Sight that no hunter wants to see!

[JAY B]

This is about 150yards behind the house, the pic 2 minutes before this he was coming from the right to left so had to have just happened

 

[timberjack86]

That sucks

 

[knightrider]

They get about 30% of em

 

[backyardtndeer]

Absolutely hate coyotes. Kill them all!!!

 

[TheLBLman]

Absolutely hate coyotes. Kill them all!!!

I agree.
But, the case with many pics like this one, the coyote may have just scavenged an already dead fawn.
A significant percentage of fawns simply die. Scavengers find & eat them.

 

[Remi]

Absolutely hate coyotes. Kill them all!!!

They never get a pass from me, never.

 

[Gravey]

Kill 'em all.

 

[ttf909]

Hate em

 

[Crappieaddict]

I hate seeing that.

 

[Wrangler95]

I enjoy hunting coyotes but I could sure live without them for the turkey and deer sakes!!

 

[Rakkin6]

Getting ready to stir the pot with this post but here we go. I think that coyotes, coons, possums etc are the biggest contributor to the reduction in turkey population. It doesn't seem like anyone hunts/culls them anymore. Could be wrong but just my .02

 

[TheLBLman]

Getting ready to stir the pot with this post but here we go. I think that coyotes, coons, possums etc are the biggest contributor to the reduction in turkey population.

IMO, coyotes are much harder on the turkey population than the deer.
But in many my turkey hunting areas, when we had the most turkeys (years ago) we also had more coyotes then as well.

IMO, hawks kill more turkeys than coyotes.
And crows may break up as many turkey nests as coons.
Bobcats may also kill more turkeys than coyotes.

So agree with you, but you just left out raptor birds and bobcats.

 

[Rakkin6]

IMO, coyotes are much harder on the turkey population than the deer.
But in many my turkey hunting areas, when we had the most turkeys (years ago) we also had more coyotes then as well.

IMO, hawks kill more turkeys than coyotes.
And crows may break up as many turkey nests as coons.
Bobcats may also kill more turkeys than coyotes.

So agree with you, but you just left out raptor birds and bobcats.

Makes sense to me

 

[Chickenrig]

IMO, coyotes are much harder on the turkey population than the deer.
But in many my turkey hunting areas, when we had the most turkeys (years ago) we also had more coyotes then as well.

IMO, hawks kill more turkeys than coyotes.
And crows may break up as many turkey nests as coons.
Bobcats may also kill more turkeys than coyotes.

So agree with you, but you just left out raptor birds and bobcats.

Dont forget about those 5' rat snakes either !!! They are hell on eggs

 

[Hymie3]

Already had a picture like that behind my house also. And has eaten 5 of my chickens and almost killed my dog. I'm at war

 

[jman 125]

One word trap. 2 dozen mb 550 or duke 650 pros will help that situation. They work 24-7. Now you wont catch them all and its a year round effort but it works. Throw in some coon cuffs and the deer and turkeys will thank you later

 

[Planking]

One word trap. 2 dozen mb 550 or duke 650 pros will help that situation. They work 24-7. Now you wont catch them all and its a year round effort but it works. Throw in some coon cuffs and the deer and turkeys will thank you later

This is the way.

 

[wsm]

Hate too see that.

 

[Snake]

One word trap. 2 dozen mb 550 or duke 650 pros will help that situation. They work 24-7. Now you wont catch them all and its a year round effort but it works. Throw in some coon cuffs and the deer and turkeys will thank you later

This ^^^^ traps are there when you can't be !!

 

[Wrangler95]

Getting ready to stir the pot with this post but here we go. I think that coyotes, coons, possums etc are the biggest contributor to the reduction in turkey population. It doesn't seem like anyone hunts/culls them anymore. Could be wrong but just my .02

I kill them anytime I have a chance,your right about vermin destroying the turkeey population!!

 

[thirdwilliam]

never miss an opportunity to take one out

 

[Chickenrig]

One word trap. 2 dozen mb 550 or duke 650 pros will help that situation. They work 24-7. Now you wont catch them all and its a year round effort but it works. Throw in some coon cuffs and the deer and turkeys will thank you later

Couldn't agree more my friend !
It is work running traps but it pays you back in spades

 

[jman 125]

Couldn't agree more my friend !
It is work running traps but it pays you back in spades

It is a definite commitment but its got to be done

 

[Terrier]

Getting ready to stir the pot with this post but here we go. I think that coyotes, coons, possums etc are the biggest contributor to the reduction in turkey population. It doesn't seem like anyone hunts/culls them anymore. Could be wrong but just my .02

Feral cats likely take a toll on the poults, too...

 

[TheLBLman]

Feral cats likely take a toll on the poults, too...

In some areas, significant. In other areas, not so much.
Coyotes LOVE housecats.
More coyotes equals fewer feral cats.

No matter what you do, there can be some unforeseen consequences.

A few years ago we declared war on the coyotes with extensive professional trapping.
Then the bobcat population just exploded.
Worse, the bobcats likely then killed more turkeys than the coyotes ever had.

All cats, housecats, bobcats, love to kill & eat birds.
I doubt if housecats have been a major issue with turkeys,
but likely were more significant regarding the decline of bobwhite quail.

 

[BSK]

They get about 30% of em

Depends on where you are and what your habitat is.

 

[wildlifefarmer]

I trap starting the end of January and go through February. Been doing it for the last 8 to 10 years on 200+ acres. Average catch is around 30 predators per year. Has it helped? I'd like to say that it has. Some years it seems like it has but other years I question the results. Some years the recruitment of the quail turkey and deer seems to indicate that it has. I'll keep on trapping as long as this old fart can cause trapping is like Christmas you never know what will be in the trap. I just wish I could figure out how to effectively trap armadillos without all the guides.

 

[TheLBLman]

I trap starting the end of January and go through February.

In times past, when the primary reason for many was to sell the furs, this made sense.

Today, why not trap coyotes (and raccoons) year-round?

The coyotes you trap in January-February produce a local range "void", that is often largely re-filled by other "roaming" coyotes BEFORE turkey eggs hatch.

The way I look at it, if I trap 5 coyotes on 300 acres in January, the reality is more akin to having just reduced the coyote population on the surrounding 3,000 acres from 50 to 45. Makes a difference, but the areas those trapped 5 were mainly using gets quickly taken over by some those other 45.

The coyotes removed from your most localized area would be most favorable to enhancing turkey nesting success & young poult survival if done in April-May? Same with raccoons?

 

[jman 125]

In times past, when the primary reason for many was to sell the furs, this made sense.

Today, why not trap coyotes (and raccoons) year-round?

The coyotes you trap in January-February produce a local range "void", that is often largely re-filled by other "roaming" coyotes BEFORE turkey eggs hatch.

The way I look at it, if I trap 5 coyotes on 300 acres in January, the reality is more akin to having just reduced the coyote population on the surrounding 3,000 acres from 50 to 45. Makes a difference, but the areas those trapped 5 were mainly using gets quickly taken over by some those other 45.

The coyotes removed from your most localized area would be most favorable to enhancing turkey nesting success & young poult survival if done in April-May? Same with raccoons?

I agree on this but my opinion is you only catch the young of the year or transients.
I say this because a coyote knows his territory and its hard to fool them when you disturb anything in that territory. Sure you will catch an alpha pair occasionally but its the exception not the rule.
One things for certain and will always be true if you have traps hanging out and rusting they are of no help at all. The only reason i am not out there now is this broken ankle but i can guarantee you this when the dr turns me loose im going to be he!!on them

 

[Dean Parisian]

I am a fan of the MB 550 for song dogs. That said, the vast majority of trappers don't have a solid background in trapping coyotes and educate them rather quickly. There are many great trappping instructional CD's on the market today. They can really help your learning curve. Mark June is a trapper I have always thought to give great demo's.