Two Words: Varmint Rifle.

Since there were no wolves to take them down, they've gotten bigger.

I've got a pack 5 houses down. And I'm in suburbia.

Sandy P:

Heck, they captured one in a Quizno's sub shop in Chicago's Loop a couple of weeks ago. Don't remember which sandwich he ordered though...

Twn,

You may not realize this, but this being NJ, the owner of a varmit rifle = terrorist. And if you shot that poor coyote, they'd hunt you down without mercy.

The Peoples' Republic of New Jersey, being an anti-gun, anti-hunting pest-hole, is deep into the pagan nightmare of predator reintroduction.

The presence of large carnivores is inconsistent with secure human habitation. For generations, predators have been destroyed on sight, to protect livestock, to protect desireable game birds and animals, and to protect ourselves. Not that long ago, some predators were bountied, with the states paying a reward for their destruction.

Part of the pagan revival entails renunciation of the portion of the Noetic covenant giving us dominion over beast, bird and fish. Hunter ecology is to be replaced with "natural" predation, as if man were not part of nature.

Well, that's our federalism in action. Let them feed joggers to mountain lions in California, and children to coyotes in New Jersey. Here on the American side of the Delaware, we shoot coyotes.

Whatever.

Anyway, varmint rifles are great fun. When I was fighting RatWar 2K3 a few years ago I looked into varmint rifles, but they were just too expensive (even the ammunition can be costly) and I opted instead to load up my trusty old .22 rifle with shot shells. Did the trick just fine and there's not much more fun to be had than spending a warm summer's afternoon popping rats around the barnyard. Unfortunatly, between my skill with a rifle, poison, traps and eliminating habitats I've pretty much driven the local rat population to extiction.

Good opportunity for Mitt Romney, I'd say.

Bryan: As long as you're safe and legal, CCI "CB Longs" are useful for in-close pest control. They are basically .22 longs with a tiny, tiny powder charge.

In a full-length barrel, such as my Marlin 39A, they make NO NOISE. You hear the hammer fall and you hear the bullet strike--"Clack--fwaap," like that. Perfect for rats, I've gone up to skunks and feral cats with them. The only thing to remember is that you're putting out a solid projectile, unlike a hollow air rifle pellet, so you really have to watch your backstop.

"And if you shot that poor coyote, they'd hunt you down without mercy."

S.S.S.

Shoot, shovel and shut up.

jp

The Washington Post recently reported that coyotes have been heard howling in Rock Creek Park and that people now are taking in their pets after dark.