Living proof we have Coyotes in North Carolina

[flatlander]

Calling them in is usually a lot easier out here in western Kansas where there's not a lot of cover. However, the mange has just about cleaned us out of coyotes over the past five years. From the healthy-looking ones I've been seeing so far this fall, I'd say the mange has run its course, and they're making a come-back.

To me, the most interesting aspect of the lack of coyotes has been an increase in the bobcat population to fill the void in our predator line-up. I've had female bobcats raise their kittens right here around the house, as our old abandoned cattle feedlot offers a lot of cover, and harbors tons of mice, rats, & cottontails. All my birdhunter friends make a lot of racket about how tough on the quail & pheasant population the 'cats are, but they don't have to live with the rodents & rabbits that I put up with. And beside, I'm still seeing plenty of birds, several years after the 'cats made their appearance.

In my younger days, I'd probably have tried to call in a 'cat or two to kill, but nowadays, the only 'shooting' I've been doing has been with a Nikon digital camera & 300mm zoom lens. It's practically unbelievable how much difference the 'cats have made in the amount of rodent poison I put out inside our machine shed - used to have to replenish it twice or more a week, but it's now only needed once every three or four weeks.

As far as the deer are concerned, I'd really like the state's wildlife & parks commission require a hunter to bag at least one whitetail doe before they were allowed to take a buck. We're overrun with whitetails - the damage they do to our corn crops has to be seen to be appreciated, and it's getting ever more dangerous to drive at night. All the out-of-area hunters are after is a trophy buck - what we need are more meat hunters.

 

[sbhooper]

Dreever, I am sure that you have your reasons for not liking trapping and you are welcome to your opinion, HOWEVER, if you did not want criticism for it, you should not have made it clear that you were against it. When you make your opinion obvious, you are going to get other opinions and viewpoints on any forum. That is what a forum does. Coyotes, raccoons, bobcats and all other varmints need to be controlled and managed like anything else for the overall health of the entire group. Trapping just happens to be the most expedient way to do that.

Anti-trapping groups are only using trapping as a stepping stone to bigger things. They get the support of the people to ban trapping and then move on to hunting and any other animal-related activities. When that is done, they move to firearms etc., etc.

You are either part of the problem or part of the solution.

 

[davjon]

I would'nt be proud of causing suffering , if you can't call them learn how , you learned how to shoot did'nt you !

 

[Mudcat]

We are getting infested with coyotes in the last few years in the western piedmont area of NC. I have had some of my livestock killed by the SOBs. Just like the pics of that big buck getting killed, thats what they did to my animals. Found a yearling deer 3 weeks ago killed that way. And I found a dead yote this past weekend. Didnt appear to be shot, but just beginning to get ripe so I wasnt going to do an autopsy on it!

I try to kill every stinking one I see but they jsut dont hang out where you can get shots at them. So will be looking at trapping as an alternative. One way or the other, i plan to put a dent in their population before they kill more of my animals or the local deer/turkey.

 

[bozo699]

We are getting infested with coyotes in the last few years in the western piedmont area of NC. I have had some of my livestock killed by the SOBs. Just like the pics of that big buck getting killed, thats what they did to my animals. Found a yearling deer 3 weeks ago killed that way. And I found a dead yote this past weekend. Didnt appear to be shot, but just beginning to get ripe so I wasnt going to do an autopsy on it!

I try to kill every stinking one I see but they jsut dont hang out where you can get shots at them. So will be looking at trapping as an alternative. One way or the other, i plan to put a dent in their population before they kill more of my animals or the local deer/turkey.

Whatever it takes to protect your stock, some may not understand but I do! If you need alternative answers to your coyote problems that bullets can't reach and if you have no traps or knowledge of using them give me a p.m
No matter what the game department may say or animal rights activists proclaim, predator control is a necessity and you have the right to protect your animals, property, and family! Period the end!!
Wayne.

 

[dennisinaz]

Traps are a far sight more humane than poison and explosives that we used to use. The steel traps are not even particularly painful. I have caught regular dogs in them a number of times and they were missing a little hair but not even bleeding. I had coyotes ravaging my chickens one year when the river flooding, trapping them on our side. I could catch feral dogs in the traps but no coyotes. I finally had to resort to large treble hooks with bait on them suspended about 4 1/2 feet in the air. That is not humane but effective and was my answer to a problem.

Folks way under estimate the number of large mammals that coyotes kill. I think we blame deer predation on lions exclusively when the coyotes have a significant impact. Traps are a tool, nothing more.

 

[bozo699]

Absolutely! Dennis.

 

[highlander]

What worries me of also is the possible spread of rabies and the like. I live and hunt north central NC and living in a rural setting and my children playing outside in the back yard, i don't know if a yote is stalking in the shadows. Have heard of attacks on small children in other parts of the country. Take every one you can and I will too. Seen one not to long ago the size of a german shepard, i'm not joking! Even had a triangular head like a wolf.

 

[dreever]

sbhooper

In response to your reply "You just don't get it do you?" Putting the forum behavior issues aside I feel I don't owe you an explanation. However to put this business to rest here's my reasons.

I live in the populated North East where to many house pets and possibly CHILDREN could be at risk. That's one reason. My number one reason however is that I lost one of my own pets to a trap. I won't go into details because the memory still pains me to this day. That's my reason so lets quit bashing me for assuming I belong to PETA, or that I'm against anything remotely affecting our Second Amendments rights.
And as to this statement in your last post "You are either part of the problem or part of the solution." I won't even go there. So L.M.T.F.A.

Danny

 

[fdshuster]

Our local newspaper just did a large article on the increase in the coyote population IN and around the City of Pittsburgh, also noting that one of their food sources are pet dogs & cats.

A couple had their pet dog tied in their backyard, heard a loud screaming, ran to the back porch & saw
3 coyotes tearing their dog to pieces, having their dinner.

Another reason to carry concealed (legally of course).

 

[Nomad47]

fdshuster, what is the nearest town "south of Pittsburgh"?

 

[TheSnake]

6 years ago, our miniature Pekingese family dog (Gizzy) was attached by a Coyote. If it wasn't for our larger Keeshond running it off, Gizzy would have been a goner. The Coyote grabbed Gizzy at the shoulders and shook her as canines do. The 4 canine teeth hit her mid way down the body on both sides. We were away at a weekend trail ride when my son called. By the time we got home, she had lost a lot of blood and her immune system was doing all it could to fight off the infection from the bite. My sister-in-law is a Vet-Tech at a nearby vet and they said they would do that they could. She stayed at the vet for a few weeks, the first week on oxygen and IV. During this time, the infection did a number on her body. At one point she was temporarily blind but still recognized our voices and would perk up when we spoke to her. When she came back home she was still unable to eat herself and we feed her food and water with a syringe. It took about a while for her to get better but she is still alive today and has given us many years of love and affection. We were lucky she survived.

We have lots of coyotes the the area of Texas where I live and we hear them howling most nights. Sometimes they are so close the dogs wake up and start barking. I grab the Q-Beam and can see the many eyes of the pack in the back pastures and tree line. Me have to keep track of the calfs and try to keep them in pastures close to the house so they don't fall victim. I know coyotes need to eat too and I can respect that as long as they go somewhere else to do it.

I have another post on this site of a coyote I shot just yesterday. When I see them, I shoot them and don't like it if I miss.

Here is a series of Game-Cam photos my brother-in-law sent us of Coyotes taking down a buck. I am not sure where they came from and some of you may have seen them around the net. It took only two Coyotes to kill this magnificent buck.

 

[fdshuster]

Bill: I'm approximately 12 miles South of Pittsburgh, place called South Park.

The dog eating incident happened in nearby Monessen, about another 10 miles South.

They have been seen in the City & all the surrounding suburbs.

 

[22XC Guy]

Quoted from PA; The folklore and rumors about this somewhat mysterious furbearer seem to have a life of their own. Coyotes have been in Pennsylvania for more than 50 years. We're not sure if they migrated here or were always here. But they weren't stocked by the Game Commission, insurance companies or foresters.

Growing up on a large farm in north central Pennsylvania.. How some forget about the major paper mills leased State Game/Forest land in Pennsylvania years ago.. The deer was destroying the replanting seedling program for future cuttings in the clear cut blocks, this was a hot topic.. A program was implemented to trap 40,000 turkeys state wide one year, that's nothing new, stocking and trapping was their program, my father watched the elk get unloaded from the train and I saw the otters get released..

Later on that year, where in the h$!! did these all coyotes come from? It didn't take to long for a few farmers to find out, there's no proof of it? But supposedly a trade was made for 20,000 pairs of coyotes to keep the deer out of the seedlings..

Now the ecosystem doesn't exploded overnight in the claimed 80's and whoever had the bright idea, they forgot one thing, training the coyotes to stay in the clear cuts... They wonder where did all the coyotes come from? I guess that's goes for where did the wild hogs come from in the 70's too.. Two of my best friends lost cattle, to be politically correct, some know how farm boys will be..

Steve

 

[deadlyswift]

Man almost wiped out the mighty Gray Wolf. But not the Coyotes. To my understanding of history Man could not wipe out the coyotes, only keeping their numbers in check? Growing up in central NC. We have only experienced coyotes problems in the last 10 to 15yr. My point is They are very adaptable. Able to adapt and survive almost any environment.

Are coyotes important to our Eco system? Sure, but when there numbers get to a point of going after pets or children for the chase or food. Then what? What about decease? What do you do when a rabid coyote is infecting other animals or even bitting your child, or you? Rather Steel traps are cruel or not. If their numbers aren't kept in check then I think it is a lot more cruel for the coyote or anything to die of Rabies or some other decease. Not to mention the Safety of our own being! My personal feelings are kill them at will. I'm 37yr old and for as long as I can remember coyote season here in NC has always been year round. Several counties in NC even allow shining a light at night now for coyotes.

What worries me of also is the possible spread of rabies and the like. I live and hunt north central NC and living in a rural setting and my children playing outside in the back yard, i don't know if a yote is stalking in the shadows. Have heard of attacks on small children in other parts of the country. Take every one you can and I will too. Seen one not to long ago the size of a german shepard, i'm not joking! Even had a triangular head like a wolf.

Highlander,
In the southern part of Davidson county. About 5yrs ago a man living on Hwy 8 killed what he thought was a huge stray German Shepard. It was killing his chickens, and even killed one of his Hogs. After he shot it he called Fish and game. It turned out to be a wolf weighing in over 100lbs. I did have the arctile clipping on this, but can't locate it. I think Fish and game said it was a Red Wolf, but I can't say for sure. I didn't think Red wolves got that big so I could be wrong. There have not been any more reports of sightings since, but I'd bet money that there are more wolves lurking around in Central NC.

 

[NCFrank]

We do indeed and here in Charlotte. I live in the south part of Charlotte and two different times I've had one run in front of me while I was on my way to work, early afternoon hours on a busy road near the interstate. They are all over South Carolina as well. I have also seen them at Ft Bragg.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Rabid-coyote-found-in-northeast-Charlotte-135879258.html

 

[Nomad47]

fdshuster, I grew up near Hookstown. My younger sister still lives in the area - poor kid.
40+ years ago, I worked at Penney's in the Great Southern Shopping Center - I think that may be near where you live.

 

[fdshuster]

Bill: Not far from The Great Southern Shopping Center in Bridgeville, about a 15 minute drive.

J.C. Penney closed several years ago when they moved to a new larger store at the Robinson Towne center mall.

Do you remember the gun shop, back in the corner, to the right of Penney's?

Hookstown is not far from the McDonald Sptms. Club where we have the BR Varmint match's out to 500 meters.

 

[Nomad47]

No, I don't remember the gun shop. I worked there in 1969.

I would love to attend and possibly compete in one of your matches when I visit my sister. I think we will be there for a few days around the end of April. I don't know if I will have a load developed for my 284 at that time but I have a 243 wssm that shoots 105 AMax's fairly well.

 

[Dans40X]

Nat/Rustystud,
Double,Triple,Quadruple your chances-

Set the leg hold for the Einsteins of the canine family w/ a half dozen snares 10-20yds in the perimeter to hang a couple more of the 'yotes.
Better productivity!!!!
The 'yotes will never see the snares while circling your set-bingo-another snared/hung 'yote!!!!

Wolves & Coyotes kill for the sake of killing/training pups.

Cats are quite efficient stalkers but are the dullest tool in the shed!

You need some wolves to keep the 'yotes in check & Wolverines to keep the wolves in check!!!!


Lap dogs get snatched off leashes on a regular basis from wolves in Anchorage/Eagle River,AK.