hey guys, do any of you out there go after smaller game rabbits, squirels, coyotes, ect. what would be a good starting out gun to hunt these animals ?
thanks in advance


Skeets

Hey Skeets13... well a couple of questions to think about first... are you looking to kill them or just run them out of your yard? How close is the nearest neighbor? I have had luck several ways… I have killed several raccoons that didn't seem to get the hint with the pellet gun with my hunting bow… I have run squirrels away with dumb-dumb blunts in my blow gun… I have got rid of several pesky birds with the pellet gun… since I live within a neighbor hood a quite weapon is the best!… Also, I like to perfect my hand eye coordination…

If you want to get a good actuate, single shot pellet rifle try a Gamo, I have really enjoyed mine… Good Luck!

Shoot Straight...

im looking at getting a Gamp 890 hunter neighboors are close i live in a neighbor hood but the neighbors are cool with it and yes to kill them just get em out for good no questions

skeets

Not smart to post things that arent legal. I'm not one to say things about intelligence, but I'm just guessing that talking about such things isnt a good idea.

Not meaning to start anything.

Curtis

Is shooting a raccoon with a bow or pellet gun illegal?

The only thing I see in this post is that he may wanna watch out when shooting wabbits, make sure its in season and depending on your location, identification may be crucial, because jackrabbits and pygmies are closed statewide.

FYI,, rabbits are not classified as varmits, they are small game..

Squrriels I know are illegal to shoot at anytime. I doubt discharging a firearm within city limits is terribly legal, either.

So you are assuming he is within a city boundry where they have a no firearm discharge ordinance?

I know there are some protected species of squirells , matter of fact there were plans to build some kinda sky bridge for them.

Are all squirells/chipmunks species illegal to shoot?

Still dont see anything illegal this guy is doing, unless we start making assumptions for him.

Are you just sticking up for your jailbait's statement?

Well first thank you for all the concern about my post.

Ok, Voodoo Daddy,… Shot one raccoon on Oct. 5th, 2002 and the second on Nov. 12th, 2002 Nov. Now let's see, the last time I READ the regulations the Raccoon Season was Statewide: Sept. 3, 2002 – Mar. 15, 2003. So, unless someone reads the regulations different, I guess the coons were legal.

And CWUgirl,… well, no where in my post did I say, nor imply that I shot a squirrel. I stated “… I have run squirrels away with dumb-dumb blunts in my blow gun…“ Now as far as the “discharging a firearm within city limits” I believe that I didn't say nor imply that I had discharged a firearm within city limits. Since both of the raccoons were harvested with a bow and a bow is not a firearm, I guess that is legal. And since a blowgun is not a firearm, even though I suppose the term “gun” is a part of the overall word, I guess that was legal also. I also, never said nor implied that I had killed squirrels just “run squirrels away”. And that is not illegal.

Not to start anything either, so again I say, Thanks for the concern!

Lastly Driftboater... I would like to say a great big THANK YOU to you! As most people seem to do these days, they assumed my guilt before an understanding of the law or a full and correct reading of my post! So again THANK YOU!

P.S. I also float a driftboat and if you are of legal age and of notion, I have a beer in my cooler for you! Thank

Shoot Straight and Tight Lines!

Wabowhunter, I actually was responding to the original post, not yours!

I could see you weren't descimating the squrriel population.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I've just had people tell me that it's illegal, so I've never gone after them.

Never actually wanted to kill a racoon... Can't see myself eating THAT.

Actually coon is rather tasty! (roastbeef) but I take em just for the hides.. I earned my extra spending money while growing up trapping coons.

WaBH,,
Glad to help clarify facts I hate assumptions and insinuations!
What rivers do ya float? I'll be on the Green later this week and the Nooksack the following week, then maybe the Yakima in a few..

I was going to mention that young Skeets is in the town of Kirkland, same as me. Probably in the city limits too and if not in Kirkland's limits then one of the surrounding town's limits.

It wouldn't be fun to have the local police called because of "shots fired".

Now... if we're talking about out of town varmints like eastern WA... then a .223 does pretty good, but at times the wind kicks up and something that bucks the wind better is useful. I've been over on Highway 26 and had to hold 3 foot of windage at times to get a hit.

The .223 would not be a good gun to use within the city limits of Kirkland though.

The best way would be to call up the local Animal Control number and work it through there. Probably the end result would be a nuisance trapper through the Game Department would show up.

Use a box trap or a water trap.

Ok guys and gals, I just wanted to know a good gun and if anyone else hunts them. when I wrote the thing about my backyard it meant in the woods around here there are lots of forests (public). I haven't shot any yet. And I wasn't planning on shooting around here (my actual backyard) I dind't realy mean that they are a pest problem although that's what it seems like in the post, I just meant to hunt them and asked what a good gun to use would be. thanks and sorry for the confusion.

Try the new .17 hmr Marlin Cheap,fast and pretty quite. it comes with a bull barrel, I have one and like it alot.

very accurate and usefull to 200 yards.
Walmart has them for $179.

Skeets, how old are you? With 13 at the end of your name it makes me think your 13 or something like that. Well, if you are, then theirs no way your gonna have the money to spend on ammo to shoot the 17 HMR
Take a look at how close to were your gonna be hunting and look at were that bullet is gonna be flying. Were is it gonna hit when its all burned out?

And a list of good guns that I think would work just fine.

A good Ruger 10/22 with a 4x scope is fun and a good hunting gun. $180 bucks, gun, scope, ammo and a few small toys for it.

Marlin 880 SQ, now that's a 22 lr sniper rifle. $200 bucks or so for the rifle. For about $300 bucks (give or take a few bucks), gun, scope, tripods, sling, ammo.

If you are wanting to do coyote and coons at long range (100-200 yard if you are a good shot) The Marlin 882SSV, About $230 for the gun. Put a little over $300 bucks down and you can get another really good sniper rifle. Gun, scope, sling, tripods ammo. I get 1/2 inch groups with mine with cheap ammo at 100 yards.

If you really want to spend some money for coyotes get the Marlin's .17 Hornady Rimfire Magnum bolt action rifle, for $300 bucks an SS gun and a scope. For about $380 you can get the gun, scope, tripods, sling and some ammo.

If you wanna have some fun. Get a Ruger Mini-14 and for about $400 bucks you can get a NIB all weather model 223, add another 100 bucks for a good/cheap sniper scope, another $20 per mag for 20 round mags, $10 bucks for a sling, $50 bucks for a 1000+rounds of 223 and go out and have fun! My Mini-14 shoots really well at 100-300 yards!

With the guns I just listed, you gotta think on were that bullets gonna hit.
If I was you and knew that I could discharge a firearm with out getting the cops called on me I would use a good 12 GA

$220 you can get a Mossberg 500 all weather model 12 GA shotgun and for 10-15 bucks you can pick up a choke tube.

For about the same price you can get a Remington 870 with a wood stock.

For like $300 bucks you can get a very good Winchester 1300 12 GA pump shotgun with the all weather model stock.
Or if you wanna keep it simple and use the good old single shot shotgun, New England shotgun with the 12, 20 GA barrel or the 410 bore barrel.
I use a New England single shot 410 for rabbits and grouse using 3 inch mag #4 shot but if its all really close range, I'll go up to the #6 shot. Only 3 inch mag for me though.

For 12 GA, shoot #4 buck for coyotes and maybe even coons. I use 6 to 8 shot for rabbits, grouse and other small game.

If that does not work, a good old ten pump BB/pellet gun works just fine. Stay away from CO2.
Them gamo single shots are really nice to.

Hope this helps

thanks for that kingfisher! I put 13 at the end of the name when I was 13 but a few months and a birthday turned me 14 so disregard the last 2 digits
I was looking to hunt not around as much altough there are alot of woods around here so maybe... but my uncle lives in Mt. Vernon and thers hunreds of acres of woods back there, after to talking to a couple people they said a good all around gun would be a .270 so im looking into that right now what is your opinion on a gun like that? thanks for all the help!

Skeets

Are you looking into doing some big game hunting? Cause thats what them people are telling you. The 270 win is a big game gun, ya you can use it on coyotes but lets keep it simple$$$.
I have a remington 700 270 win and a 270 weatherby that my grandpa gave to me. And yes, them are the best all around gun. But see me, I'm a fan of the 300 win mag (more power)but I'll tell you this. The 270 win is a flat shooting long range deer round with a good shot can drop an elk with no problem at a closer range.
I also have a Ruger M77 all weather model 308 win and I out shot (in range)flat shooting that is) my Remington 270 and my buddys 270 and that was shooting 150 gr. for me (308) and 130 gr for him(270)
Look at your game area, tell me what the GMU of were you will be hunting. Some spots are shotgun unit only and others you can use moder firearms.
I'll get back to you on this later in the day, I got to go.

In that last post, I was a little high price on the Marlin 17 HMR, not that much.

You might want to look into H&R AKA New England or a Mossberg single shot guns. Cause the way your sounding to me is that you might deer hunt, you might coyote hunt, and so on and so on.
For them 3 guns I just listed you can get different barrels for them.

Look into Winchester or Remington. Good guns for a cheap price till a point$$$.
All you need to be set for life is 3 guns.

Big game: Look into a 270, 308, 30-06, or maybe even a 300 win mag.

Small game: I say get a Ruger 10/22 22 lr. Simi auto 22 lr. You can get so many cool little add on toys for it. With the right ammo and just the standard barrel, a dime at 50 yards would be easy to hit with just one shot. Also if you use it for coyotes, you got 10 round mags to go fully auto on.

And the last gun you really need is a good 12 GA pump shotgun. You can pick up a very good used Mossberg pump shotgun for like $150 bucks. Right there you can hunt just about all birds, coyotes with buckshot, deer with slugs and have fun shooting trap or clay.

So, all you need is a High powered rifle, a shogun, and a good 22 lr. 3 guns and your set for life. No reason to stop at 3 guns though (more more more). But that's all you really need.
Another tip, I only use one gun for big game hunting. Don't be like other people I know and have a 243 for deer and a 300 win mag for elk, go out deer hunting with the 243 shoot it a few times. Then go out elk huntin with the 300 mag and miss the biggest bull elk you ever seen cause you got your two guns mixed up (u got the 300 but you think your shooting the 243) pull up and think you only got to rase so much and end up shooting over it or under it . Get what I'm saying? Get good with one gun and know were it shoots.

oh ya, if you and your dad don't know anyone with a 300 win mag, 243 win, 308 win and or a 270 win and would like to shoot one before getting one. I have them 3 calibers and a few more that I could let you shoot. You will be a better shot with a gun that your not scared to shoot.

Skeets, it looks like you have gotten some good advice so far. First thing you need to figure out is what you are going to hunt? If you are looking to hunt just deer I would recomend a good bolt action in .260 rem up tp 30/06. If you are going to hunt deer and elk I would say the .270 is a bare minimum. If you are just going to hunt varmints I would recomend the 22-250. A great small game rifle is the .22 fimfire. I personally wouldn't use it on cyotes though. a littel under powerd even the hot new littel .17hmr is a little to small for them. IMO. It is hard to just buy one gun. I would say you definitely need a .22 rimfire and then a big game rifle. And don't forget to take the hutner safty course!!

And about the earlier post on killing squirles Well the littel gray things that you all see running around the neighbor hoods are an introduced species, therefore they are legal to kill! The western grey and red squirells are protected in this state and are smaller than the big greys that everyone thinks are so cute So go ahead and thin the population!
Buck