Predator Hunting Gear: Turn Predator into Prey

There are nearly endless options for predator hunting gear with countless feature sets to meet any budget. Savage ambassador and hunting guide, Kyle Kuechel of Yuma, AZ shared his favorite pieces of critical gear, what to look for and why. 

Rifle

Semi-auto or bolt action? Talk to any coyote hunter and they will tell you what they prefer! Kuechel has used both with success. A semi-auto like the MSR 10 Hunter is great for fast shots and quick follow ups. Kuechel prefers a bolt action like his 110 Apex Predator. “I tend to be less of a cowboy with a bolt action. I know I can’t get a follow up shot right away with a bolt action, so I take my time and I take better shots,” says Kuechel.

If you are new to predator hunting and do not want to pull the trigger on a predator-specific rifle, almost any smaller caliber deer rifle should do the trick. 

If you are looking for a purpose-built predator rifle, here are a few things to look for:

• Heavy barrel – if you need to take follow up shots or have multiple coyotes come in at once, a heavy barrel will not heat as fast allowing you to take multiple accurate shots
• Threaded for suppressor – many coyote hunters prefer to use a suppressor, so a threaded muzzle is a must. 
• Camo – Concealing yourself and your rifle is the best way to melt into the terrain to avoid a coyote’s sharp eyes.

“You need to have a rifle that you can count on. Having confidence in your shot is paramount,” says Kuechel.

Ammunition

There are a handful of calibers that are preferred by coyote hunters. One of the most popular and Kuechel’s favorite is the 22-250 Rem. “It’s not too big, not too small, so you’re not punching really big holes in coyotes,” says Kuechel, which means it’s a very fur-friendly caliber. It’s also a very flat-shooting, fast-moving bullet that doesn’t get pushed around too much in the wind, and it has plenty of knock down power. 

One of the biggest challenges with coyote hunting is over-penetrating ammunition. You want a round that will expand on impact and drop the coyote in their tracks. 

The Hornady Varmint Express V-MAX 55 grain is Kuechel’s favorite ammunition for coyotes.

Optics

Quality optics are an essential component for your predator hunting gear list. Of course you'll need a riflescope, but don't forget about binoculars and a rangefinder too! 

Riflescope

You are always going to have a ton of optics when it comes to pairing your rifle with a scope. Kuechel prefers a variable power optic with a first focal plane optic. If he has time to zoom in, Kuechel likes to fill up the reticle with the coyote. With a first focal plane optic, the reticle changes as you zoom in and out, so you can use the stadia lines for holdovers. Kuechel prefers to holdover instead of adjusting custom dials, so he spends plenty of time at the range getting to know his optics and where his holdover lines are. 

Minimum magnification for Kuechel would be 2x and he runs all the way up to 25x. More often than not, he runs a 4-16x. 

Kuechel’s favorite optics for predator hunting are the Vortex Viper HS 4-16x44 and Vortex Viper PST Gen II 3-15x44 FFP. 

When it comes to mounting an optic, Kuechel recommends a one-piece mounting system like Hawkins Precision. There is less room for error for the mounting to fail with a one-piece system. He typically mounts optics with medium height rings but advises that you mount your optic as low as possible. Generally lower is better, but you do need some height, so you are able to use the elevation in your optic. “Sometimes you have to have a certain amount of height so you can dial out when you want to shoot really far,” says Kuechel. 

Binoculars 

Kuechel wears his binoculars on his chest so he always has easy access to them. Coyotes have impeccable hearing, and they can come from a long distance into a call. Scanning your surroundings with binoculars is an important way to scout and to watch for approaching coyotes. 

Range Finder

A range finder is an invaluable piece of gear for any coyote hunter. When Kuechel gets to any stand, the first thing he does is start ranging landmarks and noting the distance before he starts calling. He does this so he knows where to holdover when a coyote comes in. “I do a little bit of homework on every stand before I even start to call,” says Kuechel. 

Calls

Kuechel always brings an electronic call and hand calls on every hunt. Bringing hand calls as a back-up is always a good idea, just in case something goes wrong with the e-caller. If you’re new to predator hunting and not ready to invest in an electronic caller, you can get started with hand calls.  “I’d encourage people to go out there and try out with a hand call first.”

Electronic

When shopping for an electronic caller, look for a unit that meets your needs for battery life, sound clarity, remote range, clarity, volume, and sound variety. Beyond the default sounds available on the electronic calls, Kuechel also buys custom sounds that he can load onto his unit. If you’re going to invest in predator gear, Kuechel recommends going with a high-quality e-caller like FoxPro or Lucky Duck. 

Hand Call

Using a hand call in conjunction with an electronic call is a great tactic to bring coyotes within shooting range. Kuechel’s favorite hand calls are from Reese Outdoors. “I love the pitch and the variability you can get out of them. Jack on Crack is my go-to,” says Kuechel. He typically carries a couple different sounds to mix it up between rabbits, deer fawns, and other noises to trigger a response from coyotes. 

Accessories

A predator hunting gear list wouldn't be complete without accessories! While there are many more things you can bring with you while chasing coyotes, these are the critical pieces that Kuechel never forgets.

Bipod

“One of the most essential pieces of gear for predator hunting is having a good rest and stability so you can be confident in every shot,” says Kuechel. There are several great bipods, tripods and shooting sticks on the market, so you should choose the rest system that is going to work the best for your style of hunting. Kuechel hunts in the mountains of Arizona and always hunts from an elevated position on a hillside, so he prefers to shoot with a bipod with adjustable legs. Depending on the angle of the hillside, adjustable legs allow him to set up perfectly every time. Kuechel’s favorite bipod? The RokStedi P242. 

Suppressor

Another critical piece of gear for Kuechel is a suppressor. “It’s my ear protection,” he says. It’s tough to predator hunt with ear protection (although it’s doable and a lot of hunters do it!). It is important for Kuechel to listen carefully to his surroundings for a coyote call-off or a coyote sneaking in on the rough terrain.

Kuechel uses a Q Thunder Chicken in a suppressor wrap. Suppressors can get very hot after shooting even one round, so a wrap is an added piece of safety for the shooter. 

Wind Checker

Have we mentioned that wind is everything? Wind is everything. Kuechel carries a small squeeze bottle with talc. He’s constantly checking which direction the wind is blowing by seeing where the talc blows. If the wind has changed against his favor, he must move to avoid getting busted. 

GPS and Radio

Anything can happen in the field. It’s better to be safe than sorry and always have a way to reach someone if things go south and there’s no cell phone reception.

Sling

A sling isn’t a critical piece of gear, but if you have to walk a long distance to your stand, a sling sure is helpful! Sometimes the best coyote hunting is well off the beaten path. Being able to sling your rifle on your shoulder is nice especially when you need your hands to carry other things like an e-call, chair, decoys, and anything else you’re taking with you.