#2 shot to much for fox?

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Posing this question to those who have ventilated some fox with #2 size shot. Was the hides torn up pretty bad? Looking for something that would not destroy a fox hide, but would also be effective on coyote out to a reasonable range.
 
I have shot a lot of BB, #2 should work fine. You will just have to remember that #2 will not break shoulder bones, hips, and the spine on a coyote. If at all possible, when using shot smaller than #4 buck, I always try and leade a a coyote for a head shot. You may consider this crazy, but a full choke is minimum and an extra full is even better with BB, and I suppose that the same would be true of #2....I have patterned a LOT of shotguns.

Good luck
 
That makes a lot of sense, really appreciate the suggestions on choke size and shooting for the head on a coyote is an excellent plan. I know some of the killing is done through shock, but the coyote is so tough you really need some penetration in a least one vital area. Think I'll give the #2 shot a try in a full or super full choke, and take head shots on the coyote's out to 30 yds or so. Thanks.
 
I shot a fox at 25 yards with a tight choke and #4 buck a couple years ago. Worked great. Couldn't even tell it was hit until I shinned it and found all the holes in the carcass.
 
I use 3-inch 12g lead #2 shot for foxes and bobcats, it flat out hammers them out to 50+ yards.

Only taken 2 coyotes with that load, both by surprise. One at 5 yards, and the other took 3 rapid shots from 35-40 yards, broke two legs on the first shot and I tried leading for the head on 2 and 3. Only made it maybe 25 yards because he was tumbling downhill. I would not load #2 shot intentionally for coyotes but it will work if you're thoughtful.
 
Copper or nickel plated shot will pattern and penetrate better. If you are shooting mostly red fox I would shoot 2 3/4 copper plated bb.
 



I am 68 and have fox hunted here I Ohio since I was 12.
We run them with hounds. When, the fox was to be killed,
#4 shot is all anyone used. Fox have a thin hide.
Ground hogs and red fox squirrels have thicker hides.
I have shot a few fox while squirrel hunting, #6 shot has worked well.
 
I have used it before i switched to BB.. It doesn't anchor them like BB, and if you call in a coyote, i have had to shoot them several times to make it work.

Just get some Hornady Nickel coated BB and be done with it.
 
with 4 buck i can get about 10 pellets in an 8" circle at 50 yards with a .58 constriction. with my nickel plated lead bb that i load i can get about 16-18 pellets in an 8" circle at "40 yards" with a full choke but have a wider and more dense spread. for me, i like the bb patterns over the 4 buck but i will limit my shots to 40 yards with the bb on coyotes. your pattern needs to be more dense for reliable kills on fox then it does for coyotes. it also needs to be more dense for bobcats then it does for coyotes and bobcat is mostly what i call in and that is what lead me to liking the bbs over the 4 buck. although i can effectively kill coyotes 10 yards farther with the 4 buck . so no matter what you use, you need to just pattern your gun with several different loads and choke combinations and see what it likes best for how you will use it. even if your shots are at 30 yards, i would be prepared for follow up shot of #4 buck or lead bb for coyotes. the fox shouldn't be a problem. i would tare up a hide more skinning it then #4 buck does to the hide anyways.
this is all my impute on hunting something smaller and having what you need to take down a coyote if the situation comes up. fox are endangered in my area and i don't kill them so i can not verify with experience what to tell you about hide damage to fox.
 
Originally Posted By: willy1947


I am 68 and have fox hunted here I Ohio since I was 12.
We run them with hounds. When, the fox was to be killed,
#4 shot is all anyone used. Fox have a thin hide.
Ground hogs and red fox squirrels have thicker hides.
I have shot a few fox while squirrel hunting, #6 shot has worked well.


Ok, but shotgunning an exhausted treed or cornered fox that's distracted by dogs generally happens at closer distances than shooting a wary and usually moving called critter. Them's 2 different things.
 
I guess I'm the odd man out. Years ago I tried #2 lead and had poor results if the fox was outside 40 yards. Too many had to be shot again, and several would keep going even though hit hard. Switched to #4 buck and problem went away. Even the runners left a blood trail, unlike the #2 shot. I guess what soured me to #2's was seeing a coyote take a face full at around 40 yards and go to spinning. I finished it with a .222. When skinned, the #2's were just under the skin on the skull and none did any real damage to the bone.
 
I would go with BB simply because there's a lot more coyotes in the areas I hunt.Why risk losing or educating coyotes?Beside's it's not like BB's are going to tear a fox up that bad.
 
The bobcat in my avitar was taken using the Hornady BB shell at less than 10yrds. Took it off it's feet. No Pelt damage.

The BB has taken many coyotes off their feet as well. They hit hard and don't tear up the pelts, they also get into the body vs just under the skin.

I use a 22-250 for more than 50yrds and shotgun inside that. I don't have issues with pelt damage since i started doing that, and i skin out about 20 a year. The only time i get pelt damage is when the Vmax hits a bone. Since i started shooting a little further back of the ribs, it's not an issue and it drops dead right where it stands.

After seeing the balistics jell shooting of Vmax, shooting 6" to the right of the heart will still hit the heart.
 
I suppose a lot has to do with your pattern. Last year smoked two foxes and a bobcat with #2 lead shot from 53, 55, and 51 yards respectively. Lasered after the shot. All dropped dead in their tracks.

I agree it's a poor choice for coyotes, which are much tougher than fox.
 
Originally Posted By: Bernie P.More BB's than 2's?


I was wondering the same thing.

Lead #2 shot has approximately 88 pellets per ounce.

Lead BB shot has approximately 51 pellets per ounce.
 
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