Coyotes...advice

[Jmed]

I know we have discussed this, but I would like to share some recent dealings with yotes and maybe get some ideas.

Got about 500 acres in western Putnam co. Always have had coyotes, we kill at least 3 or 4 a year while deer and turkey hunting. Well this year we have shot 6 and seen several more. At night, it sounds like hundreds of them. So this weekend, I shoot a yote. My cousin shoots one, then misses one. He is on a completely different side of the land. Sunday, my uncle walks up on a button buck laying in a logging road, still barely alive. He calls me over thinking he has found an illegally shot antler less deer. When I got there, I immediately called the local county gw, and reported it. The little guy cried as I approached it, so I put him down. Rolled him over, and it took me about 10 seconds to figure out, the freakin yotes did it. His tail and hams were chewed and there big bite marks on the top of his shoulders and neck, he actually had chew marks on pieces of shoulder blade sticking out. Best I can figure my uncle ran em off and didn't know it. As somebody who has spent years and thousands of dollars trying to grow a quality herd, I am absolutely sick about what happened.

So my question; do any of you guys have any success stories as far as at least putting a dent in your local yote population? How many do I realistically have on 500 acres and how many do I need to kill? I am ready to trap/hunt these guys year round.

 

[rem270]

How many do I realistically have on 500 acres? and how many do I need to kill? I am ready to trap/hunt these guys year round.

Question 1: No-one can tell you how many you have on the 500 acres. I would say a lot if yall have killed 6 so far.

Question 2: You need to kill all of them.

Get you a call and go after them after season. If you don't have a call i'm sure you know someone who does or know someone who would love to hunt them for you. Lots of people love coyote hunting more than deer hunting.


BTW, hope you're doing good these days. How is everything since the heart attack?

 

[diamond hunter]

Get on the trapperman website and buy a couple dozen mb550 2 coil traps from Minnesota trap.Treat them with Full metal jacket.Never touch them with bare hands.Youtube coyote trapping and order some lure and bait and odds and ends.They are fairly easy to trap,just trap around sign.Tennessee says you have to use cushion traps unless the trap is in a burrow.I think we all need to try and eradicate them.Might as well thin out a few other predators while you are thinning theyotes.Im going to war on them.BSK says that it may or may not help and he doesn't recommend it either way.

 

[Planking]

Great advice so far. Im using rubber cushioned leg holds and inviting some callers after season. Im not going to stop until i quit hearing them at night. I made one of these pvc catch poles for releasing foxes and bobcats. I use a rubbermaid tub with a notch in it for the bobcats leg, if you want to go that route.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLheD4c_Ebw

 

[Jmed]

Yeah, that's what I was wondering. I have avoided doing any trapping, but I feel like I have do something above what I have been. How effective is calling in wooded environments? The only fields we have are our plots, and the biggest is 5 acres.

Has anyone ever shot, trapped, etc to the point that they quit hearing or seeing them? I've always accepted them as part of the gig, but I feel like they feel a little bit too comfortable on our place

 

[megalomaniac]

Coyotes have become a BIG problem on my farms.

We've been running a 25-33% fawn recruitment rate the past 3 years on population census with cameras. I attribute the abysmal fawn recruitment rate to the explosion in coyotes on my farms.

For the past 4 years, I've shot 4-8 coyotes in just a week of deer hunting as incidental kills.

This past winter/early spring, I allowed a varmit shooter to coyote hunt one of my farms... he killed 17 out of one spot. This deer season, I only saw and killed one coyote. So it IS possible to reduce local populations short term with hunting alone.

Will it make a difference long-term? I doubt it. Will it make a difference in fawn recruitment rate next summer? I sure hope so.

But I'm still a big fan of killing every yotie I see, and I go so far as to insist anyone deer hunting my farms must shoot a coyote on sight or they will not be invited back.

I may buy a few traps and start trying to trap them as well in the near future. I'll hit them every way I can... every fawn they eat is one less deer I can hunt in a few years.

 

[waltny]

Get on the trapperman website and buy a couple dozen mb550 2 coil traps from Minnesota trap.Treat them with Full metal jacket.Never touch them with bare hands.Youtube coyote trapping and order some lure and bait and odds and ends.They are fairly easy to trap,just trap around sign.Tennessee says you have to use cushion traps unless the trap is in a burrow.I think we all need to try and eradicate them.Might as well thin out a few other predators while you are thinning theyotes.Im going to war on them.BSK says that it may or may not help and he doesn't recommend it either way.

Is it only the cushion leg hold traps? I found myself confused by the regs after reading this. Notice cushion holds are not mentioned in the first section.

From page 14 of the current regulation
1. Steel traps may only be used in accordance
with TCA 70-4-120. Steel leg-hold traps must
have an outside measure of jaw spread that
is 9 inches or less, as measured at the widest
point. Steel square instant-kill traps must
have an exterior jaw measurement 16 inches
or less, as measured at the widest point, and
steel circular instant-kill traps must have an
exterior measurement 12 inches or less, as
measured at the widest point.

and page 15
5. Cushion-hold traps as defined in TCA
70-1-101 with an outside measure of jaw
spread that is 9 inches or less, as measured at
the widest point, may be used for all sets in
accordance with TCA 70-4-120

and TCA 70-4-120 doesnt expound upon this either.
http://policy.mofcom.gov.cn/english/fla ... 1-70-4-120 aside from this

(A) Steel traps placed about a hole, cave or den or about a hollow log, hollow stump or any like place shall be placed twelve (12) or more inches from the entrance of any like place, and it is unlawful to place steel traps in the open, except for water sets. Nothing in this subdivision (a)(1)(A) prohibits the placement of cushion-hold traps in the open when the person so trapping has specific permission in the form of written consent of the owner to place the trap on the top of the ground.

Could one of the TWRA officals comment on this?

 

[waltny]

Great advice so far. Im using rubber cushioned leg holds and inviting some callers after season. Im not going to stop until i quit hearing them at night. I made one of these pvc catch poles for releasing foxes and bobcats. I use a rubbermaid tub with a notch in it for the bobcats leg, if you want to go that route.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLheD4c_Ebw

Are you using this release method when you catch one out of season?

 

[DaveB]

There is no reasonable method of hunting that will clear your property. You cannot bait them in, you cannot hunt with lights, and I will assume you cannot poison them.

You must trap. And you need to trap one area very heavily. I would talk to a pro and get some ideas, maybe even hire him.

The objective would be if you get one dog then be sure if he has company you get them also. And you need to trap over and over and over, pulling in and killing them from outlying areas.

You have nearly a square mile and they are pulling down spikes, you have a lot of coyotes.

I wish you well.

 

[Planking]

Great advice so far. Im using rubber cushioned leg holds and inviting some callers after season. Im not going to stop until i quit hearing them at night. I made one of these pvc catch poles for releasing foxes and bobcats. I use a rubbermaid tub with a notch in it for the bobcats leg, if you want to go that route.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLheD4c_Ebw

Are you using this release method when you catch one out of season?

Coyotes are the only thing im targeting, so i will release everything else accidentally caught.

 

[waltny]

Great advice so far. Im using rubber cushioned leg holds and inviting some callers after season. Im not going to stop until i quit hearing them at night. I made one of these pvc catch poles for releasing foxes and bobcats. I use a rubbermaid tub with a notch in it for the bobcats leg, if you want to go that route.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLheD4c_Ebw

Are you using this release method when you catch one out of season?

Coyotes are the only thing im targeting, so i will release everything else accidentally caught.

Understood. I can only imagine what its like to set a bobcat free...

 

[diamond hunter]

I shot a doe yesterday morning that I had previously seen while buck hunting and didn't want to shoot.It had about 2 inches total length of tail and a split ear.It also had only one hoof on one of her feet.Birth defect? I doubt it.It was a young deer.I doubt it got all those injuries just going through a barbwire fence.I say coyotes.Its really not fair and I want to even the odds a little.Tennessee needs to help its landowners and wildlife managers out in dealing with these pests.Lets change the laws back to be in our favor instead of being afraid someone might shoot a deer at night.The yotes do a lot more damage than the lawmakers realize.

 

[Planking]

Great advice so far. Im using rubber cushioned leg holds and inviting some callers after season. Im not going to stop until i quit hearing them at night. I made one of these pvc catch poles for releasing foxes and bobcats. I use a rubbermaid tub with a notch in it for the bobcats leg, if you want to go that route.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLheD4c_Ebw

Are you using this release method when you catch one out of season?

Coyotes are the only thing im targeting, so i will release everything else accidentally caught.

Understood. I can only imagine what its like to set a bobcat free...

Ive only caught one, but it was a handful. Im using the rubbermaid tub and thick gloves if it happens again.

 

[m411b]

If I recall. Last year, and previous years the regs specifically stated cushion hold trap MUST be used. Not MAY be used. I think the law changed, and we're able to use the traps without the rubber jaws.

I can't find anywhere that the regs state it's prohibited to use regular steel jaws, or that we MUST use rubber jaws. In previous years it was real simple to read it in the book. But not this year.

I'm gonna call TWRA today to get clarification. Cause this beat around the bush crap is BS. Why is it so hard to simple print things for folks to understand it? Why does everything have to be so coded, and meanings hidden? Why cant these people simply say "You are required to use rubber jaw traps"? I can't believe we actually pay these people!

 

[m411b]

TWRA confirmed.

Rubber jawed traps must be used on top of the ground!

 

[jb3]

Have someone come in to trap them. But this is something that you need to be diligent with. Don't trap them this year and wait a year to two. Trap every year. You will still not get rid of them.

 

[scn]

Get on the trapperman website and buy a couple dozen mb550 2 coil traps from Minnesota trap.Treat them with Full metal jacket.Never touch them with bare hands.Youtube coyote trapping and order some lure and bait and odds and ends.They are fairly easy to trap,just trap around sign.Tennessee says you have to use cushion traps unless the trap is in a burrow.I think we all need to try and eradicate them.Might as well thin out a few other predators while you are thinning theyotes.Im going to war on them.BSK says that it may or may not help and he doesn't recommend it either way.

Is it only the cushion leg hold traps? I found myself confused by the regs after reading this. Notice cushion holds are not mentioned in the first section.

From page 14 of the current regulation
1. Steel traps may only be used in accordance
with TCA 70-4-120. Steel leg-hold traps must
have an outside measure of jaw spread that
is 9 inches or less, as measured at the widest
point. Steel square instant-kill traps must
have an exterior jaw measurement 16 inches
or less, as measured at the widest point, and
steel circular instant-kill traps must have an
exterior measurement 12 inches or less, as
measured at the widest point.

and page 15
5. Cushion-hold traps as defined in TCA
70-1-101 with an outside measure of jaw
spread that is 9 inches or less, as measured at
the widest point, may be used for all sets in
accordance with TCA 70-4-120

and TCA 70-4-120 doesnt expound upon this either.
http://policy.mofcom.gov.cn/english/fla ... 1-70-4-120 aside from this

(A) Steel traps placed about a hole, cave or den or about a hollow log, hollow stump or any like place shall be placed twelve (12) or more inches from the entrance of any like place, and it is unlawful to place steel traps in the open, except for water sets. Nothing in this subdivision (a)(1)(A) prohibits the placement of cushion-hold traps in the open when the person so trapping has specific permission in the form of written consent of the owner to place the trap on the top of the ground.

Could one of the TWRA officals comment on this?

It is really hard for me to see how it could be stated any clearer that steel traps can only be used for water sets or in holes/burrows and that cushion hold traps can be used on top of the ground with written consent of the owner to do so.

Feel free to send suggested language for the Hunting Guide in during the season setting proccess. The statute would have to be changed by the legislature.

 

[scn]

If I recall. Last year, and previous years the regs specifically stated cushion hold trap MUST be used. Not MAY be used. I think the law changed, and we're able to use the traps without the rubber jaws.

I can't find anywhere that the regs state it's prohibited to use regular steel jaws, or that we MUST use rubber jaws. In previous years it was real simple to read it in the book. But not this year.

I'm gonna call TWRA today to get clarification. Cause this beat around the bush crap is BS. Why is it so hard to simple print things for folks to understand it? Why does everything have to be so coded, and meanings hidden? Why cant these people simply say "You are required to use rubber jaw traps"? I can't believe we actually pay these people!

We changed vendors this year on the Hunting Guide, and it caused some editing to be done. The section in the Manner and Means remained the same from previous years. However, they took out all of the trapping information that was in the Small Game section. It included some good info. I'll make them aware that it needs to go back in for the 2015 Guide.

 

[diamond hunter]

I wish there was an awesome bounty on coyotes and the whole state would get involved.It would be money better spent than a bunch of the other state expenditures.

 

[scn]

Bounties have been tried many times in other states and have never worked.

 

[MickThompson]

Bounties are an incentive to almost kill them out but leave a little seed stock behind. Bounties also result in out of state "kills" being paid for.

 

[Okatoba]

I grew up in a time when we didn't have yotes in Tennessee to speak of and I hate them with a passion. I have less than zero respect for them and kill every one I see if I can be it with a gun, a truck or what ever. I know I have screwed up some hunts for my self in doing so but I don't care. We've had them chase our feist dogs when squirrel hunting and had a buddy blow one's head off with a 20 ga at 10 feet cause the yote was so focused on catching that dog. Every one that comes in sight of me in the woods is in mortal danger and the THUMP-THUMP I put on a yote pup on the road a few years ago was most satisfying. If I could snap my fingers and every one of them east of the rocky mountains was instantly dead I'd do it.

 

[X-Tennessean]

They seem excessive in my bottom this year as well for some reason. I have killed 5 in the last two weeks deer hunting, usually average 2-3 at most during daylight hours in a season. Not sure what is going on this year. I would say trapping is the only true method to controlling them and a commitment to the job.

I have a friend in Mo who is a full time trapper, he does really well and is committed to the sport. He has been hired by some big time farm managers. I set him up with a guy who hired Grant Woods to come in and analyze his farm for wildlife habitat deer/ducks. That was the first thing out of his mouth was do you have any predator control in process ? He suggested him start a program first and foremost before worrying about plots, herd management etc etc.
He hired my friend and the last time I talked to him, he had caught 18 bobcats, nearly 40 yotes and countless coons, skunks etc etc. This is on around 900 acres of mix timber and row crop with some crp ground as well.

I'm curious to see how the numbers compare to last year at the end of this season.

 

[Clint.C]

Previous repies are exactly right.
No one can tell you how many you have on 500 or any acreage because it varies ALOT with different times of the year.
Yes, we do Predator and Beaver control for a living and we do see success stories all the time on our clients properties. However this comes from intensive campaigns, ideally 3 times a year but you work with the time you have.
Don't get discouraged, you will have ups and downs while trapping but stick with it. I assure you that if the coyotes are impacting your deer and you remove a good % of the population, you will see results.
Best of luck in your trapping!!

 

[FullServiceHunt]

Trapping, trapping and more trapping.
I live in SE TN but hunt mostly in SW GA. Lots of yotes and hogs that mess with deer.
GON (Georgia Outdoor News) has focussed a lot lately on coyotes. They report from "both sides" of the controversy. One side says that no matter what you do, you can't affect the numbers. The other says that you can reduce their numbers, significantly. The general consensus seems to be that you can have a significant reduction in coyotes with hunting and trapping but trapping is key. It's not easy to do well and professional trappers are good at what they do. Relative to the expense of owning a large hunting property, they really aren't that expensive.
I've read a lot about it and talked to guys that have seen success, but real success can only be achieved through a professional trapping program.
I hear coyotes sound off most evenings in GA when I hunt and does/fawn number seem to be down :-(
In Hamilton county, TN this fall I shot a doe, watched her fall 100 yards away. Got to her less than 2 hours after shooting. (shot at 8:00 am). When I got to her a couple pounds of meat had been neatly removed from her shoulder. They used the tear from my broad head to start their fiest. I suspect only one coyote or she would have been really torn up.

 

[Clint.C]

Very true about bounties.

They simlply don't work for site specific deer management. For someone to make money on bounties - they have to remove the first and easy to kill coyotes then move on, resulting in a very low per square mile coyote kill. This does little to no good for deer. The other problems have already been mentioned. The bounty will never reach a dollar amount that it would take to make someone stay on the property long enough to hurt that local coyote population.

 

[TheRealSpurhunter]

Justin, you and I need to learn how to kill them, and swap back and forth going a few weekends this year. Im covered up as well.
my issues with traps is having to check them every 24 hours, thats out of the questions working M-F and being 2 hours from the lease. My only real solution is calling them in.