Predator Hunting

[Lou McGopher]

Just curious what, if any, major differences there are between hunting normal prey animals and hunting other predators?

I understand the occasional necessity of doing so, but the idea has never caught on with me. I have the (perhaps mistaken) notion it would be more enjoyable to hunt something that has evolved trying to escape being eaten, rather than trying to hunt something that has evolved trying to eat other critters.

Is it more of a challenge to track them and get close enough for a shot, or is it more about the appeal of taking on something with fangs and claws?

 

[MtnCreek]

Around my house, it's about killing the critters that want to kill my goats !!!

 

[oklahoma caveman]

Generally speaking predator numbers are less than prey numbers which makes them less common and therefore harder to hunt.

Predator species have evolved to overcome the adaptations of the to avoid being eaten, therefore making them even more cautious/smart/ than prey species which makes them harder to hunt.

Yes part of it is the challenge, for some it is about money as most predators are furbearers, and yet for more people it is about protecting property.

For me it is a combination of all factors

 

[mljdeckard]

I don't see the evolutionary reasoning. Herbivorus animals have to find blades of grass. That's their job. Munch acorns. Their main defenses are sharp sense of hearing and smell, and the ability to run and jump.

Predators have to find one of these guys and get around their defenses. And when they can't for some reason, they have to adapt. Ever see an orange coyote poop? That's what happens when they are short on meat and scavenge for carrots. They will eat juniper berries when they have to. Predators work a lot harder for their dinner. They have to out-think the herbivore, or they eat juniper berries.

Predators require more skill to hunt. You can get luck and happen into a coyote every once in a while, but to really be successful, you have to learn to call and do homework to find out where they are. Me and my dad are what I consider to be casual hunters. We are into it, but not like other guys we have seen. We are about 60 percent successful on deer and elk hunts over the years. We know guys who have never had a year where they missed, it was just a question of waiting for the animal they WANTED. We have never been so picky. Predator hunting doesn't work that way. You have to actually learn a little bit about what you are doing.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Ever see an orange coyote poop?

Nope, I've never seen an orange coyote at all!

 

[mcdonl]

Maybe it is the fact that they are predators that make them hard to hunt.

Take their movements...

A deer, as we all know have travel routes... they go from food, to water, to bed... they may have a few routes they take but they stick to them.

Predators hunt... when they come into a call they circle around and stay away. They don't just mosey to the bait.

 

[coyotehunter223]

I always try to get killing shots on coyote, but if I try to hit more than one while they scatter, I'll take any shot that results in any hit. Humane or not.

As mentioned, I believe coyote are much smarter than your average deer or hog.

 

[788Ham]

No, predators are smart, thats what they do for a living. The animals that get preyed on, they're smart too, but not like the predator. This is why I like the predator to hunt, matching wits..... up to a point. When the predator gets within 100 yards, thats when my wit matching comes into play, BOOM, he has to rely on his speed to get away, know "wits" way to run from danger, while I crank the bolt on my Remington and chamber another round, he's at his wits-end. YMMV

 

[sscoyote]

I'm expected to hunt coyotes on the ranches that i hunt. It's almost a job for me. For me there's nothing more rewarding than hunting coyotes in a damage control capacity. Couple weeks ago i got a call from a rancher to hunt a certain pasture as his HEFFERS were starting to calf out. He was seeing 3 coyotes pretty frequently. It's a big pasture so trying to find "3" coyotes in several square miles is a daunting task--and honestly there aren't that many coyotes in this area. But after several days hunting i was able to get one. The rancher was elated. Even the govt. hunter hadn't gotten any yet.

It's oftentimes quite challenging to hunt them. They also provide the most challenging long range tgt. going...IMO. But it has to be in your blood. i've known very few casual coyote hunters--most are either addicted to it, or don't do it at all.

 

[Art Eatman]

Fewer predators per square mile than prey animals. Gotta be that way, just from basic food requirement factors.

So, the fewer the critters, the harder it is to find them--which is why folks learn to bait or call.

 

[dirtykid]

After hunting deer,turkey,varmints for many years, I have found predators to test my patience and skill the most,, like somebody said deer and turkeys are habitual animals, using the same trails over and over , and usually are in heat so they are distracted by other "interests" whereas predator's are VERY smart espically them coyote's,, give it a try once and you'll see . Either you'll be like me and only intensify your efforts after getting fooled by these master-minds or you'll get pissed and give up,, I also trap them and i've found that to require more "research" than just waiting foor them to come to you,, When trapping you have to cover your scent and disguise sets to "fool" them IMO much harder,,

 

[Olympus]

Nope, I've never seen an orange coyote at all!

Classic!

 

[AR-yoter]

The challenge is to call them in, most of the time you cant just sit and wait for one to walk by you have to work em, know when they want to mate so you can adjust your calls know when to use a rabbit call vs a fawn call ect.. In central WA the cougar , bobcat, coyote and fox are problems for cows, goats, and household pets. So, at least in my area its kind of a big deal to keep there numbers low. Plus, it keeps the avid hunter hunting year round.

 

[dirtykid]

I got a LARGE dark-striped male coyote that has been around my hunting area for 2-years now, he must have been shot at before as he wont even raise an ear to distress-calls. He will howl-back at me when i give him challenge or greeting howls but just sits about 20-feet into the thick buck-thorn and wont come out for nothing !! (until i leave) i have invested about 45-hours in this one-dog (about 20+ calling times) with no result,, so YEA i would say predator hunting is WAY more difficult !! (unless you cheat and use groups of people and 2-way radios to push them)

 

[dirtykid]

Never mind,, another 15+ hours spent stalking this coyote FINALLY paid off !! He was an adult male 5-6 years maybe (alot of tooth wear) almost completely red top-coat with big bushy black tail,, finally figured out where he was hiding / hunting just before dusk and i had to CRAWL through snow to "peek' over this ledge where i found him taking a drink from small stream after finishing his lunch of baby-pheasant,, I loaded a 95-grain Hornady SST instead of the usual 58-gr varmint load to be positive he stayed put, started a lil "mouse-squeek" noise and he finally gave me a front-1/4 shot,, when he gets back from tanning (too many hours invested to sell pelt) I'll post pics,,

 

[Lou McGopher]

I've got the urge to hunt coyotes now. Thanks!

 

[Cob]

Prey animals usually eat/taste better without A-1.