Coyote problems??

[buck460XVR]

What we have become very good at is feral canine control. It seems some urbanized folks don't believe in animal control and release their pets back along county roads. Once released they tend to pack up and take down whatever they get hold of.

blindhari

Around here, bragging about shooting dogs will get you a visit from the local LEA. Shooting a domestic dog just because it's owner was irresponsible and dumped it, is almost as irresponsible as the owner themselves, unless there is an immediate threat or one has been authorized by local officials.

Just how does the average guy determine if a dog is truly feral or someone's pet running with a bunch of the neighborhood dogs? How does this same average coyote hunter discern if a domestic dog is really a threat to humans and livestock or just a lost and hungry dog?

 

[redneckrepairs]

Around here, bragging about shooting dogs will get you a visit from the local LEA. Shooting a domestic dog just because it's owner was irresponsible and dumped it, is almost as irresponsible as the owner themselves, unless there is an immediate threat or one has been authorized by local officials.

Just how does the average guy determine if a dog is truly feral or someone's pet running with a bunch of the neighborhood dogs? How does this same average coyote hunter discern if a domestic dog is really a threat to humans and livestock or just a lost and hungry dog?

What a load of bunk !
If the dog is running loose its feral . If you don't want your dog shot keep it at home where it belongs , not out harassing stock and wild animals in a pack . Thats pretty simple , If you love your fido keep him home . If i see him around my place he wont be coming back home . My dogs stay home and yours should too .

 

[allaroundhunter]

Around here, bragging about shooting dogs will get you a visit from the local LEA. Shooting a domestic dog just because it's owner was irresponsible and dumped it, is almost as irresponsible as the owner themselves, unless there is an immediate threat or one has been authorized by local officials.

Just how does the average guy determine if a dog is truly feral or someone's pet running with a bunch of the neighborhood dogs? How does this same average coyote hunter discern if a domestic dog is really a threat to humans and livestock or just a lost and hungry dog?

It really is not a hard distinction to make.

Chasing livestock - shoot
Acting aggressively - shoot
Otherwise being a nuisance - shoot

And yes, I have already talked with County LEOs and have actually been given the OK to shoot any unknown dogs on our land (whether they are doing any of the above 3 things or not).

 

[MCMXI]

And yes, I have already talked with County LEOs and have actually been given the OK to shoot any unknown dogs on our land (whether they are doing any of the above 3 things or not).

There are so many things I want to say but the mods would probably delete my account. My two Rottweilers and I are fortunate that we have neighbors who aren't dead set on killing everything, and they're fortunate that I like it when their German Shepherd comes comes up to visit.

 

[allaroundhunter]

There are so many things I want to say but the mods would probably delete my account. I'm fortunate that I have neighbors who aren't dead set on killing everything and they're fortunate that I like it when their German Shepherd comes comes up to visit.

I never said that we kill everything that we see. I'm just relayed what county LEOs have said. Reading my full post will show you the reasons that we shoot feral dogs. I don't like killing dogs, but sometimes you really don't have another option. Animal control in rural areas don't care enough to chase dogs around farmland, so they leave it to the landowners.

When a pack of feral dogs kill 3 of your calves in a couple of days maybe you would change your mind...


To ease your fears, we have never shot a German Shepherd. We have actually adopted 7 feral dogs that came around and were friendly and have given several others to friends. But good job trying to label people as pet killers for defending their own animals.

 

[MCMXI]

When a pack of feral dogs kill 3 of your calves in a couple of days maybe you would change your mind...

I get that and would feel the same as you and would have no problem dealing with that situation as you would. However ....

and have actually been given the OK to shoot any unknown dogs on our land (whether they are doing any of the above 3 things or not).

... this is what I have a problem with. The indiscriminate killing of an animal simply because you can. I would never shoot a dog for simply being on my property, even if the dog appeared to be aggressive. The dog could be lost or abandoned and fearful, and that's a not a good enough reason to end it's life.

 

[allaroundhunter]

... this is what I have a problem with. The indiscriminate killing of an animal simply because you can. I would never shoot a dog for simply being on my property, even if the dog appeared to be aggressive. The dog could be lost or abandoned and fearful, and that's a not a good enough reason to end it's life.

You didn't read what I said....

That is what we were told by County LEOs/animal control; not what we actually do.

We don't kill dogs simply because they are on our land, even though we have been told we are within our rights to do so. If we shoot the dogs, it is for a legitimate reason (one of the 3 given earlier).

I am in agreement with you as far as killing just because you can, I despise it, regardless of the legality.

I really wish that animal control would be able to help us out more, but I can understand when they say that they don't have the time nor manpower to do so.

 

[Art Eatman]

Most of us rural folks think of shooting feral dogs in an away-from-town situation. Farm/ranch country, not edge-of-town subdivision areas--usually.

However, an anecdotal example: A co-worker of mine lost some sheep to a dog-pack. His land was a couple of miles south of Georgetown, Texas. A second attack happened when he was home; he shot two of the pack.

One of the dogs had a collar with the owner's name and telephone number. The disbelieving owner came out to the scene--and there were the dead sheep and the bloody-mouth dog. End of disbelief.

My own rule of thumb was to ignore dogs that weren't chasing deer or bothering my cattle. I moved to an area with practically no livestock, so I don't even worry much about coyotes--although I tend to keep the numbers down due to our competition as to who eats quail.

I'm not into worrying about solo stray dogs, but if it's a feral pack, I'll kill all I can. Suffice that we've had "incidents".

 

[redneckrepairs]

My two Rottweilers and I are fortunate that we have neighbors who aren't dead set on killing everything, and they're fortunate that I like it when their German Shepherd comes comes up to visit.

Herein lies the problem , Some folks feel that having a pet is license to allow the pet to roam , chase stock , kill chickens , fight neighbors dogs , ect.. Possibly your dogs don't do any of the above when they are out roaming around unattended , Possibly they do . The thing is neither you nor I can say since you don't live around me and obviously you don't supervise them yourself . If your dogs are not home you simply cannot say what they are or are not doing .
I love my dogs , thus i keep them home and supervised . Owning dogs does not give me the right to appropriate the neighbors property as a playpen for them be that his land or livestock . Likewise My calves and chickens are not toys or snacks for his dogs .

Edited to add , My nearest neighbor is a bit over a half mile away so its not like his dog was just a bit out of the yard if it shows up here .

 

[blindhari]

Hello Redneck,
This is not an aggravated or upset answer. My brother in law and I are retired. He has been in business on the Mogollon rim for over 40 years and knows almost everyone up there. We get calls from Ranchers when they find cattle/calves pulled down. Generally this is back some miles from highways and often a stiff walk from county roads. The area will take mostly one or less cow calf unit per acre. Please do not misunderstand me, I have raised upland game dogs since I was 10, shooting some body's pet is not on the top of my list, to say that we are good at it is not brag, it is just fact. Like clearing a toilet, although unpleasant, it has to be done. In our experience coyotes prefer smaller and native prey. The larger pure bred canines and cross bred Staffordshire Terriers are the biggest problems, at that most of them starve to death before they learn to take down cattle. Small canines/felines become coyote prey pretty quickly. Ranching up on the Rim is an intensive time consuming business. When a friend of my brother in law has a feral problem we are trusted to handle it, and thanked when we leave.

blindhari

 

[samort457]

I have no problem shooting feral/stray dogs. When you 80 head of cattle, a thousands of dollars investment, then you would understand. When it comes to that we are always proactive not reactive. A general rule around here is give it a couple hours if it has no collar and a day or two if it does. And we know what the neighbors dogs look like and don't shoot them.

 

[redneckrepairs]

blindhari

I shoot my own dogs to speak , but i can truly understand someone calling in help when they start packing up and you got a place to run as well as resolve the dog problem . yes it in unpleasant to shoot a dog , it is also unpleasant to put down stock they have chewed up . I have reached the point with dogs though that if they are around my stock or place they dont go home . The owners might not like me shooting them , I sure dont like having to shoot them , however the situation is what it is . If pet owners simply take care of their pets its never an issue . I simply cannot figure why someone figures that their choice to allow their pet to roam trumps my right to have unmolested stock on my own property .
The only time i have had problems that i can for sure say are Yotes is then they catch a cow calving and down which is a lot more seldom than i catch dogs chasing stock .

 

[gamestalker]

I've had lots of encounters with them over the years. When I lived up in the northern part of the state back in the 80's, and in New Mexico during the 90's, the Feds would offer a bounty on them, cause they were doing a lot of damage to the elk and antelope population. It's an on going problem out here, I see one I shoot it, no problem.

I've never lost a pet the result of them, but I have neighbors that have. But I also have a good high chain link fence to keep them out, it's necessary in my neck of the woods.

But on a positive note, they make for a great way to keep my hunting skills honed for hunting season, and gives me something to do during the off time.

GS

 

[murf]

had two coyotes walk across the road in front of me this morning as i was going for the mail. they came out of the neighbors front yard. they didn't bother the chickens, so were probably eating the dogs food.

not much we can do here as the houses are fairly close. if the coyotes start causing a problem, we'll take care of it.

murf

 

[C.R.]

Not quite on topic,but , I worked woth a fellow I thought he was alright. One day he told me how he had a german shepard and decided he could not keep him any more .Well he said he took him and his favorite toy out to the country and played fetch a bit than geve the ball a really hard throw and ditched the dog . I no longet talk to him ,what a rotten thing to do. I told the dumb S.O.B. the dog probably did NOT find a home but got shot ,he looked confused . I explaned how much farmers have invested in live stock and the threat a Big dog could pose to young stock. I have no time for this kind of idiot

 

[ljnowell]

Not quite on topic,but , I worked woth a fellow I thought he was alright. One day he told me how he had a german shepard and decided he could not keep him any more .Well he said he took him and his favorite toy out to the country and played fetch a bit than geve the ball a really hard throw and ditched the dog . I no longet talk to him ,what a rotten thing to do. I told the dumb S.O.B. the dog probably did NOT find a home but got shot ,he looked confused . I explaned how much farmers have invested in live stock and the threat a Big dog could pose to young stock. I have no time for this kind of idiot

I've been forced to shoot several dogs because of jerks like that. If he was going to do that he should have just took him out and shot him himself. Saved the dog the mental pain of being dumped and the agony of being killed or starving.

 

[blindhari]

To Redneckrepairs and the general membership, this is an apology.
Yesterday I tried to restate a position on feral animal control on ranch land. It is to my personal embarrassment I misread the name of the posting member. My guess is that old age is creeping up faster than I thought. As a feral control team my brother in law and I have probably had our last year. He is 12 years younger than I am and is teaching tracking, calling, blinds and marksmanship to others while he still can.
Again my apologies,


blindhari

 

[Art Eatman]

No sweat. Stuff happens. Heck, I don't figure I've ever seen perfection, even when I'm shaving.

 

[huntsman]

we've had coyotes here for awhile, but I had my first encounter this spring when I had one come in to my hen yelping during turkey season, latter in the summer I had one come through the yard. The one positive though is I don't see the neighbors barn cats around anymore.

 

[MCgunner]

They were gettin' my chickens. Saw one in the back yard one day, he'd killed half my flock. Dog ran him off before I could get to the back door. Some weeks later, I don't know if it was the same dog, but i saw him out back about 50 yards, didn't have anything, but my little .38 snub Taurus M85UL on me, drew, braced against a post on the back porch, and put a 158 grain JHP into his boiler room. Haven't seen another dog around, but i hear multiple packs every morning and evening, so I didn't damage the population I don't guess. Song dogs can be a pain, but I like listening to 'em in the evening. Reminds me I ain't in town anymore.

 

[redneckrepairs]

blindhari

No apology needed here .

 

[MCgunner]

Boy, the song dogs were out THIS morning. They woke me up at 4:15, grabbed my .22 mag with the light on the scope and went outside, but didn't see anything and they'd shut up. Was going to get up at 4:45 anyway to go sit in the box blind and wait for a deer, so I got dressed. Should have taken the .22 mag. No deer movement, but the dogs were just down the sendero about 150 yards yappin' it up about 5:30. Couldn't see anything, new moon, no light. I should have brought my .22 mag and my predator call and went song dog huntin', though. I coulda got somethin'. There were three or four packs of 'em singin' to each other. The closest pack was down the sendero from me, but the others weren't far. Next time, screw deer huntin'....

 

[CB900F]

McGunner;

Here's a tip: Take a mouse squeaker with you. You can put a small binder clip on it to keep it from squeaking in your pack, but it's there just for situations like you've mentioned. On a still morning, somebody down the sendero would hear that frightened mouse just after they'd stopped yippin'. And most likely come to investigate a possible breakfast.

900F

 

[MCgunner]

Good idea. Heck, I could keep it in the box blind so I wouldn't forget it.

 

[CB900F]

Box lunch!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

900F