Predator Hunting

[Mtnwalker]

THe Wenas is full of coyotes.   There are professional hunters that hunt the Wenas.  THere are members on here that hunt the Wenas and saying WHAT THE.... to this post.  I shoot every coyote I have a safe shot at from my porch.   They still keep coming.   Literally I think the only thing that will rid the area of coyotes will be wolves.  I suspect much of Eastern Washington is the same.

  sounds like the Wenas could use some help. Thanks

Bone is right, no shortage of dogs out here. I can step outside on a calm night and hear multiple different packs firing off. But lots of dogs doesn't mean easy, there are lots of dogs all over eastern WA. They get hunted hard out here and are pretty educated for the most part. Still killable, but you'll work for them.

[LongBomb]

  its on my list!

[rainshadow1]

I just made this for my website and Facebook page…

“Have you considered the feasibility of taking a dedicated predator hunting trip? Especially focusing on cougars? Think it wouldn’t be worth it? Let me give out an early Christmas Present here… I want to up your odds!”

Apologies for the skippy audio, not sure what the dealio is with it.

[pickardjw]

Thanks for the video Steve. Listening to your seminars currently, they're also very helpful.

Regarding the tip to "go where you know there are cats" I came across this tool that could help. The map gives a good idea of recent cougar incidents and sightings. It would be nice to be able to filter for confirmed sightings but it's better than nothing.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/dangerous-wildlife/reports

[rainshadow1]

Thanks for the video Steve. Listening to your seminars currently, they're also very helpful.

Regarding the tip to "go where you know there are cats" I came across this tool that could help. The map gives a good idea of recent cougar incidents and sightings. It would be nice to be able to filter for confirmed sightings but it's better than nothing.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/dangerous-wildlife/reports

You'll find they're a little better indicator of where PEOPLE are, but there is some good to be gleaned!

[pickardjw]

Good point! Found this one pretty interesting though...

[pickardjw]

What is everyone's rifle setup look like for predators?

Bolt or semi-auto?
What caliber and do you change it up for cats vs yotes?
What power scope?
What round and factory or reload?

Thinking about eventually putting together a lightweight AR in 5.56/.223. Hear good things about the 77gr Sierra tipped match kings. Obviously this would not be allowed for bear in WA. Scope power is the biggest question for me. Leaning towards a 2-7.

This year I'll be carrying a Tikka T3X Stainless in 6.5 Creedmoor shooting the 143 ELD-X with a 4-16x44 Zeiss V4. Not really a dedicated predator rifle, hot round inside 100 yds!

[johnbmyersii]

What is everyone's rifle setup look like for predators?

Bolt or semi-auto?
What caliber and do you change it up for cats vs yotes?
What power scope?
What round and factory or reload?

Thinking about eventually putting together a lightweight AR in 5.56/.223. Hear good things about the 77gr Sierra tipped match kings. Obviously this would not be allowed for bear in WA. Scope power is the biggest question for me. Leaning towards a 2-7.

This year I'll be carrying a Tikka T3X Stainless in 6.5 Creedmoor shooting the 143 ELD-X with a 4-16x44 Zeiss V4. Not really a dedicated predator rifle, hot round inside 100 yds!

Im no great predator hunter but I built an AR with a White Oak Armament 20" barrel 223, their varmit model, 1:7 twist. Topped it with a vortex viper 4-16x44. I tailored the barrel twist rate for some creedmoor sports 223 loaded with 75gn hornday hpbt bullets that I had lying around. Hopefully I'll go put it to use this year but at the range the setup shoots lights out.

[fly-by]

What is everyone's rifle setup look like for predators?

Bolt or semi-auto?
What caliber and do you change it up for cats vs yotes?
What power scope?
What round and factory or reload?

Thinking about eventually putting together a lightweight AR in 5.56/.223. Hear good things about the 77gr Sierra tipped match kings. Obviously this would not be allowed for bear in WA. Scope power is the biggest question for me. Leaning towards a 2-7.

This year I'll be carrying a Tikka T3X Stainless in 6.5 Creedmoor shooting the 143 ELD-X with a 4-16x44 Zeiss V4. Not really a dedicated predator rifle, hot round inside 100 yds!

If you're hunting the west side the 2-7 will serve you better than the 4-16.  Maybe swap scopes on your Tikka for predator season?  I use a .243, 100 grain bullets, and 2.5-10 west side predator hunting. 

[pickardjw]

Unfortunately don't have a 2-7 yet. I do have a 3-9 Nikon BDC on my 30-06, haven't shot that gun in a while.

But looking at the SWFA Ultralight 2.5-10x32 now. Heard good things about the SWFA's and at 9 oz it fits the bill for lightweight. Hard to get hands on though...

Might finish the build on that AR I have in the classifieds, make sure it doesn't blow up, and then put the 3-9 Nikon on there for this season.

[KFhunter]

I just made this for my website and Facebook page…

“Have you considered the feasibility of taking a dedicated predator hunting trip? Especially focusing on cougars? Think it wouldn’t be worth it? Let me give out an early Christmas Present here… I want to up your odds!”

Apologies for the skippy audio, not sure what the dealio is with it.

This is one I bumped out of its bed, bummer.   I over hiked it looking for a perfect setup to call.  Should have held back, or circled away instead of dogging it.   I can't run them down, bummer knee.  I can walk but there's no going quickly through the woods so that option is out.  A 20 something could have possibly tree'd that cat by foot. 

[Special T]

I think the best predator gun  would be a combo gun like the old savage model 24 in 223 and 12 gauge. Some one on here has a European drilling that is 222 rem and 16 gauge I think that hunts them.

[KFhunter]

For brush hunting cats I've been kinda liking a .44 ruger carbine,  its a ruger semi auto

A lot like a ruger 10/22 but in 44 mag