I have decided that I have the perfect coyote gun. Not only have I taken a plethora of coyotes, but many foxes, coons, skunks, and various other critters have met their fate by being on the wrong end of my barrel.

I have read article after article from authors who claim that the perfect coyote rifle is any rifle, as long as you can shoot it accurately. I disagree! Now don't misunderstand me on this issue, being able to shoot accurately is essential to being a predator hunter, but there are many other factors that contribute to having the perfect predator gun. I would like to make this point by relating an experience I had.

Several years ago I was privileged to go coyote hunting with an individual whom I really admired. In my eyes he was the best coyote hunter I had ever met. He was a coyote magnet. He could set up in a Wal-mart parking lot and kill coyotes (well, maybe that is a little exaggerated). He invited me to come along with him and his brother-in-law for a day of fur gathering.

The day arrived and he picked me up in his truck at about four o'clock in the morning. After a doughnut and chocolate milk we drove the two hours to our hunting spot. It was going to be a beautiful morning. The breeze was calm, the air was crisp, the ground was frozen and the dawn was spraying a beautiful pallet of pastels across the horizon.

We got out of the truck trying not to make a sound. We grabbed our guns, shooting sticks, calls, and headed off into the rising sun. We found a nice little spot that fed into several little finger canyons. We quickly found our spots and made the decision to call there. I was on the far left, my friend in the middle, and his brother-in-law to his right. My friend started calling. About three minutes into his call, I felt the earth shake as his brother-in-law let one fly. The report of that gun was so loud that I almost left this life sooner than I had anticipated.

There was no need to keep calling. Every coyote in the western United States had heard that sound and there was no need for them to wonder what it was. My ears were still ringing when I got to my friend. He must have lost his hearing too because he seemed to be yelling the story to me. He said that a coyote had come in and stopped in front of his brother-in-law who had dropped it with one shot. (I was thinking how grateful I was that there was only one shot and no need for a follow up).

When we got to the shooter he was standing over a piece of hide that used to be a full grown coyote. I was amazed at what his bullet had done. I asked him if I could see his gun. He handed it to me and I read the words ".300 Weatherby Mag." that were engraved on the barrel. The barrel had been ported and his scope was a Leopold 2-7X. He grinned and said "It's loud and kicks like a mule, but it sure knocks them dead." I didn't think much about it at the time; I just chuckled and handed it back to him.

We didn't kill any more coyotes that day. When I got home, I related the events to my wife who was just as amazed as I at the damage that had occurred. As I was reflecting on the hunt I came to the following conclusion; there really were guns that were better than others for predator hunting. His gun fit the criteria most writers have for predator shooters. Sure, the gun had accomplished what its purpose was; knocked down the coyote and made a clean humane kill. To most people that is all there is to it, but I say there is more.

Weight, accuracy, caliber, loudness, cost, feel, optics, comfort, and oneness all come together to make the right coyote gun for each individual hunter. I use the term oneness to describe the feeling between the hunter and his rifle. There is a certain camaraderie that exists between a hunter and his rifle. This doesn't happen overnight, it takes time to develop. It comes through spending many mornings together in sub-zero temperature making the impossible long shot, and holding up through years of abuse.

A good predator gun should be heavy enough to help maintain stability, but light enough to pack around the hills all day. Many of the new predator rifles today offer the heavy varmint barrels (for stability and heat dissipation) that have been fluted for weight reduction. You should be able to shoot tight groups consistently at 100 yards. How tight the groups will depend on your own ambition. Doing so will build confidence and faith in your gun and in yourself. This confidence is vital to your success as a predator hunter. My friend Garrett is disappointed with his shooting if he has more than one hole in the paper after shooting 3 rounds at 100 yards. I haven't reached that level of shooting, but I still like to keep tight groups.

There are volumes of books written on various calibers used to hunt varmints and predators. I think this is an area of common sense. I strongly recommend the smaller calibers; .222 through.257. They are cheaper to shoot, use less powder, and have a lot less recoil. There is not a whole lot a person can do about loudness. However, if you have been next to a rifle that has been ported or that has one of the old 'boss' systems, you know what I mean when I say 'loud'. Any gun that leaves your ears hurting after a day of hunting coyotes is too loud. Cost is a personal thing. I've seen people out hunting with custom jobs they probably had to mortgage their house to buy. This isn't necessary. In my book a gun qualifies as a 'good gun' if it is affordable to the shooter. I spent $250.00 for my first coyote gun. It came with a sling, scope, and two boxes of ammo. I believe that was a cheap price to pay for a great 'critter gitter'.

The last items of consideration needed for the perfect coyote gun are good optics and a good feel. I believe strongly in the statement: "I'd rather have an inexpensive gun and a good scope, than an expensive gun and poor quality scope." A good varmint scope should give the shooter the capability to reach out to great distances and hit the target. To do this, a higher magnification is a must. Will lower magnifications work? I say "Yes", but remember we're talking about the perfect predator gun. Finally, feel is something unique to each shooter. As you shoot other people's guns, visit your local gun shop, and learn from past experiences, you will come to discover your own feel. The gun should feel like its part of you. The recoil should be light and manageable.

When I say I have the perfect coyote gun, I mean it. It is the perfect gun for me. That doesn't mean it is the perfect gun for you. We each have our own shooting styles and techniques. Some people like varmint barrels, some don't. Others like the hair triggers while some require a three lb. pull. Whatever gun you choose to hunt with, you will find that if you stick to the qualifications we have discussed in this article, you will find a gun that you can call your 'perfect predator rifle'. Good luck and Happy Hunting!