PREDATOR & PREY

Rifles or Shotguns?

- Gordy J. Krahn

Most predator hunters consider a centerfire rifle chambered for cartridges such as the .223 or .22-250 Remingtons the end-all solution for all of their fur gathering endeavors. These predator specific rifles and the bullets they send downrange – to their way of thinking – are tailor-made to rug out furred critters while inflicting minimal damage to their valuable pelts. Topped with a variable-power scope, they are capable of reaching out at considerable distances when dialed up, and they also work reasonably well for close action when the scope is adjusted to its lowest setting. Hunters who favor semiautos or AR rifles enjoy large magazine capacity and quick follow-up shots.

Then there are those who take a turkey hunter’s approach to calling in and shooting predators by using their hunting and calling skills and terrain features to coax critters in sure-kill close for a swarm of buckshot. These hunters enjoy unmatched efficiency at close range – easily out to 60 yards with today’s special-duty shotguns, chokes and shot shells – when the action is fast and furious, or multiple predators show up at the scene. By matching shotshell selection to the species, fur damage is generally minimal.

The sad thing is that firearm aficionados from both camps are missing out on their full potential as fur hunters. By excluding one type of gun in favor of the other, opportunities are often diminished or even lost. Why compromise when there’s potential to have the best of both worlds by owning a dedicated fur rifle and a dedicated scattergun, and learning the nuances of when to use one over the other based on a host of criteria?