Coyotes killing livestock

[Soundguy]

I'd agree with that line of thought 3RRL is going with..

In actuality.. i think the full wording of that no firearm discharge probably needs to be viewed.. if it isn't very specific.. it could actually be unconstitutional if it is worded in a way that interferes with lawful firearm discharge.. say in the case of lawfull self defense.

I'm pretty sure a county ordinance cannot trump state or federal law in such cases.. IE.. I'm being attacked at night and fire my gun in self defense.. .. I don't see myself being prosecutable for discharging a firearm at night.. or if I was prosecuted.. I see a good 'test case' chance for 3 things to happen.. 1, I think the innocent victom would prevail, 2, the county ordinance would probably be repealed / chalanged / voided, and 3, the DA that pressed the case might need a new job come election time.. At least that's how it would be int he state I live in..

Soundguy

 

[circlelake]

Just curious. I hunt and have killed coyotes up here in MN. We have both the eastern and western coyotes here. The eastern used to be called a brush wolf. The size is like a large german shepard and dark grey 50-maybe up to 75lbs. The western coyote is much smaller and a light brown. What kind of coyote is down in Texas? I've been told by farmers that they will take calfs, fawns etc. Here's a good idea. Buy hamburger make little balls and fill it with heavy duty sleeping/knockout pills. Do em in the next morning.

 

[Soundguy]

You got a big bag /EZ available source of tranquilizers we don't know about (grin)

Soundguy

 

[charlz]

charlz, I guess I'm confused... I thought I DID say that in my county inTexas you CAN kill critters molesting your property/livestock.

No confusion! I am just surprised that there is no _state_ law saying it is ok to shoot dogs harassing your livestock etc. and that it is left up to the counties.

 

[SkyPup]

We used to hunt wild dogs and coyotes with the Humane Society and the local Sheriffs department mounted on horseback. We'd search out their dens and shoot 'em all, including the ones we saw at night with a search light. A Ruger Mini-14 ranch rifle works perfect....lost too many equine foals to the SOB's....

 

[weldingisfun]

10 or 11 coyotes eating the carcass? You have a serious problem. Chances are others are too. Get together with your neighbors and contact your county fish and game warden, they need to know about it and you'll more than likely get some help. Good luck to you.
Regards the donkey and Great Pyrenees dogs. I went the donkey route because the donkey eats the same things the goats eat. There is no special feed required. But, as stated by someone already, your problem is bigger than one donkey or dog, for that matter, could handle right now. You would prbably lose that animal too. That is what happened to me two years ago the four dogs were more than my donkey could handle. Wipe out that pack and then get yourself a guard animal.

 

[dmccarty]

Dan, are there not exceptions to that general rule? Don't you have coon hunters who hunt at night? Texas law specifically says " Fur-bearing animals may be hunted at night on private property with the aid of an artificial light."

Bird, good question on coon hunting. They may have an exception. I checked specifically about shooting coyotes and talked to a wildlife officer as well as reading the regs. In NC its a no no to shoot the critters at night. I know FLA, NC and I would suspect many states have laws that prohibit night hunting. Also, the possession of a firearm and flashlight at night in an area with wildlife is enough to get one cited/arrested for poaching.

There are just too many laws wildlife related and otherwise. Its too easy to mess up. I don't know how duck hunters know which flying bird they can shoot and those they can't. Or how many. Looking at the trout regs is even worse.

Here in NC the counties as well as the states have wildlife regulations so what may be legal in one county maybe a violation in another.

FLA had a law on the books that said you where allowed to possess a firearm if you where hunting, camping or fishing.

But if you have a flashlight and a gun at night then that is prima facia for poaching. If you are in a boat or camping you almost certainly will have a flashlight.

Also in some areas firearm possession was prohibited.

And what about the legal carry with CCW?

Frankly, I don't know how we are all not sitting in prision on some violation or the other.

Later,
Dan

 

[Toiyabe]

In actuality.. i think the full wording of that no firearm discharge probably needs to be viewed.. if it isn't very specific.. it could actually be unconstitutional if it is worded in a way that interferes with lawful firearm discharge.. say in the case of lawfull self defense.
Soundguy

In this case, there is an exemption for "necessary defense or protection of himself, his family or his property." I don't think you'd get in trouble under that law for shooting coyotes at night if you had previous problems with livestock predation, but you are at the mercy of the legal system. If the wrong people get worked up about it for some reason, they have grounds to make trouble for you.

 

[3RRL]

In this case, there is an exemption for "necessary defense or protection of himself, his family or his property." I don't think you'd get in trouble under that law for shooting coyotes at night if you had previous problems with livestock predation, but you are at the mercy of the legal system. If the wrong people get worked up about it for some reason, they have grounds to make trouble for you.

Oooh, this is so true, especially out here in California. I am more afraid of the court system than I am of the predators!

 

[Oleozz]

I know Montana and Idaho both have state laws saying you can kill dogs for harrasing your livestock (also poultry in Idaho, not sure in Montana). I am surprised that Texas does not have the same law being they are/were a big cattle state.



Yep, best handled the same way loggers handle the tree-spiking environmentalists.... Shoot 'Em, Bury 'Em, Shutup.

Besides being a big cattle state Texas is also a state where many bird dogs are owned and trained. It's one of the last areas in the nation where you can find, if the conditions are right, sizeable populations of quail. I'm all for keeping dogs under control and I feel the ranchers need protection against feral dogs and runoff pets.