Recommendation request.

[Noidly1]

I have a small property, 2 acres, and am wondering what would be ok to use against Coyotes if the get inside my 6 foot fence.
We have several cats, raccoons and possums. I want to be able to protect them and be accurate enough not to hit any of our furry friends. Without buying new guns, which would be best? and/or what loads would you use?

Pews on hand> 9mm, .45, .410, a 16 gauge and a bench rifle (12lbs)...

I'm thinking .410 because it is light and nimble and can reach out (somewhat) and if I can find the right load, there should be less spread and less collateral damage.

The 16 is an old piece and doesn't have a choke. I inherited it and haven't fired it, yet...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[Rick Richard]

410 with TSS

 

[WA Coyote]

I'd suggest you shoot the coons and opossums…. then leave the coyotes alone so they'll eat the cats.

 

[lancetkenyon]

With only having 2 acres, what else is around you? Neighbors? Livestock?

Block wall? Or chain link fence? (Will it stop a round)

Why do you have raccoons, possums, and cats???

2 acres is not very big. (I am on 2.5 acres, so I can guess approximate max shot distances), but probably way too far for a .410 w. Shot. Probably too much for pistols. Bench rifle is overkill (but best of your current choices). I would be looking at a .22LR and headshots.

 

[Hand Skills]

...or 22cal pellet gun

I like the 223 rem with 40gr hollow points when I'm working coyotes around livestock and/or dwellings for the simple fact that those varmint bullets disintegrate at first contact and practically eliminate the possibility of ricochet

 

[1wildcatfan]

Leave the coyotes alone and shoot the cats.

 

[Noidly1]

I'd suggest you shoot the coons and opossums…. then leave the coyotes alone so they'll eat the cats.

LOL Your not right... LOL

 

[Noidly1]

With only having 2 acres, what else is around you? Neighbors? Livestock?

Block wall? Or chain link fence? (Will it stop a round)

Why do you have raccoons, possums, and cats???

2 acres is not very big. (I am on 2.5 acres, so I can guess approximate max shot distances), but probably way too far for a .410 w. Shot. Probably too much for pistols. Bench rifle is overkill (but best of your current choices). I would be looking at a .22LR and headshots.

Chain link fence on sides and back, wood privacy in front, a house on each side, tracks out back with foliage on the other side with houses about a 1/4 mile from mine. Coons just showed up a several years ago. wish they would go bye bye. The possums showed up a few years ago, they are not a problem and are actually beneficial.. And as for the cats, well, that is another story for another day. they have become family BTW... We have been trying to find someone to get the coons and relocate them. Problem is every time we set a trap, we end up catching one of the cats... I have managed to get 2 of the coons and set them free across the river. still have 5 or so to get rid of.

 

[WA Coyote]

3 words for you my friend….

Precharged
Pneumatic
Airgun.

Super quiet
Super accurate
Super deadly on stuff like coons.

A $300 DAR in .25 (and a $75 hand pump) would clobber stuff inside 50 yards or so, and your neighbors wouldn't even know you were shooting it.

 

[khart1988]

Leave the coyotes alone and shoot the cats.

This lol

 

[khart1988]

I'd suggest you shoot the coons and opossums…. then leave the coyotes alone so they'll eat the cats.

A lady in my neighborhood has had her "missing cat" reward sign up for about 6 months. I wonder if I can collect if I find and bring her the hairball clumped up in a coyote turd somewhere...

 

[cohunt]

Do you live within city limits? It sounds like you live in a tract home---- not a good idea to be shooting any firearm on only 2 acres--- 1 ricochet and your neighbors could be calling the police and an attorney.

 

[Gary Kaney]

Do you live within city limits? It sounds like you live in a tract home---- not a good idea to be shooting any firearm on only 2 acres--- 1 ricochet and your neighbors could be calling the police and an attorney.

Best comment yet. With a question like that. He probably shouldn't even own a weapon.

 

[Teri Anne]

Chain link fence on sides and back, wood privacy in front, a house on each side, tracks out back with foliage on the other side with houses about a 1/4 mile from mine. Coons just showed up a several years ago. wish they would go bye bye. The possums showed up a few years ago, they are not a problem and are actually beneficial.. And as for the cats, well, that is another story for another day. they have become family BTW... We have been trying to find someone to get the coons and relocate them. Problem is every time we set a trap, we end up catching one of the cats... I have managed to get 2 of the coons and set them free across the river. still have 5 or so to get rid of.

I'm not quite sure how possums are beneficial, however for the coons, if you really want to get rid of them the only way is to poison them with a high velocity lead pill of some sort. A friend tried the relocating method and the coons had found their way back in about two weeks. I guess if you drove for about two hours on an interstate highway it might give you a few years before they found their way back, or got run over on same said interstate. By the way, depending upon their diet, coon can be pretty tasty if prepared right.