Smyser first tried coyote hunting in 2004 after the digital wave revolutionized and miniaturized predator hunting. He never carried one of the 20-pound record players and similarly large speakers, which were state of the art 30 years ago, into the field. But he can imagine that "it was a haul to carry something like that around."

He has heard the sound quality of those old players and wonders whether predators ever responded to them "the way they snapped, crackled and popped."

The state of the art portable record players did not weigh 20 pounds 30 years ago. We actually had batteries and plastic invented at the time.

FYI, in 2007 it became legal to night hunt in PA with any form of light, including weapon-mounted lights.

mmmmmmm......beep, beep

In this tough economy, it's reassuring to hear that someone is doing well.

Why can't they just leave the things alone?

ReverendJasen: Why can't they just leave the things alone?

Because they like cat. Can't have Fluffy get all eaten, y'know.

ReverendJasen: Why can't they just leave the things alone?

Because they infest populated areas and don't take deer.

Isn't this the argument Sarah Palin is using for shooting them from helicopters?

Good Lord...we have hit rock bottom when FARK mentions the PGC.

and to greenlight Marcus Schneck???

/WTF

If you aren't going to eat it, don't hunt it.

ReverendJasen 2009-02-15 11:00:43 AM
Why can't they just leave the things

the natural balance has been altered due to human population.
So now human intervention is needed to bring their numbers back in line with the available food, control the spread of Rabies, stop them from eating domestic pets.

Ahahahahahahaaaa. This must be a real challenge to all the manly men who think that it's only because of their beneficence that wild animals roam at all. Because they rule the planet and everything on it.

One comment:

A few days ago, on a Television Sports show they were talking about about eastern coyotes. They said these Coyotes are crossed with Wolves. This confirmed a report I receive several years back from a Pennsylvanis Sportsmans Organizaton about having sent a blood sample from a killed Coyote to the Havard School of Verternary Science for DNA analysis, they found the same thing.

Which means these Coyotes came either from a captive breading program or artifical breading program. The are not natural Coyotes, and they can pose a real danger to small children and pets. You folks at Pennlive might want to look into this. These are not your Grandfathers' Coyotes, they are big and dangerous. Think what they might be like with rabbies?

Now this is exactly the kind of guy I'd want roaming around my house with a gun, ready to kill.

And I'm pleased to see the same grammatical error in the original story as in the headline.

If you aren't going to eat it, don't hunt it.

Not in this case. In Kentucky coyotes are a growing nuisance - attacking livestock and house pets for starters. They're beginning to move in on the game animals and it doesn't help that they don't have a natural predator in this state, not counting man, to keep their numbers in check. That means it's up to us.

The Gunslinger Roland: If you aren't going to eat it, don't hunt it.

I see, and how does that logic apply to small, heavily overpopulated predators? these things are somewhat inedible, but need to be culled. So whats the problem?

U.Betcher Associates: The Gunslinger Roland: If you aren't going to eat it, don't hunt it.

I see, and how does that logic apply to small, heavily overpopulated predators? these things are somewhat inedible, but need to be culled. So whats the problem?

Overpopulation is usually taken care of by nature. The more predators (coyote's) there are, the less food there is for them to eat. Many will die of hunger. It shouldn't be a big problem in 5 years or so, as they will begin to balance out.

But wait, there's more:

He doesn't view the animal as smart in a human sense but said, "A coyote just knows how to use its senses.

And if a person knows how to use his senses, we call him--? Because an animal can't be smart. Even if it's almost impossible to kill, even when you're equipped with every kind of technological gadget invented by MAN. What, those coyotes are outwitting you? Well, it's a good thing they're not smart.

Pegasus_CAG: If you aren't going to eat it, don't hunt it.

Not in this case. In Kentucky coyotes are a growing nuisance - attacking livestock and house pets for starters. They're beginning to move in on the game animals and it doesn't help that they don't have a natural predator in this state, not counting man, to keep their numbers in check. That means it's up to us.

Good, make a legal season to hunt like deer, and make people get tags for it. that way the state can make money and people can kill shiat. Also the Palin and hunting from helicopters is FUbared, no real sport in that.

Retaliation will be swift....



/Meep! Meep!!

Malinki: Because they like cat. Can't have Fluffy get all eaten, y'know.

As someone whose cat was killed by a coyote last September I am not getting a kick...

I can also point out that we now have PEOPLE being attacked by coyotes around here as well. The coyotes are getting very brazen and will walk down your street in broad daylight. City nearby (where teenager was attacked) is looking into trapping/killing because the population is getting out of control.

Lee Bruns: ReverendJasen 2009-02-15 11:00:43 AM
Why can't they just leave the things

the natural balance has been altered due to human population.
So now human intervention is needed to bring their numbers back in line with the available food, control the spread of Rabies, stop them from eating domestic pets.

Besides, the Gorillas die when winter comes anyway.

The Gunslinger Roland: U.Betcher Associates: The Gunslinger Roland: If you aren't going to eat it, don't hunt it.

I see, and how does that logic apply to small, heavily overpopulated predators? these things are somewhat inedible, but need to be culled. So whats the problem?

Overpopulation is usually taken care of by nature. The more predators (coyote's) there are, the less food there is for them to eat. Many will die of hunger. It shouldn't be a big problem in 5 years or so, as they will begin to balance out.

aaaaand so... the animal dies anyhow, but instead of a bullet it starves to death? again...whats the problem with simply shooting it? (something to do with not being able to eat it?)

Coyotes need to be culled.
People change their tunes after they see a coyote jump their back fence with a family pet in it's mouth.

Plus they have nice pelts that more than pays for ammo.

Lee Bruns: ReverendJasen 2009-02-15 11:00:43 AM
Why can't they just leave the things

the natural balance has been altered due to human population.
So now human intervention is needed to bring their numbers back in line with the available food, control the spread of Rabies, stop them from eating domestic pets.

\THIS

Serious coyote hunters use the latest electronic and mouth-blown predator calls to mimic the sounds of distressed rabbits and other coyotes....[he] first tried coyote hunting in 2004 after the digital wave revolutionized and miniaturized predator hunting. He never carried one of the 20-pound record players and similarly large speakers, which were state of the art 30 years ago, into the field....the small palm- and book-sized electronic calls have provided a quicker, easier route to success for many others.


This is the part I don't like. Where's the sportsmanship? I know as man evolves and technology evolves, we're going to use new toys. I mean, we stopped using bows and arrows, we started using gunpowder, the guns got more advanced, we started putting optics on rifles, etc.

But electronic devices to hunt? that just seems unethical. Like those fishing companies that sell radar / sonar thingies to tell you where the fish are. that's not right. it just doesn't seem sporting.

i think you should earn the kill. the guy already reads maps and predicts where the 'yotes are gonna be. Just stick with that. don't play a farking hell iPod to attract coyotes.

it just isn't sporting. and that the problem is such that the state has no bag limits is irrelevant. there's a proper, sporting way to kill and playing the godamn Casey Kasem's Top 40 Coyote Calls just isn't it.

I say we round up some coyotes and some guys like Bernie Madoff and put them in a fenced in area. Of course, the people get NO weapons and are smeared in blood, but that just makes it more interesting...

The Gunslinger Roland: U.Betcher Associates: The Gunslinger Roland: If you aren't going to eat it, don't hunt it.

I see, and how does that logic apply to small, heavily overpopulated predators? these things are somewhat inedible, but need to be culled. So whats the problem?

Overpopulation is usually taken care of by nature. The more predators (coyote's) there are, the less food there is for them to eat. Many will die of hunger. It shouldn't be a big problem in 5 years or so, as they will begin to balance out.

Well what do they eat?
They eat meat.
That's cool.
Dude, you're meat.

The Gunslinger Roland: If you aren't going to eat it, don't hunt it.

thus.

Smarshmallow: The Gunslinger Roland: If you aren't going to eat it, don't hunt it.

thus.

Yes. Because no carnivorous animal will kill a pet or small child if it gets the chance.

That's definitely true.

Kill em, kill them all.

rickythepenguin: But electronic devices to hunt? that just seems unethical. Like those fishing companies that sell radar / sonar thingies to tell you where the fish are. that's not right. it just doesn't seem sporting.

We don't want to give them a sporting chance. We want them dead. They are getting to be a pest in many areas and their numbers need to be reduced. if you have rats in your house, you don't give them a "sporting chance". you put out everything from rat poison to antifreeze in an effort to kill them.

Coyotes are hunted differently than deer. You have to call them in since it's not practical to just wait until one walks by. In the old days this meant tying up a wounded rabbit and let its death wails attract Coyotes. The electronic calls are more humane in that aspect and allow a wider range of calls.

Night vision and weapon lights help too.

I'm all for shooting overpopulated coyote. they're the only species i'd kill with no intention of eating....i haven't seen a wild rabbit in years, and there's nothing like a superbowl party where all our guests leave the TV to watch the pack of 8 coyotes take down a doe out in the field.

One time, when my dog was about to have her brown pushed in, i shot three of em with my 9mm from the back door.

But 4000 hunters get 177 yotes? that is not overpopulation, especially if they're using electronic calls and telescopic sights.

LukeA: Smarshmallow: The Gunslinger Roland: If you aren't going to eat it, don't hunt it.

thus.

Yes. Because no carnivorous animal will kill a pet or small child if it gets the chance.

That's definitely true.

I have no problem with people protecting their pets, children or homes. I actually don't really have a problem with people killing coyotes to tell you the truth. I would prefer that if people are going to be shooting coyotes, they eat them or at least get the pelts. I wouldn't hunt them though.

I have a Baikal over/under. It was the first affordable over/under I'd seen.

It doesn't seem to me to be the weapon of choice when hunting coyotes. I would think 30/30 or 30 ought 6.

I've never done it, but maybe that's where the "sporting" comes in.

re: The more predators (coyote's) there are, the less food there is for them to eat.

Do you think maybe that is why they come into populated areas seeking your pets?

/anti-hunting arguments seem to rely on PETA style emotional reactions as opposed to Professional Game Management evaluations.

Smarshmallow: The Gunslinger Roland: If you aren't going to eat it, don't hunt it.

thus.

I would generally agree, but coyotes are an exception. I don't hunt them, but when there are 15 of them outside my house having a singalong at 3am, and ignore me when I come out and throw shiat at them, some lead is gonna fly. At the very least they need to fear humans.

They ate a lot of our cats too...we went through 11 before we got a couple that were smart enough to stay near safety. We even named these last two Entree and Apertif, because we figured they would be devoured too. That was ok...cats are murderous bastards that deserve to be devoured in the end.

I don't care to participate in the other half of the circle of life though...and coyotes are getting way too bold around here. There are thousands of acres of ranch land all around. They have no business outside my bedroom window.

Aren't we all forgetting the bigger question?

Is it KI-OATS or KI-O-TEE's?

fnordest: I have a Baikal over/under. It was the first affordable over/under I'd seen.

It doesn't seem to me to be the weapon of choice when hunting coyotes. I would think 30/30 or 30 ought 6.

It may be a shotgun-only area. It's like that here in Ohio. The only time one can't hunt coyote is deer gun season.

I like the coyotes in my neighborhood, they help keep the rodent population down.

I think hunting coyotes has a significant benefit even when the coyotes aren't successfully killed.

Lack of human aggression against coyotes when they encounter people has eroded their fear of us. This lack of fear is dangerous for us and them.

Just a couple weeks ago my wife saw a coyote at noon in broad daylight sniffing around our son's swing set. She opened the door and yelled at it and it barely even cared - just turned around and trotted off.

People need to be doing more to keep coyotes wary of people, otherwise the number of attacks will continue to rise and people will start much more aggressive eradication efforts.

JesseL: Just a couple weeks ago my wife saw a coyote at noon in broad daylight sniffing around our son's swing set. She opened the door and yelled at it and it barely even cared - just turned around and trotted off.

Thats how they are around here...they don't care about you until you come out of the house with the bang stick.

The Gunslinger Roland: Overpopulation is usually taken care of by nature. The more predators (coyote's) there are, the less food there is for them to eat. Many will die of hunger. It shouldn't be a big problem in 5 years or so, as they will begin to balance out.

Well, see, coyotes are somewhat more of omnivores than straight up carnivores. With more people invading their areas and leaving garbage around, the coyotes now have a larger food source, vice the smaller one you alluded to. And though the population might still be too high for the given food source, it is likely that the equilibrium population is too high for society. In other words, the coyotes are pests, much like mosquitoes, rats, and such.

I hunt coyotes 2-4 days a week. A couple years back, my best horse came in all bloodied up. I was obvious he'd been bitten several times. I did some tracking and found coyote tracks. I called the game commissioner and he confirmed that it was most definitely coyotes.

Two days later, I saw three juvenile coyotes running through the forest, not more than a 1/4 mile from where my horse was bit.

Since then, it's been war.

I always carry my .45 Ruger Vaquero and my .45 1894 Winchester with me when I'm out riding. We mostly seem to come across them around sunset. Quite often, I'm barely able to get one quick pistol shot off before they dissaper into the brush. If I can catch them trotting across a field, I'll usually be able to take a better shot with my rifle.

My buddy just popped a coyote that was on the run from his moving tractor. Even more impressive is he used a .44 Remington New Army cap & ball revolver.

Kill 'em all. They're vermin.

OregonVet: It may be a shotgun-only area. It's like that here in Ohio. The only time one can't hunt coyote is deer gun season.

Here in Arizona it's open season on coyotes.

But, what I wanted to ask is - What's up with the scope on the shotgun in the pic?

I've never heard of someone doing that. Even if I could do that (since mine is the same gun), why would I want to?

james_bong:
With more people invading their areas and leaving garbage around, the coyotes now have a larger food source, vice the smaller one you alluded to.

My home is many decades old and in an area that hasn't experienced a whole lot of growth (surrounded by national forest), but the coyote population has still exploded in recent years.

I think it may be that drought conditions have made suburban living more appealing.

I have an orange florescent collar on my dog at all times because of KI-O-TEE's. The cops have orders to shoot.

BiblioTech: Malinki: Because they like cat. Can't have Fluffy get all eaten, y'know.

As someone whose cat was killed by a coyote last September I am not getting a kick...

I can also point out that we now have PEOPLE being attacked by coyotes around here as well. The coyotes are getting very brazen and will walk down your street in broad daylight. City nearby (where teenager was attacked) is looking into trapping/killing because the population is getting out of control.

We lost a cat to coyotes a couple years ago. I was just pointing it out.

fnordest: OregonVet: It may be a shotgun-only area. It's like that here in Ohio. The only time one can't hunt coyote is deer gun season.

Here in Arizona it's open season on coyotes.

But, what I wanted to ask is - What's up with the scope on the shotgun in the pic?

I've never heard of someone doing that. Even if I could do that (since mine is the same gun), why would I want to?

It is most likely a combo gun with one barrel chambered for a rifle round. Baikal has made these for years and now Remington imports them.

Malinki: We lost a cat to coyotes a couple years ago. I was just pointing it out.

Sorry - when you have to identify what remains of your cat by a leg bone with a paw attached, it kind of strikes a nerve, ya know?

ironrat: I like the coyotes in my neighborhood, they help keep the rodent population down.

So would the foxes and cats that the coyotes kill - with much less chance that people will be the next target.

From the comments:

Think what they might be like with rabbies?

How is rabby formed?

BiblioTech: Sorry - when you have to identify what remains of your cat by a leg bone with a paw attached, it kind of strikes a nerve, ya know?

A leg bone? All we ever found was coyote shiat with familiar fur in it, if that.

After several cats, you get kind of used to it. I figure since they had Fluffy for dinner, Mr. Bunny gets to live another night. Mr. Coyote still gets shot at if he shows his face, though.

I think this is the gun pictured. Link (new window)

Around us coyotes have followed joggers, midday. They can be quite brazen. I know when they're around because my dog won't leave the back door stoop. They are a pest that i'll take a shot at, but i wouldn't make a hunt out of it.

Are all the hunters in Penn keeping serious pressure on all species like this 4000/177 stat? Are the deer numbers similar?

In CT more deer are killed by cars than hunters, and we've got all sorts of critters pooping on our lawn.