which varmint gun would be good for foxes, yotes, bobcats, and occasional cougar

[rock]

and wouldnt kill the pelts for tanning but would still take down a cougar

[MtnMuley]

You can't use a .17 or 204 for cougars, so that narrows down your choices.  I'd go with the 22-250.

[demontang]

I have a soft spot for the 22-250. The 223 and 243 would do it too, I have yet to shoot a yote with the 243 so I can't say damage wise but I know the 223 and 22-250 both can do some damage with less then ideal shot placement and light bullets.

[HuntingFanatic]

.22-250. I really like the way my savage shoots!

[carpsniperg2]

22-250, all 3 will kill a cougar just fine. also about the pelts. that has a lot to do with your bullet selection not the caliber between those 3 guns.

[madcow41]

I like the 22-250 in a rem 700

[FALFire]

I would lean towards the 250 also and the only reason is for the foxes. They are very small and thin skinned so the 250 with 40 grain V-Max or Sierra 40 grain Varminter bullets would do well. HOWEVER, I would look at going to a 8 or 9 twist in the 22-250 so you could use a heavier bullet for the cougar, something like in a 68 to 75 grain bullet would be my preferred choice for the big cats. Otherwise I would stick to the 243 for everything if you were not concerned about pelt condition.

[Big10gauge]

243 all the way, The bullet construction and placement matters more than the caliber for pelt damage.

[FALFire]

Big10 may be right, but it seems that everything I have shot with a 243 has resulted in some pretty nasty exit  wounds. But then, with a 55 grain in the 243, you may have some good violent bullet destruction and no exit wound, not sure since I have never used them.

The 22-250 with a 50 or 55 grain V-Max bullet seem to just blow up inside and leave a dead dog. In any case as I have stated, I would take the 22-250 or the 243 over the 223 but, I have been a fan of the 22-250 for nearly 40 years so maybe I'm a little biased 

[Antlerking]

I you plan on selling the hides the 204 ruger is hard to beat IMO. I have seen what 22-250 does on bobby's not pretty. I have shotten 5 cats and no damage to the hide, although it is not a legel caliber for cougars. 204 all the way

[Elkslayer]

I use the 22-250 for yotes, if im just out targeting bobcats I take the 22Hornet works good on yotes too, just got to have them a little closer then the 22-250!

[rock]

well i will be calling and have heard cougars come sometimes to cyotes and bobcats calls or is that not common at all?

[sivart33]

Bullet placement, bullet placement, bullet placement.  That is how you kill things, a 22-250 will work good for cougars but its all about placement, a 243 will give ypu more wiggle room that you may need, now a great 243 shot should also save pelts on other animals.  Get 2 different guns get a 243 first for cougars then a 22-250 or 17hmr for the smaller game

[Bofire]

  in my 243 I went to Federal softpoints 80 grain, no varmit bullets. I tend to get a fairly small exit hole on yotes, I started using Hornady 55 grain soft points in my 223 instead of Vmax, they work well also.
bullet selection! placement
Carl

[rock]

well if i am calling and i have shootin sticks i dont get how you can miss other than the wind or it is not sighted in