Coyote in the yard, kids playing

[ScottsGT]

I live in a populated rural country club type neighborhood that is not in the country, but a lot of surrounding small wooded areas. This week we have been seeing some animals running around that we have never seen. At first I thought it was a fox by the way my wife described it, but Sat. afternoon, it ran out of a thicket and across the street and was way too tall to be a fox. then again this afternoon it came after my dog, or the turkey decoy I set up in the backyard. Anyways, it was pissed, snarling and snorting. Kids were in the house when all the excitement started. I did take a shot at it with my scoped 10/22, but the damned scope was maxed out on 9 and all I saw was a furry blob at 50 ft. Especially after all the adrenelin of running for the rifle. But I did get a good look. Definately a coyote. Saw it again this evening with the surefire along the woods edge.
Now before you start flaming me for shootin' in the 'hood, my backyard is a hill and I was on my deck shooting towards the ground. That's why there was no follow up shot, he ran up the hill, I didn't want to take any chances of hitting a golfer on the 8th hole.
Time for a trap? Or hang a chicken leg from a tree brance and take another shot at him? And is a .22LR enough to down a Coyote?

 

[Art Eatman]

Unless you're skilled at dealing with leghold traps, I wouln't try one of those; and, too much chance of grabbing a neighbor's dog. Odds are, a coyote won't enter the usual HavAHart.

From your description of the behavior, I'd have some concern for rabies. I think I'd warn the neighbors of the possibility, anyway.

A .22 would kill, but not right away unless it's a head shot. Even a heart shot won't do a quick "stop" of a coyote, although it would likely prove fatal.

I'd try high-speed hollow-points, or QuikShok.

A "Do it now!" deal is to crank that scope down to its low-power setting. I've had the same thing happen to me on a pretty good buck.

Art

 

[dakotasin]

yeah, a 22's enough... may not do it in one shot, but to keep the noise down, it is what i would use... bait him in close, and put 3 into him as fast as you can, as close as you can...

 

[ScottsGT]

Thought about it some more last night. Maybe a open can of sardenes (sp?) stragically placed would be good bait. I think I have more than one though. The one I saw bolting across the street looked taller than the one I missed at yesterday. As they say, if you've got one, you've got many. Oh, and I remember the three s's.
Shoot
Shovel
Shutup
Taxidermest?

 

[Art Eatman]

Dunno 'bout SC game laws, but odds are that the state doesn't care other than the issue of commercial sale of furs.

A tanned hide makes an attractive cover over the back of a couch, or as a wall-hanger. Or, if you can get enough of them, a vest.

Yeah, sardines oughta work, but the remaining aroma of the oil in the can after you eat the sardines works just as well. Why waste a perfectly good sardine?

, Art

 

[sumpnz]

If you think it's rabid, call Animal Control. In the mean time, keep the .22, or better yet a shotgun or heavy caliber (.357mag or bigger) handgun handy. If Animal Control can get rid of the problem, great. If not, you're prepared. Also, make sure you or your wife supervize the kids while they play outside with the gun of choice close at hand. I would not bait the coyotes as that may be just asking for continuing problems, and possibly complaints from neighbors.

 

[sumpnz]

ScottsGT, now that I've thought on this a bit more, you said in your original post

I live in a populated rural country club type neighborhood

This means you probably have about 1/3 acre lot or smaller. I live in an area where it's minumum 1.0 acre lots. If I knew a neighbor of mine was baiting coyotes into his yard in order to shoot them (even with "only" a .22lr) I'd be mighty upset and would probably call the sherriff. Now, if it was legit defense of self or family, no problem. If it was minimum 10 acre ranchettes, no problem. But, deliberatly baiting and shooting is bad ju-ju in a neighborhood.

You know how safe you are, but I (or your neighbors) don't. Just imagine how mad you'd be if a bullet hit (whether by negligence or accidental ricochet) your house/car/kids/etc. And then there's the whole issue of intentionally drawing (possibly rabid) predators into an area filled with kids. What if one of those coyotes mauls a neighbor's kid, or eats their dog/cat on the way in or out of your yard?

Keep your kids and yourself safe, but don't bait the coyotes.

 

[Kingcreek]

shotgun might be a better choice

 

[ScottsGT]

Spoke with the wildlife dept today. He said if I have a good backstop, which I do, to go ahead a bait for them and aim carefully and shoot them. Just remove the bait while I'm not there to watch it. Just not to have kids out and around and let the neighbors know. I have about a half acre behind the house that is wooded and it is an incline hill. I've already let the country club know about the coyotes, and their going to post it in the proshop to be careful if any balls are lost in the woods in my area. There are a lot of junior golfers out there during the day. He also recommended I stick with the .22 since most people that hear it would think we were shooting off fireworks. We are one of the last few legal states that can do that too
BTW, I'm also up on a deck shooting down into the hill area and would never even try a follow up shot if he ran up the hill. That's why he got away the other evening.

BTW, the wildlife biologist also suggested the cage trap won't work unless it was big enough to tie a live chicken to in one end. then I would lose the chicken once he got in the cage.
As far as SC laws go, you have to notify all neighbors within 100 yards in a residential area outside the city limits before discharging any firearms unless self defense.

 

[JShirley]

Spoke with the wildlife dept today.

Good. That's the way to go. I'd use QuickShoks, if you can get 'em.

John

 

[smokemaker]

I've dispatched a number of coyotes with Remington yellowjacket .22's. They work fine out to about 60 yards.

 

[Sportcat]

Can you get closer in your "tactical samurai" and get a closer shot?

I didn't know coyotes were an issue in Columbia.

 

[ScottsGT]

There everywhere according to the Wildlife biologist I spoke with on the phone. In every county in the state. Last year 30,000, yes I said 30,000 were reported shot in the state. So we do have an infestation on them. I read this figure in the Buckshot magazine, which I believe the article was written by someone from DNR. Coworker's neighbor had one clawing at the door of their car, a few months back, trying to get in with them.

Maybe I could drive the Sammy into the woods and wait on them?

 

[Art Eatman]

A parked vehicle isn't the worst "stand" in the world...

, Art

 

[sumpnz]

A parked vehicle isn't the worst "stand" in the world...

Unless you live in Arizona where hunting from a vehicle is quite illegal. So long as you get out of your car, and step off the road before taking the shot you're fine, but otherwise be prepared for G&F to ticket you, and possibly take your rifle.

 

[Sunray]

Yep, Wile E. is everywhere. I'd refrain from trying bait too. You never know what'll show up. Skunks, coons, stray cats and dogs all eat the same stuff Wile E. will and he'll tell all his buddies where there's a free meal. Listen to sumpnz.
YellowJackets, if they shoot well enough out of your rifle(not every .22 shoots 'em accurately), will, um, blow him out from under his hat.

 

[Al Thompson]

Sump, we can shoot from vehicles and on public roads.

Scott, holler if you need a hand.

 

[Stand_Watie]

A parked vehicle isn't the worst "stand" in the world...

Not just a parked vehicle Art. I was talking to my neighbor today, and he opined that a tractor pulling a mower is the best stand in the world. Apparently the coyotes get used to catching the rats/mice that go running when you're mowing and come to view the tractor as a food source.

 

[444]

I would just leave it alone.
I see coyotes in my yard or from my yard all the time.
I don't understand why seeing one means that you have to kill it.
I have nothing against killing coyotes and I hunt them, but I don't just kill every one I see on sight.

 

[Art Eatman]

444, it depends on numbers and behavior. If they're relatively few, and not bothering the pets or the chickens, there's no real point in worrying about them.

If you're in the sheep and goat business, there's no such thing as too few coyotes.

Art

 

[444]

Right, as I said, I have nothing against shooting them. But just to see one from the house and immediately go on a quest to shoot it doesn't add up to me. Coyotes get pretty brave in urban areas. I have seen them eating out of garbage cans in the parking lot of Scotty's Castle with hundreds of people and vehicle walking by. They have a sign up not to feed them Cheetos.

 

[sumpnz]

I'm with 444 on this one. If a 'yote is a problem, kill it. If you're out hunthing them, kill 'em. But otherwise, live and let live.

And, Sunray spelled out some of the potential problems with baiting other than what I already mentioned.

 

[ScottsGT]

444,
Have you got kids? The smallest being a beautiful 5year old little girl? And an 8 year old that was surrounded in the woods one evening? (His story, not mine) Are all four of your kids afraid to go out in their own yard? Did you have one coming at you snarling and growling trying to get at either you or your dog, and maybe the turkey decoy I set up?
Anyhow, I do appreciate your views, and if my family could feel safe around them, I would leave them. Just as if I lived in a crack dealer ridden neighborhood, I would be on the phone constantly until the law did something about it. I called about this situation, and the wildlife biologist told me to shoot them, and they could do nothing about it.
BTW, Tuesday evening we saw three sets of eyes glowing at us on the edge of the tree line Now the wife is freaked more than ever!
The way I see it, I was there first, I pay the mortgage, I mow the grass, I maintain the house and property and they are not welcomed!

FWIW, there was a bear spotted in a rural area of Charleston yesterday, Wildlife Dept. IS doing something about that! They are trying to trap it and relocate this one.

 

[BeLikeTrey]

Underlying issue

If there is more than one, somebody is feeding them or leaving trash in improper containers. Looks like the secret is out on this with the coyotes. Check around your immediate vicinity and see who is throwing food out improperly.

Coyotes are nuisance animals here, no season that I'm aware of... You may want to get your hunting license however

Here in Columbia the coyotes I've run across, are quite brazen and most don't seem to fear humans much. I have been within 20 ft of one that ran in on us calling turkeys. Darned thing stood right there and stared at us for a good 30 seconds before we raised our guns to shoot it. I think we were both so surprised at how close he came and how long he stood there, that we didn't think to shoot, at first. This was a couple of miles from Williams-Brice Stadium on the Congaree. So yes they are in Columbia.

You may want to put any bait in something that makes noise to alert you. something on a string attached to chimes, or bait in a perforated- corrugated pipe, tied down with stuff to rattle inside etc, you get the idea. Up fairly close, a well placed .22 CCI stinger or Velocitor should set him at room temperature in fairly short order. I would prefer bigger but residential considerations are your concern naturally. Good luck! I think Al and I both would love to help

 

[ScottsGT]

Sounds like a Columbia group shoot in the Woodlands subdivision in the NE side of town! Well, I better hold off on the group shoot, want to keep it low profile. Coworker suggested I call News 19, "they'll get it straightned out" Yea, right The same group that labled the 19 year old coming out of the Congaree range a terrorist, right before he was to be shipped out to Iraq to fight terrorists! I'd have every tree huggin' grape nuts eatin' PETA member within a hundred miles raisin' a big stink about this "gun nut killing gods creatures" Oh, wait, they don't believe in God!