Does anyone here use the shotgun for fur hunting ? .... To be honest, I probably used the shotgun as much or more than rifles for coyotes here. Alot of the country I called was wooded...and then too, alot was along brushy creek bottoms, valleys, or hill sides... Knowing the most likely predator to respond in this area was the coyote I used a Plain-Jane 870 12 gag., stoked with WINCHESTER's Magnum 3 inch copper coated lead BB's... They could be a bit harsh on fox, but not too bad on bobcat if the range was not too close, but they worked extremely well on coyotes... And in close range situations, where shooting lanes were often well under 50 yards and the action sometimes fast, the shotgun was simply more suited than a scoped rifle... Anyone else use a shotgun for fur ?

Most times I will use a shotgun at nighttime instead of a rifle. If anyone has ever hunted predators at nighttime they know it's not like the daytime hunting. Shots that would be so simple in the daytime are quite hard at night time. It's hard to judge distances, sometimes you only see the predator eyes bouncing when they are coming in to your calls.

Here in Pa fur does not prime up until Thanksgiving. From early Sep to Thanksgiving I use high brass # 4 shot for gray fox, red fox. However after the Thanksgiving I start to use # 2 shot, BB, and or # 4 buckshot since the fur is heavier due to the guard hairs getting thicker for the winter season.
Most fur buyers hear frown on shotgun harvested coon. So we use the 22 LR if we are going after coon.

Coyotes I will use # 4 buckshot but the same would apply for coyotes too. They do not prime up until Thangsgiving so # 4 copper plated shot would also work on nonprime coyotes at 30 yards away.


Remember for you new predator hunters. Steel shot does not penetrate like Hevi, lead, bismuth, Tungsten etc. Never use steel shoot BB for coyote or fox. It just does not hit hard like the other metals mentioned.

It's OK to shoot bobcat with shotguns too. The same would apply. The Thanksgiving Rule.


Find out from the trappers or seasoned predator callers in your area when fur primes. Then go to a larger shot size when this occurs.



If you want to get more money for your fur. Harvest it when the prime window occurs. This will be from abut Thanksgiving to 1 Jan. Prior to thanksgiving it not prime enough. After 1 Jan the coon, coyotes, fox start to rub their coast on trees and stuff. They wear patches of fur away. Last year after Jan I got $8.00 for the red fox the rubbed their fur. The ones that did not rub their fur I got tops of $18.00 per red fox.


I would like to add one more thing. If your new to predator calling. Hunt them prior to Thanksgiving and after the New Year too. You have to much to learn in the field to be worrying about getting top dollar for that short prime fur window. If you get real good that you never miss a coyote, fox, bobcat, etc. Then you can only hunt them in the prime fur window. Personally I do not hunt for money. I hunt them from Oct - Feb. Coyotes I will hunt 365 days a year if I had a chance. However I do not like to kill pups or so I might shy away from hunting from May-Aug. Might? Unless the phone starts ringing and a farmer has had a problem with a sheep killer.

However yes you new predator caller use the scattergun. Use it at nighttime more then a rifle too. You will harvest more animals.

Good tips UB....