I agree with you guys about animal size changing, I already expected that, but was happily surprised by my first TX coyote the other night, good size and coat.
So Corporal_Choas a 22 hornet is great , in AZ varmints are smaller and the hornet is perfect IMO, with 1 exception, range. you are limited to 150yds or less depending on bullet and OAL , if you handload, most guns today for a hornet are mag fed and OAL is limited to 1.723 to 1.80(Ruger m77 I believe), mine is a cz 527 American, I can extend mine to 1.75 apprx length.
For now I am limited to my woods, I would love to breakout my 22-250 Ackley or use faster 223 loads, but not unless unless I find a neighbor who doesn't have cattle all over and doesn't mind me hunting there huge fields, I am stuck with close range woods hunting, hence my reducing loads, not to mention noise and extending barrel life. My 22-250AI handload w/ 40gr Sie blitz or Nosler BT using RL 15 at over 4200fps, with 3/8in groups at 100 yds was fun, I also used to use in 200yd fly competition shoots at my old gun club. But using it all the time, I wouldn't have a barrel long.