2024 Predator Season from NY

[MannyMedeiros21]

I always wait until deer season ends to start chasing predators. The two set ups I run are a 204 in an ar platform shooting 40 grain vmax and a 17 wsm shooting the 25 grain polymer tips. Here is what we have so far!

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[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

Very nice. This is something i want to get into. I been looking for a left hand 204 ruger with no luck. what part of the state are you in?

 

[Agross]

Nice! If you don’t mind what sounds do you have the best luck with?

 

[MannyMedeiros21]

Very nice. This is something i want to get into. I been looking for a left hand 204 ruger with no luck. what part of the state are you in?

I’m in the Rochester area. What about you?


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[MannyMedeiros21]

Nice! If you don’t mind what sounds do you have the best luck with?

Thanks! I can give you a list of my favorites that I have good luck with.
Rabbit: baybee cottontail(I also like this call as a coaxer if an animal hangs up) and cagie cottontail(I have called in more predators with this call than any other call).
Birds: Ranting red bird(killed a ton to this also) and nutty nuthatch.
Fox: Platinum grey and juvenile red fox distress.
Rodent: flying squirrel distress(I like running this at the start of every stand for anything that may already be close after I have set up) and field mouse distress(my number one coaxer. I have called animals in with this from 400 yards away. I turn the sound down as they get closer).
Coyote: I like female long howls and then wait for 5 minutes, then send out another sequence of howls. Pup distress if a pair comes in and you shoot one of them. I’ve had the second of the pair come flying back in to the call.

I hope that helps. There are a ton of calls I have had them respond to that aren’t in this list. These are my go to’s though.


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[MannyMedeiros21]

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[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

where close I live in south bristol. what kind of hundred yard groups do you get with that 204 Ruger? I been looking for a left hand 204 bolt gun, with no luck. Ruger american second gen has a right 204. i even thought of getting it. Maybe i should be looking at building a AR in 204 ruger. kind of pain in NYS state the way I understand it you have to go featureless or fixed 10 round mag.

 

[MannyMedeiros21]

The .204 ruger is a tack driver. Both the 32 and 40 grain hornady superformance hit them hard. The 32s will slash on the coyotes shoulder blades from time to time. No issues since I switched to the 40s. They are also not always fur friendly on foxes, so if you plan on saving the pelts, you may want to look at something else. But at 100 yards you can have three bullet groups touching. I can’t…..because I’m not that good of a shot lol. The picture attached is the last three shot group I shot. That was 100 yards, bullseye the size of a nickel. The furthest shot I have taken with it was a fox at 275 yards. Bullet hit right where I had the crosshairs. I feel like ruger might back a left handed 204. Ruger American predator….very good shooter for the price.

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[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

very nice group. what barrel length and twist on your AR? I have a 17 HMR I been using on fox 80 yards and closer. 60 years old and I never shot a coyote. Just bought a fox pro call. My thinking my 17HMR will be to light for yotes and the only other riffle I could use is my 6.5 Creedmoor. I am thinking that with not be to fur friendly. Tikka makes a 1 in 8 twist 22-250. I have to stick to 70-80grains with that and am thinking that might not be fur friendly. Thats what got me looking at the 204ruger.
At night do you use a light or night vision?

 

[MannyMedeiros21]

very nice group. what barrel length and twist on your AR? I have a 17 HMR I been using on fox 80 yards and closer. 60 years old and I never shot a coyote. Just bought a fox pro call. My thinking my 17HMR will be to light for yotes and the only other riffle I could use is my 6.5 Creedmoor. I am thinking that with not be to fur friendly. Tikka makes a 1 in 8 twist 22-250. I have to stick to 70-80grains with that and am thinking that might not be fur friendly. Thats what got me looking at the 204ruger.
At night do you use a light or night vision?

I have a 24” barrel in a 1-10 twist. The 17hmr can put a coyote down with good shot placement 150 and in, but will have some runners. The 6.5 creed would definitely do the job, but you will have pelt damage. At night I usually use lights. My buddy did get thermal this year, so have dabbled with that alittle too. If I had 5k to drop, that’s what I would be running. You can still have good success with lights though. Strictly lights last year I called in 32 foxes and 17 coyotes


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[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

wow that's a lot of fox and coyotes. As I am deciding between bolt and AR for predator gun. In this area how often do you need or use a second quick shot? I know out west it's probably more likely to have a group of yotes come in at once, But in are area how likely is that? I like the sounds of the 204 Ruger as it seems to be my most fur friendly option. I like the sounds of the AR platform But NYS state doesn't make it easy. The way I understand it if you don't own one grandfathered in, I only have two choices featureless or pined 10 round mag. I was also looking at 22-250 tikka makes a left hand 1in 8" twist . problem is that would put me into 70-80 grain bullets. I am thinking they would not be that fur friendly. I have a load worked up for my 6.5 100gr Barnes ttsx at 3133fps. I think if could get a broadside double lung shot i might get threw without much fur damage, but as you say it's just not a fur friendly round.

 

[MannyMedeiros21]

wow that's a lot of fox and coyotes. As I am deciding between bolt and AR for predator gun. In this area how often do you need or use a second quick shot? I know out west it's probably more likely to have a group of yotes come in at once, But in are area how likely is that? I like the sounds of the 204 Ruger as it seems to be my most fur friendly option. I like the sounds of the AR platform But NYS state doesn't make it easy. The way I understand it if you don't own one grandfathered in, I only have two choices featureless or pined 10 round mag. I was also looking at 22-250 tikka makes a left hand 1in 8" twist . problem is that would put me into 70-80 grain bullets. I am thinking they would not be that fur friendly. I have a load worked up for my 6.5 100gr Barnes ttsx at 3133fps. I think if could get a broadside double lung shot i might get threw without much fur damage, but as you say it's just not a fur friendly round.

If you are hunting at night with a light, you will very rarely ever get a followup shot. Running thermal, completely different story. Rarely will you need a second shot with a well placed. I built my AR before all new AR rules, so I’m not sure what they even are now. They do sound like a really pain though. A lot of guys like 22-250, but I feel like for around here you just can’t beat the 204…..or 223 is always an option. The 223 is more fur friendly than the 204.


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[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

what light set up are you running? on scope? I been using the Sight mark wraith at night which works pretty well in open fields, but in woods you get a lot of bounce back from the AR light. I thinking a ascope ounted light might work better. I have place in the southern tier to coyote hunt and its all wooded. I might get down there tomorrow and try some calling just before dark. Hey thanks for all the tips

 

[PAmountainboy]

I always wait until deer season ends to start chasing predators. The two set ups I run are a 204 in an ar platform shooting 40 grain vmax and a 17 wsm shooting the 25 grain polymer tips. Here is what we have so far!

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Those are some nice looking red fox and coyotes. I can't seem to connect on a red fox or coyote that doesn't have mange. Grey fox are plentiful this year though.

 

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

Those are some nice looking red fox and coyotes. I can't seem to connect on a red fox or coyote that doesn't have mange. Grey fox are plentiful this year though.

Nice gray Tell us about your setup light and gun cal? I just bought that bog death grip.

 

[PAmountainboy]

Can't go wrong with a bog pod death grip tripod! I absolutely love mine. My current set up is a Rem 700 .223 with a bull barrel on an HS Precision stock, Leupold 4-12 topped with a wicked light.

 

[MannyMedeiros21]

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[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

nice !!!your piling them up.

 

[MannyMedeiros21]

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[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

Nice you are having better luck than me. Hey what light set up do you use? do you find the light spooks them at all? must not be to much as you're getting them. I got the sight mark wraith and its fine in open areas, but not so good in wooded areas. also even know you can use it in the day the shadows are very dark. I am thinking maybe a regular scope with light might work better for all areas.