Andrew Wilson
Active member
Does anyone go for coyote, fox, bobcat, and other varmints worth cash money when skinned? What's your setup?
Best Setup for Predator Hunting?
- Thread starter Andrew Wilson
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YETI
Well-known member
My dad and I predator hunt together. I use an AR and he uses a shotgun. My AR has a 2-9 power scope with an illuminated reticle. We use a FoxPro caller and a handheld red light since we're not allowed to mount lights on our rifles in California. The AR is good for distance and the shotgun for when they pop up close in. (Technically, my AR is a 6.5 Grendel.)
Andrew Wilson
Active member
Is your AR California compliant? Or do you not worry about it?
YETI
Well-known member
It is CA compliant. I use the Juggernaut Tactical button, I can't remember what it's called. I also use my Mini-14 (I've killed more Yotes with that than my AR) which is nice for close up work. Lighter and shorter than the AR and I don't have to worry about the compliance nonsense
Wade Burns
Well-known member
These are my two setups. One is a savage 243 for larger critters up to hogs (not that I couldn’t shoot a deer with it). It has a Boyd’s stock, pillar and glass bedded, Timney trigger and quick detach ATN thermal for at night and a Swarovski z5i for daytime. Second rifle is a Ruger 22 creedmore with mdt stock with al
uminum chassis and a Timney trigger. I actually use same thermal on this and a different Swarovski on it if I run it in daytime.
I also run a Ruger 223 bolt gun set up exactly like my Savage but with a Burris scope for day only.
uminum chassis and a Timney trigger. I actually use same thermal on this and a different Swarovski on it if I run it in daytime.I also run a Ruger 223 bolt gun set up exactly like my Savage but with a Burris scope for day only.
Scott Stepanian
Member
Who let the fed in here
YETI
Well-known member
Feds don't care. Just the communist fun police here in California.
olsensoutdoors
Member
I do a ton of hog and predator hunting…follow along on IG(@Olsens_outdoors). For years I ran a .223 on an AR-15 platform. Recently switched to a bolt gun and have never looked back! I run a custom 6mmCM bolt gun topped with an AGM Adder V2 Thermal Scope and an ReachIR scanner, TwoVets Tripod, and Foxpro X24. 
Scott Stepanian
Member
Just bought 22 creedmoor in an AR platform 99% sure it’s not gonna cycle, so I also bought a Curtis custom 6.5 chassis gun. A warrior tripod. And a infiray hybrid HYL50W. I believe I unknowingly also purchased a divorce.
bwaldon126
New member
Wade Burns
Well-known member
What resolution and base power is your scope?
olsensoutdoors
Member
So I work closely with multiple thermal companies but mainly running a 640 resolution and 2.5-3.5x
Bill Mazelin
Well-known member
One of my better set ups is this Gunwerks ClymR model rifle. 18” barrel, in 22-250, running 80gr Berger VLD bullets at 2,947fps at the muzzle. I run a Gunwerks 6ix steel silencer on it. This combination works well on medium game too. It was the only rifle I took to South Africa for predators and plains game back in March-April of ‘24.
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Scott Stepanian
Member
Scott Stepanian
Member
Chiro1989
Well-known member
Just Prayed
Bill Mazelin
Well-known member
Scott, best of luck with whatever it is that ails you. Good hunting.
Likewise man.
Chase Sheppard
Active member
The fact that you are still getting after it despite your current situation speaks volumes. Praying for a good diagnosis and quick recovery.
Ever since I was a teen I've loved predator calling. When I was 13 I read Gerry Blair's original "Predator Hunting with Gerry Blair" I've been hooked. I saved up money selling firewood and bought my first "varmint rifle" a Rem 700 ADL in .22-250, I slapped a Tasco 3X9 scope on it and bought a pair of rubber armored Bushnell binoculars from the old Herter's catalog along with a wooden WEEM's Wild Call and I thought I was in heaven!... It was used and an RH bolt action, (I'm a lefty) but it could shoot lights out. Fast forward through the years and I've used several different set-ups since then.
My current set-up alternates between 4 rifles, depending on what I'm doing... the largest is my Savage Model 10 Tactical (bull barrel .308)... it's VERY accurate. I have it bedded in a McMillan stock, with a Harris bi-pod that extends up to 36 inches high for seated or kneeling shots. I've used that rifle on everything, but it's smoked a lot of coyotes at some pretty extreme distances. It's a heavy rifle (14 lbs) by today's standards, but it works well.
My next favorite varmint rifle is also a Savage, a model 110 LH bolt "Specialty Rifle" chambered in 6.5 x .284 Norma... The back story behind this rifle is that some years back the Sportsman Channel was featuring me in a coyote calling/hunting show and the show was being sponsored by Weaver Optics and Savage Firearms. Before filming, Weaver presented me with a bunch of swag, (vests, shirts, hats, jackets, etc.) and gave me one of their variable scope models, a laser range finder and a pair of their binos.
Concurrently, Savage wanted to showcase their new (then) Specialty Model 110. It had the accu trigger, a camo stock, and a semi-heavy fluted barrel. Also, for the filming I was required to have a Savage logo sticker on the buttstock for all the viewers to see.
To make a long story short, the scope, laser range finder, and binos that Weaver provided me were absolute crap. The scope wouldn't perform "box drills" which is a deal breaker for me. Their laser range finder sucked and had so many in the field limitations, (inclement weather, non-reflective targets difficult to read in low light/overcast conditions, etc.), that I refused to use it. On top of that the binos sucked and after just a week on the range and doing testing the eye cups kept popping off, the lens clarity sucked and the edges of the field of view always seemed fuzzy or blurry, another deal breaker.
Needless to say, Weaver and I were literally not getting along, and it was going to be a deal breaker for the show because they were essentially asking me to just play nice, grin at the camera and say how wonderful Weaver was. I told the producers and Weaver, if they couldn't provide me a product I could get behind, I wasn't going to mislead the audience... P "fucking" eriod!
The producers did some behind the scenes negotiating with Weaver, and they presented me with one of their Weaver Tactical series scopes. It was a variable 3x15 with 56mm objective and 30 mm tube. This scope actually performed extremely well, and the Savage /Weaver combo was extremely accurate with 140 gr Bergers. Weaver could never come up with a decent set of binos or range finder so for filming I was allowed to use my Leica Geovids. At any rate, I still have that rifle set-up that I used for filming, and it has smoked a lot of song dogs.
Next, is the AR with match barrel that the Special Investigations Unit presented me upon my retirement. Nothing fancy, (other than my engraved badge on the receiver) but a sweet shooter.
Finally, is my Daniel Defense SBR in 300 Blackout with an integrated can (suppressor)... This is the one I use for my professional predator hunting (I have a contract with a major tree farm in my area that borders residential areas and raccoons, coyotes and bobcats and the occasional cougar have caused neighboring residents to complain and sue the tree farm because "their" predators were killing the neighbors cats, dogs, and other pets...)
I like the 300 Blackout for ranges 100 yds and under, and with night vision or thermals and subsonic ammo, it's not as loud as a regular rifle and so far, (past 10 years or so) none of the neighbors have complained about shooting or hearing shots, especially after dark.
Attached are some pics...
My current set-up alternates between 4 rifles, depending on what I'm doing... the largest is my Savage Model 10 Tactical (bull barrel .308)... it's VERY accurate. I have it bedded in a McMillan stock, with a Harris bi-pod that extends up to 36 inches high for seated or kneeling shots. I've used that rifle on everything, but it's smoked a lot of coyotes at some pretty extreme distances. It's a heavy rifle (14 lbs) by today's standards, but it works well.
My next favorite varmint rifle is also a Savage, a model 110 LH bolt "Specialty Rifle" chambered in 6.5 x .284 Norma... The back story behind this rifle is that some years back the Sportsman Channel was featuring me in a coyote calling/hunting show and the show was being sponsored by Weaver Optics and Savage Firearms. Before filming, Weaver presented me with a bunch of swag, (vests, shirts, hats, jackets, etc.) and gave me one of their variable scope models, a laser range finder and a pair of their binos.
Concurrently, Savage wanted to showcase their new (then) Specialty Model 110. It had the accu trigger, a camo stock, and a semi-heavy fluted barrel. Also, for the filming I was required to have a Savage logo sticker on the buttstock for all the viewers to see.
To make a long story short, the scope, laser range finder, and binos that Weaver provided me were absolute crap. The scope wouldn't perform "box drills" which is a deal breaker for me. Their laser range finder sucked and had so many in the field limitations, (inclement weather, non-reflective targets difficult to read in low light/overcast conditions, etc.), that I refused to use it. On top of that the binos sucked and after just a week on the range and doing testing the eye cups kept popping off, the lens clarity sucked and the edges of the field of view always seemed fuzzy or blurry, another deal breaker.
Needless to say, Weaver and I were literally not getting along, and it was going to be a deal breaker for the show because they were essentially asking me to just play nice, grin at the camera and say how wonderful Weaver was. I told the producers and Weaver, if they couldn't provide me a product I could get behind, I wasn't going to mislead the audience... P "fucking" eriod!
The producers did some behind the scenes negotiating with Weaver, and they presented me with one of their Weaver Tactical series scopes. It was a variable 3x15 with 56mm objective and 30 mm tube. This scope actually performed extremely well, and the Savage /Weaver combo was extremely accurate with 140 gr Bergers. Weaver could never come up with a decent set of binos or range finder so for filming I was allowed to use my Leica Geovids. At any rate, I still have that rifle set-up that I used for filming, and it has smoked a lot of song dogs.
Next, is the AR with match barrel that the Special Investigations Unit presented me upon my retirement. Nothing fancy, (other than my engraved badge on the receiver) but a sweet shooter.
Finally, is my Daniel Defense SBR in 300 Blackout with an integrated can (suppressor)... This is the one I use for my professional predator hunting (I have a contract with a major tree farm in my area that borders residential areas and raccoons, coyotes and bobcats and the occasional cougar have caused neighboring residents to complain and sue the tree farm because "their" predators were killing the neighbors cats, dogs, and other pets...)
I like the 300 Blackout for ranges 100 yds and under, and with night vision or thermals and subsonic ammo, it's not as loud as a regular rifle and so far, (past 10 years or so) none of the neighbors have complained about shooting or hearing shots, especially after dark.
Attached are some pics...
