such as an African elephant, I also feel this bullet is not an ethical choice for predator
hunting. Disclaimer: my thoughts are only based on intuition and conjecture. I have never used a full
metal jacket bullet on a live animal so I have no personal experience or data from which to comment
with any objective analysis.
When it comes to copper bullets, I am very interested in collecting data and personal experience.
Unfortunately, I have shot commercial ammunition from several manufacturers but none have been
accurate enough in my guns for predator hunting. (Please note: I am not including varmint style hollow
point bullets in this discussion). I will continue to try new copper bullets in commercially loaded
ammunition when they become available on the market. While I can reload to achieve increased
accuracy, I prefer to use commercially available ammunition which is available to all predator hunters.
As we discussed in the first article; there are two primary potential problems in selecting a bullet for
predator hunting. Many of us want a bullet that will minimize pelt damage. All of us want a bullet that
will consistently result in instant death. In some cases, there can be somewhat of a trade off between
these two desires. When it comes to minimizing pelt damage, a perfectly placed varmint style bullet may
be the best option. However, in my “experience,” the absolute most reliable bullet design to results in
quickly and consistently dispatching an animal is the soft point bullet design.
On a recent Christmas shopping trip, I picked up a couple boxes of Remington Core-Lokt bullets for my
terrific brother-in-law. I noticed a graphic on the side of the box indicating the 75th Anniversary. The
box read, “US Made Since 1939.” There is a very good reason why the soft point Remington Core-Lokt
bullet is older than you and I. Quite simply, the Core-Lokt and similar soft point bullet designs work very
well!
Now let’s consider what can sometimes be a drawback of using soft point bullets for predator hunting.
Depending on the rifle caliber and size of the predator, soft point bullets have the potential to be
unfriendly on pelts. Consider my real life “experience” from last year. During the 2013/2014 predator
hunting season, I was working on some research related to the merits of the .223 Rem. caliber as an allpurpose predator rifle. Seeking to find the most accurate ammunition, I shot eight different boxes of
commercial ammunition from the bench. Hornady and Black Hills 55 grain soft points rose to the top in
terms of outstanding accuracy in my particular gun.
The first night I headed out to collect performance data, a fox volunteered to help out! The animal
offered me a 150 yard off hand shot. My bullet placement was a bit farther back than usual, and the pelt
damage was extensive with the fox nearly split in two. This real life example demonstrates the potential
paradox of the soft point. It is a very ethical choice to humanely kill a predator. However, it is not the
most fur friendly. Had the predator been a coyote instead of a fox, the 55 grain soft point in .223 Rem.
probably would have been a very good choice.
What is the bottom line of using soft point bullets for hunting predators? If you are looking for the best
bullet design to consistently terminate a predator, my current thinking leads me to believe the soft point
is king! Personally, it provides me with the most confidence when I pull a trigger that the animal will
expire on the spot. The soft point does not have the amazing ballistic profile of a long range bullet like a
Hornady Amax. Nor does it have the explosiveness of a varmint bullet like a Hornady Vmax. However,
what the soft point lacks in these categories it makes up for in consistent terminal performance on
predators and other animals.
(Scroll down to the next article.)
“Best” Bullet for Predator Hunting? (Part 3: Hollow Point Bullets)
In the first article of this three part series, we discussed varmint style bullets for predator hunting. The
second article discussed soft point bullets. In the last article in this series, we will conclude with a
discussion of hollow point bullets for predator hunting.
It is important to begin our discussion by classifying hollow point rifle bullets into two categories. Each
category reacts differently when impacting a predator. The first category includes the common
traditional hollow point bullets. These projectiles have a fairly wide diameter opening in the nose of the
bullet. Common examples include: Hornady Hollow Point, Remington Power-Lokt Hollow Point,
Winchester Hollow Point, Sierra Varminter HP, etc.
Hollow point bullets are designed such that the cavity in the nose of the bullet shifts the center of
gravity rearward in the projectile. In terms of performance on predators, traditional hollow point bullets
often perform somewhere between varmint bullets and soft point bullets. The greater the diameter of
the opening, the greater the expansion of the bullet.
Many traditional hollow point bullets are designed to incorporate a boat tail design in the rear of the
bullet. This feature reduces the drag of the bullet in flight which is beneficial in long range long range
shooting. The boat tail increases the ballistic coefficient (streamlined profile) of the bullet, which makes
it less affected by cross winds. The boat tail also contributes positively to maintaining the velocity of the
bullet while in flight.
The second category of hollow point bullets differ in diameter of the opening in the cone of the bullet.
The diameter is much smaller and these bullets are typically classified as “match” or “target” bullets. In
some cases they are also referred to as OTM (Open Tip Match). This configuration is designed solely for
precise accuracy. Bullet manufacturers explicitly state that these bullets are not for recommended for
hunting purposes. Common bullets in this category include: Hornady HP/BTHP Match, Sierra
MatchKing, Nosler Custom Competition, Lapua Scenar, Berger Match Target, etc.
Although not recommended for hunting, the OTM style of hollow point is currently my preferred bullet
for hunting fox and other small predators when using smaller calibers. Data I have collected from the
range and the field on pelt damage have revealed the OTM bullet to be the most accurate projectile,
fairly pelt friendly, and very lethal.
Several years ago, I purchased a Remington 700 chambered in .17 Remington Fireball as a combination
rifle for fox and coyote hunting. Unfortunately, being a very specialized caliber, ammunition was only
manufactured by Remington. However, to their credit, they offered both a 20 grain varmint style bullet
(Remington Premier Accutip) and a 25 grain hollow point bullet, giving hunters a choice of two styles.
Unlike deer hunters with an ample supply of many styles and weights of bullets in commercial
ammunition, predator hunters are less fortunate. Next time you are in a gun store, check out the
available bullet styles available in small caliber ammunition. In many cases, the only offerings are
varmint style bullets. There are some exceptions, such as Hornady running the occasional batch of soft
point bullets in the .204 Ruger. There is also a great selection of many types of .223 ammunition.
If you want to use different bullets than those available in commercial ammunition, you need to reload
your own. Personally, I love to load my own ammunition and started out with loading Berger Match
Varmint bullets for my rifle. This bullet fits in the first category in this article of having a larger opening
in the cone of the bullet. After gathering some data with this bullet, I felt it was not pelt friendly. Next,
I loaded Berger Match TARGET bullets which fell into the second category. The bullet was identical to
the Varmint bullet except for having a narrower hollow point. I hit the jackpot with this projectile and it
is what I continue to use today. My data has revealed this projectile is very accurate, fairly pelt friendly,
and consistently deadly.
In my experience, although not recommended for hunting, I have achieved good results loading OTM
bullets in larger calibers which can be difficult to find something fur friendly on small fox sized
predators.
Last year, I embarked on a mission to find a commercial fur friendly fox round for the .223 Rem. caliber.
After harvesting many fox with an assortment of commercially manufactured ammunition, I concluded
there was nothing I could consider fairly consistently fur friendly. My only option left was to try to find a
“magic bullet” by experimenting with loading my own ammunition.
I began by selecting an OTM bullet for the .223, the 75 grain Hornady BTHP Bullet (OTM). Next, I
consulted my Hornady Reloading Handbook to find powders that would enable me to slow down the
speed of the bullet. Using several powders, I loaded just a tad bit above the minimum suggested loads
in the manual. The data I had collected from the field indicated that I had found a fur friendly loading.
This same process of using OTM bullets can work in other calibers. Using the same process, I found a
safe load that is actually fur friendly on fox in a .243 Win. With just a tad over a minimum
recommended powder charge, combined with Sierra 70 grain Sierra MatchKing bullets, I have accurate
and pelt friendly ammunition when needed.
I started this series of articles by mentioning that I could not tell you which bullet is best for your
predator hunting. I am skeptical of universal statements when it comes to bullets and ballistics. At the
end of the day, we have our own experience, that of others, and our intelligence to make our decision.
We may hunt different animals, use different calibers, and differ in our average shot distances as well as
our shooting ability and experience. However, I hope these articles have provided you with some
information you found helpful in selecting the best bullet for you own predator hunting!