Coyote Hunting

[LBrown59]

got a little knowledge re coyotes, both trapping and hunting. my father in law was a predator control agent(ie coyote hunter) for the fed govt for 44 yrs in both new mexico and nevada. i'm 60, and have spent much of my life tryong to control their local population where i live in nevada, esp in winter and spring b/c they are **** on calving cows and newborn calves. the calibers mentioned in the above threads are decent loads for a coyote at closer ranges, but out here where shots might be 400+ yds a bigger round is preferable, eg a 223 or 243, or any in that ballistic ballpark. i did not catch exactly how far u were from the nocturnal critter u thought was a yote, but out here they see a man or smell one and even pups will haul ***.

The 3 times I've seen it it's been anywhere from 50 to 150 feet from me.

 

[N80]

We've got lots of coyotes on my place. Dad killed a big one this year. We usually kill a few a year. I've never shot one because 1) I never wanted to and 2) it isn't going to help anything and 3) they don't bother me. I've had countless opportunities to shoot them.

On some nights you can hear them howling 360 degrees around my cabin.

Dad calls them up with a predator call (wounded rabbit) and they come right to him.

I'm not sure what impact they're having on game populations. Deer seem to be fine. Turkeys have seemed scarce but we've had two years of poor hatches due to weather. They certainly haven't made a dent in the hog population.

We are surrounded by cattle and during calving season we see and hear the most coyotes. The truth of the matter is that they probably have little or no impact on healthy calves. They are primarily attracted by the after births. They will obviously eat a stillborn, very sick or abandoned calf. People see them eating these calves and assume that they killed a healthy calf.

Locally, we had one (fairly) credible account of some coyotes trying to get at a newborn calf with the mother defending it. Eventually they gave up.

My B-I-L is a rancher. He knows they don't have a big impact on his cows but he still shoots every coyote he sees. I have nothing against shooting them. If I thought shooting them would make a difference, I'd shoot them too.

Read one study that indicates that when coyote populations are thinned, litter sizes go up.

 

[Podunkadunk]

After reading your post and the others, it's possible that it was a coyote, but I would have to agree with one poster that he was sick...maybe rabid. Otherwise, my dealings with coyotes in NW FL and lower Alabama are they turn tail and run at the first sign of human contact, this being either day or night.

Also, it's highly possible that it was a sterile half-breed (half dog/half coyote). In my opinion, the half breed wouldn't be as afraid of human contact as a pure coyote would be. It seems really odd that your situation would point to an actual coyote (again, unless he was sick).

Some good reading on coyotes:
FWC - Critter Questions - Coyote

Also, something interesting in the above link said that it's extremely rare that coyotes hunt in packs. They normally hunt alone or with just one more coyote. All those nights I heard them howling in the woods, I thought they were all hunting. It seems that wild dogs and wolves only do this.

Good day to ya.
Podunk

 

[shvl73]

I saw an deer/coyote skirmish last year. two coyotes were hunting and they went into a wooded area. I heard a bit of a commotion and they came running out, chased by a good sized deer. The deer chased them across the open and into some more woods, where there was a lot more noise. The deer came out and appeared to be almost strutting, then went back to where it came from. The coyotes re-appeared after awhile but, ran off.

 

[MDM]

Nope, in over 10 years of feeding the skunks none of them have ever sprayed close to the house.

At first all they got was table scraps but in the last couple of years I have started to make them meat balls and scrambled egg's every night. The critters like the food and I like to watch them so I think it's a fair trade.

I'd be happy with meat balls and scrambled eggs every night. I might even stay under a porch for that concoction.

 

[milkman]

I'd be happy with meat balls and scrambled eggs every night. I might even stay under a porch for that concoction.

Yeah, but I bet you'd make a stink.

 

[3RRL]

DieselPower,
Those are great wildlife pictures man. I just love seeing them.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[N80]

Also, something interesting in the above link said that it's extremely rare that coyotes hunt in packs. They normally hunt alone or with just one more coyote.

I always thought they hunted alone too. Some local fellow was saying that when they all pipe up like that at night that they gather and hunt in a pack. But I'm not sure he knew what he was talking about.

 

[DieselPower]

I'd be happy with meat balls and scrambled eggs every night. I might even stay under a porch for that concoction.

That depends, are you fury, cute and cuddly? You would have to get along with the skunks to. Not sure what they would do to a stranger.

 

[escavader]

That depends, are you fury, cute and cuddly? You would have to get along with the skunks to. Not sure what they would do to a stranger.

DIESAL,THATS SOME GREAT BLACK AND WHITE GAURD DOGS YOU GOT THERE.I know you wouldnt get me stalking around your place at night!!:wOULDNT WANT TO PI.. ANY OF them OFF!!D
ALAN