Dealing with coyotes on your property
 

What's your solution? Close to dogs and small children.

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High powered pellet rifle.

Never seen one before- until last week. Deer was standing in yard practically under my porch when coyote came out of woods and chased deer.
I've never seen a deer run that fast, and it was a BIG deer. Much bigger than our kid and dogs.

Went out and took pic of track afterwards- ground dry. not a good track.

Guessing the answer will contain the numbers .30 06

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Yes coyotes are becoming more aggressive. Yesterday there was a report of a coyote here following a woman and twice the woman had to shout at the coyote to leave.
No firearms allowed here but if they were I would have no hesitation. Pellet gun might be worth a try as mentioned though....

Left or right hand? Do you prefer a bolt gun or a semi? Are semis allowed where you live?

I think you can tell where this is going...

May be a coy wolf. We have them here. Coyotes are rather shy and will avoid contact. Coy wolves will stalk you and are bigger. 30-06 may be a over kill. .223 will do nicely.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has a lot of information on Coyotes and I have spoken with them at length.

We are allowed to shoot them and I do. There are many reasons why but this section on the impact of Coyotes, from the MDNR website, captures it best:

Ecological Implications

Maryland and Delaware have the distinction of being the last two states in the contiguous United States to be colonized by coyotes. Maryland is quite fortunate to have the unique perspective of witnessing the ecological and social impacts of established coyote populations in other states. It is a biological certainty that Maryland will share many of the same experiences. Regardless of geographic location, eastern coyotes all possess the same basic genetic material and exhibit essentially the same behavioral traits and population characteristics.

Impacts on natural communities are also fairly predictable and can negatively impact various sympatric native species. Establishment in unoccupied regions of the eastern US, coyotes have assumed the role of top-order predator. Consequently, they tend to fundamentally alter existing ecosystem structure and function. Various species experience population declines as a result of their status as coyote prey, or from direct competition for existing resources.

Culturally and ecologically significant species including red fox decline dramatically in response to increasing coyote populations. Eastern coyote and red fox share many common habitat requirements and occupy overlapping niches. Through time, the larger and more resilient coyote is able to out-compete and displace resident red fox populations. As a result, red fox are typically delegated to existence in small areas devoid of individual coyote home ranges. Diminishing red fox populations have currently been noted in portions of central and western Maryland.

Lesser, yet still significant changes are expected in gray fox, bobcat and other associated predator and prey populations. Long-term impacts on white-tailed deer are not completely known in the East. Coyote food habit studies regularly show consistent use of deer as food. However, it does not appear that coyote limit deer populations on a regional scale at this time.

I only shoot coyotes and ground hogs.

The first impression I had was that it was a fox. I am in va. If coy-wolfs are here, that would make sense.

My concern is that the deer got ambushed, and that my kid and wife's dogs play in the same area. It happened soooo fast, there wasn't even time to grab and point my camera which was right in front of me on the desk (pic included of camera on desk). Even if I had a gun (and I would buy one just for this task- I mention the 30-06 in jest a friend has one available), there was no way for me to get a line on him without blowing out my sun room windows. I could only wish for a field shot like the OP. There was no realist way for me to get him, and that concerns me.

Forensic photo drawn to scale:http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1494079466.jpg
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We have a coyote den right on our property, my kids set up a blind so they could watch them. They have been doing that since they were like 8 years old by themselves. The whole pack runs up and down the trails in my back forty and the surrounding forest area.
They have never been bothered and all my kids have for protection is their training and a hunting knife or bow.

We've never lost a chicken or turkey, they have an electric fence. Except to a weasel, we fixed the pen.
We've lost a couple cats, But I think that was a fisher and a big hawk, the other was a car. Daughter's cat is not allowed outside.
We're not stupid enough to have a small dog in the country, why would you have coyote treats running around? Or as my kids call them"meals on wheels".

But then no one in my family is a 95lb girly-girl in a training bra. :rolleyes:
Same thing goes for the women. ;)

Bigger dogs can be a comfort here if your property lines are too close to the neighbors to support a ballistic solution.

Coyotes are getting more aggressive and daring this spring here as well. No bag limit. They are outright attacking medium to large dogs now.

Yes - All the farmers around here have a .223 with a scope in their gun rack.

You haven't looked very hard to find stories of wolf attacks. They are not common because wolfs are not real common. Wolfs did indeed stalk and hunt humans in the past.

Coyotes not so much. But the new hybrids are an unknown. Like the dog-wolf hybrids. Not enough info yet.

I just listened to the Joe Rogan podcast where he interviewed a biologist who specialized in coyote behavior. One thing I took away from it is that it really does no good to kill them unless you are threatened immediately. Apparently when you hear them bark and yip in the evening they are doing a roll call. When one comes up missing it prompts the females to produce more pups. How this is? I have no clue. This is just what the guy said

No question that I would kill them if they came that close to my home....or hire someone else to either trap/hunt them. If they are coming in that close, they do not have much fear of humans and are dangerous.

If I was unable to do so (kill them) morally, I would put up an 8 foot fence where the kids or small pets play and get a large dog to put in there with them (will alert you).

It depends on the size of the population. They are still relatively rare in some places on the east coast and you can practically eliminate them from your area if vigilant.

Of course he said that. He's some PETA scientist most likely.

In NYS it is legal to shoot them if you have a license. With dogs and kids playing in the yard I don't want them prowling or stalking or whatever the scientist says they will do.

If you have to get shots for rabies, the tune will turn quickly.

The picture was taken this morning quite close to the house. They come right up to the doors at night, have killed their chickens and rundown deer in the winter. They serve no useful purpose in a populated neighborhood.

I've seen coyotes jump a 6' fence with ease. A good dog is a deterrent unless the coyotes hunt in a pack which often times they do.

This biologist had no problem killing them and was a hunter himself. He just studies them. You should listen to the podcast. It's really interesting. I've killed plenty of coyotes in my day. We used to get a bounty on them from local ranchers. Strangely enough the problem never went away.

No bag limit? They let you discharge firearms in the OC?

And yes this is taking the usual direction... country folk suggest garbing the closest boom stick and taking after the critter (not a bad idea if you live in the sticks) but for a lot here (I'll guess at least half) we are city folks and use of firearms is illegal and downright dangerous to neighbors.
Same with the "get a dog" scenario, dogs are a huge responsibility and if you don't have the time/space/ability to take care of a dog that is a very bad idea.
Getting off soapbox...

First, let me say I don't have a problem with y'all who hunt, it is a historical American tradition and I admire the skills it takes to hunt efficiently and humanly.

Second, I was born in Los Angeles and have spent 55 of my 60 years on the Palos Verdes Peninsula... in those 55 years I have hiked, biked, and motorcycled most of the trails here... and NEVER saw a coyote.
Now they have been spotted in my alley and walking down my front street.
There is even a video of a medium size dog drinking from a leaky fire hydrant and a coyote sneaks up behind it and nips at the dogs hind legs (fortunately the dog was larger and spun around to chase the yote off)
And now people are lamenting "they were here first... we are encroaching on their environment!"

Oh give me a break, maybe there were coyotes in PV 200 years ago (plus mountain lions and bears etc.) but this is Los Angeles for heavens sake! No place for large predators.

Fortunately due to many complaints the coyotes seem to be disappearing, I guessing animal control has been quietly removing them (quietly to avoid any public controversy).

I want to apologize. He's not a biologist, rather a historian specializing in the American west. He's studied coyotes very extensively however. At any rate it may be a good read. Here's the link.
https://www.amazon.com/Coyote-America-Natural-Supernatural-History/dp/0465052991

When coyotes first showed up here, about 20 years ago, we tended to ignore them. Then about 5 years ago we watched a young one hunting field mice in the new mown field in front of our house.
I felt they were becoming too used to us. Since then we have a policy if a coyote is spotted, it is chased. They caught on very quickly the humans in that house were a threat and tend to give us a wide berth.
They are still around. We see the scat on our walks. But they have a flight response because of our behavior towards them.
Best
Les

A pack of coyote can not take down a healthy deer, fawn or old sick deer yes. IMO sucks for a fawn but big picture this is good.
Pen your chickens properly and you won't lose any, IMO this loss is 100% keepers fault.
I never left my babies out at night.

You are encroaching on their environment, to me urban coyotes are humans fault, because idiots feed them and leave food (garbage) lying around. Not to mention meals on wheels running around, man up and get a real dog.

I realize California has hybreads and yes they should be destroyed, but again a largely man-made problem from irresponsible pet owners.

I have several packs of them on my property. Just an 8 foot fence with ease. I use a wrist rocket and steel slugs to discourage them from coming inside the fence. A big dog is helpful, but they will try and distract him in front and another will try and sneak up behind to tear his Achilles Heel to hobble him.

I use a 6.5x65 Swedish Mauser. I have shot them out of our ensuite window over 1/4 mile (they were picking at a dead cow carcass) and have got one about 400 yards shooting off my kids playground.

I live near foothills of The Angeles Crest forest,and we have lots of coyotes in our area even sometimes we see them walking during the day.
Two years ago they tore apart my neighbors golden retriever to the pieces in the middle of the day when everyone is out and working,the only thing left was just the back legs.
According to my neighbor they lured him in, first to the edge of the property and then attacked him full force he had no chance,poor dog.

In Portland, Coyotes are becoming problematic. Here in more rural Linn County, where there are sheep, not so many coyotes about. Farmers pack mini 14's or AR's...

Dog? Once Evren emailed that he'd be dog sitting for his mom when she was visiting her relatives in the USA...and he was worried about the safety or his two German Shepherds. I asked what kind of dog would have him worried? Uh, Anatolian Shepherd, used in Turkey to guard, not herd, flocks. Sight hunters...they track down and kill wolves.

https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t-s&p=kangal+dog#id=37&vid=95f6faa70490ffd40bb81ba73 181f1c6&action=view

They help keep the deer population down, something that is sorely needed around here.

Around here the coyotes don't take deer. They seem to be solitary hunters.
Motor vehicles kill more deer and the population is increasing.
Best
Les

Yep. I've seen this tactic before.

Do they hunt Mtn lions in Oregon? It's rare to see a coyote take a deer.

Technically, you can still buy a cougar tag...but it's become illegal to hunt them with dogs. It used to be, but the PETA folks passed an initiative to ban. So, now Cougars have been spotted lurking around school playgrounds.

Some of them 18 year old boyz need to be taught a lesson or three :)

One scary thing happened several years back, reported in a local paper. School bus driver (grade school kids) spotter a cougar hiding in the brush at one of her stops. Managed to slam the door on the 6 year old who was about to depart. Then she took a pic of the cougar through a window...made the front page.

I remember the look on Ron Madaio's face when he told me of seeing Cougar tracks in the damp river sand when he camped out at trout creek here...asked me what a cougar track looked like. I just pointed to the wet track of our housecat on the front porch concrete..."Just like that, Ron, only a LOT bigger. Hoot! Kind of phreaked the NY City guy...but hell, he was in more mortal danger in NYC than he was at Trout Creek..

I saw a video of just TWO coyotes kill a healthy deer.

Coyotes may have been here prior to my house being built back in the 1960's but I will tell you that there are more per acre in most house areas than in the woods

I have chased 6-8 out of my yard in 5 years I'm 5 miles from Disney land One of my dogs was bit twice and survived. If I could shoot them I would in a heartbeat

Haven't had a problem with coyotes since I took this photo from my bathroom window last year:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1494109420.jpg

We have those as well. Garbage scavengers, they run from people unless cubs are threatened.

Nice pic.

Coyotes do indeed have a unique ability to adapt litter size as required. The major determining factor is food supply; in abundant years they can have litters of over a dozen, while in lean years litters will be as small as two. It all has to do with the mother's general health, which is most affected by food supply.

I've never heard of this adaptive strategy being used to replace missing members of the local population. When looked at from a food supply angle, however, it makes sense in that once less mouth is dipping into the larder, so to speak.

What to do about coyotes? Shoot 'em on sight, any time, anywhere. That's been my policy for decades. I used to actively hunt them when the pelts were getting over a hundred bucks apiece (a lot of people did), but then they dropped to under ten bucks and most everyone quit. Not sure what they are worth today. There are way too many of them, though, so just kill them.

As previously mentioned, .223's work great. I used a .220 Swift on most I shot, but it's essentially just a .223 on steroids. Don't use mil surplus FMJ ammo - I like Nosler Ballistic Tips or Hornady V-Maxes, both plastic tipped bullets that provide violent expansion. Get something like that in a .223 and let 'er rip. If you don't have a .223, just get the lightest bullet, highest velocity ammo you can in whatever caliber you do own. 110 grain varmint bullets from the '06 work great.

That's why you have more than one...

I don't know about Oregon, but coyotes take fawns around here. They can smell a birth from a mile away. An afterbirth dinner and a newborn fawn for desert. Helps keep the vermin population down.