Coyote

[Pete Judd]

They don't get to walk here as well, chickens, ducks, house cats are fair game for them, and they take advantage of them, so they are fair game for me.

 

[creekbend]

I spotted a coyote around 8:30am this morning while our Son and I were taking "Lady Dog" for her run. Until the last couple of years, coyotes in this area conducted their activities nocturnally. But they are becoming more brazen now. I don't see as many rabbits around here either lately.

 

[nunyabinis]

Coyotes are good for two things: fur hats and bullet stops.

In SC the deer population is down around 30% and the decline was mostly attributed to the varmints. The SCDNR is practically begging folks to whack coyotes:

SCDNR - Wildlife Information

The last couple times I deer hunted I couldn't believe how many of the critters started howling just after sunset. I was literally surrounded by them.

 

[Combustix]

I have not gotten any this year but it's shoot on sight at my place. I've lost enough chickens, ducks, and barn cats to coyotes. Now the wife on the other hand has three so far this year and all in broad daylight as well. She gets a little PO'd and if they get one of the new kids we'll be enriching uranium:laughing:

 

[TripleR]

We don't have any livestock or pets, so we never see any around our property though there is plenty of sign. I found a half eaten bobcat out in one of our fields yesterday; guess it was coyotes as the field was covered up in up in sign where they had been digging the mice and other critters out.

 

[MotorSeven]

I have free range chickens, cows/calves, horses,.....{static} "ducks on the pond"....{static}, dogs & cats. As long as they leave me alone I let them walk. I also leave the coons, opossums & skunks alone unless they threaten the chickens. The only critter I wage regular war on is the ground hogs because of their vertical holes in the pasture.

 

[Dan Hunter]

I couldn't believe how many of the critters started howling just after sunset. I was literally surrounded by them.

Same experience. I didn't used to have so many but now there's a lot of sign and I haven't seen a rabbit in years. I hardly see any form of rodent anymore. The upside is less ticks due to the reduction of vector animals. The down side is I also hardly see quail anymore either although there's a shady owl I see regularly.

Coyotes...they may look a lot like a dog but they're predators and don't warrant an easement on my place.

 

[buck12]

When I was a kid there was a bounty on coyotes in MS. In my neck of the woods they have been thinned some and I now see more rabbits.

 

[two_bit_score]

Some of you old timers give me a schooling. I passed up a shot at a half grown coyote that was down in the woods behind the house the other day.

It would have been easy to tag him as he was there until I drove him off with a few near misses using a .22 loaded with CB caps.

Should I have downed him? I am at the age where if I don't eat it I won't shoot it. I don't want him hanging around the house maybe getting after my yapper house-dogs thou.

I guess I gave him a warning and the next time I see him he is fair game but still... I guess I am getting too soft hearted in my old age.

I respect your sympathies but do somebody else a favor a kill the coyote if you get a chance.

The one or two you kill will not cause an explosion in the rodent population but it may save someone a lot of trouble and loss.

I'll leave a fox or bobcat alone too, but the 'yotes get fed lead.

 

[Ken45101]

We have plenty of coyotes, deer and turkey here. I agree, rabbits are scarce.

We have lost a couple of small dogs that I suspect the coyotes got. OTOH, a couple of weeks ago our dogs killed a coyote.

Seeing coyotes near the house is extremely rare, I guess the dogs keep them at away. A few years back I kept a loaded, scoped rifle handy but never saw one that year. But we hear them quite loud some nights.

Ken