depends on what the critter is.
a bobcat, a choke pole, you can choke down a bc pretty quick,
a coon,fox,yote,anything else other then a beaver, mustkrat, mink, gets a .22lr to the lungs. used to shoot them in the head, but I dont like the bloody mess that needs cleaned up after wards.
if I have a beaver, muskrat, or mink that doesn't go down the slide wire, its a smack to the head with the trapping trowel.