With deer season still a few weeks away and seeing as all the crows have now left for a more southerly climate I thought I'd get out and try to bust a few coyotes.
Called from several time proven locations with zero results. On the fourth stand this creature steped out into the open. Have to admit I felt a tad under gunned with my tiny pet 222 Rem. in hand.
One well placed head shot from 190 yards put her down instantly with only a few seconds of bucking and kicking. Deer killer down! This Timber Wolf would have weighed in at about 120 pounds...males are about 20 percent bigger!
This was within 30 miles of my home. Check the paws out in relation to a loaded shotgun shell. Now you guys know of what I have to contend with on my crow shooting grounds
It figures a guy who uses fine Model 12's would also have nice Sako in .222. That is the classic "modern" varmint cartridge as you know.
Excellent work on that wolf. Texas Matt and I had a coyote come in this morning, when we switched to the Blue Jay distress sound on the FoxPro SCP II+ this morning, while taking 10 crows. Matt hit it twice on the run with his suppressed Savage bolt gun in .17HMR, but it still made it out of the pasture. We should have had our AR's at the ready.
We did pick up two new ranches to hunt this morning, so all was not lost!
It figures a guy who uses fine Model 12's would also have nice Sako in .222. That is the classic "modern" varmint cartridge as you know.
Excellent work on that wolf. Texas Matt and I had a coyote come in this morning, when we switched to the Blue Jay distress sound on the FoxPro SCP II+ this morning, while taking 10 crows. Matt hit it twice on the run with his suppressed Savage bolt gun in .17HMR, but it still made it out of the pasture. We should have had our AR's at the ready.
We did pick up two new ranches to hunt this morning, so all was not lost!
Regards,
Bob, coyotes can be tough too. A good one up here weighs in at 45 pounds and I have had them go a hundred yards when hit through the "boiler room" with a 222/223 as well.
Timber wolves on the other hand are three times that much in weight and at the shoulder will stand to an average mans waist. A 243 is considered minimum calibre when tackling them.
In deep snow conditions a pair will drag a mature deer down, rip it to pieces and consume it in no time. Moose, elk or livestock are no match for a pack of these as well.
In the south here wolves are not protected and may be hunted year round. With this their numbers are steadily increasing and ever encroaching on the settlement areas.
Congrats. on the new hunting territory you gained! A guy can never have too many places to hunt.
Ted
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Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
You are correct on coyotes... They are tough and when running away, the rump typically catches most of the lead. Matt hit it solidly at 60 yards or so and again at 100, but the little 17 grain pill did not drop it. He had that rifle standing by to deal with "runners" on our crow hunt and this coyote surprised us.
Earlier this year I hit one on the head and then on the rump, when it switched ends, at 20 yards with my trusty 10 gauge Browning Gold with 2 and 1/4 ounces of hard #2's. It still took Lone Star Phil and I a full 30 minutes to find it 50 yards away in heavy brush.
The timber wolve is truly an impressive beast and I agree a .243 makes good sense on a creature that big and tough.
Sako's are very nice rifles with actions appropriated sized to the cartridge chambered. I still have one in .223 with a heavy barrel. It was the first rifle I ever purchased and cost me used, in near perfect condition, all of $250 back in 1972.
Stay safe out there with those big canines! A wolve pack would be a scary thing to encounter.