Best Loads for Coyote Hunting: Hunting Tips, Ammo Tips, Gear Tips & Advice for Beginners

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Why Coyote Hunting Requires the Right Ammo

Coyote hunting is a favorite among dedicated predator hunters and big game hunters during the off-season. Much like the whitetail rut, your hunt can change at the drop of a pin. You can go from shivering in the cold to an adrenaline-fueled shoot-out in a matter of seconds. Coyote hunting appeals to folks in a few ways. Those who value a coyote's sought-after pelt, and those who want to do some predator control on their piece. Either way, it’s a great way to keep your shooting skills sharp between deer season and turkey season.

Coyotes are small, quick, and hard-pressed to stand still for long. Their hides are thin, their vitals are small, and the terrain they roam varies from open plains to thick timber. That means marksmanship matters just as much as your ammo selection. Just like any hunt you go on, proper varmint ammo is what makes a coyote harvest ethical and clean. In this blog, we will look at some of the best cartridges for coyote hunting so you are ready for your next hunt.

hunter sitting on the ground holding a rifle

Essential Coyote Hunting Regulations to Know

One of the best parts about coyote hunting is that in many states, the season is open year-round, and the hunting methods aren’t as traditional as the ones you follow for deer hunting Always check current regulations for harvesting predators and fur in any jurisdiction you plan to hunt, as they differ significantly between states and provinces. For starters, you’ll need a basic hunting license. Some states also require a fur-bearing permit if you want to sell the pelts.

Spanning into Night hunting is one topic that can be a bit of a grey area. In Texas, for example, it’s wide open with the right lights or thermal scopes. In other places, you might need written permission or must follow specific gear restrictions. Always verify what’s legal for public and private land before you step into the field.

Suppressed firearms are another consideration. They’re legal in many states, but a few still restrict hunting with one. The same goes for electronic calls, baiting, or hunting near dwellings.

When in doubt, take the ethical route. Know your target and what's beyond it and respect property boundaries. Not knowing the regs is an easy way to get a ticket, which means you’ll have less cash for hunting gear!

hunter looking through binoculars while kneeling on the side of a hill

Best Coyote Hunting Tips for Beginners and Enthusiasts

Coyotes are fast, cautious, and sly. Success often comes down to understanding how they move and using that to your advantage.

Scout smart. Coyotes, much like any game, love edges. Places where timber meets a cut cornfield or pasture are good starting points. In the timber? Look for areas where vegetation changes. No matter where you are, always be looking for tracks, scat, and trails. A trail camera is a great tool to utilize during scouting as well.
Hunt at the right time. Dawn and dusk are always the most productive. That’s when coyotes are moving, feeding, or responding to calls. You can certainly hunt during the middle of the day, too. Let your scouting results dictate when you hunt.
Use the right calls and decoys. Electronic calls work great. They are simple to use and versatile, so if one sound doesn’t work, you’re not out of luck. Always start at a quiet volume and work your way up. Distress sounds like rabbit squeals are perfect to begin with, then switch to pup yelps or coyote howls once you’ve drawn interest. Add a motion decoy if you’re hunting wide-open country. Adding motion adds more realism, but it also gives an incoming coyote something to focus on – so they aren’t scanning the surroundings and potentially spotting you.
Match your ammo to your range. In thick cover where shots are closer, a shotgun loaded with buckshot or a lever gun with a good brush-busting caliber can get the job done. In open country, a cartridge that’s flat, fast, and precise is what matters.
Practice your shooting position. Most coyote shots happen from a prone or sitting position. Learn to shoot in these positions and from shooting sticks. Practice like you play folks.
Pack right and stay mobile. Coyote hunting is pretty simple gear-wise. Keep your pack light so you can move quickly between sets. A few calls, extra coyote hunting ammo, a good bino harness, and your gun are all you really need.

Predator hunting is about patience and persistence. You’ll have dry sets, but when it all comes together, there’s nothing like watching a coyote charge into your call. Don’t get discouraged if it takes you a few hunts to connect on that first song dog.

Varmint bullets vs Traditional Controlled Expansion Bullets

Before diving into our top cartridge picks for coyote hunting, it's essential to understand the difference between varmint ammo and ammo like our iconic Core-Lokt.

The projectiles loaded in varmint ammo differ from a projectile loaded in a Core-Lokt in terms of on-game performance. Varmint ammo, like our Premier AccuTip-V series, is designed to fragment instantly on impact rather than expand in a controlled manner.

This terminal performance does a few things. It prevents the projectile from over penetrating and causing pelt damage, and it is also specifically designed for small, thin-skinned varmints.

To put this into perspective, when a Core-Lokt hits a deer, it retains its weight, penetrates deeply, and comes out the other side, leaving large wound channels that aid tracking. If this performance were mirrored on a coyote, the pelt would be severely damaged. However, if you’re more concerned with predator control than pelt quality, you can certainly chamber a controlled expansion bullet.

Best Loads for Coyote Hunting

Picking the right load largely depends on your terrain, how you like to hunt, and why you are hunting. Here are some of the most trusted options for taking down coyotes cleanly and efficiently.

223 Remington / 5.56 NATO

The 223 Remington is the go-to for many predator hunters. It’s accurate, affordable, easy on recoil, and widely available. Most 223’s come as a semi-automatic rifle, but there are also bolt guns. Out to 300 yards, it delivers flat trajectories and precise hits when paired with the right bullet, and 223 ammo is easy to find. For those after the pelts, if your shot is good, it leaves a tiny hole behind, preserving pelt quality.

22-250 Remington

A classic cartridge, the 22-250 is renowned for coyote hunting. It’s blistering fast, flat-shooting, and trusted by generations of hunters who work coyotes in big country. Its flat-shooting ability shines in open fields and setups where coyotes might hang up at a distance. If you want velocity and accuracy that drops predators without wearing down your shoulder, consider 22-250. Expect the 22-250 to be chambered for a bolt-action rifle

243 Winchester

For hunters who like versatility, the 243 Win is hard to beat. Doubling as an iconic deer hunting cartridge, the 243 Win carries plenty of punch for predators – even out far. With lighter bullets, it stays flat and hits’em hard out to 400 yards. It’s an excellent choice for shooters who want a rifle for multiple types of hunting, achievable by simply changing ammo.

Buckshot

Buckshot is an excellent choice for coyote hunting. If your set results in close shots or you’re in thick cover, the pattern and the energy carried by its large pellets keep you effective. For shot size selection, you can’t go wrong with 4-buck through 00-buck. Unlike migratory birds, hunters can utilize the density and momentum packed by lead for hunting. To get the best results, pattern your gun and fine-tune your load to what your gun and choke prefer. However, if you are after the pelts, buckshot riddles them with holes, so be mindful.

Editor’s Choice: 204 Ruger

Known for its high velocity, accuracy, and low recoil, the 204 Ruger is another fantastic choice for coyote hunting. Being one of the few cartridges to reach a MZ of over 4000 FPS, the 204 Ruger offers extreme velocity and flat shooting that are ideal for predator hunting. Combine these characteristics with a light-recoiling gun, and you create a coyote-hunting machine that gets projectiles on target with ease. The only con is that 204 Ruger ammo may be a little hard to find, but you can order it directly from Remington.com.

At the end of the day, confidence in your gun matters most. A well-placed shot from a 223 is better than a missed one from a magnum.

Coyote Hunting Gear and Accessories You Actually Need

As we covered briefly, you don’t need a truckload of gear to coyote hunt. What matters is having reliable, practical equipment that helps you stay hidden, accurate, and at an advantage.

Coyote Hunting Gear Checklist:

Rifle with dependable coyote hunting ammo, a good optic, and a sling.
Bipod or shooting sticks.
Predator call (electronic or manual).
Camo suited to your terrain (plains, timber, or desert).
A bino harness that can carry a rangefinder, extra ammo, and a wind checker.
A seat cushion to extend your time sitting.

Keep your setup light so you can move between sets easily. Coyotes respond better to fresh setups than overcalled areas.

Why Choose Remington Predator Ammo

When it comes to hunting, predator ammo performance isn’t something you gamble on. Ammunition manufactured by Remington is engineered right here in Lonoke, Arkansas, by hardworking Americans. Each cartridge delivers consistency and accuracy you can count on in the field.

Remington’s 223 ammo, 22-250 ammo, and 243 ammo are proven for coyote hunting and control of other predators. Hunters have trusted Big Green since 1816 for a reason - once you’ve seen what Remington delivers in the field, it’s hard to try anything else.

Key Takeaways for a Successful Coyote Hunt

Choose a cartridge that fits your terrain and hunting style.
Scout your area and learn how coyotes use it.
Practice with your coyote gun so you can make uncomfortable shots.
Travel light and stay patient between sets.

Be sure to gear up with Remington’s proven AccuTip-V ammo for coyote hunting. You’ll quickly understand why generations of hunters have relied on Big Green for on-game performance and quality.