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Coyote Deterrent (Non-lethal)

17K views 10 replies 7 participants last post by  OutlawAirsoft 
#1 ·
Hello Everyone,

I'm new here and really just joined up to ask a particular question.

So, here's my situation. I'm looking for a pellet gun that has the ability to deter coyotes without the pellet embedding itself in the animal's skin. Pain and leaving a welt are fine, but I am not looking to injure it in any manner. I just want to cause some pain and scare it. I am keenly aware that an actual gun is the best way to actually deter coyotes, but for various reasons, I also want to be able to use non-lethal deterrents.

I also know people highly recommend paintball guns for this, but I've read the paintballs can be toxic to dogs and other animals. I own a dog and my yard is close to a state park system. I'm not thrilled about the idea of shooting toxic ammo around my dog or into a state park, hence why I want a pellet gun.

I'm not going to be shooting at point blank range. I'll probably be shooting at 100-150 feet, the edge of the trees in my yard. So, how many FPS will leave a mark but not actually leave the pellet embedded in the skin at that range and does anyone have any guns they recommend for this particular task?
 
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#2 ·
This is a pellet, fired by a pelletgun or airgun:
Wood Indoor games and sports Recreation Table Metal


This is a BB, fired by an airsoft gun.
Composite material Staple food Pattern Aluminium Metal

One is used for hunting small game. One is used for training or entertainment.
A pellet gun can not be used to "deter" large game without injuring it in some way. An airsoft gun will do nothing more than mildly annoy any large game. Let me say I have some... experience with this.

If you want to encourage coyotes to disperse, there are much better methods such as sprays, alarms, fences, ect. Do not attempt to use an airsoft gun, and do not use a pellet gun unless you want to cause serious harm(i.e, hunting).
 

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#4 ·
This is a pellet, fired by a pelletgun or airgun:
Wood Indoor games and sports Recreation Table Metal


This is a BB, fired by an airsoft gun.
Composite material Staple food Pattern Aluminium Metal

One is used for hunting small game. One is used for training or entertainment.
A pellet gun can not be used to "deter" large game without injuring it in some way. An airsoft gun will do nothing more than mildly annoy any large game. Let me say I have some... experience with this.

If you want to encourage coyotes to disperse, there are much better methods such as sprays, alarms, fences, ect. Do not attempt to use an airsoft gun, and do not use a pellet gun unless you want to cause serious harm(i.e, hunting).
I wasn't at all aware there was a difference between the two. Obviously, I have no interest in wounding an animal. I had no intention to actually shoot a gun that uses the pellets shown in that picture either. I didn't even know they existed, to be honest. I had the intention to use an airsoft gun that shoots BB's, but if it won't work, then that's a plan I'll obviously be dropping.

The reason why I ask about airsoft guns is that paintball guns are advertised as being able to deter coyotes or even black bears (I have my doubts about that), but as I said in my original post, I'm concerned with the toxicity of the paintballs. So, is there a difference between paintball and airsoft guns that makes the former more appropriate for deterring animals or is this just false advertising? Again, I'm not interested in angering a coyote or wounding it, just curious at this point.
 

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#3 ·
Yup, an airsoft gun is not good for this use. Say you hit the animal in the eye, you'll have a blind/half blind coyote that has to be taken to a vet or be put down.
 
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#5 ·
I would recommend a good slingshot/ wrist rocket with a lighter weight marble of sorts. Have a bit of fun testing your skill while only leaving a welt or bruise.
It is remotely possible that it wont scare it enough to keep it from returning though. Sometimes that requires a big bang.
Perhaps a good airsoft grenade or flash bang? :D
 
#6 ·
You can also freeze paintballs to keep them from breaking and becoming toxic for the animal. They'll leave a good bruise and you'll still get the loud pop along with each shot.;)
On a side note, the airsoft field I play at also has a paintball area, and the owner has 3 dogs that frequent the entire field. They don't seem to have any problem with paintballs, although they may not be as inclined to eat them as other dogs, possibly.
 
#10 ·
If you choose to use airsoft guns to deter Coyotes, get either something that uses Co2 or is An Airsoft Eletric Gun(AEG) which uses lypo batteries, and then run a heavy gram of bb's in it.(.40 grams preferably.) This will give it a good sting without hurting it too badly. I personally carry an loaded Airsoft handgun with me on my walk home from work. (I live around cornfields on the edge of my town and don't have a car.) I have drawn it to scare off a coyote and the loud sound it made helped. (It's a Co2 blowback pistol.)
 
#11 ·
Animals can sense when we are scared, confidant, etc. While the sound of the pistol may have helped, I think more important is the confidants carrying a weapon (no matter how lethal) gives us. They can sense that and I guess know we have something up our sleeve.
 
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