Why predator hunting is a must in your hunting areas

[ghost1324]

What don't you comprehend? I think I might be replying to Rambo in the previous posts that say we should kill them all.

I was just bugging yah. Lol No hard feelings.

[TPM]

I don't know..... I like coyotes.... they are pretty cool looking....I also think they have a very kind/loving demeanor (the way they raise their young). Don't mind taking a few out each year but would hate to see them totally vanish.

I agree. I know they can be a nuisance but they really are facinating animals. I have nothing against people shooting them but they have an uncanny ability to breed to their habitat so really the only way to control them effectively is to wipe them out. It would be nice to maintain a manageable population but they seem to be an all or nothing animal.

[GW11]

Big Jack - I understand where you are coming from here. Much of the difference of opinion in this thread is likely due to the fact that not many on here have seen a deer population collapse like it has in our area. I have probably hunted some of the same general area as you in recent years. Although lately it's hardly worth deer hunting at all in that particular part of WMU 73.

For those that don't know, 10 or 15 years ago the Cavan/Bethany/Millbrook area was an absolute deer hunter's dream. It was as close to guaranteed as it gets if you put your time in throughout the season. Permission on private land in was the holy grail for deer hunters. I can't remember the exact number now, but I believe that well over 1000 additional tags were available in 73 up until the end of 2012. In 2013 and 2014 there were zero. I realize that many other areas saw drastic reductions as well but as I've said before, I think the MNR was late in reducing the additional tags. But hunters were not the only issue and "winter" was certainly not the main issue either. There has been no shortage of food (standing corn) available to deer in this part of 73. Snow conditions weren't good because of the crust but crust alone will not kill deer. Coyotes and crust will. 10 or 15 years ago it was quite rare to see a coyote in the bush around here. Now, it's rare to see a deer and coyotes are everywhere. Same story from hunters all around here... few to no deer, nothing but coyotes. Turkey numbers are way down as well. For hunters around here, coyotes are the most visible cause of the deer decline.

Although other factors are/were present, it's foolish to think that coyotes are not taking a huge chunk out of the deer population. Any deer tracks you find around here right now often have coyote tracks on it. Coyotes are not going to waste energy chasing deer around if they don't expect to kill them. If you have a healthy deer/coyote population right now, enjoy the deer hunting while you can. I hope that in a few years you don't end up wondering what happened to the deer (and everything else) in your area too. Maybe (hopefully) this little part of the province where Big Jack and I live is unique in some way, but something has definitely gone wrong here.

I really enjoy the opportunity to get out hunting over the winter too but I shoot them on sight during any other season, usually at the specific request of the landowner. Although I like to think that for every coyote I shoot another deer or two might survive the winter, it's most likely I am just making less competition for the next coyote. There's no real solution, I'm sure they're here to stay, but I'm glad to see them being hunted more actively these days.

[oaknut]

Excellent post GW11! Many don't understand that things are very different from one area to the next.

[Big Jack]

Well said! Sums it up better than I could.

[ghost1324]

Totally agree. That's exactly the way it has been in my area. Everything is disappearing. A lot less deer. Won't see that surplus tag for a while. That's fine with me though I just like getting out there in the bush. I will shoot yotes all season long. Farmers around here that won't let you hunt any other game will be happy to let you hunt yotes. You will see them a lot around farms when the calves are born. All the yotes I have seen have all been together except one. Usually about five or six in a pack. The thing is after you shoot one another one usually is there to take its spot. It's a cycle that we can't stop.

[Mikeman]

Farmers around here that won't let you hunt any other game will be happy to let you hunt yotes. Quote.

Sorry but that line just irks me.

Mike

[ghost1324]

Farmers around here that won't let you hunt any other game will be happy to let you hunt yotes. Quote.

Sorry but that line just irks me.

Mike

Why is that? The yotes try to get their calves. So they are more then happy to let you come in and take a few out.

[Fishy Wishy]

Farmers around here that won't let you hunt any other game will be happy to let you hunt yotes. Quote.

Sorry but that line just irks me.

Mike

Why is that? The yotes try to get their calves. So they are more then happy to let you come in and take a few out.

Farmers that won't let you hunt other game do NOT deserve to have a hunter protect their flock/herd. Just Sayin.

[ghost1324]

Farmers that won't let you hunt other game do NOT deserve to have a hunter protect their flock/herd. Just Sayin.

I see it as another opportunity to maybe get the permission to hunt other game and getting to know them after you take out a few yotes. Yah never know he might change his mind. I don't see the problem at all.