One day a year John but I really stack em up!

Those little kitt fox especially tear up easy and desert greys are not much bigger or tougher. you need two rifles. Id like to have a rabbit/elk rifle too but it aint gonna happen

[quote=adam m]ok .223 with what twist rate? Also any preferences to certain ammo?

1/9 will work up to 68/69 gr bullets.

.223 will b most economical too.

you guys saying 223 for fox have never seen NM fox. jack rabbits are bigger than they are

that trap is a #3 and that fox is an adult

grey fox are not hardly any bigger. probably some red fox in NM someplace but I never seen one

you need two rifles adam. or a shotgun. load a 12 gauge with #4 buckshot. the balls are not much bigger than 22. call them close and take whatever shows up.

Over 400, just under 400?
LIAR!

I can believe it. I called in my first Fox in 1974 and have been hook. I bought a Faulk pump Rabbit in distress call out of the back of FFG FOR 4.95. Im not saying it was easy, but it was easier back then than now. In 1997 I shot 187 Fox and 92 Coyotes. And shot 75 to 80 animals a yr for many yrs. I started with a 22-250 and shot many other rounds from 223 to 17 rem to 220 Swift and 243. Now days I shoot a 22-6MM AI or 6MM AI..

Find a rifle you shoot well and use it, Theres not many that wont make a mess on a Fox.

Good luck in your search

Lol Danny. Thanks I needed that laugh. My first fox was a red. I destroyed it fleshing it. Thanks for reminding me about the 12ga with buck shot. I really don't want to take 2 guns on a stand but if push comes to shove...

Thanks everyone. Looks like I got some more research to do before I pull the trigger. Keep them coming.

If I was to get set up reloading (which I've been wanting to do) than what caliber should I consider

adam when you find a red in NM is it like KS? In a town 99.9% of the time?

how far can you the shooter reasonably shoot or would shoot?

I would get a job first, so I could support my family, before I worried about a coyote rifle.

I put up all my fur so skinning is always in the equation. Don’t have many fox so yote and cat are my targets. Most of my shots are under 100 yards and I do reload. The best fur friendly load I’ve found that drops the critter on the spot is from a .223 with a 55 gr soft point. Minimum damage to cats, which is what I’m looking for, and never had a yote run off. Very little sewing either, which is a huge plus for me. I’ve tried V max, but they will require quite a bit of sewing if not shot in the right place.

?? Kinda rude I think?

Vmax and coyotes should never be used in the same sentence!

Sure its rude. Its also good advice.

bacatrapper, thanks for the concern, I appreciate it. I am not doing this F/T but as a "breather". Not being in the mountains/outdoors hunting, trapping getting firewood etc...all the time for the last 3 years has got me in real bad cabin fever. 100% city life is not for me. A few weeks back was the first time in nearly 2 years I've been in the mountains and that was for a funeral. I need to get out in the mountains and since I can't do much setting up a stand and calling doing what comes naturally to me will help me and my kids. Even my kids hate not being in the outdoors all the time. Besides guns are always a good investment and great heirlooms. When the time comes my kids will have a couple guns that their dad built and others of course. Add that to the fact the way the 2nd is being treated, guns especially AR's are a great investment right now.

Danny, I have got them far away from the city, and have seen a couple in the city too.

GCP, only time will tell with how comfortable I am shooting with whatever caliber I go with.

Get a 223 and do not be concerned of barrel twist, as you are not going to have a long range shooter for what the 223 brings to your needs. Tailor your hunting with FMJ's for the cats and whatever you prefer from soft points to frags for yotes. It is not that big of deal to have a cat load in for fur, have a yote come in and jack out a round before they could hear that sound. Same bullet weights, unless you discover a heavier load mix with the FMJ's which you can figure out how to elevate for shots.
What you do need is a good variable for precision shot placement to make up for the handicaps the 223 brings in average powder and light bullets. I keep mine cranked to the highest setting. You are still looking at an under 400 yard rifle, more in the 200 yard range of consistent shooting for most rifle people. Get a bolt action until Remington wises up and starts producing an affordable run of 7600's.
Bipod, pad to sit on and I still like mixing it up with an electronic out front to divert attention and whatever mouth call is my target.
Hope that helps, but forget the high octane 22 250, 220 Swift etc, and the light ones, as coyote and cat are too expensive now to blow huge holes in.

Star flakes, thanks. I gotta get clarification if we can lawfully use FMJ on furbearers in NM. Our proclamation does or does not say if FMJ is allowed. I know FMJ's are illegal for big game. It does say air compressed rifles larger than .22 are legal (think that is a brand new rule).