help me kill coyotes in W.Washington

[Tokugawa]

I live about 20 miles outside Seattle and the coyotes are really getting around. They ate my favorite cat recently and are howling all over the place near my house. The other houses are about 200 to 500 yards away. There are safe lines of fire I can chose. The terrain is an open clearing about 50 yds x 75 yds, with a very deep ravine on one side. I could use a tree stand.
I would like to reduce thier population. Should I call them in with a distress recording and shoot them, or use traps? If I use a trap, how do I avoid getting a pet dog? Any advice from coyote hunters, especially those used to working in western Washington or coastal Ore.

 

[mustanger98]

Tokugawa, I'm not in your area, but I'll try and look at this logically.

I live about 20 miles outside Seattle and the coyotes are really getting around. They ate my favorite cat recently and are howling all over the place near my house. The other houses are about 200 to 500 yards away. There are safe lines of fire I can chose. The terrain is an open clearing about 50 yds x 75 yds, with a very deep ravine on one side. I could use a tree stand.
I would like to reduce thier population. Should I call them in with a distress recording and shoot them, or use traps? If I use a trap, how do I avoid getting a pet dog? Any advice from coyote hunters, especially those used to working in western Washington or coastal Ore.

Now, obviously, and as you said, you don't want to catch somebody's dog, so that pre/ex-cludes traps. My advise favors .223Remington and 55grSP will do the job if, like any other round, you place it right. Don't use a stand; you'll be better off in a ground blind so you won't be sillouetted. Be sure and wear a camo pattern that closely matches the terrain/vegetation. Be sure and to catch the coyotes in the safe lines of fire you mentioned. From what you said about that 50yd x 75yd clearing, you'll probably catch the coyotes in the edges of cover. They know you can't kill what you can't see.

I hope this helps.

 

[Polishrifleman]

If they are fairly tame to people, I wouldn't worry about either. I would bait them in and then take your shot. Put the bait out during the day and pull it in at night if it is not too much of a hassle. You are going to want to do most of your shooting during the day and they like primarily to be out at night.

 

[Art Eatman]

Coyotes move a bit more in daylight when there is a lot of moon. the extra light helps prey animals. Ol' Wily has to work harder for a meal, so he can be out after first light and sunup, or start hunting in late afternoon before sundown/dark.

Save up some food scraps from a meal or three, and put them out in sight of your blind. Then, practice being a statue for a while. Don't scratch or burp. Imitate a rock, a stump or a treelimb.

Art

 

[MillCreek]

If you are twenty miles from Seattle, you are either in King, Kitsap, Snohomish or just into Pierce counties. Are you quite certain that you do not live in a 'no-shooting zone'? If you are, and you are doing this during the day, you may have an encounter with local law enforcement. And of course, you do need a hunting license in Washington to take coyote by shooting and a trapping license to take them by trap. The state department of Fish and Wildlife has special rules for trapping coyotes in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

 

[carnaby]

They ate my favorite cat recently

That's it. I wasn't going to shoot coyotes if I ever came across one, but now the gloves are off.

 

[Varmint Al]

Here is a Short Course on Coyote Hunting.

Any advice from coyote hunters, especially those used to working in western Washington or coastal Ore.

I am in CA, but these techniques should work on coyotes in Washington State too. Here is a short course on calling coyotes. There are free MP3 files of the calling sounds that can be downloaded.

http://www.varmintal.com/ahunt.htm

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al

 

[Tokugawa]

Thanks for the info. These coyotes are getting bothersome.

 

[V4Vendetta]

Do you have any neighbors? If yes, ask them to keep their pets inside for a few days except when they have to take them out to go "visit nature" so that the neighbors animals won't get harmed. Then get some meat & put some poisen on it. Then place it where the coyotes are likely to visit. Wait. I'm not sure if that's legal so check your local rules to see. If not legal, see below.


Your weapon should have at least a 10 shot clip but preferably more in case a coyote refuses to die quickly, there might be a pack of them, etc. I suspect that the .223 mentioned earlier will work if placed right. I suspect 7.62x39 would have a little more heft but that's your call. Buy some deer urine . I know that sounds gross but the smell of human would probably just keep them away from your hiding spot & waste your time. Place the deer urine on your outfit. You can always shower later . Find a good spot & wait.

Sorry to hear about your cat.

 

[bowfin]

Regardless of the legalities of trapping, coyotes can be extremely difficult to trap for a beginner.

A person can learn the basics quickly enough, but things such as positioning and bedding of the trap, securely staking it down, scent elimination, and unintended catches (dogs and cats) are all details that need to be meticulously addressed, and some trial and error goes along with it. Veteran coyote trappers can do all of this in their sleep (and some longliners probably are more asleep than awake the second or third week in a hundred mile plus trapline!)

BTW, a laminated or padded jaw trap wouldn't hurt a dog if it were caught in it. I spent a day at the Nebraska State fair snapping my index finger in a muskrat trap (new coil trap with strong springs) with laminated jaws for anyone who didn't believe me, or thought traps maimed and mangled. I have to admit, my finger was pretty tender by the end of the day.

As for shooting them, I don't think firepower is called for (or useful) as much as making a single good shot. Coyotes usually don't hang around to give a person a second shot (I have seen exceptions), and they can flat out run. A scoped .22 centerfire is very hard to beat. If you don't have such a firearm, load up with Hevi-Shot "Dead Coyote" shells. They are a true 100 yard shotshell, I have seen it with my own eyes. It is rapidly replacing #4 buck with a lot of dedicated coyote hunters in the Sandhills of Nebraska.

 

[UncleBob]

Tokugawa, as Millcreek said, it is not legal to discharge a firearm in those counties. If your 20 miles outside Seattle then your in one of those counties. It's your business, but Western Washington isn't a gun friendly zone. Someone will definately call the cops on you. Even if your on your own land.

 

[V4Vendetta]

Why officer, I haven't heard any gunfire. Must be crazy old cora that called you. You know she ain't quite right in the head don't you? I've been inside the house watching TV. They had a interesting show on about _______.

 

[bowfin]

You mean to tell me that there are ENTIRE counties in Washington where you can't shoot a gun!?!?

Is it wall to wall housing, or so built up, that there is no room?

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Lots of confusion here. #1 it is illegal in the entire state of Washington to use leghold traps and connibear type traps for trapping coyotes as well as all other creatures without a special permit from the state. The trapping ban technically also banned the pincher and scissor traps used for catching gophers and moles. #2 It is legal to shoot in all counties, including King, Pierce and Snohomish, just not everywhere. Shooting bans are by municipality. I live in unincorporated King county and it is legal for me to hunt with shotguns, muzzleloaders and pistols. King and Pierce have restricted areas that ban the use of rimfire and centerfire rifles, but not the entire county. The WDFW pamphlet defines these. I don't think Snohomish has that ban. Outside of the rifle ban areas in these counties, it is legal for all hunting/shooting by any legal means.

 

[c_yeager]

Tokugawa, as Millcreek said, it is not legal to discharge a firearm in those counties. If your 20 miles outside Seattle then your in one of those counties. It's your business, but Western Washington isn't a gun friendly zone. Someone will definately call the cops on you. Even if your on your own land.

Guys, you *can* shoot in each and every one of those counties, as long as you arent on county-owned land. The trick is finding a MUNICIPAL government that doesnt have laws regarding the discharge of firearms. There are ample tracts of unincorporated land in those areas, if our poster lives in one of those sections then he can probably fire his weapon all he wants without breaking any laws. Of course, unincorporated areas are pretty few and far between within 20 miles of seattle.

 

[bowfin]

What!? Now no traps as well as byzantine bans on discharging firearms!~?

Do you guys live in Washington state on purpose, or are you trapped there?

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Believe it or not, WA, despite the democratically controlled government (due to the Seattle metro area) is gun friendly. It's a shall issue state for concealed carry, lots and lots of hunting opportunities and the fishing in the state is second to none, IMO. 3 different species of deer to hunt also.

 

[Poppy270]

I,m way down here in Texas,but I've fixed a lot of coyote problems over the past 20 years or so.Please don,t use posion bait,you don't know what you might kill.If the problem is serious,the steel jaw leg trap would probably be the most efficient control method.They are not to hard to catch,but a beginner will have some problems.Buy some books,or get an old trapper to show you how,but practice making your sets untill you are good at it.You can target the animal you wish to catch by the type of set,and the use of lures instead of bait.If you give trapping a try,you might get hooked!Once a trapper allways a trapper.Good luck.

 

[HiVelocity]

Coyote problem..........

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[ARTiger]

I use a 12 gauge 3 1/2" magnum with #BB hevishot out of my Browning BPS pump. Works every time. Catch 'em on the run too . . . just lead the shot like on a duck.

 

[Old Dog]

Just noticed this thread. Some of the posts crack me up.

It's your business, but Western Washington isn't a gun friendly zone. Someone will definately call the cops on you. Even if your on your own land.

Well, "Uncle Bob," you apparently don't live around here. In my county, I'm perfectly legal shooting coyotes on my own acreage. And, I'm within 20 miles of Seattle (as the crow flies, anyway, over the water ...).

.223 Remington works well for me ... And ... we can shoot 'em at night, too, in season.

Do you guys live in Washington state on purpose, or are you trapped there

?Um ... why, yes we do ... The original shall-issue state ... Does Nebraska have CCW yet?

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Yep, I'm in the same situation as Old Dog. I am 18.2 miles from downtown Seattle and I can legally shoot critters on my property, just not with a centerfire or rimfire rifle. Had 3 coyotes in my backyard a couple weeks ago, during the middle of the day but couldn't get to a gun fast enough. I swear, the darned things watch me in the house and flee the scene when I go for my pistol or gun safe. One of these days......

 

[p35]

Around here, if you call the Sheriff and ask if it's legal to shoot in a given location, they basically say "It's too complicated for us to keep track of-just follow DFW rules on hunting and be safe." If there's a lot of complaints they might ask you to knock it off, and if you hit the neighbor's house you WILL get charged with something, but beyond that they're too busy to make an issue of it.

 

[christyms85]

Coyotes are snakes in the grass

I was recently informed by my uncle, who is also my neighbor, that a coyote had attacked one of my cats. My uncle was outside in his yard when he heard what he thought were 2 cats fighting. When he looked in the direction of the commotion, he saw a coyote attacking & running off with my little cat. He didn't have time to get a gun & put an end to this evil predator. My cat always hunted for mice & such in the field behind my house & this is where it happened. I hate coyotes & I hope anyone who reads this will kill each & every one they see. I am an animal lover, but this is one animal I cannot tolerate. I have been trying to think of a way to trap/kill these coyotes & I think the best way would be to have a recording of an animal in distress & shoot it/them. I know there is more than one in my neighborhood, because another relative of mine saw 2 of them crossing the road in front of my house & heading into the woods. I have my whole neighborhood on watch for these evil things! Any suggestions?

 

[GunTech]

I'm partial to 22 hornet (or in my case, K-hornet) for yotes around built up areas. It won't reach out like 223, but it has a mild report and will do the job quite nicely at 100 yards or so. I've had farmers tell me they didn't even hear me shooting.