I now "need" to kill coyotes

[cajuntec]

Earlier this past season, we saw two coyotes on the property during the daytime. They were coming towards my friend and turned only slightly before they got to her. Kind of spooked her a bit, seeing them during the daytime and coming directly towards her. We started talking about getting rid of them. We never followed through because we hadn't seen them much since then.

I regret that now.

Last night, the ranch owners newest little calf was killed. They dug under the barn siding into her pen and killed her. My friend (the ranch owner) is justifiably upset today.

So now it's not a matter of "We want to..." I now feel that "We need to..."

Problem is - I don't know squat about killing them, and worse yet - I have no decoys, calls, etc... to get them to come out. We have a quad-pod set up in a tree, hidden pretty well, near the place we have seen them (and fairly close to the barn where the calf was killed). Or I can use a pop-up blind. Or I can just sit on the ground with my back to a tree with a bit of camo netting for cover. I don't know what would be best.

I don't have a ton of expendable cash right now (Uncle Sam just took quite a bit of it this month for taxes), but I would really like to purchase "the necessities" to get this predator threat taken care of.

Suggestions (and affordable, reliable equipment) would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you have something to sell that would not break the bank.

Unfortunately, I cannot grant requests to take someone hunting on this property. It's not my property. I'm only trying to help out my friends, as they let me hunt there.

Thank you for considering this request for help.

All the best,
Glenn

[TacticalCowboy]

1. Red lensed spotlight
2. $15 mouth call
3. Rifle

[SharpStix]

Are they crossing a fence line? How about setting some traps?

[Jspradley]

The more you kill the more they make... :-D

[Patton]

The more you kill the more they make... :-D

Was listening to that idea on The MeatEater podcast the other day.

[cajuntec]

The more you kill the more they make... :-D

So I shouldn't kill them? I don't understand this logic. I'm not being sarcastic. I seriously don't understand this statement. Are you saying that if I shoot these two, it will somehow spur a pack of them to make a lot more to compensate for their loss?

All the best,
Glenn

[cajuntec]

1. Red lensed spotlight
2. $15 mouth call
3. Rifle

Thank you.

1) Why red? Would green work?
2) Any particular one?
3) Got this one covered.

Thanks again.
All the best,
Glenn

[Jspradley]

Was listening to that idea on The MeatEater podcast the other day.

Yeah its pretty fascinating, the harder people try to kill them the more babies they make...

They can be rough on pets and livestock but pretty much harmless to people and have never been shown to have an effect on deer populations.

[Jspradley]

Are you saying that if I shoot these two, it will somehow spur a pack of them to make a lot more to compensate for their loss?

All the best,
Glenn

As weird as it sounds that seems to be exactly how coyotes roll...

I'm not against killing them on a moral level or anything but it seems to be counterproductive.

[TX_Hoghunter]

While I have absolutely no problem with killing coyotes we have just as big a problem with town dogs killing them as anything else.

-john

[popknott]

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31437&highlight=foxpro

[cajuntec]

Are they crossing a fence line? How about setting some traps?

I think they are. I believe they are crossing from the property to the south of us. My only fear is the horses and donkey they have up front on this piece of land. I've been told before that traps won't hurt them, but I'm still hesitant because I wouldn't want to cause harm to any equine / bovine animals at all - but especially those that aren't mine. Id feel horrible if I did.

All the best,
Glenn

[hgiles]

Want to borrow my Fox pro? I'm in New Braunfels

[Bleu]

So I shouldn't kill them? I don't understand this logic. I'm not being sarcastic. I seriously don't understand this statement. Are you saying that if I shoot these two, it will somehow spur a pack of them to make a lot more to compensate for their loss?

All the best,
Glenn

There is research out there that shows that, yes. Google "understanding coyote ecology" and see what you can find.

[Patton]

So I shouldn't kill them? I don't understand this logic. I'm not being sarcastic. I seriously don't understand this statement. Are you saying that if I shoot these two, it will somehow spur a pack of them to make a lot more to compensate for their loss?

All the best,
Glenn

I kill them any chance I get, but The MeatEater podcast was talking about studies done on coyotes and their populations. To briefly sum it up, often when you hear all the coyotes howling away at night, they are taking a census of what other packs are in the area. When they begin to notice less responses to their howls/calls, it triggers a response to produce larger litters in order to re-populate the area. The podcast went on to further say that coyotes do a good job of regulating their own numbers and typically won't over populate an area, and will reach a carrying capacity and cease to grow in numbers. Granted what we humans consider 'over populated with coyotes' likely doesn't translate to what the coyotes consider. That is just my summary of what the meateater podcast said- I still kill them when I can. First time I had heard those thoughts on coyotes, just passing them along.